PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY?

Sharpen your competitive advantage
PASSIONATE
ABOUT YOUR
COMMUNITY?
CMYK
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CMYK
Business EDGE
JULY 2009
Leadership Bonita —
future leaders
made here.
PAGE 9
Business news from the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
Thank You to Our 2008-2009 Invest for Success Partners
www.bonitaspringsChamber.com
Chamber champions
Chamber advisors
Chamber advocates
leadership stewards
Bonita Estero Dental Group
The News-Press
Bonita Daily News/ The Banner
Bonita Community Health Center
Congress Jewelers
Key Private Bank
Brennan, Manna & Diamond, P.C.
TIB Bank
Alvarez, Sambol, Winthrop &
Madson, P.A.
TIB Bank
Comcast
Professional Building Systems
RBC Bank
Chamber new member partners
Bank of Florida
Rosier Insurance
JULY 2009
BUSINESS EDGE
5. Make it easy for readers to connect
CMYK
3. Take part in the conversation
Blogging is not just about you and it’s
6. Make content easy to read
There is nothing worse in my opinion
than content that is just split into huge
chunks of text with no line breaks.
Some tips on making your content easy
to read include:
Spell-checking your posts before you
publish them
Use bullet points where necessary
Create sub-headings for longer, in-depth
posts
If you are doing a list post, separate the
points with bold headings for people who
scan / skim
Include paragraph breaks after every
three or four sentences
Read the post yourself to see that it all
flows properly
Twitter tip: Although nobody expects
you to write perfectly with 140 characters.
Try to make sense and don’t shorten every
single word, use multiple tweets or direct
messages where possible. Glen Allsopp
has been blogging for almost four years.
He writes two blogs, on PluginHQ and on
PluginID.
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2. Don’t flood readers with posts
Certain types of blogs have a different
level of posting frequency.
Unless you run a news blog that needs
to be updated multiple times per day, try
to find a nice posting schedule that you
can keep to. I tend to post around three to
four times per week on my main sites.
Twitter tip: Overactive users tend to
get unfollowed. This has been minimized
by tools like Tweetdeck, but if you are
tweeting 10 x per minute (some people
really do this) then you are going to clog
up the twitter ’stream’ and people will stop
wanting your updates.
4. Make your blog unique
There are a lot of things you can do to
make your blog stand out:
Have a unique design
Write long, detailed posts in a niche
that writers short informative ones (or vica
verca)
Implement an idea nobody else uses
like the bloggers face-off or a list of top
blogs
Bring in authority figures for interviews
Offer content in different formats such
as audio and video
Give away a free eBook for more indepth topics like this one I did on how to
make friends
Despite new blogs being created every
single day, it doesn’t mean you can’t stand
out from the crowd. Make sure you offer
pure value consistently with a splashing of
the above and you can’t go far wrong.
Twitter tip: Make your profile stand
out by adding an image and a creatively
designed profile. It looks far better than a
generic offering and shows you really care
about getting involved.
Quickly think of some of your favorite
blogs that you read regularly. DailyBlogTips? TechCruch? ProBlogger?
Something that is common with people
and their favorite blogs is that they know
a lot about the author, and feel like they
‘know’ them a bit.
Do you make it easy for your readers to
get to know you and connect? Some easy
ways to do this include having an informative ‘about’ page, using your name on posts
and blog comments and even sharing your
personal stories at times in your blog posts.
Twitter tip: A good way to tell people
about you on Twitter is to fill in your bio,
but you can also include a link and use
this as a specific ‘twitter landing page’ that
quickly tells people about you and your
Web site. This is usually far better than just
sending them to your homepage.
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ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Christine A. Ross - President & CEO
Stephanie Kissinger - Executive Vice President
Pat Vavrek - Chief Financial Officer
Gabrielle O’Boyle - Special Events Director
Julie Liles-Digby - Membership Manager
Ryan Uhler -Marketing Manager
Tiffany Esposito - Communications Manager
Geraldine Pessolano - Executive Administrative Assistant
Rosemary Stevens - Business Assistant
1. Provide value
That is the single most important reason
anyone subscribes to a blog.
