Business Briefs
Attorney recognized
Alison C. Hussey, Esq., an attorney and partner with Pavese Law Firm, recently received a certification and appreciation award in recognition of her pro bono service rendered to Florida Rural Legal Service Inc. and Lee County Bar Association. The majority of Hussey’s volunteer hours are spent assisting with adoptions for Children’s Network of Southwest Florida.
Based in the firm’s Cape Coral office, Hussey conducts a general practice with a focus on estate planning, real estate and probate. She recently became a Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, and is a member of The American Bar, Lee County Bar Association, Southwest Florida Federal Bar Association and Hendry-Glades County Bar Association.
With offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and West Palm Beach, Pavese Law Firm has been providing legal expertise to individuals and businesses since 1949. For additional information, visit www.paveselaw.com.
Joseph joins Phillips Group
Merrill Lynch has announced that Financial Advisor Chelly Joseph, has joined the Phillips Group in the Merrill Lynch Fort Myers branch office.
Joseph, a native of Freeport, Bahamas, joined Merrill Lynch in 2006. She received a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. Since joining Merrill Lynch, Joseph has distinguished herself by earning the title as Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. She is an active member of Rotary South Fort Myers, SWFL Christian Chamber of Commerce and Cape Coral Toastmasters.
The Phillips Group is located in the Merrill Lynch Fort Myers office building at 13250 University Center Boulevard and can be reached at 239-481-3330.
Southwest adds nonstop flight to St. Louis
The Lee County Port Authority has announced that Southwest Airlines started daily nonstop service to St. Louis (STL) Sunday, Nov. 2. The daily flight departs RSW at 3:25 p.m. and arrives from STL at 5:10 p.m.
This will be the 6th nonstop destination offered by Southwest to/from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). The airline currently offers daily nonstop service from Fort Myers to Baltimore (BWI), Chicago-Midway (MDW), Long Island-Islip (ISP), Philadelphia (PHL), and Orlando (MCO).
H.L.T. Enterprises opens in Fort Myers
H.L.T. Enterprises, a national recruiting firm specializing in the retail and supply sectors of the petroleum and energy industries, has opened in Fort Myers. Haskel Thompson, a 30-year veteran of the executive recruiting industry, heads the firm.
H.L.T. Enterprises Global Human Resource Group will specialize in the retail, petroleum, engineering, technology, finance, and healthcare industries.
The company utilizes a 15-step search process that includes comprehensive needs analysis, candidate sourcing that utilizes a vast network of industry contacts developed over four decades, and screening and interviews that guarantee only the best and brightest industry talent is presented for consideration to client companies.
H.L.T. Enterprises is a member of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA).
The company’s address is 19657 Vintage Trace Circle, Fort Myers. For more information, contact 437-4600 or visit www.hltenterprises.com
New title company
Southeastern Title and Escrow, LLC, an Atlanta-based title insurance and escrow company, has opened for business in Lee County and Charlotte County from a Cape Coral-based office.
This is ST & E’s first Florida office, and will be managed by Steven A. Berkowitz, a Cape Coral resident, who returned to Cape Coral after nine years in the mortgage banking business in the Seattle market.
Contact ST & E at 239-322-7003 or at saberkowitz@embarqmail.com.
Ringland Construction
Two new schools opened their doors at the start of the academic year for Lee County students. Ringland Construction, Inc. completed both Florida High School for Accelerated Learning schools, one in Cape Coral and the other in Fort Myers.
According to Russ Ringland, President, Ringland Construction, Inc., the North Nicholas High School, at Nicholas Parkway and Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, features 10,425 square feet. The Coronado High School, located at 3057 Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers, includes 11,043 square feet.
Ringland Construction’s Ken Meekins was the project manager for both schools. For the north campus, Ringland Construction’s Joe Staiger was the project superintendent while Frank Laino was the project superintendent for the south campus.
Established 16 years ago, Ringland Construction, Inc. has an impressive, award-winning portfolio of projects throughout Southwest Florida. The family-owned and operated company specializes in the design/build and construction management for all types of commercial projects. Ringland Construction is based in Cape Coral. Additional information is available by calling 945-7000 or online at: www.ringlandconstruction.com.
Business Briefs
Shape Up Nutrition Club opens
Independent wellness coach, Beatrice Cooper has announced the grand opening of the first Shape Up Nutrition Club in Southwest Florida, located at 1112 S.E. 47th Terrace, in Cape Coral. Cooper, the supervisor of the center, and owner Nancy Gillis are Independent Herbalife distributors with plans to open another 50-plus Shape Up Nutrition Club location over the next year. The Shape Up Nutrition Club’s goal is to help people live longer and healthier through education, nutrition and exercise.
To become a Shape up Nutrition Club owner or participant, contact Cooper at 239-699-1421 or SkinnyMeAt45@gmail.com. For directions or more information, visit www.ShapeUpNutritionClub.com.
Melvin earns LEED designation
Ronald Melvin, RA, vice president of Avalon Engineering, has earned his Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Accredited Professional designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
Avalon Engineering, located in Cape Coral since 1980, provides civil engineering, planning and architectural services.
For more information contact Avalon Engineering at www.avalonengineering.net.
New Financial Center
Fifth Third Bank to celebrate grand opening of Surfside Financial Center
Fifth Third Bank will celebrate the opening of its new Surfside financial center with a community-oriented grand opening celebration Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The financial center is located at 2402 Surfside Blvd. in Cape Coral 282-1701.
The free event includes family-style food, fun, live music and prizes including make-overs by Lancome, kids finger-printing sponsored by the Cape Coral Police Department, Starbucks coffee and more. The public is invited to attend.
The Surfside financial center offers full-service banking convenience, including mortgage, private banking, business banking, corporate banking, trust, investments, and currency exchange for 110 countries.
Managing the Surfside location is Ewa Ryba, who has 20 years of banking experience and studied economics in Poland. The Surfside team also includes Marcie Deloreto, customer service manager; Customer Service Representatives Tara Calligan, Sylvia Schmacker and Andrea Theisen; and Victoria Donaldson, personal banker.
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company has $116 billion in assets, operates 18 affiliates with 1,298 full-service Banking Centers.
‘Best Lawyers in America’
The law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., has announced that four stockholders were recently selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2009
— Thomas P. Clark, health care law
— John A. Noland, commercial litigation
— David M. Platt, trusts and estates
— Bruce M. Stanley Sr., personal injury litigation
Stanley will also be named one of “Fort Myers Area Best Lawyers Personal Injury Litigator of the Year” for 2009. The Best Lawyers in America is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 25,000 leading attorneys cast almost two million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their specialties. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”
Henderson Franklin is one of the largest law firms between Tampa and Miami with over 55 attorneys practicing in the areas of business and tax planning, estate planning and administration, family law, land use and environmental law, commercial and civil litigation, workers’ compensation, employment law and real estate. Henderson Franklin was founded in Fort Myers in 1924 and currently operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and Sanibel Island. For more information on Henderson Franklin, please visit: www.henlaw.com.