Member News! - Fort Myers Beach

Volume 27, Number 9
FortMyersBeachChamber.org
239-454-7500
October 2012
News
&
Views
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER FORT MYERS BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
OFFICERS/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Jennifer Seaborn, Chair – Sunstream Hotels & Resorts
Norma Pevey, Chair Elect – Associate Member
John Gavin, Vice Chair – Gavins Ace Hardware
David Anderson, Treasurer – Krusty Pete's
Bud Nocera, President – FMB Chamber
Fran Myers, Foundation – Red Coconut RV Park
RETIRING 31 DECEMBER 2012
Jeff Pultorak – Alpha Networks
Chris Heidrick – Heidrick & Co
Eric Tibbs – Edward Jones
Rob DeGennaro – Nervous Nellies
Nichole Bennett – Bennett Chiropractic
Curt Brenner – Gullwing Beach Resort
RETIRING 31 DECEMBER 2013
Jim Lambeth – A Better Bugman
Roxie Smith – Pink Shell Development
Dan Eaton – Us Coast Guard Auxillary
Mark Chidley – Mark Chidley Lmhc
John Armitstead – Lee Memorial Health Systems
RETIRING 31 DECEMBER 2014
Steve DeAngelis – Nervous Nellie’s
Brooke Klay – Associate Member
Terry Luster – Kiwanis Ft. Myers Gateway to Islands
Ann Alsop – C21 Tripower
Robb Capps – Premier Sandals Realty
SPECIAL DIRECTORS
Tom Hart – Humphrey Knott et al
Fran Myers – Red Coconut RV Park
FOUNDATION BOARD DIRECTORS:
John Albion
Ann Alsop – C21 Tripower
Rob Fowler – Fowler Company
Maryanne Baker – Sunstream Realty Inc
FOUNDATION BOARD OFFICERS:
Fran Myers, President – Red Coconut RV Resort
Roxie Smith, Vice President – Pink Shell Development
Trish Leonard is our speaker for the
October Luncheon at Sunshine Grille
Trish Leonard, IOM,(Institute of
Organizational Management)
is the Director of Marketing for
Florida Gulf Coast University
-Small Business Development
(SBDC) she has been practicing
marketing and public relations
for the past 25 years in the
Southwest Florida.
Trish brings a long history
of local and national ties to the area and is
very involved in the community serving on
several boards and committees. She cur-
rently serves as President of the
European American Network, is
a board member of the Southwest Florida Speakers Assembly,
Vice Chair City of Bonita Springs
Arts in Public Places, Founder
of the Commercial Sales Industry Professionals ( CSIP) and is
affiliate member of the Bonita
Springs Estero Board of Realtors,
and member several Chamber
of Commerce. She is a graduate of the, U.S.
Chamber National Accredited Institute of Organizational Management program and Leadership Bonita.
Save the Date:
The Greater Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Christmas Boat Parade will light up Fort
Save
the Date:
Myers Beach on December
1, 2012.
The event is expected to feature 30 to 40 illuminated boats decorated with a dazzling array of animated
Christmas scenes and filling the air with Christmas carols. This spectacular night time
parade will be led by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus on the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Boat sponsored The
by Fish
Tale Marina,
Shell
Beach Chamber
Resort, andof
Mango
Street Chris
Greater
Fort Pink
Myers
Beach
Commerce
Inn. The festive boats will navigate the intracoastal on a two hour journey as thousands
Beach on
December
1, areas,
2012.and
The
event
is expected
t
of spectators gather atMyers
local waterfront
restaurants,
public
private
homes
to
watch the parade and celebrate
the with
holiday
season. array of animated Christmas scen
decorated
a dazzling
People’s Choice award.carols.
Ballots for
thespectacular
People’s Choice
awards
willparade
be available
at parThis
night
time
will be
led by Mr.
ticipating locations. There is a $25 fee for Vessels.
Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Boat sponsored by Fis
If you would like to participate in the 2012 Christmas Boat Parade please contact the
Resort,
and Mango
Street Inn.Registration
The festive
boats
will navigat
Fort Myers Beach Chamber
of Commerce
at 239.454.7500.
forms
are available on the Chamber Website
at as
http://fortmyersbeachchamber.org.
If you would
likewaterfron
to
journey
thousands of spectators gather
at local
be a sponsor, contact Nancy Eaton at the Chamber Office.
private homes to watch the parade and celebrate the holiday
People’s Choice award. Ballots for the People’s Choice awa
Committee Meetings & Events
October 4 7:30 am
Business Card Exchange Perkins,
11410 Summerlin Square, Ft Myers Beach
9:00 am
Ambassador meeting
Chamber Office
October 9 8:00 am
Marketing Committee meeting
Chamber Office
October 10 8:00 am
Executive Board meeting
Chamber Office
October 11 11:30 am
Membership Luncheon
Sunshine Grille, 8700 Gladiolus, Ft Myers
October 13
Tom Sawyer Day
Chamber Office
Board Highlights
From the September Board Meeting
October 17 8:00 am
Board meeting
Chamber Office
 6 new members were reviewed
 Tom Sawyer day will be October 13th to help paint the Chamber
building. The paint color was chosen.
October 18 10:00 am
Traffic Committee meeting
Chamber Office
Business After Hours
location to be determined
 3 Duratrans will be displayed on the lobby highlighting Chamber
events.
5:30 pm
 The 2013 Shrimp 5K has been cancelled.
 The Spirit of the Holidays committee has started meeting.
October 22 4:30 pm
Boat Parade Committee meeting
Chamber Office
If you would like to join any of these committees,
contact Jane Ross at 454-7500.
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October 2012
fortmyersbeachchamber.org
By Bud Nocera
Getting Ready for Season
This is the time of year that our beach businesses spend time and effort to spruce up
for the coming season. No exterior maintenance has been done on our Chamber
building or parking lot in eight years. Like
our member businesses, we too want to
improve the appearance of our Chamber of
Commerce, sprucing up our exterior building
for season.
To that end, on Saturday, October 13, from 9
a.m. until 3 p.m., we are asking for a small
group of volunteers to join staff in painting
the exterior of the Chamber building, reseal
the parking lot and clean up the leaves and
dead tree limbs at the rear of our property.
We need ten volunteers to paint the building, six volunteers to begin resealing the
parking lot, and four volunteers to assist in
cleaning up the leaves and branches from
the messy gumbo limbo trees in the back of
the property. So we will need 20 volunteers
in all.
We will have paint roller handles, roller
covers and paint trays. We still need paint
roller extensions, so bring one if you have
one. Lunch will be served to all volunteers.
To sign up for the volunteer effort, please
call Jane Ross at the chamber, 454-7500.
A big thank you goes to John Gavin and John
Cavada and the Gavin family at Gavin’s Ace
Hardware. The Gavins are donating all the
paint and painting supplies to the Chamber for this project. Their gift well exceeds
a thousand dollars and it is so very much
appreciated.
Another big thank you goes to JW Walker,
owner of Morning Sun Maintenance, 16231
Sunset Strip, Fort Myers, Fl 33908, (239)
810-8448 [email protected].
JW volunteered to power wash the entire
building prior to painting and in doing this
saved us many hundreds of dollars.
Our hope is that our Chamber members
will recognize their kindness and their efforts by shopping at Gavin’s Ace Hardware
and using the good services at Morning Sun
Maintenance. Both companies should be
recognized and rewarded for their efforts to
make this chamber look great for not only
the coming season, but the coming years.