They get value, whether that value
is in the form of humor or in the form of
how to make money, that’s what people
want. Instead of getting into blogging to
think of how you can benefit (mindshare,
income etc.) look at how you can benefit
your readers. How can you make someone
laugh, how can you make someone more
money or in the case of this site: how can
you help somebody become a better
blogger? If you offer constant value to your
readers, you’ll give them an important
reason to stick around.
Twitter tip: Instead of just linking to
your Web site all the time, why not help
people out. Ask people who you can help
them or even just inspire people with
some motivational quotes.
actually not even just about your readers. It
also includes the conversation that goes on
between your blog and others in the same
industry. Read the blogs of others and
leave comments to let them know what
you think of their sites.
Link out to others and you’ll find that
people will start linking out to you; you
can even go as far as connecting with other
blog authors on Facebook, Twitter or
LinkedIn and stay connected that way. Do
not think that your industry is confined to
your blog; there’s a whole world out there.
Twitter tip: Get to know the people
that follow you and follow the leaders in
your industry. I’ve made many friends this
way that has led to Re-Tweets and even
backlinks from their Web sites.
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2008-2009 DIRECTORS
Henry C. Cohen
Cohen & Grigsby, P.C.
Wendi Fowler
The Client Server, Inc.
George Ghanem
Taylor Rental/Creative Events
Dr. Beth Hagan
Associates in Entrepreneurship Education
Diane Ivey
Coconut Point
Mark Lewis
Ascendant Wealth Management, LLC
Jon McLeod
Mobile Exposure
Vince Modarelli
Naples News Media Group
Tim O’Gorman
Champion Cleaners
Dr. Ed O’Neill
Bonita Chiropractic Center
G. Donald Thomson
Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.
Despite all the changes we see in
technology and software, the ‘rules’ to a
successful blog tend to have remained the
same. Yet, while the rules haven’t changed
much, a lot of our traffic generation methods have.
Each niche is getting more competitive
by the day but it still doesn’t mean you
can’t stand out from the crowd. One of the
best sites for creating relationships and
getting Web site traffic has actually turned
out to be Twitter.
In this article there are six common rules
which can help with your blogging and
also benefit the Twitter users that want to
drive more traffic back to your site.
CMYK
Vice Chairmen:
Michael Kennedy
MKA Marketing
Sheila Seacat
Individual Member
William Shikany
Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home
Joe Murgalo
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa
Jon Davis, CPA, CFP, Partner
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
Jose R. Lopez
Chapman & Associates, Inc.
Courtesy of DailyBlogTips.com, written by
Glen Allsopp.
THE BANNER
Business Edge is produced in partnership with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce and The Banner. Business Edge is published on the first Wednesday of each month.
Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board ­— Owen Feeney, D.M.D.
Bonita Estero Dental Group
First Vice Chairman ­— Brian Farrar
BCF Management Group
Second Vice Chairman ­— Sabra Cecil
Veritas Employer Services
Treasurer ­— James Dati
Bond, Schoeneck & King, P.A
Immediate Past Chairman ­— Darren Robertshaw
Trianon Bonita Bay
% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r 25071 Chamber of Commerce Dr.
