Greater Fort Myers Chamber to meet July 21

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s next monthly luncheon will share insights on how to maintain a greater work-life balance.

David Essel, a best-selling author, counselor, master life coach, international speaker, TV/radio host and minister, will spotlight ways to take back control in life and reestablish work-life balance, covering the importance of health benefits relating to a balanced life as well as how to navigate stress, the never-ending workday, time management and scheduling.

The luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Thursday, July 21, at Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center, 9931 Interstate Commerce Drive, in Fort Myers. Admission is $25 for chamber members and $35 for future members. Visit https://fortmyers.org/ to register.

Gulf Coast Business Bank grand opening

Gulf Coast Business Bank invites the community to celebrate its grand opening on July 21, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The new bank is located at 12205 Metro Parkway, in Fort Myers. Guests will enjoy food, drinks, live entertainment and giveaways.

“We are excited to celebrate our grand opening with the community and look forward to serving Southwest Florida businesses and individuals with their financial needs,” said Bill Blevins, President and CEO. “We are locally owned and operated by some of the area’s most experienced bankers so we are personally invested in the success of the community and its businesses. We offer personalized service that goes above and beyond to help local businesses and families that can’t get what they need from national banks.”

GCBB offers competitive and tailored products and services for businesses and individuals, state-of-the-art technology, convenient locations (future opening in Collier County), and personal, relationship-based community banking with decisions made locally.

Gulf Coast Business Bank is Southwest Florida’s first community bank to open in 12 years. The Metro location is currently open for business. For more information, please visit gcbbswfl.com.

Waste Pro in Fort Myers to host hiring event Saturday

On Saturday, July 16, Waste Pro’s Fort Myers Division is hosting a hiring event for all positions, including Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) drivers, helpers, technicians and customer service representatives. Interviews will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Applicants are asked to bring a resume, motor vehicle record, DOT medical card and driver’s license.

Interviews and road tests will be conducted on the spot. Same-day offers with sign-on retention bonuses from $1,500 -$5,000 are available.

Drivers must have a CDL. Waste Pro is licensed by the Florida Department of Transportation to issue CDLs and is proud to offer its Co-Heart Program to employees who wish to earn one. The program typically takes approximately 90 days to complete.

Drivers and helpers who are hired and go three years without accidents, injuries or property damage are eligible to earn a $10,000 Safety Award (Drivers) or $5,000 Safety Award (Helpers).

Larriva named Women to Watch Award recipient

Veronica Larriva, a partner with McHale, P.A., was recently named the Emerging Leader winner of the 2022 Women to Watch Awards by the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. This award is given annually to only one female CPA selected from the entire state of Florida.

Larriva is a licensed certified public accountant and joined McHale, P.A. in 2008. She earned a master of science in accounting and taxation with a minor in business management from Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business, where she graduated with honors. Her area of focus is in forensic accounting, fraud investigation, Ponzi schemes and bankruptcies.

In January 2017, she received the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ “Horizon Award,” which recognizes the brightest young CPAs in the state of Florida. Larriva is a frequent guest speaker at her alma mater’s forensic accounting class, where she teaches and provides guidance to accounting students. She speaks fluent English and Spanish and has an advanced level of Portuguese.

The Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

McHale has been serving the Southwest Florida community since 1993 and specializes in forensic accounting, receiverships, litigation support and bankruptcies.

For more information, please visit mchalepa.com or call 239-337-0808.

Fort Myers Brewing to host Craft Beer for Clean Water July 16

Fort Myers Brewing Company is hosting Craft Beer for Clean Water at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, a community fundraiser to benefit Captains for Clean Water.

The event will feature craft brews, food trucks, live music and prize drawings, with a goal of raising money to help the 501(c)(3) grassroots nonprofit in its mission to restore and protect Florida’s water resources for the use and enjoyment of all. Guests can enjoy local food from Cositas Gourmet, Vesuvius Wood Fired Pizza and Viva La Taco and live music all evening long with performances by David Rojas and Hat Trick.

Additionally, Fort Myers Brewing has teamed up with Captains for Clean Water to debut a special release of Send It South Pale Ale, a classic American Pale Ale brewed with Strata, Grungeist and Cascade hops. Proceeds from sales of the limited-edition brew will go directly to Captains for Clean Water.

Craft Beer for Clean Water will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. at Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers. For more information, visit Facebook.com/FMBrew or call 239-313-6576.

Henderson Franklin welcomes Pica

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., recently announced that Michael-Anthony Pica has joined the firm as an associate in the Business Litigation Department. He will assist clients involved in business and partnership disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, bankruptcy, alternative finance litigation, and other corporate litigation matters.

Pica has 16 years of experience as an assistant state attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit and as an assistant statewide prosecutor for the Attorney General’s Office. He has over 100 jury trials under his belt, including one which lasted six weeks and resulted in a favorable verdict. His trial acumen and leadership within the Attorney General’s office earned him the position of bureau chief, which he held for eight years.

In addition to practicing law, Pica is an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and an instructor at the Southwest Florida Public Service Academy. He earned his undergraduate degree at Drew University and his juries doctorate at St. Thomas University School of Law. Pica may be reached at michael-anthony.pica@henlaw.com or by phone at 239-344-1356.

