Sunshine Ace Hardware raises $18,483 for Golisano Children’s Hospital during Children’s Miracle Network holiday campaign

Sunshine Ace Hardware raised $18,483 during its Children’s Miracle Network holiday campaign, which helps fund life-changing medical treatments for pediatric patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Customers at Sunshine Ace were able to donate by rounding up their purchases or choosing a dollar amount at the register. The Downtown Naples store location raised the highest amount among all Sunshine Ace Hardware store locations.

Nationally, Ace Hardware is a proud partner of Children’s Miracle Network, which raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments annually. Funds collected stay local to provide critical treatments and healthcare services, and support research and training to save and improve the lives of children. Across the U.S., 1,650 Ace stores raised over $2.6 million for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals during November and December campaigns, a new record that brought the total raised during round-ups in 2021 to more than $8.2 million, a year-over-year increase exceeding $1 million.

Family-owned and operated since 1958, Sunshine Ace Hardware is one of Florida’s largest family-owned home improvement retailers. The Naples-based company operates nine locations in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Pinellas counties, as well as two Crowder Bros. stores in Manatee County. Sunshine Ace is a source for power equipment, paint, hardware, fishing gear, plumbing products, electrical supplies, gifts and home improvement products. Sunshine Ace offers three convenient options to shop: in-store, curbside pickup and online with home delivery. For operating hours and locations, please visit SunshineAce.com.

Greater Fort Myers Chamber to highlight Lee County tourism at Jan. 27 luncheon

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 27 will provide valuable insight on tourism in Lee County.

Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Executive Director Tamara Pigott will provide an update on the current state of tourism and latest data, and share a behind-the-scenes look into how the VCB markets the region as a must-see destination. Pigott will also showcase the VCB’s new campaign, website, visitor guide and branding for 2022.

Pigott oversees the promotion of Lee County as a travel destination to targeted domestic and international visitors, including vacationers and business travelers.

The luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Myers-Estero, located at 10450 Corkscrew Commons Drive in Estero. Admission is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for future members. Limited seating is available, and attendees must register in advance.

To learn more or to register, visit FortMyers.org or call 239-332-2930.

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank hires Lentz

Tracey Lentz has joined Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as a teller at its Gateway Branch, located at 11691 Gateway Blvd. She is responsible for assisting customers with personal and business banking transactions.

A seasoned banking professional, Lentz has over three decades of experience in the banking industry. She has worked as a teller and customer service representative for various community, regional and national financial institutions.

Founded in 2003, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has two locations on Sanibel Island and six more locations throughout Lee County. The bank’s team members provide customized individual and business banking services and specialize in residential and commercial lending. The bank offers free personal and business checking, deposit accounts with competitive interest rates, instant issue debit cards and a full array of digital banking products and services. To learn more, visit www.SanCapBank.com

Tweeds Suit Shop expands to the Fort Myers and Naples market

Tweeds Suit Shop, a custom, mobile suit shop located in Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa, has now expanded to the Fort Myers and Naples markets. Made to measure and made for you, the mobile shop housed in a custom-outfitted box truck brings a unique buying experience to the customer. With two trucks taking appointment-only fittings in Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa, the expansion into Fort Myers and Naples brings the elevated bespoke suit-buying experience to the greater Gulf Coast region.

Whether you’re in the market for a suit for a wedding, engagement, event or everyday business wear, the Tweeds one-on-one process allows for a hands-on design approach to best understand the customer’s wants and needs for a perfect suit. Each and every detail, from start-to-finish, allows for the customer to be involved – from the selection of fabric and style down to lining, buttons, thread color and custom embroidery, each and every detail is designed together with the customer.

Schedule an appointment and Tweed’s Suit Shop decked-out box truck will either come to you wherever you are located. Taking a step up into the truck evokes the feeling of a funky, downtown, Brooklyn-inspired showroom with books of fabric swatches and materials that scream luxury.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Tweed’s Suit Shop, visit www.tweedssuitshop.com.

Aglaë Van den Bergh joins Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP

Attorney Aglaë “Aggie” Van den Bergh has joined Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP, a law firm specializing in estate and business planning, probate, elder law and corporate law.

With more than five years of legal experience, Van den Bergh’s areas of expertise include estate planning, probate, and corporate law. Prior to joining the firm, she was a litigation associate for a multinational law firm, and she represented the State of Hawaii as a staff attorney in consumer protection and professional licensing enforcement cases. A member of The Florida Bar and the Hawaii State Bar Association, Van den Bergh holds bachelor’s degrees in finance and international business, a Master of Business Administration and law degree from University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Van den Bergh received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Elder Law in 2015.