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 992-2943
Six blogging rules that
also apply to Twitter
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BUSINESS EDGE
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THE BANNER
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CMYK
% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r
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JULY 2009
CMYK
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participating restaurants, including
California Pizza Kitchen (jambalaya
fusili), Hurricane Grill & Wings (Thai
ginger chicken wings), T.G.I. Friday’s
(bbq bacon wrapped shrimp), Tony
Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza (margherita
pizza), Panera Bread (strawberry
poppy seed salad), Ted Montana’s
Grill (strawberry shortcake), Stir
Crazy (spicy or salty edamame), The
Grape (New Zealand lamb chops),
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (sweet
potato casserole) and much more. Beer, wine and other drinks will be
available for purchase with support
from Budweiser and Hyatt Place
Coconut Point. Also on the menu will be live musical performances by a trio of great
acts. Entertainer extraordinaire Frank
Torino will perform his “Spend the
Day with the Stars” show. Internationally renowned tenor Maurice La
Monaco will showcase his musical
style, which ranges from pop to opera. The ever-popular band Modulation
will amaze attendees with the soulful
sounds of eclectic rock, groove and
dance music. Kids will also get to join in the fun
with activities just for them, including
a special Guitar Hero competition. Plus, there will be the opportunity to
register to win the ultimate “Taste
of Romance,” which includes a $100
Simon Visa Giftcard, two night stay at
the Hyatt Place Coconut Point, tickets to a show at the Barbara B. Mann
or Broadway Palm Dinner Theater
with limo service for the evening
and a $1,000 shopping spree at the
Diamond District. Attendees of the Taste of Coconut
Point will also enjoy access to the
newest Coconut Connection Card,
valid July 12 through Nov. 15. This
free card provides dining for less at 25
Coconut Point participating restaurants. The special offers include a free
glass of wine with the purchase of a
lunch entrée at The Grape; 15% off
at Johnny Rockets and Quattrocento
Grand Café (formerly Bice Grand
Café); $1 off at Planet Smoothie, five
free wings with the purchase of five
wings at Hurricane Grill & Wings;
20% off at Paciugo Gelate Caffe,
Kilwin’s Chocolate & Ice Cream,
Haagen Dazs/Nestle Toll House and
Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen; and more. n When: Sunday, July 12
n Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
n Where: Coconut Point
retail center's South lake
side parking area near
Panera Bread
n Cost: $3 per person
with free admission for
children 12 and under.
Food and beverage
sampling ranges from $1
to $5 per menu item.
n Info:
992-9966
or visit www.
simon.com
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% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r Coconut Point, Naples/Ft. Myers
premier open-air shopping destination in Estero, will present its second
annual Taste of Coconut Point to benefit the Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled, Bonita Springs
Chamber of Commerce and Simon
Youth Foundation on Sun., July 12
from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This event will feature a delicious
assortment of great food from as
many as 20 popular Coconut Point
restaurants and live entertainment.
Plus, event-goers will be the first to
have access to the 2009 Coconut Connection Card, which provides special
offers from 25 participating Coconut
Point restaurants. Food lovers will sample tasty,
signature menu items from many
If you go
JULY 2009
Momentum is building for Taste of Coconut Point
CMYK
‘Hometown democracy’ would harm Florida’s economy
www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com
already fatigued electorate. Voters
will be deluged with highly technical background materials prepared
by local government planning staff.
The legalese of proposed comprehensive plan changes, often
puzzling for expert engineers and
attorneys, will further dampen
voter turnout. Lines at voting
booths will grow as Floridians
attempt the virtual impossibility of
voting on hundreds of separate and
often confusing ballot questions.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
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CMYK
BUSINESS EDGE
be extreme. Cities and counties
will be required to hold elections
for each proposed comprehensive
plan change, not just major projects,
but even minor technical details.
Under this proposal, it would not be
uncommon for voters to face 200 or
300 separate land-use plan changes
on a single ballot. In fact, in 2007
alone, the residents of Carrabelle, a
small Franklin County town, would
have faced over 840 separate ballot
questions.
The disorder that ensues will
further disenfranchise Florida’s
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place their idea before the voters
in 2010.
“Hometown Democracy” is not
a partisan issue and, although it
would devastate Florida’s economy,
it is not strictly a business issue
either. This extreme zero-growth
proposal poses a serious threat
to every working family, healthcare provider, environmentalist, teacher—every Floridian. If
“Hometown Democracy” succeeds
in changing our State Constitution,
the disruption to our communities
and the daily lives of Floridians will
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proposal promises to make the
current recession permanent. By
turning our planning process into
a political process, “Hometown
Democracy” will guarantee that
our state’s most important growth
leadership decisions are made in
30-second sound-bites and glossy
political mail pieces.
The wealthy special interests
promoting this amendment have
failed three times to qualify for
the ballot, narrowly missing the
2008 ballot by 65,000 signatures.
