Business Briefs
Cook-Hawk named president
and CEO of SalusCare Inc.
The SalusCare Board of Directors has named Stacey Cook-Hawk as president and CEO of SalusCare Inc. She is a Cape resident and had been serving as interim president/CEO since last October when she replaced former President & CEO Kevin B. Lewis.
Cook-Hawk has more than 18 years of management experience.
SalusCare is the region’s largest provider of treatment for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders and serves more than 16,000 people per year.
Employment opportunity event
May 27 at Community Cooperative
Goodwill Industries Job-Link will be hosting an employment opportunity event Friday, May 27, from 1:30-4:30 p.m., at the Community Cooperative, 3429 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Fort Myers.
Participating agencies include First Light House, TRP Staffing, KFC, Goodwill Industries, Triple J Grassing, ManorCare, ITT Tech, The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. Fort Myers Technical College, SunCoast Trucking and Home Depot.
They will be hiring for CNAs, HHAs, LPNs, day labor, landscaping and food service crier members. Information will also be provided on educational programs available and information on scholarships for high school students.
Participants can meet prospective employers and learn about jobs available in the area. Those attending are urged to bring their resumes and references.
For more information, contact Lelunda Sanichara, Job-Link Coordinator, at 239-872-8226.
Sit Clean opens
in North Fort Myers
Sit Clean, a company that provides “personal toilet seat wipes for use in public restrooms, porta-potties and anywhere else a sanitary seat is a concern,”1 has opened in North Fort Myers.
According to company owner/president Cathy Tupper, Sit Clean offers alcohol-free strong and durable textured toilet seat wipes that “provide superior cleaning performance.” The company motto is “Don’t hover, wipe that cover.”
The company is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sit Clean can be contacted at 239-772-2425. The mailing address is P.O. Box 4540, North Fort Myers, FL 33981.
Ball 2016 Airport Professional
of the Year by SEC-AAAE
Robert M. Ball, A.A.E., executive director of the Lee County Port Authority, was recently named the 2016 Airport Professional of the Year by the Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives at the SEC-AAAE Annual Conference in Greenville, S.C. The award, in its 20th year, is presented to an outstanding airport professional and is based on the nominee’s professionalism, knowledge and integrity in dealing with airport issues and the community.
Ball is the only airport professional to be awarded this prestigious honor three times.
As executive director, he directs the administration, operations and development of Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field in Fort Myers. Ball is currently on the board of directors for Airports Council International-North America and has served as a past president of the Florida Airports Council, as well as a member of its board of directors.
Ball serves on the Florida Gulf Coast University College of Business Advisory Council and is on the advisory board to the School of Aeronautics for the Florida Institute of Technology, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in air commerce/flight technology. Ball is accredited by the American Association of Airport Executives and is a licensed Private Pilot.
The Southeast Chapter of AAAE is a non-profit professional organization of airport executives responsible for airport planning, management and operations. As the largest chapter of AAAE, it has more than 450 members from 12 states as well as the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.
The Lee County Port Authority operates Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field in Fort Myers.
For more information, visit www.flylcpa.com or “like us” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flyRSW.
Base Operations at Page Field
among best FBOs in the country
Base Operations at Page Field in Fort Myers 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 fourth consecutive year that Base Operations at Page Field has been named as a top fixed-base operator by AIN.
In 2016, Base Operations ranked first in the Fort Myers/Naples area and scored in the top 25 for all FBOs. The 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.
The survey asked qualified subscribers to evaluate FBOs they visited the previous year in five categories: line service, passenger amenities, pilot amenities, facilities and customer service representatives.
AIN 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 2016 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.
Lee County VCB
announces new interns
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau has announced the addition of two new marketing interns.
Moira Larkin and Joshua Lambert joined the VCB recently to work with the marketing department. Both have successfully completed the VCB’s Guests First program and earned the Certified Guest Service Professional designation.
Responsibilities for the marketing department internship entail support for the VCB’s marketing campaigns, summer promotions, development and coordination of visits by travel trade professionals, data and report compilation, media relations, and planning events.
Larkin and Lambert are juniors pursuing bachelor of science degrees in Resort & Hospitality Management at Florida Gulf Coast University. Both are out-of-state students, Larkin is from New Jersey and Lambert is from Connecticut.