Since 2000, Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP has provided high-quality legal services to Florida individuals and businesses. With more than 225 years of combined legal expertise, the attorneys work proactively with clients and businesses to help formulate and implement estate planning objectives in a tax-efficient manner and provide specialized solutions for tax and business matters.

Green Schoenfeld & Kyle’s specialty areas of practice are estate planning; guardianship, probate, estate and trust administration; business planning, corporate, LLC and partnership law; estate and gift tax planning; Medicaid and VA benefits; and elder law. For more information, visit www.gskattorneys.com.

Nearly 1 million passengers travel through Southwest Florida International Airport in November

During November, a record-breaking 986,908 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. This was an increase of 97 percent compared to November 2020 and 13 percent more than the passenger traffic in November 2019.

Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 73 percent compared to last year. This is the seventh consecutive month that RSW has reported record-breaking passenger traffic.

The traffic leader in November was Southwest with 198,737 total passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Delta (166,206), American (154,068), United (147,482) and Spirit (100,597).

Southwest Florida International Airport had 9,219 aircraft operations, an increase of 30 percent compared to November 2020. Page Field saw 12,793 operations, a 33 percent increase compared to November 2020.

Southwest Florida International Airport served nearly 6 million passengers in 2020 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction. For more information, visit flylcpa.com or facebook.com/flyRSW.

Bordeaux promoted to vice president of development and design at CONRIC pr +

With the growing demand for visual content and digital media CONRIC pr + marketing continues to expand and elevate its team to better serve clients. After nearly a decade with the agency, April Bordeaux has been promoted to vice president of development and design. In her role, she will help to research, implement and manage organizational systems that will enhance performance and outcomes as the agency grows.

In addition, she will continue to work with key clients and the marketing team to ensure quality visual content creation across all media platforms that exceed expectations and are in compliance with individual brand guidelines.

Bordeaux will work closely with clients and CONRIC team members to develop and implement design concepts and creative solutions for a variety of media while overseeing design projects and troubleshooting challenges amid day-to-day operations during a time of great growth for the company. Bordeaux will also be responsible for the strategy, development, implementation, optimization and evaluation of operational policies and procedures, and work collaboratively with the agency’s executive leadership team to foster continued organizational health well into the future.

Bordeaux has served as creative director for CONRIC since 2013.She holds degrees in finance and digital design from Edison State College (now Florida SouthWestern State College) and Southwest Florida College.

CONRIC pr + marketing a leading creative digital marketing, branding, public relations, advertising and web development agencies in Southwest Florida. Connie Ramos-Williams launched the award-winning, full-service agency in 2007. The firm serves a diverse portfolio of clients in 35 states across the country in industry sectors including financial, legal, education, medical, government, non-profit, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, real estate, association, and salon and spa. CONRIC pr + marketing has offices located at 5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd., Suite 307, in Fort Myer,s and 1415 Panther Lane in Naples. For more information, call 239-690-9840 or visit conricpr.com.

Puopolo becomes Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., is pleased to announce that stockholder Shannon M. Puopolo is now Florida Supreme Court Certified as a Circuit Court Mediator. She can be found on the Dispute Resolution Center’s website under Twentieth Circuit Mediators.

Puopolo joined Henderson Franklin as a summer associate before her final year at the University of Miami School of Law and has spent her entire career at the firm. In 2019, she was appointed as the first female hiring chair, responsible for hiring the brightest talent to guide Henderson Franklin’s future.

Puopolo distinguishes herself in the realm of alternative finance law, a new up-and-coming area of law in Florida. She represents companies and financial institutions involved in complex business litigation matters, including alternative finance transactions, partnership disputes, association law, collection matters, commercial and residential eviction proceedings, creditors’ rights in bankruptcy, lien law, and real estate and trust litigation.

Puopolo received her law degree from Miami School of Law, cum laude, and her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She may be reached at 239-344-1116 or via email at shannon.puopolo@henlaw.com.

Henderson Franklin is one of the largest, locally-based law firms 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, business and civil litigation, eminent domain, intellectual property, workers’ compensation, employment law, real estate, and land use and environmental law. Since 1924, Henderson Franklin has been assisting clients to build their homes, businesses, and communities in Southwest Florida. Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples and Sarasota (by appointment). For more information on Puopolo or Henderson Franklin, please visit www.henlaw.com.

