Lead Photo: Lake Okeechobee is nearly 3 feet higher than it was this time last year. Details below. Credit: Pexels
MALLON NAMED CEO OF NEOGENOMICS AS VANOORT TRANSITIONS TO EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Fort Myers-based NeoGenomics Inc., a leading provider of oncology testing and global contract research services, announced Wednesday that Douglas M. VanOort, the company’s chairman and CEO, will retire as CEO and transition to become executive chairman of the board of directors on April 19. Mark Mallon, recently serving as CEO of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, and a former executive vice president of Astra Zeneca, will become NeoGenomics’ CEO and will join the NeoGenomics board of directors at that time. This week’s leadership announcement is part of a deliberate succession planning process. VanOort has been chairman and CEO of NeoGenomics for 12 years. During that time, the company has become a clear leader in oncology diagnostic testing, with revenues increasing from $20 million to the current run-rate of about $500 million while the team of employees at NeoGenomics has grown from 114 in 2009 to more than 1,700 today. In addition, during this period the NeoGenomics market capitalization has increased from $26 million to more than $6 billion.
Video courtesy of WINK News
LAKE OKEECHOBEE RELEASES INTO CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER CONTINUE BECAUSE OF HIGH WATER LEVELS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday that Lake Okeechobee is nearly 3 feet higher than it was this time last year. The goal of managing water levels is to keep people and the environment safe. “Ever since those wet months of October and November, it’s been hard to get the lake to recede,” says John Campbell with the Corps’ Jacksonville district. Lake Okeechobee lingers above 15 feet, which is about 2 to 3 feet higher than engineers would like to see before the wet season. The Corps releases an average weekly flow of 2,000 cubic feet per second — more than enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool — out of W.P. Franklin Lock into the Caloosahatchee River, WINK News reports.
Video courtesy of WINK News
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA & LEE COUNTY FAIR OPENED THURSDAY
The Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair is back but with some changes because of the pandemic. The organizers for the fair put the finishing touches on the grounds of the Lee County Civic Center on Wednesday ahead of its Thursday opening. The family event, which is in its 97th year, will run through Sunday, March 7, and feature animals, fair food and rides. Masks aren’t required but they are encouraged. Rides will be disinfected after each run, WINK News reports.
MINNESOTA TWINS SPRING TRAINING TICKETS SELL OUT IN 30 MINUTES
Minnesota Twins spring training tickets sold out within 30 minutes of them going on sale. Tickets went on sale at 11 a.m. Wednesday for the MLB team’s 14 spring training home games at Hammond Stadium at the CenturyLink Sports Complex. The Twins will welcome slightly more than 2,400 fans each game at Hammond Stadium, starting on Sunday when they will face off against the Boston Red Sox. Tickets for all Twins home games were sold in physically-distanced seating “pods” of two or four contiguous seats. For more information on the Twins’ 2021 spring training season, click here.
NAPLES ORGANIZATION MAKES SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE FOR WOMEN PURSUING STEM CAREERS
Science, technology, engineering and math fields are still largely dominated by men, but we’re starting to see a shift as more women follow STEM career paths. The American Association of University Women in the Greater Naples area is doing its part to help. The organization has created the Blanche and John Rebar Scholarship to help pay for a year of college for female high school students interested in STEM. The scholarships are not financially need-based but rather focused on young girls who have phenomenal academic records and plan on entering those fields. About six girls are usually accepted every year, WINK News reports. AAUW is accepting applications for the Rebar STEM scholarship until March 28.
POKÉ MAHI BOWLS & MORE LAUNCHES RESTAURANT IN NORTH NAPLES
Poké Mahi Bowls & More launched this week at 2349 Vanderbilt Beach Road, unit 520, in North Naples. The new fast-casual eatery is in the Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt on the northwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads. This is the first Southwest Florida location for Poké Mahi, a new chain that features fresh and healthy poké, a staple of Hawaiian cuisine that infuses traditional island recipes with popular Asian flavors. Diners choose a base such as rice, chips or mixed greens; pick a protein such as ahi tuna or salmon and sauces of varying spice levels; then finish the bowl with choices of toppings such as avocado, edamame, crab meat, sriracha and miso dressing.
Gregory Thomas
FREE HYBRID SEMINARS/WEBINARS CONTINUE IN MARCH
The complimentary Trust and Investment Management seminars hosted by Charlotte State Bank & Trust Vice President Christine Hause and Portfolio Manager Gregory Thomas will continue in March. The free educational sessions cover a wide range of important topics from a trust officer’s point of view. They are being held as live seminars and online webinars. The events last from 10-11:30 a.m. The next seminar, “Avoiding Estate-Planning Mistakes with Celebrity Examples,” will be held on March 2. Attendees may participate in person at the bank’s Murdock branch office, 1100 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, or online via the Charlotte State Bank & Trust website. In-person capacity is limited to allow for social distancing. Masks are mandatory. Advance registration is required. Registration is available at any branch office, online, via email at rsvp@csbtfl.com, or by calling Brielle at 941-624-1943.