Undeterred, they have vowed to
THE BANNER
Issue: A proposed amendment to
Florida’s constitution, the so-called
Hometown Democracy proposal
would require a referendum on all
changes to a local government’s
comprehensive land-use plan. In a
time of serious economic hardship,
“Hometown Democracy” promises
to add extraordinary new costs and
uncertainty to an already burdensome land-use approval process.
Background: At a time when
many Floridians are concerned
about losing their homes and their
jobs, the “Hometown Democracy”
% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r
THE BANNER
CMYK
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JULY 2009
Business to Business a huge success
Now in its 15th year, the Business
to Business Expo remains one of the
signature events of the Bonita Springs
Area Chamber of Commerce.
Despite a waning economy, this
year’s event had a huge turn-out, both
with exhibitors and attendees. The
event, held on June 11 from 3 to 7
p.m. at Three Oaks Banquet Center,
drew over 500 individuals to nearly 70
booths filled with local businesses and
organizations offering everything from
pamphlets and brochures to discount
coupons and samples.
Many of the exhibitors went all out,
giving away some amazing prizes. TIB
Bank brought a money machine and
gave three contestants the opportunity
to “grab for cash,” with winnings totaling almost $1000.
Wholesale Screen Printing &
Embroidery -our People’s Choice
award winner for best booth- had a
Wheel of Destiny. People visiting the
booth could win a hat or a t-shirt with
a spin of the wheel. “We have participated in the B2B Expo for several
years, and have found it to be a great
way to keep ourselves in front of our
current customers, and to meet with
many potential new clients,” said Bob
DiPesa of Wholesale Screen Printing
& Embroidery. “Plus, it’s always a lot
of fun.”
This B2B Expo is one of the largest
attended events the Bonita Springs
Visit
to get the online
version of Business
Edge.
CMYK
BUSINESS EDGE
Thank you to our sponsors
We would like to thank our sponsors for helping
to make this event possible.
Steward Sponsors
Angelina’s Ristorante
Florida Gulf Bank
Inn at the Springs/Inn at Pelican Bay
Design Sponsor
The Business to Business Expo is one of the chamber’s
signature events. The expo is one of the largest attended events
the chamber hosts.
Area Chamber hosts, and for good
reason. The B2B Expo is the perfect
opportunity to nurture existing relationships and build new ones, not only
with other local businesses but with
potential customers.
“The fantastic and well attended
B2B Expo was a phenomenal opportu-
nity to share the vision of our company
and continue networking with likeminded entrepreneurs,” shares Detlef
and Laura Schattner of DigiMorphous
Photo Art. “We are grateful for the
opportunity to participate in this very
well organized venue. We look forward
to participating next year.”
www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com
BonitaSpringsChamber.com
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AdSource
Bar Sponsor
Mobile Exposure
Rental Sponsor
Taylor Rental/Creative
Events
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july 9
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
Expand your network and build great business
relationships during Business After Hours at the
Trianon Bonita Bay.
n Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
n Where: Trianon Bonita Bay
3401 Bay Commons Drive
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
n Cost: $10 in advance for members. Member
price after July 8, $15; Future members $40.
% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r JULY 2009
Best bets
july 12
CMYK
ATtend TASTE OF COCONUT POINT and support
the bonita chamber’s leadership programs
Leadership Bonita Alums and the chamber’s
young professionals group volunteer for this
great fundraiser.
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Taste of Coconut
n Where: Coconut Point
23106 Fashion Drive
Estero, FL 33928
n When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Business Before Business
n Where: Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport @
Town Center at 9931 Interstate Commerce
Drive
Fort Myers, 33913
n When: 8 to 9:15 a.m.
July 1
12:30 p.m. Government Affairs Committee at the chamber
July 9
8 a.m. Executive Committee at the chamber
July 13
5 p.m. BSACC young professionals steering committee at the
chamber
July 29
Back 2 Basics Brown Bag Lunch
n Where: Chamber Boardroom
n When: noon to 1:15 p.m.
n Speaker: Theresa Ayers
n Topic: Making the Most of Social Media in
Your Business
July 16
8 a.m. Board of Directors at the chamber
July 27
4 p.m. Ambassador meeting at the chamber
ONLINE
Visit www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com to get the online version
of Business Edge.
www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com
BUSINESS EDGE
July 12
Chamber committee meetings
July 23
CMYK
Business After Hours
n Where: Trianon Bonita Bay
3401 Bay Commons Drive
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
n When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
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Mark your calendar
july 9
10
THE BANNER
n Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
n Where: Coconut Point
23106 Fashion Drive
Estero, FL 33928
n Cost:$3 for admission plus purchase
tickets for food
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THE BANNER
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Amber’s Interior Design
Fort Myers Beach
(239) 823-4503
Life Jackets for Kids, Inc.
