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Friday, Feb. 26
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.
Thursday, Feb. 25
COLLIER BOARD AUTHORIZES STAFF TO NEGOTIATE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH GREAT WOLF RESORTS
Collier County commissioners this week unanimously agreed to authorize county staff to negotiate a development agreement with
Great Wolf Resorts Inc. after they accepted a market and financial feasibility study with a cost-benefit analysis for the proposed local project from Hunden Strategic Partners Inc. The board would subsequently consider the incentive agreement and the company’s proposal for a 550-room
Great Wolf Lodge resort with an indoor water park and conference center on 20 acres in the City Gate Commerce Park next to the new Paradise Coast Sports Complex, east of Collier Boulevard and north of Interstate 75’s Alligator Alley. The Chicago-based chain of nearly 20 family resorts is seeking $15 million to $20 million in county incentives to help with the initial construction fees and land purchase for the nearly $235 million development project but plans to fully pay back the county within three to five years.
Wednesday, Feb. 24
Video courtesy of WINK News
WINK NEWS CHIEF METEOROLOGIST JIM FARRELL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
A legendary member of the
WINK News team has announced his retirement. After 29 years, Chief Meteorologist Jim Farrell will leave
WINK next month. Starting at
WINK News in 1992, Farrell built a reputation of reliable weather forecasting that is second to none. His straightforward just-the-facts approach helped calm the Southwest Florida community during many natural disasters, perhaps none as significant as Hurricane Charley’s infamous turn in August 2004. While others focused on a Tampa Bay landfall, Farrell noticed a wobble and told Southwest Florida to get ready, undoubtedly saving lives. During the past three decades, Farrell also mentored many meteorologists who are now serving communities all over the country,
WINK News reports. Matt Devitt will be The Weather Authority’s new chief meteorologist, effective March 15.
Tuesday, Feb. 23
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REPORTS JANUARY TRAFFIC
During January, 686,563 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in
Fort Myers. This was a decrease of 39.4% compared to January 2020; however, it was a 5.9% increase compared to December 2020. The traffic leader in January was Southwest Airlines with 149,608 total passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Delta (138,462), United (91,985), American (81,639) and JetBlue (64,981). Southwest Florida International Airport had 8,628 aircraft operations, a decrease of 15.1 percent compared to January 2020. Page Field saw 11,334 operations, a 3.1 percent decrease compared to January 2020.
Monday, Feb 22
Video courtesy of WINK News
LEE COUNTY’S EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM GETS $14M UPGRADE
Hurricane Irma revealed flaws in Lee County’s emergency system, but now those flaws have been fixed. In case of emergency or disaster, first responders can now be sure they’ll hear each other on their radios. Crews spent last week installing a tower shelter to protect Lee County’s new emergency communications system. The $14 million project will triple the capacity of emergency communications, improve radio workability between first responders and provide storm resilience in the case of a major storm. Now that the system is in place, Lee County plans to test it over the next couple of months,
WINK News reports.
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