Business Briefs
BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company
hires five new associates
BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company has expanded its company by hiring five new associates. Each individual offers diverse experience and specialized skills in order to assist businesses and customers with their insurance needs.
Michelle Flannery has been named the personal lines sales agent for Holmes Beach. Flannery previously worked for BB&T Wyman Green and is a licensed agent with a variety of customer service experience in and out of the insurance industry.
Jonathan Mitchell will serve as the personal lines client service representative in the Fort Myers office. Mitchell received his bachelor of science in resort and hospitality management from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Allison Norris will serve as the commercial lines client service agent on the BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company condo team in Fort Myers. Norris graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a bachelor of science in legal studies. She has experience in the financial services industry and was formerly a customer service representative with Sanibel Captiva Community Bank.
Lauren Waite is the new client service representative in the Fort Myers office. Waite has experience as client manager, sales and retention support and office manager. She is currently pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing and is a new resident of Fort Myers.
Kathy Young is the new mail services associate in Fort Myers. Young has a background in customer service, collections and bookkeeping.
BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company provides comprehensive insurance and risk-management services to families and businesses throughout Florida. The agency offers the most effective insurance protection, strategies to meet changing business and insurance trends and the highest level of customer service. BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company has offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Holmes Beach, Miami, Naples, Ocala and Weston, Fla. To learn more, call (239) 433-4535.
Mr. Handyman looks to expand
presence throughout the Southeast
To fulfill demand for both commercial and residential services, the national home repair and maintenance company Mr. Handyman is actively seeking franchisees to open up to 20 locations throughout Atlanta and Florida.
Mr. Handyman is targeting Florida in its plans for southeast expansion. The brand is currently seeking qualified franchise partners to develop 10 markets including Tampa, South Bradenton, Cape Coral, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Tallahassee, Jacksonville Beach, Melbourne and West Palm Beach.
The investment to open a Mr. Handyman franchise is $102,000 to $129,100. To learn more about Mr. Handyman’s franchise opportunities, visit www.leadingtheserviceindustry.com.
Mr. Handyman is part of a network of independently owned and operated franchises with more than 200 locations throughout North America, which provide commercial and residential property maintenance, repair and improvement services. Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Mr. Handyman is part of Dwyer Group, Inc., a holding company of 11 service-based franchise businesses operating under the following service marks: Aire Serv, Glass Doctor, The Grounds Guys, Five Star Painting, Molly Maid, Mr. Appliance, Mr. Electric, Mr. Rooter (Drain Doctor in the UK and Portugal), ProTect Painters and Rainbow International.
Additional information can be found on the Mr. Handyman website at www.mrhandyman.com. For franchise information, visit www.leadingtheserviceindus-try.com.
Application deadline Sept. 7
for annual Blue Chip awards
The 21st Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award application deadline is fast approaching. Coordinated and sponsored by BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Company and BB&T Bank, the Blue Chip Community Business Award recognizes successful, small businesses in Lee, Collier or Charlotte counties that have overcome adversity to achieve success. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 7.
Independent judges will pick the winning entry. Businesses can nominate themselves or be nominated by a third party. To qualify, the for-profit business must have been in operation for at least three years under the same ownership with principal office located in Lee, Collier or Charlotte, employ five to 400 people and have overcome adversity to achieve success. The award ceremony will take place Thursday, Nov. 5, at Harborside Event Center, located at 1375 Monroe Street in Fort Myers.
To submit an application, please contact Stacey Mercado at (239) 433-7189 or SMercado@BBandT.com.
Six Bends Harley-Davidson,
Keylime Bistro to host Biker’s Brunch
Six Bends Harley-Davidson and Keylime Bistro are proud to host this year’s annual David Barbur Biker’s Brunch Sunday, Aug. 23. All proceeds from the event will go to Abuse Counseling & Treatment, a nonprofit organization started in 1978 that serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in Lee, Hendry and Glades counties.
