AIRGLADES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT BREAKS GROUND ON CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION FACILITY
Airglades International Airport LLC (AIA) broke ground on a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility that will replace the airport’s current general aviation terminal. The $2.1 million, 4,000-square-foot facility is made possible through partnership and coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Hendry County. Strategically located in a logistics corridor less than 90 miles west of Miami, the development of this facility will designate AIA as an official port of entry to the U.S. and create a major international multimodal logistics complex with far-reaching economic impact, according to a press release. With the inspection facility and overall airport expansion, AIA will be able to accept international cargo planes importing perishable goods, offering shorter flight times and reduced travel distances and road congestion throughout the transportation logistics chain. The expansion of the airport is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs during the construction phase and the establishment of the Airglades International Airport will create 1,700 long-term jobs for Hendry County and surrounding communities. For more information, visit www.airglades.com.
GOLDEN PAWS ASSISTANCE DOGS PURCHASES HARLEY-DAVIDSON BUILDING
Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs has closed on the purchase of the former Harley-Davidson property on Pine Ridge Road in Naples. The organization was represented in the transaction by Dave Wallace and David Wallace of CRE Consultants. Upon completion of a renovation in late 2021, the building will become the new home for Golden PAWS. The 30,000-square-foot space on 2.75 acres will allow Golden PAWS to house and train up to 40 dogs at a time, doubling its current capacity. The organization is working with WDG Architecture and Design and PBS Contractors to transform the former motorcycle dealership into a state-of-the-art service dog training facility that will serve as a model for the industry. The purchase of the property was made possible by leadership gifts from Mr. Tim Ubben & Sharon Ubben and Mr. Kenneth P. and Susan Meyer. In honor of their gifts, the Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs Campus will be named “The Meyer Center For Canine Excellence.” These gifts, along with other early leadership gifts have allowed Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs to launch its $20,000,000 capital campaign with over half of the funds already pledged.
Lisa Kahn Designs opens its new office.
LISA KAHN DESIGNS OPENS NEW STUDIO
Lisa Kahn Designs has moved its award-winning interior design firm to a new, more spacious design studio located at 1148 Goodlette Frank Road in Naples. A grand opening celebration was held on Jan. 30. Guests at the grand opening celebration toured the new studio, viewed a video exemplifying the team’s most prominent projects and were treated to a performance by fire dancers. The new studio was designed by Lisa Kahn, CEO of Lisa Kahn Designs, with a focus on harmony, health and wellness. In addition to the moss wall, the studio has a centrally located meditation room, skylights to bring in natural light and planked wood floors hand-finished as part of a rehabilitation program in a South Carolina correctional facility. The studio will also be home to the Finding Sanctuary series of online-based workshops and the Finding Sanctuary blog. The first community event at this new space will be held from 3-7 p.m. on March 22, featuring healing crystal jewelry, music and special handmade gifts by students of the STARability Foundation. Proceeds will benefit the STARability Foundation, where Kahn serves as board president.
CLIVE DANIEL HOSPITALITY COMPLETES STRADA AT MERCATO CLUBHOUSE
Clive Daniel Hospitality (CDH) has recently completed the revitalization of the amenity level of the Strada at Mercato Club, which features the pool deck terrace and social room and is now owned by the Strada Condominium Association. Initially developed by The Lutgert Cos., which also developed the sold-out 92-unit urban styled Strada at Mercato, and later the Residences at Mercato, Clive Daniel Hospitality completed the original club and sales center when the property was built in 2009 and included CDH model units. Lead by Interior Designer Patricia Huamanchumo, the design work included replacement of background finishes with custom draperies, furnishings, lighting, upgrading floors, walls and ceilings. The resort pool deck provided inspiration for the redesign. The CDH Hospitality team has recently been awarded contracts to complete interiors for additional clubhouses in five Southwest Florida communities during 2020.
FLCPS ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc., has added seven new board members to its board of directors. The new board members include Amira Fox, state attorney, 20th Judicial Court; Deana Homsi, owner/operator, McDonald’s; Lawrence Cremia, chief financial officer, Fiber Solutions; Andrew Reddish, senior vice president, private client advisor, Bank of America; Kevin Shimp, chief executive officer, Thomas Marine Construction; Gay Thompson, president, Cement Industries; and Peter Tuffo, president, Suffolk Construction. Foundation for Lee County Public Schools provides resources and programs to students and educators throughout the School District of Lee County. Foundation board members are assigned to committees and act as liaisons to the business community and community at large through engagement and awareness. For more information, visit www.leeschoolfoundation.org.