Naples
(239) 322-8396
Artful Signs
Bonita Springs
(239) 221-7891
MAC Home Improvement
Experts
Bonita Springs
( 239) 850-2481
Referred by: Martin Pahnke
Certified Network Solutions
Bonita Springs
(239) 777-1382
Referred by: Lori Nelson
Clutter Busters of SWFL
Estero
(239) 992-4330
Merrill Lynch Wealth
Management Crisci, Contorno &
Associates
Naples
(239) 649-2932
CSG
Naples
(239) 777-8411
Michael L. Michetti, PL
Naples
(239) 206-2654
Florida First Capital
Finance Corporation
Bonita Springs
(239) 405-8661
Naples Network Services
Naples
(239) 293-4697
Internet Services Group
of FL, LLC
Fort Myers
(239) 822-2319
John R. Wood, Inc., Realtors
– David C. Morton
Bonita Springs
(239) 405-2001
Payson & Pure Wealth
Management Group Morgan Keegan & Co., Inc.
Naples
(239) 649-3608
Promenade Dental Center
Bonita Springs
(239) 676-9696
REALM Commercial Inc.
Fort Myers
(239) 210-6700
Referred by: Bob Smoot
Rice’s Moving & Transport,
Inc.
Naples
(239) 254-0114
Stickboy Creative
Lehigh Acres
(239) 369-3472
Stroemer & Company
Fort Myers
(239) 433-1002
SWFL Administration &
Sales Service, LLC
Bonita Springs
(239) 948-5270
The Trump Sisters Weight
Loss Center
Estero
(239) 450-6111
Verizon Wireless
Estero
(239) 498-1338
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
‘Hometown democracy’
would harm Florida’s economy
The cost to Florida’s taxpayers and Florida’s economy will be
astronomical. Every city and county in Florida will be burdened with the time and expense of holding additional elections to vote on proposed changes to comprehensive land use
plans. New economic development projects, hospitals, schools,
conservation projects and community centers will be trapped
in legal limbo, awaiting a public vote. Florida’s hostile economic
environment, combined with the uncertainty of land-use
elections, will discourage local entrepreneurship and send the
international signal that Florida is closed for business.
Solution: The Florida Chamber supports the efforts of
Floridians for Smarter Growth, a statewide coalition of
business and community leaders, to defeat “Hometown
Democracy,” should it appear on the 2010 ballot.
Take Action: Join the fight against “Hometown Democracy” and support Floridians for Smarter Growth. Call Tim
Giuliani at 850.521.1265 or e-mail info@flchamber.com with
“Join Infrastructure Action Council” in the subject line.
Florida
Hometown
Democracy
Hometown
Democracy Poised
for 2010 Ballot
Justices, in a 4-2
decision, found a
law used to revoke
Florida Hometown
Democracy petition
signatures
unconstitutional. The ruling appeared
likely to ensure the
amendment will have
the required 676,811
signatures to take the
issue to voters.
Join the chamber
FOR THE MONTH OF JULY ONLY.
Any business who joins the Bonita
Springs Area Chamber in
the month of July will receive one of
the following:
n FREE ½ day rental of the Bonita
Springs Area
n Chamber Board Room (seats up to
45, projection equipment available,
coffee service included.)
n FREE booth space at one Business
Before Business Mini Trade Show
Promotional incentive is offered to
new members joining at the Business
Enhancement Level 1 or above.
Watch Your Business Grow.
