Business Briefs
Raymond named manager
of CRS Technology Consultants team
CRS Technology Consultants has promoted Jay Raymond to manager of the company’s remote support team, announced Jordi Tejero, owner of the Cape Coral-based company.
Previously a field systems engineer for four years, Raymond is responsible for coordinating and supervising the support team’s activities in responding to client calls and performing technical systems troubleshooting wherever they may be called.
After two years of service in the U.S. Army as an information systems operations analyst, Raymond held various technology positions for more than 8 years with Chico’s FAS in Fort Myers supporting telephone systems needs nationwide. Before joining the CRS team, he was a senior desktop support technician at Florida SouthWestern State College.
CRS Technology is at 4426 S.E. 16th Place, Suite 4, Cape Coral. For more information, call 239-542-8450.
Schwinn to speak at ‘The Mad Science Behind the Future of Employee Benefits’ April 21
Pavese Law Firm partner Christina Harris Schwinn will discuss employment law and recent legislative developments impacting employers at “The Mad Science Behind the Future of Employee Benefits,” an event featuring local experts in employment law and benefits.
The event, hosted by Leading Edge Benefit Advisors, LLC of Fort Myers, will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, 5001 Coconut Road, in Bonita Springs.
The event will cover the newest technology platforms, avoiding employee-counting pitfalls with new reporting requirements, and a 2015 labor law update from Schwinn. In addition to Schwinn, keynote speakers include Donald Raimey, Timothy McGee and Kerri Sisson of Leading Edge Benefit Advisors.
The cost to attend is $30 and includes a continental breakfast. To register, visit http://conta.cc/1D2YxPD. For more information, contact Mercedes Lawler at Mercedes@leadingedgeonline.com.
Schwinn’s primary practice areas are employment law, business transactions, community association law and real estate law.
Pavese Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and West Palm Beach. The firm provides a broad range of legal services for individuals, families, small businesses and large corporations. Practice areas include agricultural, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business and taxation, civil litigation, community association, employment, environmental and water, estate planning, probate and trust, family, land use and government, and real estate law.
Visit www.paveselaw.com.
Miller visits nation’s capitol
The law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. has announced that Attorney John Miller, a shareholder in the firm’s Tort & Insurance Litigation practice, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Board of Governors. The elected governors met privately with Chief Justice John Roberts who gave a brief history of the court. Miller is now admitted to practice in front of the United States Supreme Court.
Miller focuses his litigation practice in tort and insurance defense, municipal and governmental liability defense and professional negligence defense. He also speaks and writes frequently before public and private associations.
He can be reached at 239-344-1310 or via email at john.miller@henlaw.com.
Henderson Franklin is a locally-based law firm between Tampa and Miami with over 55 attorneys dedicated to providing a wide range of legal services in the areas of business and tax planning, estate planning, family law, commercial and civil litigation, eminent domain, immigration law, workers’ compensation, employment law, real estate, and land use and environmental law.
For more information on Miller or Henderson Franklin, visit www.henlaw.com.
Storm Smart completes largest-ever hurricane screen project
Fort Myers-based Storm Smart, the largest hurricane protection company in the state of Florida, has completed the largest installation of Storm Catcher Wind Abatement Screens in the company’s 19-year history at the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
With a total length of more than a half-mile, the Storm Catcher screens have been custom manufactured and installed across large openings along the perimeter of the car rental center at the airport, with over one hundred individual screens, each averaging over 30 feet in length.
The project was in the planning stage for almost 4 years and the manufacturing and installation phase has taken almost four months, which is ahead of schedule.
SPADA Salon & Day Spa welcomes staff and clients of Trini in Private
SPADA Salon & Day Spa has announced that it has opened its doors to welcome staff and clients of a neighboring salon and spa, Trini in Private of Fort Myers, as the owners of the popular French-style salon close their doors in order to care for ailing family members overseas.
The transfer of Trini’s staff and client database to SPADA represents months of careful planning and communication between the two businesses focused on a seamless transition to best accommodate Trini’s talented team of stylists, technicians, therapists and support staff, along with its devoted clientele.
Clients can contact SPADA Salon & Spa to schedule an appointment with one of their favorite hair stylists, nail technicians, massage therapists or aestheticians by calling 239-482-1858 or visiting online at SpadaSpa.com.
Base Operations at Page Field earns top ranking
Base Operations at Page Field has been ranked in the top 20 percent of fixed-base operators in a prestigious international survey conducted by Aviation International News . This is the third consecutive year that Base Operations at Page Field has been named as a top fixed-base operator by AIN and the first year for recognition in the uppermost 20 percent.
The 2015 FBO Survey is conducted annually and asks pilots, flight attendants and dispatchers to provide feedback on the level of customer care at individual business and general aviation service providers throughout the Americas.
