Business Notes
San Cap Community Bank hires Heales
Brandy Heales has joined Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as a loan coordinator in the residential lending division.
She is responsible for supporting residential loan officers in assisting customers with residential loans, including conventional and construction loans.
Heales has more than two decades of experience in the realty and banking industries. She previously worked as a licensed realtor for various companies in Florida and Ohio.
Habitat for Humanity earns GuideStar recognition
GuideStar USA has awarded the Platinum Seal of Transparency, its highest level of recognition, to Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties.
According to GuideStar, platinum honorees share accurate, unbiased background information, financial statements, goals and other data that allows potential donors, funders and stakeholders to make educated decisions about nonprofits and the work they do. Only 740 of 99,382 organizations registered in Florida, or 0.7 percent, currently have the Platinum Seal, according to its online database.
Habitat for Humanity earned the top designation for its willingness to share progress and results in important new ways that move far beyond simplistic financial ratios to reflect the organization’s impact on communities throughout Southwest Florida.
In 2019, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry served 65 families with affordable homeownership, providing a safe, secure and stable environment for 134 children. Currently, the nonprofit has seven neighborhoods in various development stages, including the 150-home Heritage Heights neighborhood in Fort Myers.
Business Notes
Trust Company announces new publication
The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company has launched a rebranded quarterly publication entitled, “FORESIGHT.” The new look and name reflect the content included within, which covers not only economic and investment advice, but estate planning and lifestyle issues.
Readership of the earlier publication expanded the last 20 years, with distribution growing to some 10,000 each quarter. Company Founder and Chairman Al Hanser reported that the articles evolved over time from primarily stock market content to a broader spectrum, so the team worked together to select a new name.
Each issue features current outlook and portfolio strategy by Chief Investment Officer Ian Breusch, plus three articles authored in-house by company professionals. April’s issue also includes articles on the importance of Florida domicile, how to make senior living work as a couple, and wise use of an investment portfolio in a volatile market.
To request a complimentary subscription, visit www.sancaptrustco.com.
Kennedy joins San Cap Community Bank
Ryan Kennedy has joined Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as a loan process coordinator in the lending division.
He is responsible for the initial review of incoming loans for required documentation.
Kennedy graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in December with a double major in communications and political science. Prior to joining the bank, he interned at Florida Citizens Alliance and Covanta.
Peterson joins advisory board
The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company welcomed Christopher Peterson to the firm’s advisory board.
He joins six others as an ambassador of the company and a sounding board for ideas and strategy that help to grow new business, as well as maintain a quality experience for clients and shareholders.
A Sanibel resident, Peterson is a second-generation business owner, along with his brother who owned and operated Peterson Dental Supply in New Hampshire. They grew the company and sold to the third largest supplier of dental products in the country, Benco Dental. Peterson was recruited from Benco to serve as a field sales consultant at Henry Schein for several years, until he retired in 2017.
He and his wife relocated to Sanibel in 2017, after vacationing on the islands for over 30 years.
Business Notes
Sanibel restaurant shows thanks to healthcare workers
Local hospital staffers battling on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic had one less thing to worry about on Easter Sunday. This past weekend, Sweet Melissa’s Cafe on Sanibel provided 150 free Easter dinners to the staff at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers.
Last week, the restaurant and Executive Chef Melissa Donahue offered an Easter dinner menu, featuring holiday favorites. For every $50 spent by customers, a meal was donated to the hospital.
Sweet Melissa’s Cafe will continue to offer its “Family Style Friday” menu each week.
For more information, visit sweetmelissascafe.com or www.facebook.com/sweetmelissascafesanibel.
Sweet Melissa’s Cafe is at 1625 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
FYZICAL continues to offer physical therapy services
Categorized by authorities as an essential health care provider during the COVID-19 outbreak, FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers continues to offer essential physical therapy services in its out-patient setting with its team of therapists.
It is following all precautions and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local government, and has added the following additional measures:
– Screening patients for illness or exposure to illness.
– Limiting the number of people in the clinic.
– Social distancing within the clinic.
– Providing maximal sanitization in the clinic and using personal protective equipment.
It has also implemented the following alternative services:
– Providing home treatment visits for those who fall under the necessary guidelines. Therapists are following strict and appropriate measures when entering homes to ensure safety.
– Virtual video telehealth services for physical therapy evaluation and treatment to serve patient needs by monitoring and progressing treatment. Telehealth services can be accessed with a smartphone, tablet or laptop, and the virtual-video call platform being used is encrypted and HIPAA-compliant.
– Telephone check-ups with physical therapist to address concerns or questions.
FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers Sanibel is at 4301 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. For more information, visit FYZICAL.com/Sanibel or contact 239-395-1097 or PtofSanibel@gmail.com.
LeAne Suarez Group joins John R. Wood
The John R. Wood Properties Island Palm Region announced that the LeAne Suarez Group, which consists of Suarez, Ken Suarez, Alec Suarez and Austin Suarez, recently joined its team.
Suarez acquired her Florida real estate license in 1992 and is a full-time full-service broker and Realtor. She has expertise in the luxury market and resort real estate on Sanibel-Captiva and in Southwest Florida. Suarez is a member of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, and she holds the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist designation and Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist certification.
Ken Suarez is president-owner of Estate Management LLC. He has over 27 years of experience in property management, mainly focusing on Captiva. A veteran of the United States Coast Guard, he began his career on Captiva in 1988 at the South Seas Plantation Resort and Yacht Harbour. He later started Estate Management in 1995, servicing the islands as a residential property management company.
Born and raised in Fort Myers and on Sanibel-Captiva, Alec Suarez gained a wealth of knowledge and strong appreciation for the islands while attending The Sanibel School. While attending Bishop Verot Catholic High School, he continued his island-education by working weekends on Sanibel and Captiva for his father’s property management and construction company.
Austin Suarez is property manager at Estate Management. He attended The Sanibel School and Bishop Verot Catholic High School. He continued his education with academic and athletic scholarships at Florida Southern College, playing for the men’s lacrosse team. He recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in political science and was selected to The National Society of Leadership and Success.
San Cap Community Bank promotes Rodgers
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently announced the promotion of Mark Rodgers to assistant vice president at its Gateway branch.
His primary responsibility is to continue expanding the bank’s lending footprint in the Gateway community.
Rodgers has been a loan officer at the Gateway location since 2018. He has over two decades of banking experience as well as a background in the home health care industry.
Business Notes
Kingfisher announces new office manager
Kingfisher Real Estate recently announced that Julia Cacioppo is the new office manager.
Cacioppo grew up on the islands and attended The Sanibel School. She is a graduate of Florida State University and holds a degree in international affairs.
Cacioppo recently obtained her real estate sales associate license.
With a zest for life and the outdoors, she traveled a good portion of the world and gained cultural experiences in Australia, South America and England. Returning to the states, Cacioppo worked with Finemark National Bank and Trust absorbing the banking industry.
County opens Business Assistance Resource ‘Call Center’
Lee County recently opened a Business Assistance Resource Call Center.
Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions on loan programs and assist businesses in connecting to the right resources.
The Call Center can be reached at 239-533-2273.
For more information, visit www.leegov.com/covid-19/business or email bizrelief@leegov.com.