Call 992-2943 or email
Julie@BonitaSpringsChamber.com
to join today.
www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com
COMPLETE
DENTAL CARE
10
50
JULY 2009
7 New Investors from 5/23/09 through 6/21/09
%PG
CROWNS $749
IMPLANT, ABUTMENT
& CROWN $2750
BRIDGES $749
ROOT CANALS $577-$877
CMYK
(ada code 2752)
(ada code 6010, 6056, 6065)
(ada codes 6752, 6242)
(ada codes 3310, 3320,3330)
Call for a Complimentary Consultation Mon-Thurs 8:30am-4:30pm
COMPREHENSIVE DENTISTRY
Fady Fakhoury, D.D.S.
BUSINESS EDGE
10911 Bonita Beach Rd.
(Pine Haven Plaza) Bonita Springs
495-9900
Disclaimer: *The fee advertised is the minimum fee charged. The patient and any
other person responsible for payment has the right to refuse to pay, cancel payment
or be reimbursed for payment for any other service, examination or treatment which
is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement
for the free, discounted fee, or reduced fee service, examination or treatment.
POWER NETWORKING LUNCH
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EVENT
Brandon Hartman, RJ Dempsy
Katie Stephens, Ray Shumann, Kristine
Vanden Horst, Michelle Baker
POWER NETWORKING LUNCH
% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r JULY 2009
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CMYK
Rose Ghanem, Owen Feeney, George
Ghanem, Barbara Rich
Senator Garrett Richter, Tennille Sevigny, Aaron
Sevigny,
Lisa Nelson
Adams
Mayor Ben
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
Wholesale Screen Printing & Embroidery,
People’s Choice Award-Winner
Naples’ Best Public Course!
Rated
by Golf Digest
First Time Ever Offered
Free!
Deluxe
Hand Held
Vacuum
2 SPEED
UPRIGHT
features
Charitsy
Book d
Accepte
After Noon
Men’s 9 Hole League
Thursday Night Men’s 9 Hole League Call For Details
Children 15 & Under Play Free With Paying Adult
Tee Times:
352-0777
REFACING
Visit our showroom we have the largest selection
of custom door designs in S.W Florida for all your
refacing needs 3772 Arnold Ave Naples FL 34104
Our three generations of custom cabinet & millwork
experience will ensure 100% satisfaction and quality.
9 miles east of I-75 on Immokalee Rd.
then right on Randall Rd. at the stoplight
valenciagolfandcountryclub.com
Pro Shop Hours 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
MONDAY THRU SATURDAY
INC.
SINCE 1932
Robert H. Weeks, III Owner/Operator
239.353.2178
www.3rdgenconst.com
New on the Scene
5 Year Warranty • 5 Free Tune-Ups ($200 Value)
9 lbs • Hypo-Allergenic Outer Bag
Free! Package of Bags for Each Vacuum
www.naples-expo.com/oreck.html
ORECK VACUUMS
5367 Airport-Pulling Road N. (Bed, Bath & Beyond Plaza)
Mon-Fri 10-6 • Sat 10-5 • 591-4422
CMYK
299
98
Before Noon
Custom Cabinet
updates you
on new stores
in the area
BUSINESS EDGE
2 Speed Upright With
Deluxe Hand Held
of naples
$30 $25
-Limited Supply-
$
again!
Full Driving Range and Practice Facility
SPECIAL PURCHASE
Vacuum Free!
LOVE
your
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ORECK
UNBELIEVABLE!
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www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com
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YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EVENT
THE BANNER
Photography by David Michael
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r
Leadership Bonita class of
2009-10 accepting applications
Dr. Narvarte
9500 Bonita Beach Road, Suite 111
The Colonnades Medical Center
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-947-4100
THE BANNER
CMYK
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Wanted: Future
community leaders
RIBBON CUTTINGS
JULY 2009
Be visible!
Red Box Photography
25221 Bernwood Drive, Suite 4
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-676-9540
CMYK
www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com
BUSINESS EDGE
Leadership Bonita provides leadership-minded
individuals with the opportunity to experience the
community from the public, private and residents’
perspectives. The program strives to nurture the
interest and passion for the future of Bonita Springs by
immersing participants in programs on government,
education, economic development, healthcare, tourism,
public safety, social issues, infrastructure, media and the arts, and our
environment.
