New Year P U R A
V I D A
M E D
S P A
NEW YOU
C
elebrate the New Year with a new shape thanks to Pura Vida Med Spa and CoolSculpting®, the only FDA-cleared, non-invasive procedure for freezing away fat on the abdomen, back, inner and outer thighs, banana roll and upper arms. We can sculpt three areas at once, reducing treatment time so you’ll look celebration ready sooner.
Trust your body to the BEST. Pura Vida Medical Spa was voted BEST Medical Spa for four consecutive years and is the #1 ranked CoolSculpting® provider in Florida, based on 2019 utilization.
(239) 919-PURA (7872)
CALL FOR MONTHLY SPECIALS
350 5th Ave. S., Suite 203, Naples Across the street from The French and above Arabesque of Naples
MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING MED SPA THE
BEST OF the
GULFSHORE
PuraVidaNaples.com
2018
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 3
4 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
WE MAKE BANKING ABOUT YOU!
OUR EXPERIENCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
your experience is important. You
get the same great
customer experience at each of our convenient locations because of our dedication and commitment to make banking about you. Experience the benefits of joining the oldest locally owned and chartered community bank in Lee County, Edison National Bank/ Bank of the Islands.
Leah Kirby, Vice President, River District Office Manager;
Susan Nasworthy, Senior Vice President, Retail Administrator;
Darrin Grotrian, Assistant Vice President, Lending, Sanibel-Captiva
Assistant Office Manager; John Ammons, Vice President, Cleveland Avenue Office Manager; Willy Ocasio, Vice President, SanibelCaptiva Office Manager
To learn more about our customer services and convenient locations, please visit EdisonNationalBank.com or call 239.466.1800. An Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC | Bank of the Islands is an office of Edison National Bank.
Your award-winning lifestyle awaits – at amavida, an active adult rental community in Fort Myers. From five-star, resort-style amenities to impeccable service, everything you need to live a life of ease and convenience is right here. In addition, furnished and unfurnished apartments are offered throughout the entire community. With Assisted Living, Memory Care and Outpatient Therapy offered on site, a move to amavida is a move to peace of mind.
Schedule a Tour
Retire to Luxury and Love Your Life
Call 239.208.0156 to reserve a time for your personal visit to amavida and receive a complimentary lunch.
SIGN A LEASE BY JANUARY 31, 2020 Get Special Pricing on Select Apartments
7650 Gladiolus Drive | Fort Myers, FL 33907 www.amavidaliving.com Conveniently Located Next to Lakes Park! Assisted Living Facility License #13261 A Quadrum Senior Living Community
| INSIDE |
JANUARY 2020
CONTENTS 16 GRAND FACES
18
66
Beverley Bass talks about her life as a groundbreaking female pilot and the subject of a Broadway play. Arlene Goldberg (page 18) is a pillar of support and activism for Southwest Florida’s LGBTQ+ community.
20 MODEL BEHAVIOR
Condo or manse? The new model at Talis Park has the look and feel of a spacious house.
29 COVER STORY
Five prominent women of Southwest Florida share their stories and offer words of advice for others.
42 RIDE
Car enthusiast Sal Campo credits his wife for his RollsRoyce collection and shares their passion with the community.
20
66 MAKE IT A DOUBLE
7th Avenue Social in Naples can craft a cocktail just for you; go ahead, go off menu.
14
ALSO INSIDE 12 Editor’s Letter 14 The Colors Pages 24 Dining 40 Wine & Spirits
42
49 Getaway 54 Style 58 Pets 70 Grand Times
58 GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 7
| STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS |
CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
ON THE COVER Meet these five local leading ladies and hear about what it takes to reach the top o f their fields and their plans to empower t he next generation of females. Page 29.
VOLUME 16, NUMBER 3 | PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Editor | General Manager Art Director Associate Editor Production Director Contributing writers
Kathryn Robinson Kinsey, kkinsey@gannett.com Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, ldaywalt@gannett.com Pamela Hayford, phayford@gannett.com Dennis Wright, drwright@gannett.com Gina Birch, Jennifer Thomas, Anne Reed, Lance Shearer, Andrea Stetson Contributing photographers Jon Austria, Alex Driehaus, Stephen Hayford, Amanda Inscore, Ricardo Rolon, Brian Tietz, Andrew West, Wangyuxuan Xu VP Regional Sales William R. Barker President Sales, The News-Press Nancy M. Solliday President Sales, Naples Daily News Shawna Devlin
Director Circulation Distribution Jim Keeble Circulation Support and Logistics Manager Cheryl Cushman, ccushman@gannett.com Distribution Manager Brian Franz, branz@gannett.com
Grandeur is published 8 times a year by The NewsPress, a Gannett company. Complimentary copies are home delivered to News-Press subscribers in select neighborhoods throughout Lee and Collier counties. Copies are also inserted into Sunday editions of The News-Press in Collier county – in newsstands only. Subscriptions to the magazine are $24.95, and single copies are available at The News-Press offices and at various locations throughout Lee and Collier counties. To read the free e-edition visit grandeurmagazine.com. To advertise: 239-335-0457 To subscribe: 239-335-0211 To reach the editor: editor@grandeurmagazine.com
For your premier landscape services. 8 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
3889 Sanibel Captiva Road (239) 768.5655 www.rswalsh.com
INSPIRED ADMIRED DESIRED From masterfully crafted Signature Residences to uniquely inspired Custom Estates, Stock offers homeowners dazzling choices in the most desirable locations. Experience our exquisite models, ready-to-enjoy residences and find your dream home, beautifully designed and created by the region’s leading luxury homebuilder for close to 20 years.
Q NAPLES MARCO ISLAND FORT MYERS BABCOCK RANCH BONITA SPRINGS SARASOTA PALM BEACH WELLINGTON
Q
SIGNATURE HOMES | CUSTOM HOMES
From the $400s to over $7 million
StockDevelopment.com | 239.592.7344 FLStockDevelopment
StockDevelopment
BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 9
| ONLINE |
You can explore the Grand life anywhere you go with our mobile-friendly website. From galas and fine dining to the amazing homes of Southwest Florida.
