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Left to Right: Grace Place Chief Program Officer Diane Ponton, Barbara Bush Foundation President and CEO British A. Robinson, and Grace Place Chief Executive Officer Tim Ferguson. PHOTO Courtesy of Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
Left to Right: Grace Place Chief Program Officer Diane Ponton, Barbara Bush Foundation President and CEO British A. Robinson, and Grace Place Chief Executive Officer Tim Ferguson. PHOTO Courtesy of Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy

FUTUREMAKERS LAUNCHES ANNUAL WORKFORCE SURVEY FOR REGIONAL EMPLOYERS

The FutureMakers Coalition of Southwest Florida has launched its latest employment survey, available here, and is asking for the region’s help in completing the online form. The survey is designed to capture the views and values of employers doing business in Southwest Florida. The Southwest Florida Community Foundation administers this survey on behalf of the FutureMakers Coalition. FutureMakers is a regional initiative with the goal of transforming the workforce by increasing the number of degrees, certificates, and high-quality credentials to 55%. The survey is divided into three sections including a company’s future workforce; most desired workforce skills; and current state of a company’s workforce. The survey takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The survey is open now and will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 8. For more information, visit www.FutureMakersCoalition.com, call (239) 274-5900, or email Tessa LeSage at TLeSage@floridacommunity.com.

 

Left to Right: Grace Place Chief Program Officer Diane Ponton, Barbara Bush Foundation President and CEO British A. Robinson, and Grace Place Chief Executive Officer Tim Ferguson. [PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy]

GRACE PLACE RECEIVES FIRST-EVER LITERACY AWARD

Grace Place for Children and Families is one of three in the nation to receive the first Pearl Literacy Awards from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. The award recognizes community-based organizations and programs for their work on adult and family literacy. The ceremony took place at the foundation’s inaugural National Summit on Adult Literacy, held on Nov. 13 in Washington, D.C. The event drew in around 250 adult and family literacy experts and industry partners to examine best practices and findings in the adult literacy field and engage in a collaborative action planning session on America’s adult literacy crisis.

 

Cliff Holland

NAPLES AIRPORT AUTHORITY NOISE COMPATIBILITY COMMITTEE NAMES LEADERS

The Naples Airport Authority Noise Compatibility Committee (NCC) elected Cliff Holland as chair and Chris Auron as vice-chair for the coming fiscal year. The committee helps monitor the impact of aircraft noise and makes recommendations about noise-mitigation procedures for consideration by the City of Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, which appoints members. Retired after 37 years of employment with Johnson & Johnson, Holland served as corporate vice president, responsible for worldwide government affairs and policy organization. He has been a Naples is serving his second term in the city-at-large position on the NCC. Auron is a senior software engineer and project manager at Prognos, a health care artificial intelligence company based in New York. Appointed to the NCC in March 2019, he represents the geographic area northwest of the airport. The nine members of the committee serve as volunteer representatives of the Collier County Commission, Naples City Council, general aviation pilots and six geographic areas surrounding the airport. In addition to Holland and Auron, the committee includes City Council Vice Mayor Gary Price, Bruce Byerly, Harvey Cohen, Ernest Linneman, Justin Lobb, John Mastrocinque and Russell Tuff. For more information, visit www.FlyNaples.com.

 

SWFRTP APPOINTS TWO DIRECTORS TO BOARD

The Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership (SWFRTP) has appointed two new directors to its board: Terry Dirr, director of information technology, Shaw Development LLC; and Colleen Jorgensen, Southwest Florida sales manager for Rite Technology. Dirr has a Bachelor of Science in management information systems from the University of Dayton and earned a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), has a master’s certificate in project management, is a Six Sigma Green Belt, a certified leader’s coach, and certified business consultant. Jorgensen built a 15-year career in sales training and, since going back to school for a degree in network administration, she has been working in the technology sector leading and training sales teams. Jorgensen also volunteers for the SWFL Dress for Success program as a mentor and internet job search educator.

 

The N.A.P.L.E.S Group officers

THE N.A.P.L.E.S GROUP RE-ELECTS BOARD MEMBERS

The N.A.P.L.E.S (Naples Area Professional League of Executive Servicers) Group recently re-elected its board members for 2020. The president for the third year in a row will be Jeff Jerome, director of marketing and sales at Shula’s Steak House. Other members include vice president Michelle Borders, owner of Naples Network Services; secretary Lesley Colantonio, development events manager of the Naples Botanical Gardens; and treasurer, Darren Miles, owner of Darren Miles Photography. The N.A.P.L.E.S Group is a business-to-business networking organization based in Southwest Florida. Commercial real estate advisor Tim P. Tillapaugh founded The N.A.P.L.E.S Group to meet the growing need for non-competing industry referrals in the business landscape of Naples.

