Business Briefs
Eccles-Brown joins Elmquist Eye Group
Elmquist Eye Group has announced the addition of Sarah Eccles-Brown, M.D. to the practice. Eccles-Brown will be seeing patients at Elmquist Eye Group’s current locations in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Shell Point. In addition to providing comprehensive eye care, her surgical areas of expertise include LASIK, premium cataract surgery, eyelid surgery and in-office procedures.
Eccles-Brown completed her Residency Training in Ophthalmology at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from New York Medical College and a bachelor’s degree in biological science and psychology from Florida State University, graduating magna cum laude. Prior to joining Elmquist Eye Group, Eccles-Brown was a member of the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, where she served as a comprehensive ophthalmologist for the 96th Medical Group. During this time, she had the honor of providing clinical and surgical eye care to active duty military members, retirees, and their families.
E. Trevor Elmquist, D.O. founded Elmquist Eye Group in Fort Myers in 1992. Elmquist and associates Dr. Kate Wagner, Dr. Nina Burt, and Eccles-Brown provide a complete range of medical and surgical eye care to the residents of Lee County. Services include routine eye exams, diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, dry eyes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, and other eye conditions.
The Fort Myers office is located at 12670 New Brittany Blvd., Suite 102 and the Cape Coral office is located at 2336 Surfside Blvd., Suite 121. For more information and appointments, call 239-936-2020 or go to www.Elmquist.com.
Local Nathan’s conducting
hot dog eating contest promotion
Nathan’s legendary hot dog eating contest in Coney Island is coming to Fort Myers by live broadcast when Nathan’s Fort Myers location hosts a simulcast of the competition at noon, Monday, July 4.
Nathan’s is at 11150 S. Cleveland Ave. The event is free and open to the public.
Leading up to the July 4 contest, Ray Masciana, owner of Nathan’s Fort Myers, has launched a guessing-game program for patrons. With every purchase now through 12 p.m., July 4, patrons will receive an entry form to guess the exact combined number of hot dogs that will be eaten by the winner of the Women’s and Men’s divisions at the Coney Island contest. The form is then entered into a random drawing that Masciana will conduct immediately following the July 4 noon broadcast.
The first patron whose correct guess is drawn will win the grand prize of a 3-day trip for two to the Bahamas. Runners-up will receive an authentic Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest T-shirt. The event also features in-store giveaways.
Island Conclave Fine Art
Gallery adds gallery director
Island Conclave Fine Art Gallery & Event Center has announced the appointment of its new gallery director, Wendy White, who was set to begin her duties Monday, June 20,
White comes to the gallery with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the global art world, according to center officials.
White’s full academic scholarship to Barnard College at Columbia University included mentors Milton Resnick, Marshall Glasier and Cynthia Mailman. She has exhibited her paintings in numerous galleries around the world. She taught at the esteemed Lynn University in Boca Raton and has imparted her time to more than a few non-profit agencies to ensure youngsters have inspiration in their lives.
White has also curated six galleries from Fort Lauderdale to New York City.
Island Conclave Fine Art Gallery & Event Center, a Marketing Mania Inc. business, is located at 5101 Pine Island Road on Pine Island, and can be reached at 239-282-8488.
Lee County Economic Development introduces DevelopLee,
promoting North Fort Myers, MLK Corridor and Lehigh Acres
Lee County continues to rank among the nation’s job growth leaders, yet several communities, including North Fort Myers, the MLK commercial corridor in Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres, have lagged behind the ongoing economic recovery. The Horizon Council and the Lee County Economic Development Office formed the Commercial Revitalization Task Force with business and civic leaders to proactively stimulate development, promote investment, attract businesses and encourage higher wage jobs in those areas. The initiative, called “DevelopLee,” promotes the opportunities that exist in these areas and initially focuses on promoting development and job creation.
To support the initiative, the Lee County Economic Development Office has added the DevelopLee project to its website (www.leecountybusiness.com/develop-lee/) where available properties, demographics and other information on North Fort Myers, MLK Corridor and Lehigh Acres can be accessed. They can also be accessed at www.DevelopLee.com, www.DevelopNFM.com, www.DevelopMLK.com and www.DevelopLehigh.com.
The Lee County Economic Development Office works to attract new and diversified businesses to the area, support company growth and expansions and improve the overall business environment in Lee County. Services include site selection assistance, demographic and statistical information, business assistance, financial assistance, employee training and recruitment and community tours. For more information, visit www.LeeCountyBusiness.com or 239-533-6800.
Dentist earns ‘Top Gun’ award
Local dentist Dr. Andrea Parsons was recently honored at Great Expressions Dental Centers’ “Top Gun” awards, which recognize the dental service organization’s leading dentists across its more than 250 offices in 10 states. More than 100 GEDC doctors, clinical partners, special guests and vendors came together to honor doctors for their superior performance throughout the last year.
The award ceremony was held at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
The “Top Gun” ceremony honors leading doctors based on patient care, dedication to mentorship programs and philanthropic efforts. In addition to honoring doctors for their hard work, dedication and contributions to the community, awardees and other attendees enjoyed team building activities at the ceremony.
