Business Notes
Chamber to hold Business Lunch
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce will hold its Business Lunch on Feb. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Realtors Association, at 2353 Periwinkle Way, Unit 201, Sanibel.
The guest speaker is Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland, of the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. She will talk about this year’s activities surrounding the refuge’s 75th anniversary, will present a calendar of monthly programs and happenings, and will talk about honoring the refuge’s namesake, Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling. Westland also will show never-before-seen artifacts from Darling’s life that will go on display at the refuge later this year.
Heidrick & Co. Insurance is the sponsor of the lunch, which will be catered by the Paper Fig Kitchen.
Cost to attend is $27 for chamber members.
Advanced registration is required by Feb. 7 at 5 p.m.; walk-ins are not accepted.
To register, visit sanibel-captiva.org or call 239-472-1966; payment due at time of registration.
DeCicco recognized as award finalist
Kyle DeCicco was honored as a finalist for the 2020 Cape Coral Community Foundation Power Players Professional Advisor Awards in the banker category at a breakfast on Jan. 15 at Crowne Plaza Bell Tower in Fort Myers.
Seven distinguished Southwest Florida professional advisors were recognized during the Cape Coral Community Foundation event. Each were identified as top advisors who perform their duties with integrity and honesty and make a substantial impact in Southwest Florida.
DeCicco is senior vice president and senior loan officer for Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, focusing on the expansion of the bank’s lending division in Southwest Florida. He is responsible for overseeing the solicitation, negotiation, underwriting and coordination of closing major and complex consumer, residential, equipment, SBA, commercial building and business loans.
DeCicco joined the bank in 2016 as vice president and commercial loan officer working in commercial real estate lending and developing relationships with local businesses and investors. With over a decade of banking experience, he has worked in commercial real estate and lending, credit analysis, portfolio management of performing and nonperforming loans, and management of FDIC insured loss-share assets. His efforts have resulted in the bank closing more than $160 million in commercial loans in four years – the majority of which support local individuals and businesses looking to launch a business, grow operations or purchase real estate.
Business Notes
Kingfisher Real Estate names top agent
Kingfisher Real Estate announced that Valerie Tutor is the Top Agent of the Year for 2019.
Tutor is a proud native Floridian who grew up in rural South Florida on a ranch. She and her family’s love for the outdoors led them to make Sanibel and Captiva the place they spent their weekends and summers beginning in 1963. Eventually, the family built a home on the Gulf of Mexico on Captiva.
Tutor puts her unique skills, high energy and commitment to work achieving a customer’s goals throughout the real estate process. She believes strongly in developing a connection that fosters mutual trust and confidence. Tutor possesses the knowledge, along with a positive attitude, diligence and genuine personal approach.
DeCicco promoted to senior VP, loan officer
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently announces the promotion of Kyle DeCicco to senior vice president and senior loan officer.
As the newest member of the executive management team, he will continue to expand the bank’s lending division. In his new role, DeCicco is responsible for overseeing the solicitation, negotiation, underwriting and coordination of closing major and complex consumer, residential, equipment, SBA, commercial building and business loans.
He joined the bank in 2016 as vice president and commercial loan officer, focusing on commercial real estate lending and developing relationships with local businesses and investors. With over a decade of banking experience, DeCicco has worked in commercial real estate and lending, credit analysis, portfolio management of performing and nonperforming loans, and management of FDIC insured loss-share assets.
Rec center adds to Hall of Sponsors
Joey’s Custard, of Sanibel, has joined the Sanibel Recreation Center’s Hall of Sponsors as a new sponsor.
Proceeds from the purchase of the sponsor sign are applied to the center’s Financial Assistance Program. It assists parents, grandparents and legal custodians who financially qualify for their children to attend the after-school program, summer day and holiday camps, fun days, babysitter training camp, basketball league, volleyball camp and the C.I.T. program at the center.
A printout of all the sponsors can also be obtained at the center’s reception counter.
For more information, call volunteer sponsor Chairperson Barry Alan Roth at 239-313-9591 or Sanibel Recreation Center Director Trish Phillips at 239-472-0345.
Business Notes
SanCap Bank launches new Website
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently announced the launch of its new Website.
Created in partnership with Website developer Connect SWFL, the site has a fresh modern look, along with original photography, simplified navigation, expanded resources and more.
The redesigned site simplifies the user experience, making it easier to locate information from both desktop and mobile devices. The main site navigation can be accessed from any Webpage and new components have been added, including a layout for personal online banking, video library featuring product tutorials, community page highlighting the bank’s community involvement and partners page showcasing bank customers.
For more information, visit www.SanCapBank.com.
Snyder named to NAWP board
The National Association of Wedding Professionals recently announced the appointment of Tracy Snyder to the board of directors for its Fort Myers-based chapter.