N
O
E
N
LI
LY
BITES IS BEST N
O
Naples restaurant named among 100 best in U.S., says Open Table ites, a tapas-style restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton on the beach in Naples, was named among Open Table’s top 100 restaurants in the country. Open Table’s list is aggregated from more than 12 million
reviews made by website-verified diners. Jennifer Piccone has been the restaurant’s manager for two years. Bites celebrated its 10th anniversary December 1. She was excited, but not surprised, to learn Bites was named one of
the best restaurants in the country. She credits its popularity to its dedicated staff, loyal local patrons and the events that take place at the restaurant, like the daily teddy bear tea that only happens during the Christmas season and the restaurant’s year-round live music.
— STORY BY SARAJANE SULLIVAN
Visit grandeurmagazine.com/food-drink/best-bites to read the full story.
Follow us on Instagram @GrandeurMagazine
10 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Like us on Facebook @GrandeurMagazine
Read any issue of Grandeur on Issuu at issuu.com/grandeur2
| EDITOR'S LETTER |
Kathryn poses in an Alexander McQueen crystal jacquard midi dress with matching peplum cardigan provided by Saks Fifth Avenue, Waterside Shops, Naples. MAKEUP BY: Ina Zeineddine
’ve always admired women who are confident, independent, strong and who aren’t afraid to fight for what they want without excuses. Most of us can spot one of these women when they walk into a room. They have a certain way about them — they seem to stand a little taller, take control of every situation and nothing ever seems to faze them. My entire life I have been surrounded by these same types of amazing women, whether they realized it in themselves or not. It started with my immigrant grandmother, mother and aunt who came to this country with just their pride and determination for a better life. My sisters who each have an inner strength and confidence that has guided their individual families in the best and worst of times. My daughter who even through self-doubt has overcome every obstacle she has faced and is teaching this determination and strength to my granddaughter. I’m also fortunate enough to have a daughter-in-law and nieces who have this same perseverance and fortitude. As I entered adulthood, I was also determined to be this type of woman. I would no longer allow the shyness of my youth to stop me from voicing my opinion, even when I doubted if I would be heard. I would fight for respect and equality from others and I would set a positive example for my children. In our cover story this month we introduce you to five such Southwest Florida women who talk about their careers, inspiration and the future. From the first female chief of police on Marco Island, Tracy Frazzano, to bank president and co-founder of Edison National Bank and Bank of the Islands Robbie Roepstorff who began her career as a teller, each of these women are at the top of their fields. As we begin a new year of resolutions and goals, mine will be to continue to challenge myself, work hard to knock down barriers and to be a positive role model to the next generation of women in my family. Until next month,
PHOTO BY: Brian Tietz LOCATION: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa
KATHRYN ROBINSON KINSEY EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER
12 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Digestive problems can affect just about every aspect of your life. And, if you’re experiencing painful or inconvenient symptoms, we can help. We diagnose and treat GERD, acid reflux, Crohn’s disease, colitis, celiac disease, hemorrhoids and more. Treatment may involve medication, dietary adjustments, minimally invasive surgery or other options. For an appointment, visit PRMGDigestiveHealth.com or call 239-235-3287.
DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS? WE HAVE A WHOLE TEAM READY TO HELP.
PRMGDigestiveHealth.com 239-235-3287
Pictured left to right: Anthony Vernava, M.D. – Colorectal Surgery, Maria Valdes, M.D. – Gastroenterology, Rudy Bershadski, PA – Colorectal Surgery, Brenda Duarte, ARNP – Gastroenterology, Michael Cohen, M.D. – Gastroenterology, Jonas Mansson, M.D. – General Surgeon, Alexandra Grace, D.O. – Gastroenterology, Susan Cera, M.D. – Colorectal Surgery, Elyse Fetcko, PA – Gastroenterology, Brian Smith, M.D. – General Surgeon Members of the Medical and Allied Health Staff of Physician Regional Healthcare System. • Results may vary. Consult your physician about the benefits and risks of any surgical procedure.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 13
| THE COLOR PAGES |
Posh & polished •
Hand-formed and sculpted in clay then cast in 14-karat gold-dipped brass, this twopiece drop earring possesses a luminously smooth, highly polished finish. $105 at Jennifer’s at The Design Center in Fort Myers, jennifersfortmyers.com.
Crafty cocktails
• Double jigger, fruit knife, tongs, bottle opener. You’re all set with the elegant Deco Barware Collection with nickel-finish tools perched above a marble base. $63.20 at West Elm, westelm.com.
HEAVY
METAL There’s the ’70s and ’80s head-banging heavy metal.
And then there’s the metal that turns ordinary objects into stately works of art or eye-catching statement
pieces. The effect is a heavy hitter in the style world. We love these pieces for their elegance, their swagger and the way they make our blood pump a little faster. — PAMELA HAYFORD
Swing into the ’20s • As
we ring in 2020, the look of the 1920s is popping up everywhere. This modern take by Cinq à Sept features shimmering sequins and wispy feathers for a stunning flapper-inspired cocktail dress. The Athena, $595 at Nordstrom, nordstrom.com.
14 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
All in the details
• Not all aviator glasses are created equal. The Grease sunglasses by Louis Vuitton outranks them all with attention to detail. We particularly like the delicate monogram flower studs, a house touch. $720 at us.louisvuitton.com.
| THE COLOR PAGES |
Resolve to ride • Harley-Davidson is the king of heavy metal. The 906-pound, 2020 CVO Limited boasts the most powerful V-Twin engine ever to leave the H-D factory and an array of high-tech connectivity. $44,039 at harley-davidson.com.
Shimmery steps • Metallic shimmer
shouldn’t be limited to New Year’s Eve. It’s an elegant element all season long. The Giuseppe Zanotti ankle-wrap metallic leather sandal is perfect for grand events and galas. $795 at Saks Fifth Avenue, saksfifthavenue.com.
Puffs of winter • Southwest Star light, star bright
• Can’t help it — this 35-inch pendant light reminds us of star light radiating out into the night. The Ten Light Pendant in gold leaf by Quorum from the Electra collection is certain to brighten the room, with light and style. $1,298 at Lighting First, lightingfirst.us.
