MIROMAR OUTLETS REOPENS TODAY

 

Fort Myers-based Chico’s confirmed deep job cuts last week, both locally and nationwide. The apparel retail company filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission outlining what it calls a “significant restructuring.” The pandemic has sparked the company’s second shakeup in a year, which includes a lot of layoffs. Chico’s said in its filing it will save $30 million by eliminating high-ranking officers and leadership positions in the field and at its Lee County headquarters. The shakeup at Chico’s goes all the way to the top. CEO Bonnie Brooks will become the executive chair of the board of directors, and Molly Langenstein will take over as CEO in June. At the start of 2019, Chico’s employed 1,100 people locally. Management will not say how many they now have on the workforce now. Story reported by WINK News.

 

Starting May 11, Florida Gulf Coast University’s Community Counseling Center is offering remote therapy, so community members can get professional help for mental health issues when, where and how they need it. A newly published report in the Journal of the American Medical Association says coronavirus is affecting the mental health of people nationwide. “We’re doing a lot of self-medicating behaviors because we are so overwhelmed,” said Alise Bartley, the clinical assistant professor and director of Community Counseling Center at FGCU. “And our anxiety is off the charts right now. This is unprecedented in our lifetimes what we’re going through right now.” Measures such as social distancing or large-scale traumas intensify feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression and substance abuse, Bartley said. Story reported by WINK News. 

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, the League of Women Voters of Collier County and Women for a Better Lee have joined Growing Climate Solutions in its efforts to expand climate change education and action in Southwest Florida. Since its leadership kickoff meeting in March, Growing Climate Solutions has welcomed more than 20 community, health, education, business, environmental and philanthropic organizations as its partners. Growing Climate Solutions partners pledge to further the organization’s mission of educating the Southwest Florida community about the changing climate, as well as encouraging positive efforts within their organizations to act and advocate. For more information or to become involved with the initiative, visit GrowingClimateSolutions.org.

Conditioned Air Co. of Naples has promoted Tim Russell to senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). In this expanded role, Russell will be responsible for overseeing all financial operations of the company. He also will become a partner in Conditioned Air. Russell has lived in Southwest Florida for more than 30 years. Prior to joining Conditioned Air, he was CFO for Fusion Industries and director of finance and business development for its predecessor Stevens Industries. Before that, he served as CFO at Pulte-Knipper, a construction and development firm. Russell earned his bachelor’s degree in finance with honors from Florida Gulf Coast University with a minor in real estate. He has professional experience in construction and development, manufacturing, and related businesses. He also has been a computer company owner and business consultant which adds to his talents beyond accounting.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. (O-A-K) has appointed Richard Borton as a project manager in the company’s Fort Myers office. Borton is currently managing the Fort Myers High School heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) renovation project and the Diplomat Middle School serving line renovations. Both are projects for the School District of Lee County. Borton has 27 years of experience in the construction industry.  His career in construction began in the paving industry and later worked as a project manager in the building industry on multi-million-dollar projects including assisted living facilities, sports centers, colleges, schools, roadwork hardscaping and high-end residential. Borton holds a Master of Business Administration in project management from The Florida Institute of Technology; a Bachelor of Science in construction engineering technology from The University of Southern Mississippi; and an Associate of Science degree in civil engineering technology from Horry-Georgetown Technical College.  He is currently working toward his Engineer in Training designation from National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying and Project Management Professional certification from the Project Management Institute.