Business Notes
CHAMBER EXPANDS REGIONAL PRESENCE
The newly combined Greater Fort Myers and Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce signed a management agreement with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) effective July 1 to serve as operational manager and regional director for the FRLA Southwest Florida Region.
It will provide governance and board administration, event planning and management, sales and membership development, member services, accounting and financial administration, and communications for the FRLA.
The Southwest Florida Region encompasses Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties.
Chamber members will benefit from FRLA-chamber discounted membership packages and collaborative statewide events, including the 14th annual FRLA Operations Summit on Aug. 18-20 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood.
DESIMONE, DRISKELL JOIN SHELL MUSEUM
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium welcomed two new staff members this summer: Facility Manager Nick DeSimone and educator Carrie Driskell.
DeSimone will oversee maintenance of the museum facility, landscape and systems. He has extensive experience in construction and facilities at for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and he relocated to the area from Tallahassee.
Driskell was an intern in 2025 before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology from Colorado State University. As an educator, her focus within the museum’s education operation will be teaching K-12 school programs, educating visitors in the galleries and leading guided tours.
SCCF MARINE LAB WELCOMES STAFFER
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that Greta Fust recently joined its Marine Lab as a research assistant.
Her main focus will be maintaining the River, Estuary, and Coastal Observing Network (RECON). She is also helping with the upkeep of the recently deployed Sanibel Slough monitoring stations.
Fust earned her Bachelor of Science in biology, with a minor in marine biology, from the University of Minnesota. She also completed a semester-long exchange at the University of Hawaii, Hilo.
In 2021, Fust became a science instructor at Seacamp on Big Pine Key. In 2023, she moved to the Green River Preserve in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina, to be a hike leader and waterfront director.
Fust later joined the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island (NCARI) in Manteo as an aquarium dive technician and husbandry assistant. She deployed and recovered acoustic receivers for shark telemetry mapping on shipwrecks off Cape Hatteras, and Fust assisted aquarists with water quality and feeding for rays, sharks, freshwater turtles and fish — and even helped train catfish and gar. She also helped care for sea turtles during cold-stun season.
Most recently, Fust spent six months as a field and lab technician for Hourglass Climate, supporting its olivine-based ocean alkalinity enhancement project.
JACKSON EARNS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
City of Sanibel Public Information Officer Eric Jackson, of the Florida Public Relations Association’s (FPRA) Southwest Florida Chapter, has earned professional certification in public relations and received the designation of Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC).
Currently, there are 137 CPRCs in the state, including 20 in Southwest Florida.
Earning the credential distinguishes senior members of FPRA who have demonstrated understanding and mastery of core public relations principles and ethical practices and have been certified to act as public relations counselors.
At the city, he leads media relations, public education, public relations and marketing initiatives. In the role, Jackson supports clear, timely and transparent communication for residents, businesses and visitors, while helping strengthen public trust and engagement.
He previously served as deputy director of public information and education for the Lee County Mosquito Control District.
Jackson began his career in education, teaching in the Chicago suburbs before continuing his teaching career with the School District of Lee County, including at The Sanibel School.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Western Michigan University and Master of Education in educational leadership from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Jackson is a member of FPRA, the National Information Officers Association, Florida Municipal Communicators Association and Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club.
To earn the CPRC credential, candidates must have 10 years of experience in the field; have earned the APR designation; complete a verbal presentation; and pass a five-hour written exam.
VILLAGE ANNOUNCES BOARD RESIGNATION
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village announced the resignation of Board Member Celina Kersh Monte-Santo.
During her tenure, she had a leadership role in numerous initiatives that strengthened the organization and advanced its preservation and educational efforts.
The village expressed gratitude for Monte-Santo’s years of service and lasting contributions. It noted that her leadership and dedication helped shape the organization in meaningful ways.
The board, staff and volunteers wished Monte-Santo all the best in the years ahead and success in her future endeavors.