 

BMO Celebrating Women 2019 Naples honorees

NAPLES WOMEN HONORED BY BMO HARRIS BANK

BMO Harris Bank has announced three BMO Celebrating Women honorees in Naples. Local BMO Harris employees nominated the women, selected for their professional achievements and impact on the community. The following honorees were celebrated at a Nov. 14 reception at at Quail West Golf and Country Club held by BMO in Naples: Women Who Lead: Carrie Kerskie, president of Griffon Force. Women Who Serve: Eileen Connolly-Keesler, president and CEO of Community Foundation of Collier County.  Women Who Inspire: Julia Broglie, founder of BroglieBox. The BMO Celebrating Women program was created to honor the achievements of women leaders, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and innovators who are excelling in their business and making an impact in their communities. Since 2012, BMO has awarded more than 180 women in communities across Canada and the U.S. For more information, visit bmoforwomen.com.

 

Robin Clark

CLARK HONORED AS ‘DISTINGUISHED VOLUNTEER’

Robin Clark was named “Distinguished Volunteer” during the AFP National Philanthropy Awards Ceremony. The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) hosted the awards ceremony on Nov. 12 at the Hilton Naples. Collier Child Care Resources (CCCR) nominated Clark for the many hours she dedicates to its mission to help underserved local children. Clark donates her time and her expertise from a successful career in fundraising and marketing. Clark also serves on CCCR’s Board of Directors. Her volunteerism benefits the at-risk young children that receive scholarships to attend one of CCCR’s early education centers. The AFP hosts the National Philanthropy Day Award Ceremony to honor the most outstanding philanthropic members in Collier and Lee County.

 

Emily Marcus

MNMW TEAM MEMBER EARNS QUICKBOOKS CERTIFICATION

Emily Marcus with Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co., P.A. (MNMW) recently earned the QuickBooks Online Certification. Individuals that earn certification in QuickBooks are accounting professionals who have passed a rigorous test to provide the best strategic insights that drive success specific to each business. Marcus is a graduate from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.  She has been in the accounting industry for 23 years and joined MNMW in 2017 in the accounting division.

 

DISMERO BOUTIQUE TO OPEN THANKSGIVING WEEK

Katie Nevans and international fashion designer Andy D’Auria will open the first U.S. boutique devoted exclusively to the DISMERO made in Italy brand on Nov. 29 in the Bridge Plaza in Fort Myers. Inside, women will find D’Auria’s fall collection of Italian blouses, pants, jeans, sweaters, jackets, as well as jewelry, handbags and DISMERO’S exclusive extra virgin olive oil. Shoppers may sip on Prosecco while browsing D’Auria’s collection. There also will be an opportunity to win gift cards. An official grand opening celebration is planned in January when D’Auria will be in attendance. Although DISMERO fashions are available in stores in the U.S., the Fort Myers store is the first to carry nothing but the international company’s exclusive collection.

 

CHARITABLE NOTES

Lipman’s charitable work in Immokalee recognized

The Association of Fundraising Professionals of Collier/Lee has named Lipman Family Farms the “Outstanding Philanthropic Organization for 2019.” Lipman was honored during a ceremony Nov. 12 in Naples for its charitable work in Immokalee and Collier County. Over the last six years, Lipman has provided more than 10,000 Collier County school system students with school supplies during the company’s annual backpack giveaway and back-to-school event. In addition, Lipman offers scholarships to Immokalee High students and other children each year. In the last five years alone, Lipman has awarded over $230,000 in college and trade school scholarships. Lipman also contributes annually to RCMA and its Immokalee Community School and has donated running shoes to the Immokalee High School’s cross-country team. Lipman has partnered with Brighter Bites, a national nonprofit organization that provides 30 pounds of fruits and vegetables each week to families, and donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County.

 

Co-chairs named for CCCR’s ‘Big Impressions by Little Artists’ gala

Collier Child Care Resources (CCCR) has named Shannon Morgan and Leeza Arkhangelskaya as co-chairs of its signature fundraising event, “Big Impressions by Little Artists.”  The event is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. on March 27, at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. The gala is an immersive art experience that celebrates all forms of art, including visual, culinary and performing arts. Proceeds benefit CCCR’s early education programs that offer scholarships to low-income and at-risk young children. Co-chair Shannon Morgan is co-owner of Prestige Insurance Consultants. Leeza Arkhangelskaya is the owner of East West Fine Art gallery, and co-founder of the non-profit Russian-American Museum of Art.

 

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