Business Notes
CHAMBER CEO TAKES UP FACP CHAIR SEAT
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai recently took up the seat of chair for the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals.
The statewide chamber agency installed its 2021-22 board of directors at its annual conference on Sep. 22-24 in Jupiter. The board is the governing body responsible for overseeing the operations of the FACP, whose mission is to advance excellence in chamber management in Florida.
Along with Lai, the board includes: Tamara Fleischhaker, Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, chair-elect; Dan Lindblade, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, treasurer; Corydon “Cory” Skeates, Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, past chair; and Tammy C. Bracewell, president and chief executive officer.
Lai served as chair-elect last year. As chair, he will now lead the board in the coming year and oversee its direction in providing development skills for professionals in the chamber of commerce industry.
“I am highly honored and humbled to be taking this position with an organization of such import to our state and the chamber of commerce movement,” Lai said. “I look forward to strengthening the islands’ standing with this front-row connection.”
Lai has served at the islands chamber’s helm since his appointment in 2017. He led members through toxic water quality issues and pandemic upheaval by rallying local businesses at the state and federal levels. Lai was instrumental in bringing together the Southwest Florida Alliance of Chambers and in seeing the chamber’s visitor center modernized and named by Visit Florida as a Florida Certified Tourism Information Centers.
ZONTA HONORED BY HABITAT’S WOMEN BUILD
The Zonta Foundation of Southwest Florida, the grant-awarding arm of the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva, was recently honored by Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build project.
At a reception at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers, the Zonta group was recognized as a Bronze Hammer sponsor for its 2021 support and applauded for its commitment to Women Build over the years, both in funding and in volunteer construction work.
Founded in 1991, Women Build brings together women architects, contractors and construction volunteers to build affordable homes in safe communities for women-led families. Like Women Build, the mission of Zonta San-Cap is to empower women to become productive community members and provide them with safe and affordable housing.
LECTURE SERIES SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that only a few opportunities remain to sponsor the 2022 “Ding” Darling Lecture Series.
It will bring eight authors and wildlife and art experts to Sanibel from Feb. 4 through March 25. The lectures will cover topics from bald eagles to ornitherapy and nature art.
Remaining sponsorships are available for $1,000 to $5,000 per lecture. For more information, contact April Boehnen at 239-472-1100, ext. 4.