E-MAIL: [email protected]
www.FortMyersBeachChamber.org
17200 San Carlos Boulevard/Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931
239-454-7500 / FAX: 239-454-7910
fortmyersbeachchamber.org
October 2012
3
Renewing
Members
 Matanzas Inn Restaurant
 BB&T-Beach
 Heidrick & Company Insurance and
Risk Man
 Hermansen, Joni
 Dolphin Inn
 St. Raphael's By The Sea Church
 Davis & Associates, CPA's
 Seminole Gulf Railway
 Shell Point Retirement Community
 Sun Homes
 Fort Myers Beach Elementary School
PTO
Glee Ann Agius  Salty Sam's Marina
Eryka Aptake-Wagner  East Commerce
Solutions
Introducing VIP Realty Group
erties throughout the
state of Florida. Our
vacation rental website Rental.VIPRealty.com showcases
our various vacation
rental properties on
Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach.
VIP Realty Group
(Sales and Vacation
Rentals) is happy to
be an active part of
the Fort Myers Beach
Community.
Established in 1974
VIP has become one
of the largest privately owned, full
service Real Estate
Companies in the
Florida. VIP Realty
Associates provide unparalleled customer
service and consistently strive to build longterm relationships. VIP is committed to providing the best service in the real estate industry. Because of this commitment, we are
a full-service real estate company.
VIP Sales Associates are dedicated and customer driven. VIP's dedication to leading
edge telephone and mobile support has provided our agents with superior connectivity
and information services in Southwest Florida for many years. Our website VIPRealty.
com allows people to search all listed prop-
Dwayne Bowes  Residence Inn Fort Myers /
Sanibel
VIP has relationships
with many distinguished affiliates
across the globe.
Having these
relationships with affiliates strengthens our
position in the market-place and helps VIP
provide additional services to our clients.
Customer Satisfaction is our number one priority! We are dedicated to our customers and
to ensuring the best real estate process in the
industry. We look forward to working with you!
Karen Swanbeck
Teamswanbeck at VIP Realty Group
239.292.6285
[email protected]
www.viprealty.com
Robb Capps  Premier Sandals Realty
Steve DeAngelis  Nervous Nellie’s
Barbara Farrell  IBERBANK
Pat Ferguson  Accountable & Professional
Home Watch Services
Denice Knudsen  Premier Sandals Realty
Terry Luster  Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers
Gateway to the Islands
Eric Tibbs  Edward Jones & Co.
Gary Donabed  Synovus Bank
Sandy Lepley  Century 21 Tripower Realty
Mike Bint  Kings of Merch
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October 2012
Sandy Lepley, MBA, Ed.D.,
Broker-Associate
Sandy Lepley, MBA, Ed.D., Broker-Associate,
is a third generation Fort Myers area resident,
although she was born in Hawaii where her
father, Mac Justice, served in the Navy. Sandy's father later became an avid blue grass
banjo musician/recording artist while enjoying a career spanning NY to Washington DC
as an executive with IBM. The family gathfortmyersbeachchamber.org
ered at Fort Myers
Beach as often as
possible over the
years.
Family members
owned/operated
King Symonds Re-
Welcome NBS Technology Services
We at NBS Technology Services, are proud to be on the frontline of technology and the advertising market here on Fort Myers Beach. I am sure some of you have received our introductory
phone call from Jonathan explaining a little about what we do and why it is of value.
Florida thrives off of its visitors and migrant residents and this area is no different. Season is
huge here, it makes up for the majority of revenue for a lot of businesses in the area.
That being said, we all know visitors now are younger than they were 10 years ago, anyone
that has a child or grandchild knows that a child is more computer savvy than the average
middle aged adult. The new generations are becoming harder and harder to reach through
existing mediums of advertising. We don’t watch T.V commercials or listen to radio advertisements anymore, we have satellite radio and MP3 players with your favorite mix and get our
“t.v. shows” online.
We offer several services to get you up and running with an online presence through our splash
pages on Beachlist.org, Website creation, Search Engine Optimization, and WiFi installs, as
well as PC repair, and maintenance contracts.
CALLING ALL
VOLUNTEERS!