Florida might be too warm for a puffer jacket, but you can sport the wintery look with the ultra-lightweight Ella metallic mini puffer tote by Tory Burch. Made with silver performance satin, it can hold a 7-inch tablet and has two interior pockets for phone and wallet. $298 at toryburch.com.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 15
| FACES |
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON PHOTOS BY STEPHEN HAYFORD
A LIFE IN THE
CLOUDS Beverley Bass reminisces about her early flying days, barriers broken and her mark on Broadway
hen Beverley Bass stood by the fence next to Page Field in the 1960s watching the planes land and dreaming of her future, she never imagined she would be a pioneer in aviation or see some of her life’s story portrayed on stage on Broadway, West End and around the world. Beverley was born in Fort Myers in 1952, a fourth-generation local on her father’s side. “We showed quarter horses,” she says. “We showed all over the state of Florida.” She did barrel racing competitions and also enjoyed hunting in the Everglades. But her greatest love was airplanes. So on a balmy late-November day, we meet at the Page Field airport. “My aunt Ginger brought me out here all the time,” she tells me. “That is Runway 5, and we would park right down there by the chain link fence. We would sit in her VW Bug until we could see the landing lights, and I would watch all the way down to landing. To stand right near a plane as an 8-year-old was amazing. In my mind that was what I was going to do someday.” Beverley wanted to fly so badly, she didn’t care how she got off the ground. “I would climb up on the washing machine and try to fly,” she says. “Fortunately our kitchen had carpeting, but my knees would be bruised. I jumped off thinking I could fly. Back then it wasn’t about airplanes. It was about me flying. I’ve never lost my love for it. “At 16 I was begging to take flying lessons here. It is not that they didn’t support me, but I think he (dad) was afraid I would lose interest in the horses.” 16 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
So she waited three more years to start earning her wings. She went to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and studied Spanish and interior design. “I knew I needed a degree to get hired by the airlines,” she says. “It didn’t matter what degree.” In 1971 she began working toward her dream. “My first summer home, I got in my car and came here and took my first lesson,” she says. “Just walking out on the ramp and going up the stairs and the smell of the airplane was wonderful, and taking off and seeing everything so tiny. So I took my first lesson and I got home, and I announced I was going to fly for the rest of my life.” Breaking into this man’s world of flying wasn’t easy. Her first job was flying corpses in a 1953 model Bonanza. “My pay was $5 an hour,” she recalls. “The plane was so small that the body was on a stretcher and not in a casket. The face was right by my right leg. I had to climb over them to get to my seat.” Beverley was soon piloting for private companies. But her dream of flying for a commercial airline never wavered. “I am an only child, and my parents raised me to believe if I worked hard I could do anything,” Beverley says. “I didn’t know there were girl jobs and boy jobs.” She began flying for American Airlines in 1976 at age 24. Beverley began as a flight engineer, then copilot, and finally in 1986 she became the first female captain for American Airlines. On September 11, 2001, Beverley was flying a 777 from Paris to Dallas when she heard on the air frequency that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. “Then we heard terrorism and airliner,” Beverley recalls.
Her plane, with 156 passengers and 15 crew, was diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. It was the 36th of 38 planes diverted there. More than 6,700 passengers descended on a town that had only 9,400 residents. It was a town with little infrastructure for that many people. Local residents got together and for five days helped house, feed and transport the “plane people.” Ten years later the “plane people” were invited back for a reunion. “I always wanted to take my family,” she says. “I wanted my family to know where I spent those five days.” While she was there, playwrights David Hein and Irene Sankoff interviewed her for four hours. “Four years later I got a call from the producers to come to the opening in La Joya,” she says. “We had no idea what we were going to see. I did not know how prominent my role would be. I didn’t know there would be a song that chronicles my life.” Her story became part of the award-winning Broadway musical “Come From Away.” The show features the stories of dozens of plane people and Gander residents. One of the most prominent characters in the show is Beverley Bass. The biggest hit song from the show, “Me and the Sky,” was written almost verbatim from what Beverley said during the interview with the playwrights. “The song is totally true,” Beverley says. “The only thing that is not true is the World War II guys. They were just very intrigued by me. They had never flown with a woman. They never did the, ‘Hey lady, hey baby, why don’t you get me a drink.’ That never happened. The guys were very respectable to me.” She was amazed at her role in the show and how much she and her husband, Tom Stawicki, loved it. “When she is at her chair and picks up the phone and says, ‘I am fine,’ it was very, very emotional,”
| FACES |
Beverley says. “It made me realize how much harder it was for Tom and the family than it was for me.” Beverley and Tom say they cried so much during the first performance that they didn’t get the full experience. But that didn’t matter, because Beverley has now seen the show 145 times. “We have been to 13 openings including Toronto, London, Melbourne, Broadway and Dublin. They bring us, the Come From Away and the Ganderites to all the major openings. It is just an unbelievable experience.” She and Tom plan to see “Come From Away” at Artis-Naples in March and at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in south Fort Myers in April. “I never get tired of seeing it,” she says. “It is such a feel-good human story, and it just rejuvenates you every time you see it. You get to see the goodness in people, and there is not a lot of that today. It is the
only show with an immediate standing ovation in every single show.” Beverley retired from American Airlines in 2008. But she just couldn’t stop flying. For the past three years, she and another retired pilot have been flying a Phenom for a private owner. “Sometimes we just go up and cruise and say, ‘Do you believe we still get to do this?’ And I am 67,” she says. “We just feel so privileged to still get to do what we love so much.” She also wrote a children’s book, “Me and the Sky,” and co-founded ISA, the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. “Right now women airline pilots are 5 percent,” she says. “Our goal with ISA is by 2030 we are trying to get that number up to 21 percent. Amazingly enough, there are young girls who don’t think they can be an airline pilot.”
Beverley advises women to be good at the job and maintain respect. “You have to be true to yourself,” she says. “Don’t try to be one of the guys. I am a woman first. I wore nail polish. I wore jewelry. You do have to be pretty exceptional at your job. I could do the job. I was respectful. I was just a girl who was a pilot.” Beverley and Tom, who have two grown children, currently live in Argyle, Texas, near Fort Worth, but also have a home on Pine Island. “I do love to come back here,” she says. “I do love to reminisce about my early flying days.” She also continues to travel around the world to watch “Come From Away.” “We know it will end,” Beverley said. “My flying job will end and someday ‘Come From Away’ will end, and we will sit back and say, ‘Remember when we did all these wonderful things.’” GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 17
| FACES |
STORY BY ANNE REED | PHOTOS BY ANDREA MELENDEZ
ACTIVIST, LEADER,
INSPIRATION
rlene Goldberg had no intentions of becoming an activist. But in 2014, she found herself at the center of the fight for same-sex marriage in Florida while at the same time mourning the loss of her life-long partner and wife of three years, Carol. Activism may not have been her goal, but her first steps out of the closet and into the growing LGBTQ community in Southwest Florida set her on a path that would not only lead to her marriage being the first same-sex marriage recognized in the state of Florida but would cement Arlene’s status as a prominent leader and force for change.
