Business Briefs | Sept. 11
Nunez selected for travel event program
Inspire More Travel LLC travel advisor Nicole Nunez has been chosen to participate in the Select Travel Advisor Recognition (STAR) Program at CruiseWorld by Northstar’s annual event.
Set for Nov. 4-6 in Fort Lauderdale, CruiseWorld will bring together travel industry professionals to participate in certification programs, attend keynote speeches by top industry executives, and take part in educational and networking experiences.
Nicole Nunez
The STAR Program works to curate a group of the most dedicated and professional travel advisors in the industry through an application and review process that involves reference checks and an evaluation of current business practices. Participants must meet strict qualifying criteria and demonstrate what it means to be a qualified professional in the travel industry.
STAR participants will be able to explore cutting-edge destinations and products, tour some of the best ships on the water, engage with supplier partners, and form connections with high-level personnel from different companies.
Nunez is based out of Cape Coral.
Van Drie named APEX Award winner
Family Initiative co-founder and Vice President Anjali Van Drie was named the recipient of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s (GFMCC) 2026 APEX Award.
The fifth Annual Chamber Awards took place on July 30 at the Luminary Hotel and the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers.
Organized by the chamber’s Women in Business Committee, the APEX Award recognizes a local woman with an outstanding reputation for professionalism, philanthropy, and leadership.
Van Drie was selected from a finalist field that included Alicia Shannon of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida and Gina Dengler of Collaboratory.
Family Initiative co-founder and Vice President Anjali Van Drie, center, accepts the 2026 APEX Award from the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce on July 20 in Fort Myers. GREATER FORT MYERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
A licensed clinical social worker and board-certified behavior analyst, she has spent more than a decade serving families in the child welfare system and children with disabilities through Family Initiative, a Southwest Florida-based nonprofit providing autism services.
Established in 2015, Family Initiative is a nonprofit organization based in Cape Coral dedicated to supporting children, teens and young adults impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through innovative programs and evidence-based therapies.