You are needed!
Looking for volunteers for our 26th
American Sandsculpting which will be
November 16 through the 25th. Need 10
to 20 volunteers for each day. You will
receive a free T shirt and a complimentary
pass to share with family or friends to the
event. Also you will be provided a free
lunch for each day you work.
Call me please at 454-7500 or email me
at [email protected]
Thanks in advance for your help.
Jane Ross, Member Services/Volunteer
Coordinator
Thank you all for helping the WiFi hotspot project on Fort Myers Beach become a reality. The
captive portal began broadcasting in early September and we are averaging 100 people a day
seeing Beachlist.org. For everyone that we have not spoken to or who has not heard of us yet,
we hope to hear from you soon. Please contact Jon at (239) 867-6708 or Ivan at (239) 2174911 with any questions.
Sandy Lepley, MBA, Ed.D., Broker-Associate
alty, Inc., in Fort Myers, a commercial and
residential real estate development and
sales firm from 1964 - 2003. Sandy joined
their business in 1998 after careers in guidance counseling, marketing management/
consulting, and college administration. In
2003 Sandy joined the Century 21 office
which is now the South office of the dynamic
Century 21 Tri-Power Realty, Inc on Fort Myers Beach. Dr. Lepley resides at the beach
with her husband, Dennis.
Recognized two years in a row as a "5 STAR
REALTOR" by Gulfshore Life Magazine, Sandy
offers excellent customer service.She is a
member of the Realtor Assn. of Greater Fort
Myers and the Beaches, and the Commercial
and Investment Professionals of SW Fla. She
is active with the Fort Myers Beach Chamber
of Commerce, serving on the Marketing and
Ambassador Committees. Sandy also volunteers part-time for the Fort Myers Beach
Elementary School and St. Raphael's after
school program.
Sandy and Dennis have a combined family
of four grown sons and two grandchildren.
They enjoy the beach, football, fishing, and
dancing to doo wop music. Sandy plays the
keyboard as often as possible, and loves to
cook! They enjoy socializing with their many
real estate customers who are now good
friends.
September
Bambi Donations
Airstream Aristocrat $100+ :

Roxie Smith – Pink Shell
Development
Contact Sandy Lepley for your real estate
needs at (239)463-4484 or by e-mail at [email protected].
fortmyersbeachchamber.org
October 2012
5
Member News!
Beach Businesses Come Together to Save Pirate Fest
On Wednesday, September 25th the
company that responsible for Pirate
Fest announced on its web site that
it was cancelling the event, which is
scheduled to take place the weekend
of October 5th.
Pirate Fest brings an estimated
12,000 visitors to the beach in a soft
business month. For years it has been
a great boost to our local economy in
October. Cancelling the event 10 days
out was both shocking and potentially devastating to both business revenues and the reputation of the our
community. Faux pirates from all over
the state look forward to this event,
book rooms and come in groups to
participate in the festival’s events.
In times of trouble people rise to the occasion.
In a great showing of working for the common
good, the merchants and business owners of
Times Square, Old San Carlos Blvd. and San
Carlos Island met the very next morning to
pick up the pieces and make sure the event
takes place as originally planned.
Dave Anderson from Krusty Pete’s commandeered the Pirate Fest web site and made
sure it said the festival would still take place.
Steve DiAngellis from Nervous Nellies worked
with local news media to make sure the word
got out that the event was still on. He visited
town hall to see what could be done with permits for the event. As a fall back, Stevie made
plans to utilize as much of the Nervous Nellies
property as possible for vendors who
had paid the original event planners
for space to vend their wares at Pirate Fest. Glee Ann Angius of Salty
Sam’s helped by bringing the Pirate
Cruise boat into action for the event.
