The Bonita Springs YMCA is celebrating the completion of the new Bonita Springs YMCA Early Learning Center with a ribbon-cutting from 8:30-9 a.m. today at 27200 Kent Road in Bonita Springs. The event will include a short program from local dignitaries and YMCA staff, a light breakfast, a major announcement, and an optional tour of the facility. The YMCA will have social distancing and safety measures in place at this event. To view the invitation and RSVP, click here. For more information about the Early Learning Center, click here.

Addressing the growing needs of the community and local businesses during the pandemic, The Hoffmann Family of Companies in Naples recently established a new business, Hoffmann Sanitizing Services, to help businesses reopen safely and continue to operate safely. Using its team of fully licensed and insured technicians, Hoffmann Sanitizing Services comes to your place of business and can sanitize offices, conference rooms, locker rooms, lavatories and vehicles with state-of-the-art and industry-leading electrostatic ULV fogging and CDC-approved, COVID-killing solutions. With only a 4 to 5 minute dry time after application, there are no health risks involved and no harsh chemical odor or residue left behind, Hoffmann reports. Sanitizing businesses helps promote a safe work environment for employees, knowing their offices and workplace are cleaned, as well as gives customers an added level of comfort in knowing their health and safety is a priority.  Each service comes with a dated certificate of application to be used for display or kept on file. For more information call 239-260-3250 or go to HoffmannSanitizingServices.com. 

Storm Smart, the largest storm-protection and lifestyle-enhancement company in the state, is celebrating its 24th anniversary of serving Southwest Florida. Storm Smart was founded on Aug. 5, 1996, out of a desire to protect lives and property in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties from damaging and life-altering weather events. Smart Companies, a family of companies owned by Brian Rist, currently employs over 200 people. Rist has dedicated his energy towards entrepreneurship, teaching others how to be successful and leading by example to teach the importance of giving back millions of dollars through his regular philanthropic endeavors across Southwest Florida and beyond, according to a news release. Over the last 24 years, the company has celebrated milestones and awards including being a five-time winner on the Inc. 500’s 5000 “Fast Growing Privately Held Business” list, SBDC’s “Innovator of the Year” and “Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year” awards, the Small Business Association’s “Small Business of the Year” award and the Governor’s “Ambassador Award.”

The Village School of Naples has appointed W. Theodore Etzel III, chairman of Conditioned Air Co. of Naples, as its 2020-21 chairman of the board. In this role, Etzel will help guide the school’s continued growth and development. A native Floridian, Etzel graduated from Stetson University with a Bachelor of Science in economics and finance. He has decades of experience as a business executive and entrepreneur. As chairman of Conditioned Air since 1995, he has helped guide the company into the region’s largest air-conditioning contracting and service firm with nearly 380 employees from Marco Island to Sarasota. He is past chairman of the board of Encore Bank, a community bank headquartered in Southwest Florida that successfully sold to Lake Michigan Credit Union. Etzel has been inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Leadership Hall of Fame in Collier County and honored as a Man of Distinction by Champions for Learning. Etzel is author of the book Invest Your Heartbeats Wisely.

Real estate brokerage John R. Wood Properties added eight new agents throughout the month of July. In Collier County, Janet Brunell, Lynlee Dusek, Paul Freeman, Fredrik Ternstrand and Matthew Trombetta have joined the Fifth Avenue South office, located at 787 Fifth Avenue. Gerald Barron has joined the Central office at 3255 Tamiami Trail N. In Lee County, Anne O’Neill has joined the Bonita Springs office, located at 26269 Tamiami Trail S., while Fay Gu has joined the Fort Myers office located at 15065 McGregor Blvd., Suite 105. For more information about John R. Wood Properties, visit JohnRWood.com.

GATES Construction has hired Sandra Gangl as project accountant. Working under the supervision of the firm’s CFO, she will manage all of the financial matters on the projects that she is assigned including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and financial forecasting. Gangl has over 22 years of diversified accounting experience. She will be based out of GATES Construction’s headquarters in Bonita Springs.