David Ciccarello
GOV. DESANTIS ANNOUNCES FSW TRUSTEES
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the appointment David Ciccarello and the reappointment of Jonathan Martin and Danny Nix to serve on Florida SouthWestern State College’s (FSW) Board of Trustees. All appointments are four-year terms. Ciccarello is a civil attorney and shareholder at Wilbur Smith Attorneys at Law in Fort Myers. Martin is a trial attorney at Parvey & Frankel Attorneys P.A. Nix is a real estate broker/owner and commercial Realtor. For more information, visit www.FSW.edu.
STAY SOCIAL, AR3BIZ KICK OFF STATEWIDE MARKETING POP-UP PANELS FOR BUSINESS LEADERS
AR3biz is launching a business-casual series called “The Biz’ Network” at Venture X locations across Florida in collaboration with Stay Social beginning in August. The first event will take place from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Venture X Naples. These events will feature panels with local leaders in their respective industries, who will discuss their marketing and advertising roadmaps that lead them to success. The panelists for the first event include Lauren Maxwell, the “Maxwell Mortgage Team” at Cross Country Mortgage; Heather Caine, Caine Premier Properties; and David Diamond, DeAngelis Diamond Construction. The panelists, coordinated by Monica Ramos, founder of Stay Social, have been enlisted to cater to businesses with both Spanish and English speaking markets. To register, visit ;
BABCOCK RANCH RANKED TOP MASTER-PLANNED COMMUNITY
Babcock Ranch is ranked Southwest Florida’s top master-planned community based on Metrostudy data on single-family home annual starts in Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. The analysis of the Southwest Florida housing market through June shows Babcock Ranch as the region’s leader by more than 20 percent, with 295 annual starts, according to Metrostudy, a leading provider of primary and secondary market information to the housing and residential construction industry. Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, according to a press release, was created by Kitson & Partners. Home prices range from $189,999 to more than $1 million. For more information, visit www.BabcockRanch.com.
LARC TO PRESENT EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYERS OF SWFL
Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens (LARC) is hosting the inaugural Exceptional Employers of Southwest Florida event from 7:30-10 a.m. on Sept. 12 at The Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s Collaboratory in downtown Fort Myers. The purpose of the event is to recognize exceptional employers in the community who have hired individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event will include a light breakfast, networking and a panel discussion with local business owners and executives discussing best practices for employing individuals with disabilities. Panelists include Brian West, media and communications manager, Publix Super Markets; Pat Carroll, co-founder, Carroll Properties Investments; and David Mulicka, owner, Honc Destruction. The event is free and open to the public. Businesses that employ people with differing abilities are encouraged to register in advance so they can be recognized at the event. To register, visit www.larcleecounty.org/events. Event sponsorships are available. For more information, contact Angela Katz at (239) 334-6285 x229 or angelakatz@larcleecounty.org.
David Fruscione
NAPLES DESIGN DISTRICT APPOINTS BOARD
Naples Design District recently appointed new board members for its 2019-2020 season. The new executive board members are president David Fruscione, Republic of Decor; co-vice president Sara Irizarry, DalTile; co-vice president Gregory Palmer, Harrison Design; secretary Lindsey Kamel, The Shade Store; and treasurer Shawn Foust, Lovetto Design. Board members are Chad Jensen, Method and Concept; Rufino Hernandez, the Garden District; Dan Summers, BSSW Architects; Laura Burns, United Arts Council; and Nicole Casiano, Ferguson Appliances, Lighting and Plumbing. The board has the support of the local government and the area’s community redevelopment agency. The Naples Design District is working towards several initiatives including an increased parking and accessibility to businesses, district-wide beautification and infrastructure efforts geared towards a pedestrian-friendly experience, and district signage and identification.
Matthew Zwack
O-A-K NAMES VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Owen-Ames-Kimball (O-A-K) Co. has appointed Matthew Zwack to vice president of operations, O-A-K Florida Inc. Zwack most recently served as chief safety officer and general superintendent, overseeing all superintendents within O-A-K Florida. He was appointed to the O-A-K Florida board of directors in 2016. Zwack is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional Certified for Building Design and Construction. He joined O-A-K in 2005 as an assistant superintendent and has completed many projects as a job site superintendent, for both public and private work. He was born and raised in South Dakota, where he worked as a foreman for Mills Construction Co. Upon relocating to Southwest Florida, he became a lead finish carpenter for Finish Line Carpentry in Fort Myers.
Nancy Suarez
OUTH HAVEN WELCOMES SUAREZ
Youth Haven Inc. welcomes Nancy Suarez to its team as clinical training and outcomes specialist. Suarez earned her Bachelor of Science in clinical psychology from the University of Central Florida and her Master of Science in clinical counseling from Troy University. Suarez has more than 17 years of experience in the therapy industry with a focus on children and their families. She began her career as a behavior assistant and has held multiple related roles in the industry. Most recently, she was employed by Daymark Recovery Services as its mobile crisis clinician, providing crisis counseling to children and families.
HENDERSON FRANKLIN EXPANDS TEAM
Attorneys John Spear and James Kerr have joined Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.’s Bonita Springs office. In addition, the firm also welcomes the following staff: Terri Dettmar, legal secretary; Karen Bonnough, paralegal; Jo-Anne Rosario, paralegal; Rebecca DeFrancesco, paralegal; Denise Edwards, paralegal; Melissa Mason, paralegal; Carol Eden, staff accountant; Colleen Bush, file clerk; and Megan Harris, file clerk. Spear is a Florida Bar board-certified real estate expert. For nearly 40 years, he has been representing owners and tenants in Bonita Springs, Estero, Naples and Fort Myers in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. Drawing on almost 40 years of experience, Kerr creates custom estate plans for families throughout Southwest Florida.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Community Foundation of Collier County distributes record grant amount in 2018-19 fiscal year
The Community Foundation of Collier County has distributed almost $19 million in grants in the 2018-19 fiscal year ending June 30 to nonprofit agencies and scholarships for secondary education and specialized training. The final total of $18,890,346 represents a 3 percent increase over last year and a record amount of distributions for the foundation. Grant areas of distribution include arts, education, environment, health, human services, foreign affairs, community impact, and religion. Education and human services topped the distributions with totals of $6.7 million and $5.9 million respectively. Included in the grant awards is $13,000 from the Angel Fund Grant for Small Nonprofits of the Community Foundation of Collier County to support their mobile food pantry program. The Community Foundation Program Grant Cycle will be open Aug. 26 – Sept. 27. Eligibility guidelines and further information is available at https://www.cfcollier.org/nonprofits/apply-for-grants/.
Fourth annual golf tournament supports The Heights Foundation
The Heights Foundation (www.heightsfoundation.org/golf) fourth annual benefit golf tournament “Swing Fore The Kids” presented by Five County Insurance will take place on Sept. 27 at Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers. The proceeds of the event support The Heights Center’s programs that work to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers. Last year’s tournament raised $26,500. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., and there will be a boxed lunch, a shotgun start at 1 p.m. and dinner, auction and awards at 6 p.m. The presenting sponsor is Five County Insurance.
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