She also commandeered the pirate
crew of the Pirate Cruise to have
them begin a Facebook viral campaign to inform pirate re-enactors
around the state the event is still
on. Bonnie Roberts of Bonnie Roberts
Events has offered her assistance
with vendors if the permits become
available for street vending. These
are just a few of the many Fort Myers
Beach business people who stepped
up and volunteered Wednesday morning to
make Pirate Fest happen as scheduled.
It shows what a community can do when it
faces a threat. This Chamber salutes all of
the business owners of Times Square, Old
San Carlos Blvd. and San Carlos Island who
have volunteered their time and effort to keep
Pirate Fest a great event next weekend.
Welcome!
Jet Boat Fun LLC
(855) 453-8386
Daniel Mendat
2500 Main Street
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Paradise Tropical Wines
(239) 233-8025
Eric Malasky
159 Old San Carlos
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Local Color FMB Inc
463-9199
Anita Cereceda
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
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October 2012
fortmyersbeachchamber.org
Pro Files Salon
(239) 936-6245
Debbie Montiel
15880 San Carlos Blvd #170
Fort Myers, FL 33908
The annual Fall Tapa Hop held last month on September 18th was another huge success!
The record number of ticket sales, poker run and raffle prizes made for an exciting evening
of food, fun and frivolity on Ft Myers Beach! Our five participating restaurants did an outstanding job and the food was exceptional. This highly anticipated event was accomplished
once again with the hard work and assistance of our awesome Ambassador Committee, the
dedicated Chamber staff, an amazing group of Volunteers and the generous support of our
member businesses! Thank you so much. We could not make it happen without each and
every one of you!
• Event Check In - Ambassador Eryka Aptaker, Volunteer Member Jim Rickards and Chamber Staff Jane Ross
• Poker Run Sales - Chamber Staff Cindi D'Andea , Volunteer John Rush, Ambassador Gary
Donabed and Ambassador Dwayne Bowes.
• Trolley Hosts – Ambassador Eric Tibbs, Volunteer Melody Tibbs, Ambassador Robb Capps,
Chair Elect Norma Jean Pevey, Ambassador Steve DeAngelis, Volunteer Sandy David, Ambassador Sandy Lepley, Volunteer Member Brent Samuels, Board Member Jim Lambeth
and Volunteer Crystal Swift.
• Poker Run Dealers - Ambassador Terry Luster, Volunteer Member Jim Rickards, Chamber
Staff Janet Malloy, Volunteer Dennis Zak, Ambassador Dwayne Bowes, Board Member
Brooke Klay and Ambassador Pat Ferguson.
• Raffle Prize Solicitation and Organization - Ambassador Denice Knudson, Ambassador
Patrick Ferguson, Ambassador Robb Capps.
• Pre/Post Party Organization, Event Promotion - Ambassador Glee Ann Agius.
• Host Restaurants – Big Game Waterfront Grill, Gulfshore Grill, Junkanoo on the Beach,
Parrot Key Caribbean Grill and Pinchers Crab Shack.
• Banner Ad Supporters – Edward Jones, Kings of Merch, The News-Press, Red Coconut RV
Park and The “Closers” Team – Denice Knudsen and Robb Capps with Premier Sandals
Realty.
•
Gift and Raffle Prize Donators – 60 Minute Cleaners, A Better Bug Man, A Tropical Touch Salon, BB&T Bank, Beach Pierside Grill, Beach Pottery, Big Game Waterfront Grill,
Bratta’s Ristorante, Brooke Klay Salon, Chloe’s, Costco, Crazy Women Kayak, Dairy Queen, Diamond Head Resort, Edison And Ford Winter Estates, Fish House Restaurant, Fish Tale Marina,
Ft Myers Beach Realty, Ft Myers Beach Florist, Gavin’s Ace Hardware, Holiday Inn, IBERIABANK,
Key West Express, Krusty Pete’s, Lani Kai Resort, Matanzas Inn, Matanzas Restaurant, Nauti
Turtle, Nervous Nellies, Paradise Tropical Wines, Parrot Key, Pastabilities And More, Perkins,
Pita Palace Mediterranean Grill, Ranalli Parasail, Residence Inn, Salty Sam’s Marina, The
Sandy Butler, South Beach Grille, Southwest Florida Symphony, Sun Harvest Citrus, Suncoast
Beverage Sales, Tanger Outlets, Tarpon Bay Explorers, The Fish Monger, The Island Jewel, Tip
Top Isles Marina and Yucatan Beach Stand.