AIN conducted the online survey to qualified subscribers and asked them to evaluate FBOs they visited the previous year in five categories: line service, passenger amenities, pilot amenities, facilities and customer service representatives.
Aviation International News is a respected monthly trade publication covering news, features, special reports, aircraft evaluations and surveys on business, commercial and regional aviation worldwide and a twice-weekly electronic newsletter. AIN has been conducting surveys and providing industry reports on service since 1981. The 2015 FBO Survey includes fixed-base operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean.
The Lee County Port Authority operates Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field in Fort Myers. Page Field provides services to corporate, commercial and private aviators through their business arm, Base Operations at Page Field. For more information, please visit www.BaseOperationsFMY.com.
Chrysalis Awards Luncheon Thursday
For the sixth consecutive year, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce will host the Annual Celebra-tion of Business & Tourism Chrysalis Awards Luncheon and Trade Show Thursday, April 16, at Harborside Event Center, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At the luncheon, six award recipients will be announced. Nominees include area attractions, accommodations, retailers, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and a variety of local businesses in six categories: Business Development, Sustainability, Cultural Achievement, Education, Sports, and Sales & Marketing. A panel of local business community leaders judged the nominations and selected one award recipient for each of the six categories.
The Chrysalis Awards signify an ongoing partnership between the business and tourism communities working together to increase the business community’s awareness of the tourism industry and to help tourism partners better understand the needs of non-hospitality businesses.
In addition to the Chrysalis Awards, the VCB will present its long-standing annual Junonia Award. This honor, awarded solely at the discretion of the VCB, was created in 2006 to recognize individuals in tourism who have demonstrated unique capabilities, leadership, commitment, and dedication throughout the local tourism community.
The cost to attend the event is $45. Register online at Chrysalis Awards.
Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce 2015
Spring Job Fair April 16
The Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce invites the community to its 2015 Spring Job Fair Thursday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hodges University Fort Myers Campus, at 4501 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers.
Participating companies include Latino 97.7, Hodges University, Lowe’s, Telemundo, BB&T, AAA Auto Club Group, The School District of Lee County, Cape Coral Police Department, CenturyLink, 21st Century Oncology, LYNX Services, Wells Fargo, Florida Blue, Take Shape for Life, MundoFox, Sunstate Academy, Univision SWFL, Fort Myers Broadcasting, Accin Hispana, Fifth Third Bank, Florida SouthWestern State College, Imagen Semanal, Juan 1200/1460AM, The Pendas Law Firm, Azteca America SWFL, HolaCiudad.com, Prudential, Nuevos Ecos, Lee Memorial Health System, Supervisor of Elections, United Way, Autos Trocas y Mas, Exitos Magazine & more!
Anyone interested in changing careers or in need of a job is welcome. This event is free to the public. For information or to rent a booth, please call the Chamber at 239-418-1441, or send an e-mail to info@hispanicchamberflorida.org.
Finalists announced for 2015 SWFL Distinguished Entrepreneur Award
The Florida Small Business Develop-ment Center at Florida Gulf Coast Univer-sity announced the four finalists selected for the 2015 Distinguished Entrepreneur Award. The finalists are JoAnn Elardo, owner of Cape Spirits Inc., Wicked Dolphin Rum; Christopher Spiro, owner of Spiro & Associates, Marketing, Advertis-ing, and Public Relations; Mark Loren, owner of Mark Loren Designs; and Gary K. Mart, owner of Global Tech LED, LLC.
Now in its fourth year, the award recognizes a small- to mid-sized Southwest Florida business for its overall success and provides an opportunity for the local business community to celebrate its achievements. The finalists were chosen from 17 nominees from the five-county area by the following panel of expert judges: Tim Cartwright, managing director of Tamiami 2; Colleen Kvetko, president of private banking, Florida First Integrity Bank; Phil Borchmann, editor of Gulfshore Business; Pamela Oakes owner of DIY Motor City and winner of the 2013 Distinguished Entrepreneur Award; and Felix Lluberes, owner of Position Logic and winner of the 2014 Distinguished Entrepreneur Award.
The 2015 Distinguished Entrepreneur Award will be presented at the 4th Annual Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May 19, from 69 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, in Bonita Springs. Guest speaker will be Michael Wynn, chairman of the Wynn Family Board of Directors and president of the chain of Sunshine Ace Hardware stores.
Tickets dinner are $125 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.fsbdcswfl.org or by calling the FSBDC office at 239-745-3700, email sbdc@fgcu.edu.
For additional information, contact Dan Regelski at 239-745-3705, email dregelsk@fgcu.edu or Amanda Stirn at 239-745-3706, email astirn@fgcu.edu.