Applications for the 2009-2010 Leadership Bonita class are available
now and can be downloaded by going to www.BonitaSpringsChamber.
com, and clicking on Chamber News. The deadline for all applications is July 31. The program is highly competitive, so applicants are
encouraged to re-apply to subsequent programs if they are not initially
selected. Many Leadership Bonita participants are sponsored by their
employer; a select number of scholarships are made available thanks to
the companies that participate in the Leadership Stewards program, including Chadwick Saunders of Downing-Frye Realty – The Saunders
Group.
A mandatory weekend retreat kicks-off the program in September.
The remaining program sessions are held on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. approximately every three to four weeks beginning in October
2009 and ending in May 2010. Program sessions include a mixture of
lectures, presentations, tours and field trips. In order to graduate, participants must attend the kick-off retreat and each monthly session.
Submit your applications now. For information, contact Stephanie
Kissinger at Stephanie@BonitaSpringsChamber.com.
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50
%PG
9
n Make sure your business
cards and company’s
brochures are in the
Visitors Center.
n Contact the chamber
if your e-mail address
changes or business
address changes.
n Participate in the
chamber’s
networking events.
ing, she has a variety of capabilities that will assist the chamber
with its mission. CEO Christine
Ross noted, “Her writing, communication and computer skills
make her an immense asset to our
team. In addition to the traditional channels, we expect Tiffany to
establish a chamber blog which we
are certain will add to the richness
of our communication tactics.”
Tiffany has served as the president of Florida Public Relations
Association at Florida Gulf Coast
University as well as participated
on many committees within the
professional chapter of the Florida
Public Relations Association. She
currently serves as the immediate
Past President of FPRA at FGCU
and is also a member of the
American Advertising Federation
of Southwest Florida.
Ryan Uhler grew up on the
90
groups, local charities and various
community outreach projects.
Ryan Uhler and Tiffany Esposito are both graduates of Florida
Gulf Coast University in 2009 and
2006 respectively, Tiffany will be
taking on the role of Communications Manager and Ryan, Marketing Manager. The pair will begin
in their new roles on July 1.
A native to the Fort Myers
area, Tiffany Esposito is an award
winning graduate from Florida
Gulf Coast University earning a
Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications with a concentration
in public relations. In addition to
attending FGCU she also received
her Associates of Arts degree from
the University of South Florida.
With experience in the nonprofit sector as well as a mixed
marketing firm and sports market-
50
After graduating college,
Julie moved to Tampa where she
worked for a Hearst Argyle owned
television station, WMOR-TV32.
Following the birth of her son, she
moved back to Southwest Florida.
She has worked in public relations
and marketing for companies
such as GMB Marketing, Renda
Broadcasting, Internet Services
Group, and served three years as
the Director of Marketing and
Public Relations for Big Brothers
Big Sisters of SWFL.
Julie now brings her rich history
and knowledge of the community,
combined with her extensive
experience in marketing and
public relations, to the Bonita
Springs Chamber as the Membership Manager. In addition to her
work with the chamber, Julie is
also involved in the community
through a variety of networking
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Ryan Uhler
CMYK
Tiffany Esposito
THE BANNER
Julie Liles-Digby
south shore of Long Island in East
Islip, NY. Before relocating to
Southwest Florida, Ryan was the
Marketing Manager for Island Air
Heating and Cooling, Inc., where
he developed a passion for advertising and graphic design.
Ryan received his Bachelor’s
degree in Communications from
Florida Gulf Coast University
with an emphasis in Marketing
Management. While attending
college, Ryan volunteered at
WGCU Public Media where he
was involved in television production and motion graphic design.
Since graduation, Ryan has
developed several successful marketing campaigns for Southwest
Florida’s largest advertising agency, Moore and Scarry Advertising.
With his extensive background in
graphic design, he played a key
role in creating several award-winning television commercials for
some of the largest automotive
dealers in the country.
“Ryan’s graphic design, videography and technology skills will
be a tremendous addition to our
team’s capabilities,” noted CEO
Ross. “In addition, Ryan will be
focusing on our Facebook and
Twitter campaigns, raising the
level of service and communication we have with our members.”