SRMA announces 2016
board and executive director
The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association has announced the new 2016 leadership roster to drive its educational, legislative, networking and economic development initiatives in the year ahead.
Brian Rist of The Smart Companies will serve as chair of the board of directors, composed of Doug Gyure of S4J Manufacturing, longtime manufacturer and entrepreneur Peter Bagwell, Bruce Vanderveen of All American Printing, Connie Ramos-Williams of CONRIC PR & Marketing and Joe Janoschka of BB&T Business. Dana Brunett of Cape Coral Economic Development and B. Pat O-Rourke of Lee County Economic Development will serve as advisory liaisons. Cape Coral Mayor Marni Sawicki is the organization’s membership chair. Board member Peter Bagwell has also been named the new executive director of SRMA.
“Our goal is to provide valuable support and opportunities for manufacturers here in Southwest Florida. Monthly roundtable discussions, after hour socials, plant tours, marketing, awards and recognitions are all part of the annual membership benefits,” says Bagwell. “All manufacturers that sign up or renew membership prior to June 30 will receive additional marketing perks on our regional website.”
To discover the many benefits of membership in SRMA for manufacturers and affiliate businesses, visit srma.net or contact Peter Bagwell at peter.bagwell@gmail.com or (239) 689-3649.
About the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association
The purpose and objective of the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association is to bring together manufacturers to encourage the economic development of Southwest Florida through manufacturing, and to act as a forum for the expression and exchange of ideas and information among its members. The SRMA provides the platform to promote the general welfare of our members in relation to economic, civic, and educational challenges. Visit srma.net for more information.
White Orchid Spa
unveils Himalayan Salt Room
The White Orchid Spa in downtown Fort Myers has opened its new Himalayan Salt Room. The new 260-square-foot room includes five zero gravity chairs and is one of only two in Southwest Florida. There are just 200 salt rooms or beds in the U.S.
Salt therapy, also known as halotherapy, is a growing spa trend. Ancient healers and philosophers recommended salt inhalation for the respiratory system and health problems. Dry salt therapy originates from speleotherapy (cave therapy) and the Wieliczka salt cave in Poland, where workers exhibited fewer respiratory illnesses.
White Orchid Spa provides up to 30 services a day and is available to host private group events, including wedding showers, fundraisers, ladies’ luncheons and special company appreciation days, with groups of up to 10 people. The spa also offers Dermalogical products and peels, and is certified to perform dermabrasion procedures for its clients.
The White Orchid Spa, at 2180 West First St. in downtown Fort Myers, has trained, licensed and insured specialists available Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, call 239-362-2799 or visit spaserviceftmyers.com.
Houck-Toll named member
of Tax Certification Committee
Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., has announced that Erin Houck-Toll, a stockholder in the business and tax division, has been appointed by the Florida Bar to serve a three-year term on its Tax Certification Committee beginning on July 1. This committee oversees the process for approving applications of Florida lawyers seeking to become board certified experts in tax law. The lawyer’s experience and competency are rigorously evaluated to determine if they meet the highest standards of special knowledge, skills, proficiency, professionalism and ethics in the practice of tax law.
Houck-Toll is a dual board certified expert in Tax Law (since 2010) and Health Law (since 2015). She is one of only three dual board health and tax law attorneys in the entire state of Florida. Houck-Toll assists clients in business planning, health care law, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property issues. She also has an active federal and state taxation practice, representing individuals, businesses, non-profits and tax exempt organizations before the IRS, Florida Department of Revenue, and United States Tax Court. Houck-Toll also serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors of Special Equestrians, Inc.
She can be reached at erin.houck-toll@hen-law.com or by phone at 239.344.1296.
Henderson Franklin is a locally-based law firm with 55 attorneys dedicated to providing a wide range of legal services in the areas of business and tax planning, commercial and civil litigation, employment law, estate planning, family law, immigration law, intellectual property, workers’ compensation, real estate, and land use and environmental law.
Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Sanibel Island and Naples (by appointment only). For more information on Houck-Toll, visit www.henlaw.com.