The event will begin with a 30-mile motorcycle ride departing from Six Bends Harley-Davidson. The cost is $20 per rider or passenger and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The first bike will depart at 9:30 a.m. Riders can expect a ride through Fort Myers to Captiva Island, where the ride will end with brunch at Keylime Bistro.
To register for the ride, call 239-939-2553. Six Bends is at 9501 Thunder Road, Fort Myers. For information contact Jeff at jeffh@sfe-us.com or call 239-275-4647.
Modys earns distinguished service award
Peter B. Modys, A.A.E., deputy executive director of aviation for the Lee County Port Authority, was honored with a 2015 Distinguished Aviation Service Award by the Florida Department of Transportation during the Florida Airports Council Annual Conference in Boca Raton, Fla. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional professionalism through leadership and resourcefulness and made significant contributions to Florida aviation during their career.
Modys has served LCPA for more than 35 years, beginning his career as an airport operations agent at Page Field. When Southwest Florida International Airport was certified for operation in 1983, he transferred to RSW and has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility for LCPA. In his current role, Modys directs the largest division at the Port Authority, with 283 staff members, who are responsible for overseeing aircraft and terminal operations, as well as airport maintenance, police, contracts, safety and security and aircraft rescue and fire fighting at both Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field.
The Lee County Port Authority operates Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field in Fort Myers. For more information, please visit www.flylcpa.com or Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flyRSW.
Chico’s scarf sales to benefit
Stand Up to Cancer
Chico’s has announced the launch of a limited-edition scarf designed by artist and entrepreneur Sheila Johnson to support Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Funds raised during this initiative will help accelerate SU2C’s innovative cancer research to get new therapies to patients quickly, and saves lives now.
During the campaign, Chico’s will offer the limited-edition scarf, designed by Johnson. This scarf will be sold at Chico’s boutiques across the US and Canada, as well as online at www.chicos.com. Chico’s will donate $10 to Stand Up To Cancer (up to $100,000) for every scarf purchased from now through Oct. 31.
For more information about the collaboration, visit www.chicos.com or contact Kristin McClement: kristin.mcclement@chicos.com, (239) 346-4870 or Amy Sedlacek: amy.sedlacek@chicos.com, (239) 346-8674.
Hoistlift of Florida
to open in Fort Myers
The big truck experts are coming to The Sunshine State. Fort Myers will be home to Hoistlift of Florida, an 18,000-square-foot full-service dealership and service center for material handling, construction and agriculture equipment.
The grand opening is today, Aug. 21, from 3-7 p.m. HLFL is at 6901 Alico Road in Fort Myers. The event will feature equipment demos and games, food and drinks, giveaways and special pricing on select equipment.
The new location is expected to add approximately 50 new jobs to the area over the next two years to accommodate the increasing activity in the construction and material handling markets in the Florida region.
HLFL will be an authorized dealer for a variety of equipment brands, including Hoist Liftruck, Terex, Genie, Tesmec and MultiQuip.
HLFL will be operated by Specialized Liftruck Services, an authorized dealer of Hoist Liftruck. For more information, visit www.hoistliftfl.com
Pushing the Envelope wins
Golden Image Award of Distinction
Pushing the Envelope, a local marketing communication company, was honored once again by the Florida Public Relations Association with a Golden Image Award of Distinction at the annual Golden Image Awards ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
The award, given in the Public Relations – Special Events category, was for strategic and creative work completed on behalf of the Six Bends Grand Opening for Scott Fischer Enterprises. Team members leading this project were Pushing the Envelope president, Samantha Scott, APR and project manager, Lisa Davanzo.
The Golden Image Awards competition is conducted annually by the Florida Public Relations Association to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida and to encourage and promote the development of public relations professionalism in the state.
For more information about the local chapter, please visit www.fpraswfl.org.
Existing to help businesses flourish and proposer through communication, Pushing the Envelope is a privately held, award-winning marketing communication company based in Fort Myers, Florida.
For additional information, please call 239-221-2858 or visit GetPushing.com.