If you would like to participate in this event next year, it is never too early to let us know. For
volunteer opportunities on the 2013 Tapa Hop or any of our signature Chamber events, please
contact Jane Ross at 239-454-7500 or [email protected]
fortmyersbeachchamber.org
October 2012
7
Membership Luncheon at Shell Point Retirement Community
New Fort Myers Beach Chamber member Mike Bint of Kings of
Merch receives his membership plaque from Chair-elect Norma
Jean Pevey.
Attorney Sawyer Smith was the guest speaker at the Beach
chamber luncheon. Chair-elect Norma Pevey is listening to his
comments.
Enjoying the Beach Chamber membership lunch at Shell Point Retirement Community are (left
to right) Daniella Jaeger, Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto, and Terry Miller.
8
October 2012
fortmyersbeachchamber.org
Fort Myers Beach Town Manager
Terry Stewart was one of two winners receiving tickets for two for
the Chamber's upcoming Tapa
Hop. Tickets were donated by Red
Coconut RV Park.
Business Card Exchange at Superior Residences
Sandra Lepley
of Century
21 Tripower,
our hostess
Joyce Mraz,
Eryka AptakerWagner of East
Commerce
Solutions Inc.,
Norma Jean
Pevey Chairman
Elect and Cindi
D'Andrea Director
of Sales for the
Chamber.
Terry Luster of Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers Gateway to the
Islands and Gary Donabed of Synovus Bank.
Mike Bint of Kings of Merch and Jim Lambeth of A Better Bug
Man
fortmyersbeachchamber.org
October 2012
9
Ribbon Cuttings
A Ribbon Cutting was held for Rudy’s Treasure Chest on September 19th.
Join us for October
Ribbon Cuttings:
October 3rd 4:00pm at Hideaway
Village at 5607 Estero Blvd, Ft
Myers Beach
October 10th 10:30am at The Island
Jewel at 7205 Estero Blvd, Ft
Myers Beach
October 16th 8:00am at ProFiles Salon
at 15880 San Carlos Blvd, Ft
Myers
October 16th 10:00am at Baymont
Inn & Suites at 9401 Marketplace
Road, Ft Myers
Ambassadors posed on the Fort Myers Beach Pier – Mike Bint of Kings of Merch,
Dwayne Bowes of Residence Inn, Eryka Aptake-Wagner of East Commerce Solutions and
Eric Tibbs of Edward Jones & Co.
10
October 2012
fortmyersbeachchamber.org
October 17th 9:30am at Diversified
Yacht Services at 751 Fishermans
Wharf, Ft Myers Beach
October 24th 10:00am at IBERIABANK
at 7580 Winkler, Ft Myers
Presenters:
Ingrid Molina
Tuesday October 23rd, 2012
9:00 AM—Noon
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
17200 San Carlos Boulevard,
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Social Media has become a big part of our
everyday lives. How about for our business? More
and more businesses are attributing a large
percentage of their sales to social marketing.
At this seminar you will learn:
Why my business should be on Social Media
The Do's and Don'ts when marketing my business
Social Media etiquette
Javier Fuller
How to build my list of friends, followers, likes, etc.
What is the best Social Media site for my business
To register please visit
Best techniques to increase my business bottom
www.sbdcseminars.org
line
Or call our main office
at (239) 745-3700
Investment:
$20.00
The SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University is a member of the Florida SBDC Network, a statewide service network funded in part
through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
fortmyersbeachchamber.org
October 2012
11