Free Aetna Dental
Access cards available
All Floridians will have the opportunity to download a free Aetna Dental Access card this week.
This special offer was launched to help celebrate Rx Awareness Week.
The Florida Rx Card is a free statewide prescription assistance program that was launched in 2009.
“Our goal this week is to inform the residents that there is a program that can help them with their medication costs. Many families are struggling with the rise of health care costs and we are pleased to offer these programs to help them,” said Brandon Knox, Program Director for Florida Rx Card.
Aetna Dental Access provides savings on dental services at over 169,000 dental practice locations nationwide.
Florida Rx Card can offer significant savings on brand and generic medications and is accepted at most pharmacies across Florida.
If you are unable to print a free prescription card, simply visit CVS/pharmacy and ask them to process your prescription through the program.
All Florida residents are eligible to access this program.
Simply visit www.FloridaRxCard.com to get your free Aetna Dental and prescription card.
All cards are pre-activated and can be used immediately. The Aetna Dental offer is good May16-22!
Dr. Bondi joins staff
at Lee Physicians Group
Lee Memorial Health System has announced that Lynsey Biondi, M.D., recently joined the professional staff of Lee Physician Group Kidney Transplant Surgery.
Dr. Biondi earned her medical degree at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. She completed a general surgery residency at Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven, Conn., as well as an abdominal transplant surgery fellowship at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr. Biondi is board certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. She serves as program director for the kidney transplant program.
She joins LMHS from Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pa., where she was the director of pancreas transplantation and an abdominal transplant surgeon for 6 years.
Her areas of expertise include kidney transplant care of the immunosuppressed patient; living kidney donation with laparoscopic donor nephrectomy; dialysis access; general surgery; and abdominal transplant surgery.
Dr. Biondi’s office is at 13685 Doctors Way, Suite 310, Fort Myers.
Appoint-ments can be scheduled by calling 239-343-1400.
Millers named Spherion’s
2016 Owners of the Year
Spherion Staffing Services, a local recruiting, staffing and workforce solutions provider backed by the resources of a $2 billion global workforce leader, recently honored Fort Myers franchise owners Larry and David Miller with the company’s 2016 Owners of the Year award.
The annual award recognizes the individual owner or ownership team who best exemplifies the Spherion foundations of consistent business growth and community involvement.
The Millers generated significant improvements in total hours worked, bill rate, gross profit, sales and revenue across all offices in 2015, which they credit to the efforts of their staffing team and the leadership of vice president and branch manager Ellen Owen.
The Millers additionally were honored with the annual Spherion President’s Award, which recognizes six owners who have demonstrated consistent business growth and stewardship to clients and communities during the previous three years.
Together, the Millers have more than five decades of staffing industry leadership experience, with nearly three of those decades spent with Spherion. Under their leadership, Spherion has expanded its Florida presence to include branches in Fort Myers, Lakeland, Leesburg, Naples, Ocala and Sarasota.
About Spherion
Spherion Staffing Services is a recruiting and staffing provider that specializes in placing administrative, clerical, customer service and light industrial candidates into temporary and full-time opportunities. To learn more, visit www.spherion.com.
Florida SBDC announces
business awards
The Florida SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University has announced that Christopher T. Spiro, owner and CEO of Spiro and Associates Brand Architects, was awarded the Distinguished Entrepre-neur of Southwest Florida. The award recognizes a small- to mid-sized Southwest Florida business for its outstanding success.
Additionally, as part of the award, Spiro has been nominated by the FSBDC as the Small Business Administration Small Business Person of the Year 2017.
This year, two new awards were presented by the FSBDC. John Benkert, CEO of CPR Tools, was awarded Distinguished Business Innovator of the Year for his commitment to the development of technological advances in the field of data recovery. Judy Williams, owner of SPADA Day Salon and Spa, was awarded Business Advocate of the Year for her dedication and contributions invested back into the Southwest Florida non-profit community.
The FSBDC at FGCU offers one-on-one, confidential, no-cost consulting and low-cost workshops for businesses throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. It is designated by the state as Florida’s principal provider of business assistance.
For additional information, contact Amanda Stirn, FSBDC Marketing Director, at 239-745-3706, 239-410-1133 or astirn@fgcu.edu.