Business Notes
SHELL MUSEUM EARNS RE-ACCREDITATION
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium announced that it has achieved re-accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
The highest national recognition afforded to museums, accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders and outside agencies, and to the museum-going public.
Developed and sustained by museum professionals for over 50 years, the AAM’s accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable to provide the best possible service to the public.
Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, roughly 1,100 are accredited. The shell museum has been accredited since 2010. All museums must undergo a reaccreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.
The accreditation process examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct a year of self-study, then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. The AAM’s Accreditation Commission, an independent and autonomous body of museum professionals, considers the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.
The shell museum is also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
It is one of only about a dozen institutions accredited by the AAM and AZA.
SCIAR HOLDS EAST CARAVAN MEETING
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors (SCIAR) held its East Caravan Meeting on April 30 at its office on Sanibel.
The guest speaker was Sanibel City Councilmember Holly Smith.
She is serving as president of the Florida League of Cities (FLC) for 2025-26. Smith is the first president from Southwest Florida in the FLC’s 100-plus-year history.
The FLC’s mission is to serve the needs of Florida’s cities and promote local self-government, supporting local voices making local choices to protect and enhance Florida’s communities.
The Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU) sponsored the meeting.
FISH WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBER
FISH of Sanibel-Captiva (FISH) recently welcomed Jesse Meyers as accounting director.
He joined in February and oversees the organization’s accounting processes and financial operations in support of its mission of neighbors helping neighbors.
Meyers holds a degree in accounting from Liberty University, along with degrees in law enforcement and psychology from Minnesota State University.
Prior to joining FISH, Meyers served as controller at the Jaeb Center for Health Research Foundation and assistant vice president at Hodges University. He also served in the United States Army, where he gained experience in operations, outreach, and service focused work.
Outside of his professional career, Meyers has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and previously served as a board member for the Collier County Veterans Council.
He shared that one of his favorite parts of working at FISH is supporting a dedicated team committed to helping people through everyday challenges and times of crisis. Meyers also values the resilient spirit of the islands and feels connected to the community through his own life experiences.
“Jesse brings a strong financial background, a heart for service, and a deep understanding of community needs,” Executive Director Maria Espinoza said. “His experience and steady leadership help strengthen our organization as we continue serving island neighbors and preparing for future growth.”
PROMOTION, NEW HIRES AT SAN CAP BANK
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank announced the promotion of Dan Mckee to assistant vice president, plus the hiring of Malorie Bega and Jodie Mammay as customer service representatives and tellers.
It noted that Mckee’s promotion recognizes his leadership, lending expertise and continued commitment to exceptional client service.
He joined the bank in 2025 as a residential loan officer. In his role, Mckee assists clients with securing mortgage financing by delivering personalized lending solutions and guiding borrowers through the home loan process.
With over 20 years in loan origination, business development and client relations, he brings a wealth of experience spanning the mortgage banking and venture capital industries. Prior to joining the bank, Mckee served as a senior mortgage loan officer at several financial institutions and most recently held a leadership position with a national mortgage company.
Throughout his career, he has demonstrated expertise across a range of lending products. Mckee is recognized for his customer-first approach, ability to build strong, lasting relationships with clients and real estate professionals, and in-depth knowledge of the housing market.
Located at the Main Office on Sanibel, Bega brings several years of banking and customer service experience to her new role.
She previously served as a teller and customer service representative for the bank from 2020-22, where she processed daily financial transactions including deposits, withdrawals and payments. In that role, Bega assisted customers with account inquiries and problem resolution, maintained balanced cash drawers and ensured compliance with bank policies while handling sensitive financial information.
Located at the Bridge Branch in Fort Myers, Mammay brings strong banking operations, cash handling and customer service experience to her new role.
Most recently, she served as a bank teller for a community bank in Pennsylvania, where she executed high-volume daily transactions, balanced cash drawers, ATMs and vaults, processed electronic transactions and wire transfers, and maintained confidential customer records in compliance with internal controls.
In addition, Mammay has held retail management roles in Florida and Pennsylvania managing daily financial operations, cash reconciliation, deposits, administrative reporting and scheduling, while supporting staff training and customer service standards.
The Main Office is at 2406 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
BOATING CLUB ATTENDS DISTRICT CONFERENCE
The America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva reported that five members attended the America’s Boating Club District 22’s 2026 Spring Conference on May 1-2 in Bradenton.
They were Mary Paige Abbott, Steve Abbott, Mary Holden, Tisa Ladd, and John and Kelly Seaman.
The group enjoyed the opportunity to learn, connect with fellow club members, and gather ideas to bring back to the Sanibel-Captiva boating community.
The club thanked them for taking the time to represent it and sharing the learning and networking.