Business Briefs 12-13
Mussel Man to appear at Wild About Popcorn in Cape Coral
Mussel Man, the mascot for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels baseball team, formerly known as the Fort Myers Miracle, will be making a special appearance in Cape Coral this weekend.
The Mussel Man Meet & Greet will be held from 2-3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15, at Wild About Popcorn at 1311 Del Prado Blvd., S., Suite D.
The public is urged to stop by the Cape business and meeting Mussel Man and have pictures with him. There will also be drawings for tickets to Mighty Mussels games, Wild About Popcorn T-shirts and hats and bags of the company’s popcorn.
For additional information, call Wild About Popcorn at 239-829-0527.
Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation, Lee County Economic Development set date for annual meeting
The Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation and Lee County Economic Development Office will host their 2020 annual meeting from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 31, at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.
The annual meeting aims to educate attendees on Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation and Lee County Economic Development Office successes in 2019 and plans for 2020. Tickets include a buffet lunch and keynote speaker presentation.
This year’s keynote speaker is Larry Burns, a retired General Motors vice president of research and development. Burns also serves on the board of Kitson & Partners, developers of Babcock Ranch, a master planned community located in southeastern Charlotte County and northeastern Lee County.
Tickets for the annual meeting will go on sale soon; details will follow.
The Lee County Economic Development Office provides business assistance to retain existing businesses, attract new businesses and encourage entrepreneurship to ensure Lee County has a strong economy, thriving communities and broadly shared prosperity.
The Horizon Council is a public-private advisory board established in 1991 to advise the Lee Board of County Commissioners on economic development issues. The Council’s mission is to improve Lee County’s business environment, retain and encourage expansion of existing businesses, and attract new and diversified employers. It is the only public-private partnership of Lee County Government and business leaders.
The Horizon Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization established as a fundraising vehicle enabling individuals and businesses to actively support the program of work of the Horizon Council and the Lee County Economic Development Office. For more information, call 239-533-6800.
Winterfest coming to Fort Myers Brewing Company Dec. 28
Fort Myers Brewing Company has announced its popular winter celebration, Winterfest, an annual family- and pup-friendly event that includes specialty craft beers, local food truck favorites and live entertainment all day long, will be held from noon to 11 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 28
Fort Myers Brewing Company is at 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers.
More than 35 craft beers will be on tap, with new releases rolling out throughout the day. Beer lovers can enjoy their Fort Myers Brewing favorites like Somebody Else’s Dream – Chocolate Stout, as well as a selection of brews made exclusively for Winterfest, including the Winterfest Vienna Lager, KegNog – Christmas Stout, Cranberry Shandy and Coconut Milk Stout.
Six food trucks will be serving up their specialty dishes, including Dave’s Cosmic Subs, The Folkswagen, King’s Tacos & Burritos, The Nosh Truck, Rollin’ Raw Bar and Wicked Streatery.
Live music can be enjoyed throughout the day with performances by Dave Jordan & the NIA at 1 p.m., DJ Memphis on air at 4 p.m. and The Freecoasters at 6 p.m.
Established in 2013, Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first microbrewery to open in Lee County. Founded by Rob and Jen Whyte, Fort Myers Brewing carries a signature line of flagship beers in addition to seasonal brews and small batch specialties. Its ales, pilsners, stouts and IPAs are winners of multiple prestigious awards, including golds at the Best Florida Beer Competition and a silver at the 2018 World Beer Cup. For information, visit FMbrew.com or call 239-313-6576.
MNMW team pembers play Santa for foster children
This Christmas 40 children will receive gifts through Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co., P.A. Every year, MNMW participates in a gift donation program for Foster Care Advisory Services. For 2019, a total of 70 gifts fulfilled the wish lists of the 40 children generously sponsored by MNMW team members.
“The MNMW team always embraces the spirit of giving back to the community and the holidays are an extra special time to do just that,” said Sarah D. Reich, MHR, SHRM-SCP, CPBA, Human Resources manager at MNMW. “Each year when the Foster Care Advisory sponsorship request comes through, our MNMW team members quickly sign up for Santa duty! It is heartwarming to see the special gifts so thoughtfully purchased and beautifully wrapped by our Santas.”
Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A. is a public accounting and consulting firm with offices in both Fort Myers and Naples. Along with traditional tax and accounting services, the firm offers a wide range of other services including business consulting, construction business consulting, medical practice consulting, not-for-profit services, elder services, family mediation services, forensic accounting, human resources consulting, litigation support, marketing and public relations consulting, and technology consulting. For more information, call (239) 433-5554 or visit www.Markham-Norton.com.
Foster Care Advisory Services was founded in 1984 and is dedicated to improving the lives of abused and neglected children. This 100% volunteer supported organization provides additional support for foster care providers. To learn more, visit www.fostercareadvisory.org/.
Entries sought for annual ADDYs
Like the Oscars are to movies and the Emmys are to television, the ADDYs are to advertising. The American Advertising Federation’s most prestigious award recognizes excellence in the art of advertising. And the first-step to national recognition for Southwest Florida advertisers will begin on Feb. 29, at 6:30 p.m., with the awarding of local ADDYs at the 2020 AAF-SWFL ADDY Gala being held at Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center.
Conducted annually by the AAF, the ADDYs are the largest advertising competition in the nation, with 30,000 entries per year. The local ad club phase is the first of the three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, all across the country, local entrants vie to win ADDY Awards – recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District ADDY winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national stage of the American Advertising Awards. Entry in your local ad club competition is the first step toward winning a national ADDY.
Entering the ADDYs supports the entire advertising industry. AAF uses the proceeds to enhance advertising through programs such as public service, internships, advocacy groups, advertising education and consumer awareness.
Entries are now being accepted for the competition and will be accepted through Jan. 10. Costs for entry are:
* Single Entry, AAF Member $105
* Single Entry, Non-Member $175
* Campaign Entry, Member $155
* Campaign Entry, Non-Member $225
* Student – Single or Campaign Entry, $45.
Entries can be submitted at SWFLADDYs.com or dropped off at the offices of the following AAF members:
* The Firm Advertising Agency 264 W. Marion Ave., Suite B, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
* Spiro & Associates 2286 W. First St., Fort Myers, FL 33901
* Presstige Printing 10940 Harmony Park Way, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
* Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. 4933 Tamiami Trail, Suite 203, Naples, FL 34103
AAF-SWFL will be offering a workshop to potential entrants that will explain the rules and expectations for the ADDY Awards submissions. This workshop will take place in early December on Facebook Live. Check @AASWFL on Facebook for date and time.
For more information about the ADDYs and AAF-SWFL visit aafswfl.com or join us on Facebook @SWFLAAF.
Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery Holiday Party today
Today, Friday, Dec. 13, from 5-7 p.m., Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery will hold its annual Holiday Party featuring award-winning author and local favorite, Robert N. Macomber, who’ll continue the tradition of sounding the conch at sunset and signing books for the perfectly personalized holiday gifts.
It’s free and open to the pubic.
Pizza, wine and the best selection home decor, gifts and more will be available at this festive open house next to the Matlacha Bridge at 4332 Pine Island Road. Plan to put a huge dent in your holiday shopping list while having tons of fun!
Find Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery is at 4332 Pine Island Road and give its friendly staff a call at 239-283-1335 for details or visit www.PineBayGallery.com