DIAMOND CUSTOM HOMES HIRES OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Melissa Marotti has joined Diamond Custom Homes as office administrator. Marotti’s past experience includes several executive administrative, estate management and interior design positions. Her responsibilities include overseeing all office duties, client and vendor relations services, and providing support to the accounting department. Originally from Chicago, Marotti previously worked as a private investigator and vacationed in Naples for more than 20 years before relocating to Florida in 2010. She is currently in the process of obtaining a Florida real estate license.
CLASSIC KITCHENS & REMODELING APPOINTS AGENCY OF RECORD
Spiro & Associates Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations and Brand Architecture has been appointed as the Agency of Record (AOR) for Classic Kitchens & Remodeling. Located in Cape Coral, this company specializes in full-service kitchen and bathroom remodeling throughout Lee County, as well as anywhere within a reasonable radius of Fort Myers, and has for over two decades. Classic Kitchens’ leaders are Florida-licensed general contractors who can remodel more than kitchens and baths. Spiro & Associates’ responsibilities as the AOR include a brand refresh, specifically when it comes to Classic Kitchens’ logo, social media channels and website.
Charles Stanisce
BONITA CHAMBER PROMOTES STANISCE
The Bonita Springs Area Chamber has promoted Charles Stanisce to technology and content manager. Stanisce recently celebrated his four-year anniversary with the chamber as its member services representative and is also on the board of directors of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Southwest Florida. For more information, visit BonitaSpringsChamber.com.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Youth Haven receives Community Foundation of Collier County grant
Youth Haven has received a $30,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Collier County. These funds will support Youth Haven’s partnership with the Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) for Youth program. Youth Haven has implemented CPS, a strengths-based, neurobiologically grounded approach to conflict resolution with traumatized children. In CPS, staff are trained to adopt the belief that children “would if they could,” and this belief, combined with an array of techniques to help children build skills, leads to improvements in behavior and other functional areas for traumatized children, according to a press release. For more information, visit www.youthhavenswfl.org.
Peggy and Phil Lavigne
Fun Time Early Childhood Academy gala raises $300,000-plus
The Fun Time Early Childhood Academy held its annual fundraising Gala, “Treasures of the Sea,” on Feb. 13 at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. The event raised more than $300,000 to help The Academy provide quality early childhood education for children of low-income working families who are entering kindergarten. NBC2 anchor and long-time Fun Time supporter Stacey Deffenbaugh welcomed the sellout crowd of over 300 guests. Guest auctioneer Mayor Bill Barnett hosted the live auction. For more information, call Barbara Tyrrell at (239) 261-8284 or visit Funtimeacademy.org.
Sunshine Ace Hardware launching ‘Round Up for the Kids’ campaign
Sunshine Ace Hardware is launching its “Round Up for the Kids” charitable campaign to help raise money for Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida through the Children’s Miracle Network. From March 16 through April 30, customers at any of Sunshine Ace Hardware’s nine locations along Florida’s Gulf Coast can round up their purchases at the cash register to support Children’s Miracle Network. Sunshine Ace announced in December that the company had chosen Children’s Miracle Network as its “primary charity partner” and was developing a year-round fundraising campaign to support the nonprofit organization, which welcomed Golisano Children’s Hospital as a member hospital in 2019. Donations at Sunshine Ace Hardware stores will support research and training, purchase equipment and pay for uncompensated care at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Boys & Girls Club of Collier County’s 2020 Youth of the Year Celebration a success
The Boys & Girls Club of Collier County celebrated the achievements of 14 local Boys & Girls Club members at the Annual Youth of the Year Celebration on Feb. 25 at Club Pelican Bay in Naples. The event raised more than $560,000 to support Collier County children. Four Youth of the Year finalists were selected for the award based on how they illustrated their personal aspirations and have overcome obstacles to achieve success. Immokalee High School Senior Camaraelle “Cam” Milord, a Club member at the Bolch Campus in Immokalee for the past five years, received the 2020 Youth of the Year title. She will receive a $4,000 college scholarship and will go on to compete at the state level for the opportunity to receive up to $50,000 in college scholarships as well as induction by the U.S. president. The other finalists included Michelle Azord, Ashley Decius and Lovensky Germain. The remaining ten nominees included Adam Barrett, Sotayouna Joseph, Gabriella Angarita, Hengie Augustin, Kelvin Azord, Joodlhy Charelus, Oca Dupra, Michael Elant, David Francoeur and Erven Francois.
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