18 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| FACES |
Loving and living in secret Arlene was born and raised in the Bronx. “I’m a city girl,” she says. She met Carol when they were 13 years old. “She was my best friend,” Arlene recalled. “And when we were 20, we became involved in a relationship.” A relationship most people did not know about. “I would say we lived in the closet most of our or lives,” she says. “Most of the 47 years we were together.” They moved to Southwest Florida in April 1989. The warm climate was a way to cope with the symptoms Carol was experiencing from Raynaud’s syndrome, a rare disorder of the blood vessels that is exacerbated by cold temperatures. Arlene recalls that they both sent out resumes and decided they would relocate as soon as one of them got a job offer. She was hired first, at Temple Beth El in Fort Myers. And when they made the move, their status as a couple stayed quiet. “We lived like a straight couple would. We would go to work, come home and just be a couple behind closed doors,” she remembers. “But we didn’t have any friends, because we weren’t out.” There weren’t many resources in the LGBTQ community in Southwest Florida in the early 1990s. Goldberg remembers that there was a community center that had recently closed and one gay bar. But, to the couple, the lack of LGBTQ resources didn’t play a part in their lives because they were not out. A large part of their secrecy was due to Carol’s fear of losing her job if someone found out she was gay. But Arlene didn’t live with the same fear in her work. “I wasn’t in the closet at work,” she says. “I would tell someone if they asked. It didn’t make a difference to me. I really didn’t care if people knew.”
Finding and founding support After the couple settled into their new lives and continued to keep their relationship a secret, Arlene started to seek out support. PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) offered support group meetings, but the local chapter had gone dark. “I decided to activate it again in 2009 or 2010,” she recalls. “People started to come to the group meetings we had at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Shire Lane.” One woman who attended the meetings, Carrie Keohane, offered to help and began leading the groups with Arlene. The two identified the need for a safe space for LGBTQ children and teens in the community. They learned about a group for youth in Sarasota called Also Youth and decided to start something similar in Fort Myers. Visuality, named by one of the young people in the
new group, started with small group meetings and events mainly attended by college students. Arlene and Carrie applied for their 501(c)(3) status, were incorporated in 2011 and started looking for a space to start a community center. They found a spot in Royal Palm Square with two rooms and a kitchen. “We were excited,” Arlene says. “We had support groups for kids and a drop-in center. Kids needed it a lot more than they need it today. They really didn’t have a whole lot of GSAs (gay-straight alliances). A lot of kids weren’t out then. They needed that resource.” The impact Arlene had on the LGBTQ community through PFLAG and Visuality was big but still small enough that Carol, who was still fearful of being outed at work, was supportive. Arlene then joined the Southwest Florida Gay & Lesbian Chorus. The couple’s friend group grew, including three couples in their neighborhood who were also in the closet. When Carol got promoted to a higher level at work, she grew more fearful. “I was kind of coming out, and she was not,” Arlene explains.
Loss and victory
On October 21, 2011, the couple married in a quiet ceremony in New York alongside friends, including another couple who married at the same time. Less than three years later, Carol passed away from systemic scleroderma, an autoimmune disease that caused hardening of the organs. “On the day she died, there was a lawsuit that was filed by the ACLU for a same-sex couple that were married outside of Florida that wanted to be recognized in Florida, because same-sex marriage wasn’t legal in Florida yet,” Arlene says. “So I thought, OK, I’m probably going to need them, and I don’t know why. I called them in the middle of all of this craziness and I told them my story.” The attorney in the case, Daniel Tilley, asked Arlene to provide them with paperwork regarding her situation. The ACLU refiled the case and included her. “I kind of became the face of the lawsuit,” she says. “My case was different. My wife was dead.” Due to her marriage not being recognized in Florida, on Carol’s death certificate, “she was listed as single, never married,” Arlene explains. “I was not able to receive her social security benefits.” The other couples in the lawsuit were fighting for recognition and rights that would come in the future. Arlene was fighting not just for recognition, but for financial reasons, including Carol’s pension, which was not put in Arlene’s name due to Carol’s fear of people finding out about their relationship. On January 6, 2015, same-sex marriage became legal in Florida as a result of Brenner v. Scott, the lead case on the issue. Attorney General Pam Bondi changed Carol’s death certificate to state that she was married to Arlene.
“That was the first actual certificate that acknowledged same-sex marriage in Florida,” Arlene says. In honor of Carol’s memory, their marriage and the win for marriage equality, Arlene took three dozen roses to the courthouse on the first day that couples could legally marry. “There was a long line at the courthouse downtown,” she recalls. “I gave roses to everyone who was getting married.” She was on television, in magazines and quoted in news articles. “I don’t know what happened,” she says. “There just wasn’t anyone leading in the community. I just fell into it.” Visuality became more popular and Arlene was also involved in Pride-SWFL, a yearly celebration for the LGBTQ community. In 2017 the organizers of Pride-SWFL recognized Arlene for her tireless work in the local LGBTQ community by naming an award after her – the Goldberg Award, given each year to an individual for their contributions to the cultural, social and economic fabric of the LGBTQ community in Southwest Florida.
The work continues
In 2017, Arlene helped found the Southwest Florida Harmony Chamber of Commerce, a resource for allies and LGBTQ-owned companies. They currently have more than 55 business and individual members. She also speaks publicly with community groups and continues her work as a board member of Visuality. It’s through her work with Visuality that she has seen a shift in what is needed here. “We are seeing more transgender families at PFLAG,” Arlene explains. “Kids are coming out at a much younger age. Parents are reading more and are more accepting. There is still a growing need for help for trans kids and their parents.” There is also a growing need for support for older LGBTQ adults. Visuality has a 40+ group, many of which spent their lives in the closet and have grown more isolated as they grew older, she says. And of special concern are LGBTQ senior citizens. “Many go back into the closet,” she says. “Most assisted living facilities are not trained in how to work with the LGBT community. It’s different.” Visuality offers education programs and training sessions for local organizations and businesses. “So many times, people think they don’t know anyone who is gay,” Arlene says, “and I’ll say, ‘Well, you met me, so now you do.’” Arlene is working on her memoir and hopes to see her work, and others’ work, continue toward equality. “I want to see the Equal Rights Amendment passed,” she says. “If not in our country, then at least in our state. So we would feel equal, like everyone else. It’s time for us to stop being a marginalized group. There are quite a lot of us, and we aren’t going anywhere.” GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 19
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
The Corsica model at Talis Park in northern Collier County is creatively designed to have a long hallway separating the loft and two guest suites from the main part of the home. At the end of this hallway, it opens up to a large great room with the kitchen, family room and dining area. The master bedroom suite is also in this part of the home.
