From L-R: Chris Bamberg. Craig Bamberg
PLATINUM DRY CLEANERS ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION, NEW OWNERSHIP
Platinum Dry Cleaners, a Naples-based full-service dry clean and laundry operation, has been acquired and is now under the new ownership of Craig and Christopher Bamberg. The closing of the purchase, including the transfer of ownership, came into effect earlier this year. Platinum Dry Cleaners currently has three retail locations, five delivery vehicles, a 12,000-square-foot processing facility, and 40 employees. The company will now increase its already established Naples, Marco Island, and Bonita Springs retail locations with further direction on home delivery of all services with a strong emphasis on convenient, affordable, and time-saving wash and fold garment care. Chris will focus on operations, production and sales with 15 years of industry experience. Craig will guide executive office operations, marketing, and sales. A Southwest Florida resident for over 23 years, he previously served as senior director of community relations and senior director of central operations with ASG Software Solutions. The company is currently completing and will be announcing details of its 30-year anniversary celebrations with a targeted release date of the late third quarter of this year.
NAPLES CHILDREN’S BUSINESS FAIR REGISTRATION OPEN
The Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF) of the Greater Naples Chamber in coordination with Collier County Public Schools has opened registration for the second annual Naples Children’s Business Fair, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 11 at Gulf Coast High School. The Naples Children’s Business Fair provides an opportunity for students, ages 6-17, to experience entrepreneurship firsthand and sell their original products and services to the public. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and costs $15 per student business. The deadline to register is Friday, Nov. 22. To complete the two-part registration visit www.napleschamber.org/cbfapp. Community members are invited to attend this fun-family festival, grab lunch and shop youth-run businesses in support of our student entrepreneurs. Suggested donation of $5 for general attendees. All proceeds benefit the Leadership Collier Foundation to support youth development and work-based learning programs for students. The event is sponsored by Waste Management, First Florida Integrity Bank, Naples Daily News, Wintrust Banking Center and Brown & Brown Insurance. For more information, visit www.napleschamber.org/childrensbusinessfair.
Christopher T. Spiro
SPIRO TO ADDRESS PUBLIC RELATIONS SEMINAR
The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) will host its monthly seminar from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 8, at the chapter’s new meeting location, Dave & Buster’s in Fort Myers. FPRA of SWFL will host Christopher Spiro, CEO and chief creative officer of Spiro & Associates Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations and Brand Architecture to discuss the importance of branding. Whether it is for a client or an organization, Spiro will also discuss traditional branding activities vs. brand storytelling and will provide insight from one of his own case studies. The cost to attend is $30 for FPRA members, $40 for nonmembers and $25 for students. A buffet lunch is included in the cost of the seminar. Register at www.fpraswfl.org/event-registration/
ABWA CHAPTER TO HOST SWFL MAKE-A-WISH LEADER
ABWA Imperial River Chapter presents Tammy Lynn, regional director of Southwest Florida Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, from 6-8 p.m. on Oct.9 at Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport @ Town Center. Tickets are $35 at Eventbrite, which includes dinner. Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. In her role, Lynn oversees the fundraising, awareness and medical/community outreach in Collier, Lee, Glades and Hendry counties. With the help of roughly 90 volunteers and a 12-member Advisory Board, the Southwest Florida team granted the wishes of 68 local children last year. ABWA’s Imperial River Chapter meets the second Wednesday of each month. For more information, visit ABWAImperialRiver.Eventbrite.com or at Meetup.com.
Lizzy Yana
THE STELLA PROJECT LAUNCHES THE BREAKUP BOX’
The Stella Project and founder Lizzy Yana, a Naples blogger and entrepreneur, announce the debut of “The Breakup Box,” a gift for women to send to a friend who has recently ended a relationship. Funny, irreverent and a little naughty, The Breakup Box serves to pick up a friend when she is down, help her laugh through the tears, and most importantly know that she is loved and not alone, a press release states. Shoppers also have the chance to purchase the signature Kiss This Lipstick separately, a color designed by Yana personally. The Stella Project also offers a forum for women to build a community through the Facebook Group “The Stella Project Community,” a bi-monthly blog, a monthly email newsletter and more. Yana is now booking for speaking engagements and appearances. For more information, visit https://www.thestellabox.com/contact.
John Hash
CHRIS-TEL CONSTRUCTION HIRES HASH
Chris-Tel Construction has hired John Hash as project manager for the special projects group for the firm. Hash has more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry, predominately in Southwest Florida. Hash received his Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and holds his Class “A” General Contractors License for the State of Florida. Additionally, Hash is a Certified Construction Project Manager and Home Inspector as well as a Certified Geologist in the State of Georgia. He is a member of both the Collier and Lee Building Industry Associations and a veteran of U.S. Army. Hash will be managing the Collier County continuing services contract for both facilities and public transit as well as a variety of private client projects for the Special Projects Group.
Ken Gentry
GENTRY JOINS GATES CONSTRUCTION
GATES Construction has added Ken Gentry as senior project manager. Gentry is responsible for overall project coordination and management from the pre-construction and permitting stage through to owner occupancy. He has more than 30 years of construction experience with a wide variety of project types and particular expertise in commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and education. He will be based out of GATES Construction’s Headquarters in Bonita Springs. For over 25 years, GATES has provided award-winning construction management, general contracting and design-build services throughout the Southeast U.S. and Latin America. For more information, visit www.GATESinc.com.
Charitable notes
ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk set for October
The American Cancer Society (ACS) Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will be held on Oct. 19 at Miromar Outlets. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, with more than 1 million passionate participants supporting the noncompetitive three- to five-mile walks each year. Registration for this event begins at 7:30 a.m. and the walk is set to start at 9 a.m. Dollars raised help the American Cancer Society fund innovative breast cancer research; provide education and guidance to help people reduce their risk; and offer comprehensive patient support to those who need it most. To learn more about the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event and how you can become involved, visit MakingStridesWalk.org/SWFL or contact Brittni Brown-Cooper at (239) 330-3492 or SWFLStides@cancer.org.
Children’s Services Foundation of SWFL makes first grants to help fill service gaps
The Children’s Services Foundation of SWFL (CSF of SWFL) (SWFLKids.org) presented awards grants of $2,500 each to support Guadalupe Center’s Early Childhood Education Program, The Heights Center’s Beyond the Bell program and The Quality Life Center’s ACE After School Program. Guadalupe Center’s Early Childhood Education Program provides educational and enrichment opportunities for more than 300 children in Immokalee. The Heights Center’s Beyond the Bell program provides support, remediation and academic enrichment opportunities for K-8 youth facing learning challenges as a result of poverty, limited English proficiency and limited access to educational resources. The Quality Life Center’s ACE (Arts, Character & Education) program is an after-school and summer camp program targeting at-risk children and youth ages 5 to 18.
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