The mission of the NAWP is to support, enhance and connect wedding professionals throughout the United States through continuing education, professional development and increased commerce. In her capacity as a vice president, Snyder’s responsibilities will include networking projects and speaker development.
A seasoned event management executive, Snyder is a catering sales manager at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, specializing in weddings. With her term beginning in January, Snyder’s tenure with the NAWP chapter will be two years.
Lee County EDO, Horizon to host annual meeting
The Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation and Lee County Economic Development Office will host their 2020 annual meeting on Jan. 31 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.
The annual meeting aims to educate attendees on Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation and Lee County Economic Development Office successes in 2019 and plans for 2020.
Tickets include a buffet lunch and keynote speaker presentation.
This year’s keynote speaker is Larry Burns, a retired General Motors vice president of research and development. Burns also serves on the board of Kitson & Partners, developers of Babcock Ranch.
Tickets for the annual meeting will go on sale soon; details will follow.
Local hospital named among Top 50
Lee Health’s HealthPark Medical Center is among the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals again, joining some of the most elite hospitals in the country for top heart care, including the Mayo Clinic.
IBM Watson Health’s 50 top-performing cardiovascular hospitals represent the very best heart care in the United States. HealthPark Medical Center is one of only three hospitals in Florida to earn the designation and the only one south of Daytona Beach. It is also the only hospital in the state to make the list three years in a row.
This year’s study included 989 U.S. hospitals with cardiovascular service lines utilizing independent and objective research to analyze hospital and health system performance in key clinical and operational areas for selected cardiovascular procedures and medical care. The winners delivered better outcomes while operating more efficiently and at a lower cost, based on comparisons between the study winners and a peer group of similar hospitals in the study.
The rankings are divided by category, including Teaching Hospitals with Cardiovascular Residency Programs, Teaching Hospitals without Cardiovascular Residency Programs and Community Hospitals. HealthPark Medical Center – and Lee Memorial Hospital – are included on the Teaching Hospitals without Cardiovascular Residency Program.
Gulf Coast Medical Center earns award
Gulf Coast Medical Center has been named a “Top Teaching Hospital” nationally by The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization focused on health care quality and safety.
Over 2,100 hospitals were considered for a Top Hospital Award, and Gulf Coast is one of 120 in the country to earn the recognition. Itis one of three top teaching hospitals in Florida and the only Leapfrog top hospital in Southwest Florida.
Performance across many areas of hospital care is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors. The standards are defined in each year’s Top Hospital Methodology.
The award comes on the heels of Gulf Coast’s “A” Hospital Safety Grade earlier this year. The Leapfrog Group issues its safety grades twice per year, and all Lee Health adult hospitals earned straight A’s on both 2019 report cards.
Business Notes
SanCap Community Bank promotes two
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently announced the promotion of Jaci Fitch to treasury management associate, as well as the promotion of Rudi Hamer to assistant vice president and commercial relationship manager.
In her new role, Fitch will assist in overseeing the bank’s treasury management products and services, including business online banking, remote deposit capture, ACH originations, online wire management and Positive Pay. Fitch also will be responsible for assisting business customers with the installation, training and servicing of treasury management products.
Fitch has been with the bank for nearly three years, serving most recently as a customer service representative at the College Parkway location. Fitch has over 10 years of experience as a teller, teller supervisor and customer service representative at previous banks.
In her new role, Hamer will be responsible for managing a portion of the bank’s existing commercial loan portfolio and expanding existing commercial relationships. Hamer also will continue to develop new business for the bank, including deposit growth, homeowners association loans, and small business lines of credit.
Hamer has been with the bank for two years, serving most recently as a commercial lending assistant. Hamer relocated to Southwest Florida in 2017 from Pennsylvania, where she worked for FWF Insurance as a licensed commercial and residential insurance agent. Hamer has more than 25 years of banking experience working in the commercial and residential lending fields.
Stilwell-Youngquist named to advisory board
Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida recently announced the members of its 2020 Business Hall of Fame, Lee County Advisory Board.
The committee will be led by Chair Gail Markham, of Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company. Other members selected include Jason Brewer, of BB&T; Talisha Faber, of IBERIABANK; Elaine Hawkins, of Private Client Insurance Services; Jan-Erik Hustrulid, of Owen-Ames-Kimball Company; Mark Loren, of Mark Loren Designs; Laurie Moore, of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; Sandy Stilwell-Youngquist, of Stilwell Enterprises & Restaurant Group; and Sharon Torregrossa, of VIP Realty Group.
Advisory board members are responsible for selecting the laureates for the 2020 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, Lee County, which recognizes two outstanding Lee County entrepreneurs who serve as role models for youth through their professional accomplishments and commitment to the community.
The event is set for April 16 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs.
For more information, visit www.JASWFL.org.