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON PHOTOS BY CHRIS MASSA OF MASSA DESIGNS
DESIGNED AS YOU WISH
The new condos at Talis Park feel more like a house with lake view.
20 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
ill Fox wanted his new condos at Talis Park to look and feel like a house. So they not only have the open floor plan with sliders that lead to the lanai, but they also have outdoor kitchens. Those on the ground floor can have a private swimming pool too. “Historically, multifamily homes do not have a grill because of code,” says Bill, who is president of Front Door Communities. “So we thought electric grill. But then the code was no electric grill. I met with the fire chief and he said we could have a gas grill. It has to have a permanent gas line. We now do it in every unit.” The 53-foot long lanai has spots for a television in the main section and the portion outside the master suite. The downstairs unit has the splash pool just outside the living room sliders. Many of the condo units face a lake. Bill says during the winter when the water level is lower, the area around the lake loses its luster. He set out to change that. AT LEFT: The loft in the model is set up as a sitting area, but it can also be converted to a den, TV room, game room and more. • BELOW: The family room in this model overlooks the lake. The lanai just beyond the sliding glass doors has an outdoor kitchen which is rare in condos. The developer wanted the lake to look pretty even in dry season so he made a water garden around the lake.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 21
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The master bathroom has a tub placed against a wall of shimmery wavy tile. The shower has two rain heads and a hand-held shower head. • The kitchen in the new model at Talis Park is spacious for a condo. • The outdoor lanai in the Corsica model has an outdoor kitchen. The builder says it was very hard to get permission for one in a condo.
“We made a water garden,” he explains. “When the water goes down, it is still pretty.” The lake isn’t just a piece of scenery. “People are catching bass about this size,” he said as he stretched out his arms about 2-feet wide. Inside Bill wanted his latest model to be upscale, livable, yet more affordable. “When you walk in, it looks like something you can really live in,” he says. “People do buy what is in the model. What we did was simplify and do what people can do without breaking the bank. Our goal is to personalize the home. We don’t want them to see the first two things and say, ‘OK, there is our budget.’” The 3-bedroom, 3 ½-bathroom home spans 3,382 square feet. It has a 2 ½-car garage. The model is for sale at $1.25 million fully furnished. Unfurnished ones start at about $1 million. The complex in Talis Park in North Naples will have 16 buildings with four units in each building when complete. Ten, two-story buildings are now either complete or under construction. The condo is almost divided into two sections. Even though each home is all on one floor, there is a section for the owners and a section for guests. Walking up the stairs to the second story condo, people enter a loft area 22 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
that is decorated like a small living room. Details such as cut-outs in the wall with back lighting that is used for shelving, and a desk area are part of the basic features. “I do love that,” says Christina Ribbel, interior designer. “That loft area — you can do a lot of different things. We have had clients use it as a sitting room with a fireplace, as a TV room. There are a lot of things they do with it.” In the model, the loft is set up as a TV/sitting room. There are plush chairs, a long low cabinet and a flatscreen TV. Near the loft are the guest suites. One guest suite is done in gray, cream and white colors. The other one is done in white with a light aqua accent. Through an archway and small alcove, the condo then opens to the main part of the home. “I call it the owner’s arrival,” Bill says. It begins with the great room that encompasses the living room, kitchen, dining area and bar section. “I love the open space,” Christina says. “The main living area is just so functional. The living space and dining space with the bar there and the kitchen and the outdoor space is really convenient for a Florida lifestyle.” The kitchen has a wide counter with four tall seats. Nearby, the dining room has a table that seats eight. That
leads to the family room with its large, white L-shaped couch. The grass cloth behind the TV is one of the design elements “It is a grass cloth,” Christina says. “Instead of just painting the wall, it gives it dimension, and texture just adds a feature to that wall.” Wood beams on the ceiling above give a three-dimensional depth. Christina took that theme of natural elements throughout the home. “Wood, raffia, and a driftwood texture and shells — I used all those things to go with some of the more upscale and pizazz, and it makes a nice combination,” she says. “It is for a livable lifestyle. I think people come down here to have a simpler lifestyle, without it being too overwhelming with stuff.” That theme is seen in the giant piece of artwork that hangs on the wall at the condo’s entrance. The threedimensional piece features shell-like geo circles in a glass case. Wood panels on the white walls that soar two stories to the loft not only break up the tall wall but add another wood element. “I wanted to use clean, crisp lines throughout, inter-
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
mingling natural organic accents,” Christina explains. “This creates a harmonious livable space that is appealing to many clients’ lifestyles.” The theme continues in the master bedroom. The master suite has a king-size bed done in shades of gray and white. Sliding glass doors lead to the lanai. Wallpaper on the back wall accents the gray in the tray ceiling. The long off-white curtains move away from the nature theme toward a more glamorous look. “It has a bit of a sparkle with a glimmer
thread,” Christina says. “It is casual, but it kind of jazzes it up.” The master bathroom has a tub below a wavy tile wall. The shower has two rain heads and a hand-held. “The rain head and the hand held come as standard,” Bill says. Currently only the upstairs unit is furnished as a model, but Bill plans to have the downstairs one decorated soon too. “Our unique selling point is our customers tell us what they want,” Bill says. “Anything inside the wall belongs to the owner and they can design it anyway they want.”
FREE SEMINAR
Facelift vs RF Microneedling.
Which Is Right For You? January 17th at 11:30am Bonita Bay Country Club 26660 Country Club Drive Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Join us for a light lunch and presentation, followed by a valuable Q&A session with SWFL’s Facial Expert, Dr. Prendiville. He will explain the benefits of laser treatments, volumizing fillers and other aesthetic procedures. Also, find out the latest information on minimal incision surgeries, injectable facelifts, wrinkle reduction, skin smoothing techniques, and out newest Radio Frequency Microneedling Laser, Lutronic® Genius.