For nearly 40 years, Great Expressions Dental Center has been a leader in preventative dental care, orthodontics and specialty care with local offices in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Texas.
For more information, go to www.greatexpressions.com.
Dr. Parsons’ office is at 1616 Cape Coral Parkway, W., Suite 115. Contact her office at 239-549-7771.
Blevins promoted to executive
vice president at Encore Bank
Encore Bank has announced that 30-year banking veteran William Blevins has been promoted to executive vice president. Blevins joined Encore Bank in 2011 as Lee County market executive, senior vice president and senior lending officer, leading the bank’s commercial lending team in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.
During Blevins’ five years of service at Encore Bank, the community bank has had double digit loan growth by helping businesses get the financing they need to expand and prosper and achieved or exceeded objectives for financial stability. Encore Bank recently received the latest of several 5-Star ratings for financial strength by BauerFinancial Inc., indicating that the institution has shown strong financial performance, has a sound capital ratio, a history of positive regulatory reviews, and has kept any delinquent loans in check.
Blevins graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor of science degree in management and economics and received his M.B.A. in finance and accounting from Louisiana State University. He holds a Certified Cash Management designation from the Association for Financial Professionals and has earned his series 7, and 63 licenses.
Encore Bank has six locations, including two branches in Naples, one in Bonita Springs, one in Fort Myers at 7920 Summerlin Lakes Drive, one in Port Charlotte and one in Sun City Center.
For information, call 239-278-5505 in Fort Myers, or visit www.encore-bank.com.
Richmond earns alumni award
from Stetson University College of Law
The law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., has announced that during last week’s annual Florida Bar Convention, Attorney Kayla Richmond received the Outstanding Alumni Representative Award from the Stetson University College of Law. Richmond, as secretary and chapter representative, also accepted the Outstanding Chapter Award on behalf of the Lee County Association for Women Lawyers, the Lee County Chapter of the state-wide Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Richmond focuses her practice exclusively in the areas of divorce, marital and family law. She handles dissolution of marriage (divorce), custody, paternity, child support and domestic violence cases.
Richmond is a Fort Myers native, graduating from Fort Myers High School in 2006. She received her undergraduate degrees from the University of South Florida her law degree from Stetson University College of Law and her graduate degree from Stetson University. She can be reached at 239.344.1156 or via email at kayla.richmond@henlaw.com.
Henderson Franklin is the largest, locally-based law firm between Tampa and Miami with 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. Since 1924, Henderson Franklin has been assisting clients build their homes, businesses and communities in Southwest Florida. Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples and Sanibel Island.
For more information on Richmond or Henderson Franklin, please visit www.henlaw.com.
FGCU Florida Small Business Development Center
announces regional award winners
The Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University has announced its annual 2015 Regional Award Winners. Award recipients include Dan Telep Jr., Regional Consultant of the Year; Julio Estremera, Regional Employee of the Year; and Jadira Hoptry of Fifth Third Bank, Regional Outstanding Resource Partner of the Year.
The Regional Consultant of the Year Award recognizes a consultant for his or her outstanding performance, significant contributions and a strong commitment to their consulting services in the region. Telep was selected for his dedication to his client’s success.
The Regional Employee of the Year Award recognizes an employee from each region for their outstanding performance, significant contributions and a strong commitment to operations, effectiveness and service excellence in the region. Estremera was selected for his dedication and contributions.
The Regional Outstanding Resource Partner of the Year Award recognizes the resource partner from each region that provided the greatest direct contribution to the regional FSBDC. Hoptry, vice president of Community and Economic Development at Fifth Third Bank, has for the past three years supported the FSBDC at FGCU programs.
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 more information, contact Amanda Stirn, Marketing Director, at astirn@fgcu.edu or (239)745-3706.
Southwest Florida
Young Professionals portal launched
The Southwest Florida Young Professionals Group announces the launch of the organization’s web portal at www.ypswfl.com, offering young professionals, ages 20-40, in Southwest Florida a single source for information on area events, activities and interests for this very specific affinity group.
In 2013 the Horizon Council Workforce Task Force recognized an emerging need to create awareness of what Southwest Florida has to offer the growing number of young professionals in the region. The council commissioned a study that found YPs who move to the area have a difficult time engaging with other YPs since information about events and activities was limited. The task force took on the challenge of developing a solution. Working together with community leaders and the YP audience, they created the Southwest Florida Young Professionals Portal.
The portal, which was funded by Chico’s FAS Inc., Lee Memorial Health System and a grant from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, will allow young professionals from across Southwest Florida grow their business and personal connections. It was produced by Atilus, a web design and internet marketing company based in Bonita Springs, owned by young professionals.
To access the portal, go to www.ypswfl.com.
Lee County Utilities’ annual
water quality report now available
Lee County Utilities’ customers received water that met or exceeded all federal and state requirements last year, according to a recent report that has been placed online.
The 2015 Water Quality Report can be found at www.leewaterquality.com.
The report, which also includes information such as source water assessments and service areas, is required annually by the Environmental Protection Agency. To save ratepayers money, the annual water-quality report can be placed online instead of direct-mailing customers, according to federal regulations.
A printed copy can be obtained by contacting LCU Customer Service at 239-533-8845.