We are proud to note that these
additions to the Bonita Springs
Area Chamber of Commerce
team bring the number of FGCU
graduates currently employed at
the chamber to four.
% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r The Bonita Springs Area
Chamber of Commerce is pleased
to announce three additions to the
Chamber staff, Julie Liles-Digby,
Ryan Uhler and Tiffany Esposito.
Julie Liles-Digby is the new
Membership Manager in charge
of membership development,
retention strategies and is the
staff liaison to the Ambassador
Committee. Julie will begin her
position at the Bonita Springs Area
Chamber of Commerce Monday,
June 8.
Julie is originally from Bonita
Springs, where her great grandfather was one of the original
pioneers to settle in the area. She
graduated Summa Cum Laude
from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Bachelors of Arts degree
in Communication Studies. Julie
comes from an extensive background in marketing and public
relations. Throughout and following college, she worked in video,
DVD and television production
with Bush Entertainment, Sun
Studios and Dreamtime Entertainment. During this time, she
assisted a variety of clients in
the development of marketing
strategies and the production of
television commercials. She also
produced numerous medical
news segments for the local CBS
affiliate, WINK-TV. In 2002, Julie
won a Telly Award for her role as
Associate Producer for the 30minute documentary: “Heart of an
Artist”...the Harry Chapin Food
Banks Story.
JULY 2009
10
Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce %PG
welcomes three staff members to the family
www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com
BUSINESS EDGE
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Has your club or church done a project? Had an event? Put it in
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Twenty-one through twenty-five
years
RIBBON CUTTINGS
McDonald’s of Bonita Springs #6187
Naples-Ft. Myers Greyhound Track
Prestige Printing & Datamail
Knapp Consultants, Inc.
Make-A-Wish-Foundation of Southern
Florida
Mel’s Diner
Redi-Med / Shawn Miller, MD
Tax Savers
Sixteen through twenty years
One through five years
Perez Industries, Inc.
Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings
Eleven through fifteen years
AmericInn Lodge & Suites of Bonita Springs
Bonita Tire & Battery Center
Pelican Landing Travel
Spring Run Golf Club
Best Moving & Storage
Cataract & Refractive Institute of Florida
Air Conditioning by San Souci
Publix Supermarket, #365
Crystal Springs Water Company
Six through ten years
Artichoke & Company
Aston Gardens at Pelican Marsh
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
CH2M HILL
Copperleaf Golf Club Community
Association
Drackett & Ott Enterprises
Fireservice Disaster Kleenup, Inc.
Florida Everblades
Fort Myers Broadcasting Company-WINK-TV
Imaginarium Hands - On Museum &
Aquarium
Advanced Eye Care and Laser Center
Alessi Family Care, P.A.
Beth Crowe
CatFoster.com
Coastal Elite Properties - Division of Bonita
Estero Realty Corp.
Costco - Estero
Downing - Frye Realty, Inc.
Early Learning Coalition of SW Florida
Embassy Suites Fort Myers - Estero
Entech Computer Services
Family Dentistry of Bonita
Golden Technologies
Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
INFINETWORK
Intech Printing & Direct Mail, Inc.
My Dinner Factory
Paciugo Coconut Point
RWA Consultants, Inc.
Safeguard Destruction Services, Inc.
Secure Shredding, Inc.
Signs Now Naples
Spanish Wells Golf and Country Club, Inc
Stock Realty
TR Transportation Consultants, Inc.
US Data Capture, Inc.
CNL Bank
9160 Bonita Beach Rd
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239-444-2860
Image Matters
9369 Paseo de Valencia
Fort Myers, FL 33966
239-896-4005
www.BonitaSpringsChamber.com
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% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r
JULY 2009
%PG
11 Renewing investors:
5/23/09 through 6/22/09
Hook our readers with a fish tale
Tell us how you caught the big one and show off your picture in The Banner
by e-mailing bannereditor@bonitanews.com or submitting them online at
mybannerhub.com.
JULY 2009
% d ay, % m o % d d, % y e a r CMYK
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CMYK
BUSINESS EDGE
%PG
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