Space is limited. RSVP today. STEPHEN PRENDIVILLE, MD
The Only Fellowship-trained, Double Board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon In Fort Myers. Call 239.437.3900 or visit DrPrendiville.com Offices in Ft. Myers & Naples
Cynosure® Laser Event
Thursday, January 9th
from 5-7pm in Ft. Myers
Attend & Receive: 15% OFF IPL 25% OFF SculpSure® Plus, we will be raffling a FREE Treatment
Space is limited. RSVP Today
THIS PAGE FROM TOP: The designer used a gray textured wallpaper behind the bed that matches the gray in the tray ceiling. She also selected curtains with a special glimmer thread to give the room some sparkle. • BOTTOM: The Corsica model at Talis Park is an upstairs unit. But the developer is also creating a downstairs Corsica model that will open this winter. The model has a courtyard leading to the door.
239.333.1450 or AssuageCenters.com Offices in Ft. Myers & Naples GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 23
| DINING |
STORY BY GINA BIRCH
A TASTE OF
OLD FLORIDA AT THE TARPON LODGE
o experience the definition of old Florida, all you have to do is take a drive to dine at the Tarpon Lodge at the northwest tip of Pine Island. You’ll meander through a pocket of restaurants and galleries in Matlacha as the landscape transitions to more rural tropical foliage and native scrubs; an occasional glimpse of water in Pine Island Sound. Built in the 1920s as a private residence, the property changed hands a number of times before Phyllis and Rob Wells Jr. purchased it in 1999, and named it after the beloved fish that people travel from all over the world to find. The crisp white lodge is sandwiched by lush green grass and blue skies. Swaying palms and lapping water gently take your cares away. Shoreh Durkin just celebrated her 12th year as food and beverage manager of Tarpon Lodge. The face of the restaurant, she sets the bar high when it comes to hospitality and service. “We really have something special here — great food, unique wine, amazing cocktails and a high level of service, all put together in a homey atmosphere like you are going to someone’s home for dinner.” The well-established lodge has a new, yet seasoned chef, Heath Higginbotham. He’s worked in some of the best kitchens in Lee County and brings a new
level of professionalism and creativity to the team according to Shoreh. “He is incredible when it comes to using local fruits and veggies, everyday using things that are available to us just down the road,” she says. He’s also incorporating more exotic spices and seasonings. At least one vegan dish is always on the menu, featuring ingredients such as ancient grains, beans, and local produce including jackfruit. Jackfruit has even been used to make a vegan beurre blanc sauce that Shoreh calls “unbelievable.” The menu changes three times a year but remains seafood heavy. That being said, “Our steaks get rave reviews,” says Shoreh. “They are so juicy.” Cuts include filet mignon, New York strip and more. Everything here is made to order. It’s the Fresh Catch of the Day that keeps regular diners intrigued according to Shoreh. “It changes every day and it’s all local: hogfish, triple tail, yellow tail, grouper, whatever is in season and in our waters.” Another signature is chicken and it’s anything but your boring, everyday poultry dish. Here, it comes layered with lump crabmeat and Monterey jack cheese. Add a lemon wine sauce, sautéed spinach and garlic and you have a simple yet delicious entrée. “It’s light and everyone just loves it, even the fishermen,” says Shoreh. “We’ll never take it off the menu.” But perhaps the item Tarpon Lodge is best known for is the crab and corn chowder. Rich and creamy, it has been on the menu since day one and the recipe has never changed. It’s a must-have whether you are here for lunch or dinner.
THIS PAGE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: A popular starter, burrata cheese with heirloom tomatoes, fennel, tarragon and olive oil. • One of the rotating Fresh Catch of the Day specials, this one features triple tail with local mango salsa. • Seasonal fruits and vegetables along with local seafood highlight the lunch and dinner menus at Tarpon Lodge.
24 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| DINING |
Local gulf shrimp and mussels over pappardelle.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 25
| DINING |
For dessert try triple chocolate mousse cake. The sponge cake that used to be the foundation has been replaced with graham cracker and the result is fantastic. It adds the perfect amount of contrast in texture to the light, silky mouse. Crème Brule is another favorite. The flavors change every day. The restaurant can seat up to 165 inside and on the enclosed porch, with a view of the water. The bar, with its vintage vibe, has four stools, a handful of tables, a piano, fireplace and is so cozy that it can be hard to leave. Bartenders are personable and in
their small space are able to crank out an amazing number of well-crafted cocktails at once, so patrons who are watching the clock can make the sunset. Throughout the year the restaurant also hosts vintners from all over the world for intimate wine dinners. Michael Keenan of Keenan Winery is in town in January and both nights are sold out. The next dinners will not be scheduled until season slows down, picking up again in April. Diners have the option of arriving by boat as
well as car for lunch and dinner. If you make the trip for dinner, consider a staycation and spend the night. Book one of the eight bedrooms in the main lodge, with their creaky wooden floors and mangoscented bath products, or in the somewhat more modern Island House next door. People come here from all over the world, to get away from the world. While the location is special indeed, it’s the hospitality, service and expertly prepared food that make dining here an experience you’ll not soon forget.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The sunsets at Tarpon Lodge are magnificent. As the sun goes down, the restaurant comes alive. • The sauce of the Florida little neck clams is so savory and delicious, you’ll ask for extra toasted crostini. • Food and Beverage Manager Shoreh Durkin sets the bar high for service and hospitality. • Chef mixes seasonal fruit with cheese, bronzed gulf pink shrimp and balsamic glaze for fresh appetizers.
26 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 27
28 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| COVER | GIFT STORY GUIDE ||
LEADING LADIES Five influential Southwest Florida leaders talk about careers, inspiration and the future
ccording to the Pew Research Center, women make up 47 percent of the workforce but still lag in top leadership positions. In 2018, only 4.8 percent of Fortune 500 companies had female CEOs. Women are twice as likely to experience gender discrimination at work and one in four working women say they have earned less than a man doing the
same job, according to the same research. Most Americans said women are equally as capable of leading as men, but 43 percent of those surveyed indicated that the reason more women are not in top business positions was because women must do more to prove themselves and are held to higher standards. We asked five local women at the top of their fields about their inspirations, distinctive qualities, the paths they took to their current positions and what they hope to see in the next generation of female leaders.
INTERVIEWED BY ANNE REED | PHOTOS BY ALEX DRIEHAUS AND BRIAN TIETZ
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 29
| COVER STORY |
JEANNINE JOY
President & CEO, United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties Hometown and where you currently reside: St. Augustine;
currently residing in Cape Coral
Other titles you have: Mother, wife, reading addict, task master, dog mom and chef ’s apprentice Who or what inspires you? I look around our community and
see so many inspirational community leaders. I see people who are so generous with their time, talent, and treasures. These leaders inspire me to be better and to continue to make United Way’s mission a priority. When you are surrounded by dedicated volunteers and staff, people who are truly passionate about our community succeeding, it makes you excited to get up and go to work every morning.
