Business Notes
KLCB, COORS LIGHT PARTNER FOR CLEANUP
Keep Lee County Beautiful (KLCB) is partnering with Coors Light for the Coors Light Coastal Cleanup, an initiative encouraging the community to help protect and preserve the county’s coastlines.
Through the campaign, the public can vote for one of several local beaches including Lighthouse Beach, Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach and Captiva for a special cleanup event. The beach that earns the most votes will receive a destination cleanup coordinated by the Coors Light team and KLCB.
In addition to supporting cleaner beaches and waterways, eligible individuals who participate in the sweepstakes will have the opportunity to win a Turtlebox Bluetooth speaker from Coors Light.
KLCB noted that the campaign highlights the importance of protecting coastal environments and encourages the community to take an active role in keeping local beaches clean and enjoyable for all.
The sweepstakes will remain open through June 24.
To cast a vote or for more information, visit www.coorslight.com/coastalcleanup.
SCIAR HOLDS OPEN CARAVAN, BREAKFAST
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors (SCIAR) held its Membership Breakfast and Open Caravan on May 28 at its office on Sanibel.
The guest speaker was Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) Executive Director Alison Charney Hussey.
In addition, SCIAR members hosted a donation drive, collecting items for CROW’s Wildlife Hospital. The donations included supplies, such as trash bags, paper towels and medical cleaning essentials.
MHK Architecture sponsored the meeting.
FISH ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR
FISH of Sanibel-Captiva welcomed Ashley Price as director of philanthropic giving.
Joining in May, she will lead philanthropy and fundraising strategies that support the organization’s mission and long-term sustainability.
Price brings experience in fundraising, government advocacy, board management, leadership development and event management. Prior to joining FISH, she worked with Goodwill Southwest Florida and the University of Miami’s Herbert Business School.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology from Southern Methodist University.
In addition to her professional experience, Price has volunteered with the Refugee Assistance Alliance and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s (GFMCC) Women in Business Committee and Level HER Up Committee.
She has also received recognition for her work, including the Young Professional of the Year Award from the GFMCC in 2025 and the Development and Fundraising Excellence Award from The Community Foundation in 2025.
Price has been a Lee County resident for five years.
CHAMBER APP STRENGTHENS WITH MERGER
As the SanCap Chamber and Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce (GFMCC) build their future together as a consolidated member-oriented organization, the benefits are already growing.
Debuted after Hurricane Ian to inform the public as island businesses reopened, the Sanibel-Captiva Wander: Maps & Navigation app and website has been expanded to include GFMCC members.
The free GPS-enabled map plots points of interest filtered by categories, such as Eat, Shop, Stay, Play, Services, Art and Culture, Sports and Nature, Indoor Activities, and Water Activities. It covers from Alison Hagerup Beach on Captiva to downtown Fort Myers’ dining district restaurants and arts venues.
By clicking on the points of interest, users can learn pertinent information about them and create an itinerary for their visit, complete with visualized, live-time routes.
The chambers have the ability to change and update information within minutes of learning of a new business opening, a change in hours, traffic pattern changes and accommodations deals.
The app is available from the Apple App Store and Google Play, or visit online at tinyurl.com/sancapwandermap.
HM RESTAURANT GROUP RECOGNIZED
The HM Restaurant Group was named one of the 2026 “Best Place to Work in Southwest Florida” by Gulfshore Business for a second consecutive year.
The company was recognized for its family-oriented, people-first philosophy, commitment to 348 employees and dedication to revitalizing Fisherman’s Wharf on Fort Myers Beach.
Businesses that qualify are evaluated independently by a third-party research firm, which considers policies, practices, benefits and demographics and conducts employee surveys with open-ended questions. The cumulative data determines how each motivates, manages and retains team members.
The HM Restaurant Group manages Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, the Dixie Fish Company and Bonita Fish Company, including Bayside Private Events and The Marina at Bonita Fish Company.
The company encourages and supports internal advancement across its portfolio; many managers and senior team members began in entry-level positions. It also offers competitive benefits, flexible scheduling for a healthy work-life balance and a leadership approach prioritizing respect, consistency and opportunity.
The company provides insurance through a group plan, funds $200 toward toll reimbursement for Sanibel team members and offers referral bonuses. It also rewards staff with regular appreciation events, performance-based incentives and awards programs highlighting outstanding contributions.
The named businesses appeared in the June/July issue of Gulfshore Business.
MICHAEL SAUNDERS HOLDS ANNUAL SUMMIT
Michael Saunders & Company held its annual Sales Summit on May 13 at The Ora in Sarasota.
Bringing associates together from across Florida, this year’s event entailed an expanded all-day format, focusing on resilience, innovation and market insight.
In her opening remarks, founder and Chief Executive Officer Michael Saunders reminded agents that success is shaped by mindset, not market conditions.
The summit featured keynote presentations from Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert Steve Brown, business strategist Meridith Elliott Powell and economist Marci Rossell. They offered timely perspectives for today’s shifting real estate landscape.
Associates also enjoyed a cocktail hour and vendor fair during the day of networking and insight.
ROEPSTORFF NAMED AMONG ’50 OVER 50′
Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands co-founder and President Robbie Roepstorff was named to the News Service of Florida’s “50 Over 50” list.
The annual awards program honors 50 distinguished leaders over the age of 50 in government, business and a range of industries who have made a significant impact throughout Florida.
This year’s honorees were celebrated at a reception on April 22 in Tallahassee. Roepstorff was one of two honorees from Fort Myers, recognized alongside City of Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson.
With 52 years of banking experience, she began her career in 1974 as a teller, climbing the ranks until she became the first female president of a bank in Lee County in 1990.
With an entrepreneurial spirit and desire to establish a better way of banking, Roepstorff and her husband founded Edison National Bank in 1997 and Bank of the Islands in 1998.
In addition to her professional achievements and recognitions, she has served as a board member for over a dozen nonprofit organizations, including presently serving as the longest-tenured, four-term governor-appointed member of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Board of Trustees and in leadership roles with the Lee County Port Authority, Lee County Industrial Development Authority, Horizon Council and Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.
SAN CAP BANK HIRES GROFF, JOHANSSON
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank announced the addition of Lori Groff as a deposit operations assistant at the Bridge Branch in Fort Myers and Erin Johansson as a customer service representative at the Downtown Fort Myers Branch in Fort Myers.
In her role, Groff will support daily deposit operations, assist with transaction processing and reporting, and contribute to delivering a seamless banking experience for customers.
She brings more than 20 years of banking experience to the role, with a strong background in deposit operations, ACH processing, customer support and regulatory compliance. Groff has extensive experience managing transaction processing, resolving account discrepancies, and supporting internal teams and customers with timely and accurate service.
Prior to joining the bank, she served as an operations analyst at a regional financial institution, where she was responsible for processing ACH transactions and disputes, reconciling accounts and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
Johansson brings more than a decade of banking and customer service experience to her new role. She will support the bank in delivering accurate, efficient and customer-focused banking services.
Johansson previously served as a teller coordinator at a regional bank, where she was responsible for overseeing daily teller operations, managing cash handling and audits, and training new associates. Her background also includes experience in branch operations, compliance, fraud awareness and customer service.
Johansson studied business at Florida Gulf Coast University and holds an associate’s degree from Edison Community College.