FPRA Southwest Florida Chapter member Aguirre earns professional public relations accreditation

Gaby Aguirre, APR, of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, recently earned professional public relations accreditation, and received the designation of Accredited in Public Relations.

Aguirre joins the more than 4,300 active public relations professionals worldwide who represent an elite group of skilled professionals committed to practicing with high ethical standards, including 40 currently in Southwest Florida.

Aguirre is the communications specialist at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Lee County. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication from Florida Gulf Coast University. Her background in the public relations field includes past work and volunteer experiences with organizations, locally and abroad, in the UK and Central America.

To earn public relations accreditation, candidates must pass an oral presentation and rigorous written examination administered by the Universal Accreditation Board, which is an alliance of eight national and statewide professional associations dedicated to furthering the field of public relations and the development of public relations professionals. FPRA is a member of the UAB.

Established in 1938, FPRA is the oldest public relations organization dedicated to developing public relations practitioners, who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. It is comprised of 15 professional and 14 student chapters throughout the state, providing professional development, networking and professional recognition opportunities. The Southwest Florida Chapter serves professionals in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. For additional information, please visit the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA website at www.fpraswfl.org

Frances Mallo joins Iron Ridge Insurance Services

Iron Ridge Insurance Services is adding another experienced senior account executive to its team of risk management professionals. Frances Mallo has joined the boutique insurance agency and brings more than 22 years of commercial and personal insurance expertise to her new role.

Headquartered in Fort Myers, Iron Ridge is an independent agency that serves both personal and commercial clients. It specializes in offering customized risk management solutions to religious organizations, condominium and homeowners’ associations, healthcare providers, attorneys and law offices, and architects and engineers.

Mallo possesses an Associate in Underwriting and an Associate in Insurance Services from the American Institute for Chartered property Casualty Underwriters. She also holds Accredited Advisor in Insurance designation, a professional classification earned by insurance producers who demonstrate superior knowledge in their field.

Established in 2011, Iron Ridge Insurance Services (www.IronRidgeInsurance.com) is a boutique independent agency helps clients manage risk through professional liability, management liability, data breach liability, general liability, commercial property, workers’ compensation and commercial auto insurance programs. Iron Ridge Insurance serves commercial clients in a variety of fields, but specializes in managing risk for architects and engineers, physicians and medical practices, condominium and homeowners’ associations, and legal providers. The agency also offers competitive personal insurance solutions for individuals and families. For an evaluation of your commercial or personal insurance coverage, contact Iron Ridge Insurance Services at 800-775-8526 or info@IronRidgeInsurance.com.

Cuffel joins Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP

Attorney Joe Cuffel has joined Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP, a law firm specializing in estate and business planning, probate, elder law and corporate law.

Cuffel is a member of The Florida Bar and Lee County Bar Association. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a law clerk for a trusts and estates firm that specializes in tax issues, asset protection and estate planning. Cuffel holds bachelor’s degrees in marketing and real estate from Florida State University, a law degree from Stetson University College of Law, and a master of laws in Taxation from the University of Florida.

Since 2000, Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP has provided legal services to Florida individuals and businesses. With more than 225 years of combined legal expertise, the attorneys work proactively with clients and businesses to help formulate and implement estate planning objectives in a tax-efficient manner and provide specialized solutions for tax and business matters.

Green Schoenfeld & Kyle’s specialty areas of practice are estate planning; guardianship, probate, estate and trust administration; business planning, corporate, LLC and partnership law; estate and gift tax planning; Medicaid and VA benefits; and elder law. For more information, visit www.gskattorneys.com.

CONRIC pr + marketing adds Myers as digital marketing strategist

CONRIC pr + marketing has added Keegan Myers as digital marketing strategist. Myers will work closely with CONRIC’s clients and digital marketing team to create, implement, and manage innovative strategies that effectively help businesses exceed set goals and objectives.

Myers who has experience in digital marketing, copywriting, design and creative direction, will produce content for digital newsletters, blogs, and social media. Myers will identify digital marketing opportunities and develop strategies that serve to increase brand awareness and improve customer experience across multiple online platforms.

Myers earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from University of South Florida in Tampa and is currently attending Florida Gulf Coast University to obtain a master’s degree in business administration.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 239-690-9840.