What is one quality that sets you apart from others in your field? I have been extremely fortunate to be at our United Way
for the past 24 years. When I started with United Way, there were only five other employees and we had our first $2 million goal. That means everyone helped out with everything. I have an intimate knowledge of every department and have been on the journey to see our United Way grow. We now have 42 employees and a campaign goal of $10.78 million. To have that kind of history with an organization gives me a very clear picture of what has been successful and where we can improve even more.
Who mentored you or helped pave the way for you in your current position? Retired United Way President Cliff Smith
helped pave the way for me at our United Way. Cliff taught me the importance of relationships and collaboration. He would guide me through things when needed but also gave me the freedom to try innovative techniques and strategies. My creative side was able to thrive through his support and trust in me. Was there ever a time in your career that you thought, “I can’t do this?” If so, what changed or what helped you
30 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
push past that point? Right after Hurricane Irma we were all completely exhausted and running on very little sleep. The United Way Campaign Kick-Off for our first $10 million dollar campaign was October 31, yet we were trying to help with recovery, organizing volunteers, and offering support to our network of partner agencies. I was afraid that we wouldn’t be able to switch back into fundraising mode because of all of the work that needed to be done. It seemed almost impossible to think about asking our community for donations when so many people were trying to get their lives back to normal. The volume of people who wanted to help was overwhelming and is what ultimately pushed me back into fundraising mode. Our rally cry was developed and if we wanted to continue to help improve the lives of our residents, we were going to have to make our goal. It became the most important campaign we would ever run. The amazing residents of this community helped inspire me, my team, and our volunteers to not only hit our first $10 million goal but to surpass it. How do you feel you can help the next generation achieve what you have achieved — or more? Believing that you can
make a difference and achieve great things is half the battle. We need to help and show the next generation how they can start achieving those things now. So many people think, when I’m my parents’ age I will be this or do that. There is no reason to wait.
What do you see, or hope to see, as the future for women in your field or in other positions of power? My father
always believed in me and empowered me to accomplish what I had my mind set on. I never heard my father tell me that it would be harder or different as a woman to accomplish my goals. There was only hard work, for everyone. As we continue to progress, I hope that women will know and understand that hard work, knowledge, and experience are all you need to succeed. Focus on the task and not the competition. We are our own biggest obstacle.
| COVER STORY |
PHOTO BY ALEX DRIEHAUS
So many people think, when I’m my parents’ age I will be this or do that. There is no reason to wait.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 31
| COVER STORY |
PHOTO BY ALEX DRIEHAUS
Education is the key to achieving anything.
32 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| COVER STORY |
CHRIS PATRICCA Lee County School Board member District 3 and Adjunct Professor in the Justice Studies Department of the College Hometown and where you currently reside: Shrewsbury, Massachu-
setts, is my hometown. I currently live in paradise, aka Estero.
Other titles you have: Wife; mother of four; sister; HUGE New England Patriots fan; aunt; niece; friend; Florida High School Athletic Association board member; vice president of the Florida School Boards Association; Secretary of the Swim Florida board of directors; the person in our house that our dog, Goofy, loves the MOST; and Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and Duke men’s basketball fan! Who or what inspires you? Setting and accomplishing goals inspires me. Currently, my goals are focused on student achievement. I find that harder goals make me work harder. Professionally, there really is nothing more satisfying than knowing I played some small part in helping a child become a happy, productive adult; ideally, one who leaves a positive mark on the world.
How do you feel you can help the next generation achieve what you have achieved — or more? Education is the key to achieving anything.
have the ability to separate my emotions from my intellect in the decisionmaking process. Generally speaking, I can control my emotions. Law school taught me to think in terms of what is legal and illegal, not what is right and wrong. As you know, what is legal is not always what is right and what is illegal is not always what is wrong. But, a deep respect for the rule of law wins out in the end and allows me to shut down the emotion to focus on the correct decision.
Setting policy at the local level that allows teachers to really reach students will allow the next generation to be even better than the generations before them. Shaping state education law, through advocacy and by being part of the leadership of the Florida School Boards Association, allows me to help an even larger group of students to identify and realize their potential. Education is the key to so much in our society – economic development, personal achievement, flourishing communities, etc. As the rigor in our schools increases, the next generation’s potential becomes unlimited.
Who mentored you or helped pave the way for you in your current position? Tom Hayden, the former social engagement editor at the
What do you see, or hope to see, as the future for women in your field or in other positions of power? I hope to see a greater apprecia-
What is one quality that sets you apart from others in your field? I
PHOTO BY ALEX DRIEHAUS
students, win the day, I am tempted to allow the system to defeat me. In politics and in government, we often hear complaints about the influence of lobbying groups because they have so much money and money influences/controls elections. It takes money to win elections and lobbying groups give piles of it. In my mind, the only “lobby group” that should matter is the constituents. So, when decisions are made for the betterment of those groups instead of the betterment of the community as a whole, it can feel overwhelming because the entire system is plagued by this. I push past this by staying in it. If I don’t stay in it, someone who is beholden to lobbying interests might take my place. That is far more defeating than trying to do the right thing and change the system for the better. If I am not part of the solution, I become part of the problem and the problem is far too serious to walk away without giving my effort.
News-Press, paved the way, so to speak, for me to be on the school board. I applied and Tom appointed me to the Citizens Editorial Board. I met state representatives, state senators, county commissioners, candidates for public office, CEOs of corporations throughout the county, and other community influencers. After just a brief time of having access to these community leaders, I realized that they were no different from me. I had always seen elected officials as beyond my reach or somehow at a higher level than me. Spending time with them helped me realize that, if they could do it, I could do it, too. Was there ever a time in your career that you thought, “I can’t do this?” If so, what changed or what helped you push past that point?
I have those moments frequently. On the days that politics, instead of
tion for strong, outspoken women. Often, I hear women in positions of power criticized for being too direct, too forceful, or too opinionated. I believe that males in positions of power who conduct themselves the same way are considered to be great leaders. They are rarely criticized for their directness, forcefulness, or strong opinions. In fact, for men, these qualities are frequently celebrated. I would also like to see less judgment by women of each other. If a woman chooses to devote her time to her family, that is a great choice. She is not weak, nor is she incapable of professional success. Likewise, if a woman chooses to devote her time to her career, that is a great choice. She is not a bad mother who cares more about herself and her ambition than her family. We should build each other up and celebrate each other’s achievements, rather than judge each other’s choices. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 33
| COVER STORY |
TRACY L. FRAZZANO Chief of Police, Marco Island Police Department
Montclair, New Jersey (hometown); Naples (current residence). Other titles you may have: Daughter, wife, NYC
marathoner, collegiate athlete, continuous learner, community volunteer/board member.