Henderson Franklin has served the legal needs and communities of Southwest Florida since 1924. The firm has over 55 attorneys 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. Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples and Sarasota (by appointment). For more information on Pica or Henderson Franklin, please visit www.henlaw.com.

Restaurant coupon book fundraiser halfway to goal

The Fort Myers Metro-McGregor Kiwanis has recruited 40 local restaurants in Lee County to offer dining discounts in a “Delicious Dining Discount” coupon book for $25. Most discounts are valid now through Nov. 15, 2022. Now in its 14th year, the coupon book is the club’s largest fundraiser with all profits going back to help local children and the local community. Typically, the coupon is “Buy one entrée, get one of equal or lesser value, with the purchase of two beverages,” but some restrictions may be applied depending on the restaurant. Each coupon can only be redeemed one-time.

The club is currently halfway to the goal of reaching $20,000.

A few of the restaurants featured in the “Delicious Dining Discounts” book include 3 Fisherman Seafood Restaurant, Bayfront Bistro, Cantina Laredo, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Edison Restaurant, Haney’s Café, Il Pomodoro, India Palace, Maria’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant, Matanzas on the Bay, Mona Lisa Italian Restaurant, Nick & Stella’s Family Sports Pub, Old 41 Restaurant, Paradise Deli & Grill, PierSide Grill, Sasse’s Restaurant, The Saucy Meatball, The Standard, Stillwater Grille, Trattoria Mia, The Whale and Wylds Café.

To purchase a “Delicious Dining Discount” book, please visit one of the following locations:

• Bennett Chiropractic, 7130 Estero Boulevard Suite #1, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

• Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, 2051 Cape Coral Parkway E Cape Coral, FL 33904

• Cozette Salon, 16731 McGregor Boulevard, Suite #113, Fort Myers, FL 33908

• Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, 2450 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

• Gavin’s Ace Hardware, 16025 San Carlos Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33908

• Gavin’s Ace Hardware, 290 Nicholas Parkway NW Cape Coral, FL 33991

• Kiwanis Fort Myers Beach Thrift Store, 11050 Summerlin Square Drive, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

• My Pack & Ship, 15271 McGregor Boulevard, Suite #160, Fort Myers, FL 33908

• The UPS Store, 16970 San Carlos Boulevard, Suite #160, Fort Myers, FL 33908

The book can be purchased online through the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce website at https://www.fortmyersbeach.org/product/bogo/ for $29.

Purchase a Delicious Dining Discount book by mail by making $25 checks payable to Fort Myers Metro-McGregor Kiwanis P.O. Box 61104 Fort Myers, FL 33906-1104. This cost includes mailing. For more information, please email DiscountDining@metro-mcgregor.com or visit https://k10014.site.kiwanis.org/dining-books/.

The Fort Myers Metro-McGregor Kiwanis is seeking partner organizations in selling the books and restaurants that wish to be part of the next edition. For more information, please email DiscountDining@metro-mcgregor.com or visit https://k10014.site.kiwanis.org/

The Fort Myers Metro-McGregor Kiwanis is looking for more service-minded individuals and business professionals who would like to make a direct impact on the community through volunteering. Meetings are held every Tuesday. For details on joining the Fort Myers Metro-McGregor Kiwanis, please call membership chair Linda Petrik at 239-357-2053. Interested individuals or businesses can also email linda3petrik@gmail.com. The Fort Myers Metro-McGregor Kiwanis can be found on Facebook or online at https://k10014.site.kiwanis.org/.

Gosling joins Pushing the Envelope

Pushing the Envelope, Inc., a strategic marketing communication firm based in Fort Myers, welcomes Richard Gosling as a digital marketing assistant.

In his role, Gosling is responsible for assisting in the development of social media strategies, as well as the production of social media content, email marketing efforts, and inbound Internet marketing to execute successful digital initiatives.

Gosling is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in marketing at Florida Gulf Coast University. A veteran, he previously served as a squad Leader in the United States Marine Corps and held a variety of marketing roles for local real estate brokerages in Southwest Florida.

Pushing the Envelope, Inc. is a strategic marketing communication firm. Based in Fort Myers, the firm services clients both regionally and nationally. For more information, please call 239-221-2858, visit GetPushing.com, or email Info@GetPushing.com.

CONRIC pr + marketing appoints Asher chief operating officer

CONRIC pr + marketing has welcomed Marin Asher to the agency to help lead the company’s growing team of marketing professionals as chief operating officer. Asher will oversee the business’s day-to-day administrative and operational functions in this role.

Asher’s marketing career spans over two decades and includes experience in video production, graphic design, web development, online marketing, advertising sales, magazine publishing, event promotion, copywriting and photography. Most recently, Asher was the director of sales and marketing for a local service-based business where she wrote and directed an Addy Award-winning 30-second television commercial as part of a successful 2022 advertising campaign. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the marketing, she also developed and managed an inside sales team which helped increase the company’s sales by 28%.

Since moving to Fort Myers in 2002, Asher has utilized her marketing talents and connections within the community to support many nonprofits in the area.

CONRIC pr + marketing is a national creative digital marketing, branding, public relations, advertising and web development agency headquartered 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 Myers, and 1415 Panther Lane in Naples. For more information, call 239-690-9840 or visit conricpr.com.

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