KIWANIS CLUB INDUCTS NEW MEMBER
The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club welcomed a new member.
Rowen Goodman was recently inducted.
Son of a Past President Joel Goodman, he is employed at Florida Trust Wealth Management.
The club reported that it is excited to see what Goodman will bring to the club as he gets involved.
For more information, visit www.sanibelkiwanis.org.
SAN CAP BANK HIRES JOHNSON, SCHIMANSKY
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank announced the hiring of Mikayla Johnson as a Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) analyst and Hanna Schimansky as a teller and customer service representative.
Based at the Bridge Branch in Fort Myers, Johnson will support the bank’s compliance efforts by monitoring transactions, identifying potential suspicious activity and ensuring adherence to federal regulations, including BSA and anti-money laundering requirements. She will play a key role in safeguarding the bank and its customers through diligent review and reporting processes.
Johnson brings several years of banking experience to the role. She most recently served as a personal banker at another Southwest Florida community bank, where she opened and maintained business accounts and assisted clients with a range of banking needs. Prior to that, Johnson worked as a personal banker and teller at a community bank in the Panhandle, where she gained hands-on experience with regulatory compliance, account maintenance and transactional operations, including knowledge of BSA and customer identification program requirements.
At the Main Office on Sanibel, Schimansky will be responsible for assisting customers with day-to-day banking needs, processing transactions accurately and efficiently, and delivering a high level of personalized service.
She brings a strong background in operations and customer service. Schimansky previously held management positions at Amazon, where she oversaw large teams, implemented process improvements and consistently achieved key performance goals.
The Main Office is at 2406 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
CFI’S DONOR-ADVISED FUNDHOLDERS INVEST
The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) reported that over the years, its donor-advised fundholders have recommended over $265,000 in grants to The Heights Foundation.
In August, it will open the Heights CareerTech Institute for the Harlem Heights community.
The new state-of-the-art post-secondary career and technical education campus will provide industry-recognized training and credentials in high-demand career fields, equipping students with the skills needed for lifelong success.
CFI recognized one of its Leadership Sanibel & Captiva alumni. Class of 2022 graduate and The Heights Foundation Development Director Annie Campbell played an instrumental role in leading the fundraising efforts that have helped bring the Heights CareerTech Institute to life.
CFI added that it manages more than $9 million in charitable assets, including donor-advised funds. Through the generosity of the fundholders, it continues to support organizations that improve education, strengthen families, protect the environment, develop community leaders, and enhance the quality of life throughout Southwest Florida.
In 2025, its donor-advised fundholders recommended over $1.6 million in grants to 40 nonprofit organizations, of which 93.5% remained in Southwest Florida. Also, they distributed more than 20% of their charitable assets during the year.
MCCLOSKEY NAMED ‘WOMEN OF INFLUENCE’
John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate President Corey McCloskey has been named to HousingWire’s 2026 Women of Influence.
In its 17th year, the program honors 100 executives and industry leaders across mortgage, real estate and homebuilding who are driving growth, innovation and operational excellence. Honorees were selected by HousingWire’s editorial team and a panel of industry professionals based on professional accomplishments, industry leadership, community involvement and overall influence.
McCloskey has spent more than 20 years with John R. Wood, serving in roles spanning sales, education and operations before being named president in 2024. Her broad experience has helped shape a culture of accountability, performance and professional growth across the organization.
She was named to the 2026 Swanepoel Power 200, ranking No. 115, and The Naples 100 (2025). McCloskey also has spoken at global, national, regional and local industry events, including Florida Realtors, the Christie’s International Real Estate Owners Conference, T3 Sixty, Local Logic and the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR).
She previously served as NABOR president and as Florida Realtors District Five vice president. McCloskey remains active nationally through involvement with the National Association of Realtors and Florida Realtors committees. In 2022, she was named NABOR Realtor of the Year.
HousingWire will celebrate the 2026 Women of Influence later this year.