Dr. Emily Ptaszek
HEALTHCARE NETWORK LEADER EARNS TOP CREDENTIAL
Dr. Emily Ptaszek, president and CEO of Healthcare Network recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders. She is now privileged to bear the FACHE credential, which signifies board certification in healthcare management as an ACHE Fellow. Fellow status represents the achievement of the highest standard of professional development, Healthcare Network states. To obtain fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education hours, demonstrating professional/community involvement and passing a comprehensive examination. Fellows also are committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.
FSW RECEIVES FIRST-GEN FORWARD DESIGNATION
Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) recently received the First-gen Forward designation from the Center for First-generation Student Success, an initiative of NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and The Suder Foundation. The First-gen Forward designation recognizes higher education institutions that have demonstrated a commitment to improving experiences and advancing outcomes of first-generation college students. Selected institutions receive professional development, community-building experiences, and a first look at the center’s research and resources. First-generation college students are the first in their family to graduate with a four-year college degree. Approximately 41% of all FSW students are considered first generation.
Jacquelyn McMiller
LAW FIRM APPOINTS FORMER FORT MYERS MAYORAL CANDIDATE TO TEAM
Former Fort Myers mayoral candidate Jacquelyn D. McMiller has joined Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, as the law firm’s community service coordinator. McMiller ran for Mayor of the City of Fort Myers in 2020 and became the first African-American woman in Fort Myers’ history to advance to a November runoff in the mayoral election. McMiller, who has 25 years of public service experience, has dedicated her personal and professional life to helping those in need. She has been recognized by the 20th Judicial Circuit as an expert in her field of child safety methodology.
‘MARCH MODNESS’ XCELLERATION TRAINING EVENT HELD MARCH 17
Insurance Management Consultancy Group (IMCG) announces the third Xcelleration training event, “March Modness.” Xcelleration is a monthly learning series that brings in multi-industry leaders to share their best practices, operational enhancements and compliance methods. “March Modness” will educate employers on how to control and influence workers’ compensation cost through focused claims management experience mod management, proven processes and safety. Presenters at the training include IMCG Executive Vice President Anna Evans; David H. Roos from Henderson, Franklin, Starnes and Holt, P.A.; Gabriel Marquez with Summit Consulting Inc.; and Ben McManaway, owner and CEO of Leading Edge Safety Group. For tickets, click here. Space is limited to allow for social distancing.
Alexis Rojas
ROJAS JOINS SANIBEL CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK
Alexis Rojas has joined Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as a loan coordinator at its main office, located at 2406 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel. She assists the residential lending department with the preparation of loan applications, collection of supporting documentation from loan customers, and submission to underwriting for review and approval. Rojas is a graduate of Florida SouthWestern State College and is currently pursuing her degree in legal studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. She has prior management experience in the retail industry.
CHARITABLE NOTES
New International Launches ‘Miles for Missions’ Initiative
A Fort Myers-based mission-sending agency launched its Mile for Missions initiative this week in an effort to cover 25,000 miles—the number of miles around the earth—and raise $100,000 to support global missions. New International is encouraging team leads and participants to commit to bike, swim, walk, jog, fly, drive, or any other method of covering miles on May 22, as well as a fundraising goal they are excited to reach. This initiative gives partners all over the world the opportunity to be involved in this collaborative one-day event in a way that feels comfortable for them, and they can invite others to join their efforts. Anyone can participate by signing up here or emailing MilesforMissions@
Foundation of Collier County Medical Society to host virtual ‘Wine & Whiskey Pull’
Registration is now open for the Foundation of Collier County Medical Society’s Virtual Wine & Whiskey Pull Fundraiser a charitable event open to the public held through April 6. Participants can win bottles of wine and/or whiskey while helping fund scholarships to future medical professionals and local healthcare programs in need. The Foundation awarded $22,000 in scholarships last year and applications for 2021 are due March 31. Registrants should enter by end of day on April 6 online here. Sponsorship details are also available on the registration website.
Organizations partner to tackle senior women homelessness in Collier County
The Women’s Foundation of Collier County and the Naples Women’s Club are joining forces to tackle homelessness among senior women in Collier County. Each organization is making grants to the Hunger & Homeless Coalition of Collier County to facilitate housing for local older women who are homeless. The Women’s Foundation of Collier County has dedicated a total of $35,000, and Naples Women’s Club is donating $13,000. In early 2020, the Women’s Foundation of Collier County began making grants to address the issue after learning of over 70 homeless senior women in Collier County left with no other option than to live in their cars. Upon seeing an article about these grants, the Naples Women’s Club expressed interest in supporting the project. The Women’s Foundation of Collier County has received other gifts, most recently a $5,000 gift from The Wasie Foundation, to help place senior women experiencing houselessness into housing where they are safe. The women are also given access to the case management services and care needed to remain stable and secure.
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