Hamman to discuss Lee County challenges and goals at REIS?meeting

Brian Hamman, chairman of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, will address the challenges and priorities facing Lee County government at the Real Estate Investment Society’s Tuesday, Feb. 11, luncheon meeting.

Hamman’s presentation will focus on the county’s budget, coordination with municipal governments, infrastructure projects and the county’s role in managing water resources. The commissioner is also expected to discuss growth management, impact fees and local legislative priorities in the current Legislative Session. Following the presentation, Hamman will respond to questions of specific interest to the real estate investment and development industry.

Hamman is also chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners, which governs the Lee County Port Authority. He represents Lee County Commission District 4, which includes North Fort Myers, northern Cape Coral,and downtown Fort Myers. In the private sector, Brian is a licensed Realtor, former television announcer, financial advisor, and market development specialist.

The meeting is sponsored by Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University, and will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 11 in the Osprey Room at Pelican Preserve’s Clubhouse, on Treeline Avenue at Colonial Boulevard, one mile east of I-75 exit 136 in Fort Myers. Admission is $30 for members and $40 for guests, which includes lunch. Reservations are required by February 6th and may be made at the REIS web site: www.reis-swfl.org.

Realtor association names Besserer member advocate

The Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association has named former Florida Realtors staffer Kevin R. Besserer its director of public policy.

In his new role, Besserer will advocate on behalf of Realtors and other real estate professionals in Southwest Florida on issues including private property owner rights, water quality and affordable housing. RPCRA has approximately 7,300 members in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and the surrounding area.

Besserer has a strong background in advocacy and legislative matters. Most recently, he was regional director of advocacy and public policy for Florida Realtors, the umbrella organization for real estate professionals throughout the state. In that role, he collaborated with 20 local Realtor organizations to increase funding to Florida Realtors Political Action Committee and to help local associations resolve public policy issues.

He was previously affiliated with the Florida Department of Transportation as legislative affairs liaison. From 2014-15, he was regional political director of Rick Scott for Florida, having organized events for the former governor’s reelection campaign. Besserer had also served as Scott’s regional representative in 2013 and 2014.

Prior to moving to Florida, he was field director for the Republican Party of Virginia in 2013.

About the Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association

Comprising a membership of more than 7,000 Realtors, RPCRA exists to advance the success of its members, serving as a resource for professional development and an advocate in community issues affecting members, their customers and property owners’ rights. RPCRA serves all of Southwest Florida, with offices in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and South Fort Myers. For more information, visit www.rpcra.org.

Real Estate Investment Society awards scholarships

The Real Estate Investment Society has announced the award of the annual Paul Sands Memorial REIS Scholarship to Florida Gulf Coast University students Luca DiSano, Randy Lopez and Sawyer Sutter. The scholarships each provide $2,500 toward tuition and books.

These scholars also receive honorary membership in REIS for one year and may attend meetings on a complimentary basis.

Luca DiSano is a freshman, majoring in marketing with a minor in real estate, and plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate. Randy Lopez is a senior majoring in finance, studying for a real estate license, and becoming a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP). He will be in the first FGCU class graduating with an international business concentration under the management degree. Sawyer Sutter is a sophomore, majoring in business with a focus on real estate. He is a member of FGCU’s Business and Entrepreneurship Club at FGCU.

Kent Poli and Bev Larson, chairs of the REIS scholarship committee, explained that the Paul Sands Memorial REIS Scholarship is an endowed FGCU scholarship program, funded by REIS Scholarship Foundation, a not-for-profit, registered 501(c)3 corporation. Continuing contributions from REIS and the annual Paul Sands Memorial Slaw Dog Invitational Golf Tournament have increased and sustained the fund.

Information on contributing to the REIS scholarship program is available at the REIS web site: www.reis-swfl.org or by calling Bev Larson, 239.281.1290, or Kent Poli, 239.689.7174. Criteria, school contacts, and other information on the program are also available at the REIS web site.

Lee BIA Builders Care honors outstanding volunteers, partners during annual awards event

Lee BIA Builders Care recently hosted its annual awards event honoring several community partners and volunteers for their service and commitment to Southwest Florida’s needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners and their families.

The 2019 awards include: Jimmy Rodgers Volunteer of the Year, presented to Mike Nilles; Partner of the Year, recognizing Priority Marketing; Contractor Partners of the Year, presented to both Target Roofing & Sheet Metal and Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings; Michael English Hearts and Hammers Award, awarded to Ferguson Enterprises; Builders Care Executive Award, honoring LSI Companies; President’s Award, recognizing 2019 board president Dan Beiter; and the President’s Special Recognition, awarded to Lennar.

“Whether they’re helping fund a special project or volunteering their time at an impactful fundraising event, our volunteers and community partners are incredible advocates for our neighbors in need,” said Becky Swift, executive director of Lee BIA Builders Care. “We are truly grateful for the many individuals and companies that play an essential role in making Builders Care and our mission possible, and we are proud to recognize this year’s honorees for their tremendous support.”

About Lee BIA Builders Care

The mission of Lee BIA Builders Care is to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means. Lee BIA Builders Care offers a full range of no-cost emergency construction services to improve the safety and health for needy seniors and disabled individuals of all ages by enlisting the expertise and donated services and materials of contractors, sub-contractors and businesses. To date, Lee BIA Builders Care has put more than $4.75 million in construction services back into the community at no cost to homeowners in need. Builders Care is funded through financial donations, grants and donated services and materials to provide emergency construction services to qualified homeowners throughout the community. Lee BIA Builders Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization under the charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association. Lee BIA Builders Care is headquartered at 6835 International Center Blvd. #4 in Fort Myers. Donations can be made online at www.LeeBuildersCare.org. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056, and by following Builders Care at www.Facebook.com/LeeBuildersCare.