Who or what inspires you? The underdog inspires
me. People who believe enough in themselves, their training, and their abilities to achieve the highest levels even when others don’t believe they have a chance.
What is one quality that sets you apart from others in your field? My competitiveness. Play-
ing team sports my whole life has taught me the value of working together and how insurmountable achievements can be obtained by doing so. I push to learn, listen, and improve myself and team members. Who mentored you or helped pave the way for you in your current position? My true mentors
are my family. Within my family, I learned a strong work ethic, how to treat people with respect, and how to work through challenges. We all believe in each other and encourage each other to take on new adventures, whether it be at work or in our personal lives.
Was there ever a time in your career that you
34 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
thought, “I can’t do this?” If so, what changed or what helped you push past that point? I
think there are times where we all doubt ourselves because change can be a scary thing. When taking on new challenges, there’s always an unknown factor, and that unknown is what causes us to wonder if we can succeed. What has always helped me to work through doubt is preparation, faith in my abilities and knowing how to ask for help. How do you feel you can help the next generation achieve what you have achieved — or more? I am a big proponent of education and
mentoring. I share the information I learn and train others so that they can benefit from the experience. We all can always learn from each other and we all can support each other. The best way to accomplish this through the police department is by developing programs with the community, schools and businesses. I know that we are better together and by working together we build a better community. #BetterTogether is a key objective of the Marco Island Police Department.
What do you see, or hope to see, as the future for women in your field or in other positions of power? Women represent about 12 percent of all
the law enforcement officers in the nation. What I would love to see in the profession is a time when there are more women who have achieved the highest levels, been appointed to specialized positions and have succeeded in every aspect of law enforcement.
PHOTO BY ALEX DRIEHAUS
Hometown and where you currently reside:
| COVER STORY |
PHOTO BY ALEX DRIEHAUS
We all can always learn from each other and we all can support each other.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 35
| COVER STORY |
36 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
PHOTO BY ALEX DRIEHAUS
I hope to see more women enter legal technologyrelated fields and create a space where women can collaborate, support, and encourage one another.
| COVER STORY |
CAROL THOMPSON-FINN Owner, MyLegalEdge, LLC (online legal forms website offering legal forms for all 50 states)
Hometown and where you currently reside: I was born in Jack-
son, Mississippi, and I currently reside in Naples.
Other titles you may have: Cat mom and volunteer Who or what inspires you? While serving as a law clerk at the Mississippi Supreme Court, I was inspired by the dedication and commitment of Justice James E. Graves Jr. to the court and to the community. His example and work ethic were paramount in offering me the inspiration I needed to start my own company and not just think outside of the box, but remove the box altogether. What is one quality that sets you apart from others in your field?
One quality that sets me apart from others in my field is the ability to incorporate emotional intelligence (E.I.) while interacting with others. Emotional intelligence is an integral part of both personal and professional success because it allows you to connect with those around you on a very human level. Who mentored you or helped pave the way for you in your current position? One of my first mentors was Attorney Jamie Insley.
She was the managing supervisor at one of my very first positions after graduating from law school. Jamie assisted me in developing the legal research and writing skills that I needed in order to create the products for my customers. She helped me to gain the hands-on experience necessary for the corporate world that I was entering at that time.
Was there ever a time in your career that you thought, “I can’t do this?” If so, what changed or what helped you push past that point? Oh my goodness, there were many times in my career that I
thought starting a business was just too much and I wasn’t sure if I could or wanted to do this. But each time I had a challenging situation, I would think about the future and how many people I could help or be an inspiration to if I didn’t give up. My philosophy is it’s OK to get knocked down, and while you are there even rest a bit, but never give up. How do you feel you can help the next generation achieve what you have achieved — or more? I feel I can help the next genera-
tion achieve what I have achieved and much more by leading by example and being a resource for the next generation. There is a saying that charity begins at home and for me that took on a literal meaning when I discovered that I had a niece that I knew nothing about for the first seven years of her life. Over the past three years, I have sought to build a positive relationship with her to let her know that she is loved and valued. So, helping the next generation is very personal for me. I want to be a resource for her and other young girls by being a positive role model and mentor for life development. This is a work that I am wholeheartedly invested in because there is nothing more satisfying than knowing you were able to enrich the journey of others and watch them achieve more in life.
What do you see, or hope to see, as the future for women in your field or in other positions of power? I hope to see more
women enter legal technology-related fields and create a space where women can collaborate, support, and encourage one another. Because the presence of women in the legal technology sector is minimal at best, a goal I have set for 2020 is to offer summer internships for a select number of women interested in learning more about the field. Perhaps this may serve as a catalyst in helping women develop an interest in and explore alternative legal tech careers.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 37
| COVER STORY |
ROBBIE ROEPSTORFF President and co-founder, Edison National Bank and Bank of the Islands
Florence, Alabama. Currently reside on Sanibel Island.
Other titles you may have: Of course, always a mom and
wife, philanthropic volunteer and board member, python hunter.
Who or what inspires you? Though she is no longer with us, my mother is always on my mind and in my heart. She was the perfect combination of a great mother and an accomplished businesswoman with a strong work ethic. She will always be my No. 1 role model. What is one quality that sets you apart from others in your field? I was fortunate, and now looking back know I
County’s nonprofit community, Gary Trippe and Johnny Sheppard are two people I have always looked to and admired for their community work. Was there ever a time in your career that you thought, “I can’t do this?” If so, what changed or what helped you push past that point? Being a young banker and mother
who became suddenly widowed was a challenging time. Looking back on it today, my family’s story really has had a fairy-tale ending because I never lost my trust and faith in God and was surrounded by people who care.
How do you feel you can help the next generation achieve what you have achieved — or more? I feel it always an
was blessed to start my banking career as a bank teller. I knew early on I wanted to make banking my career, and as such, have had opportunity to work in all areas of the bank along my career path to my present position. It is that hands-on dayto-day experience that I feel sets me apart.
honor to be asked for advice by our younger bankers. Education is the key that can unlock doors and I would stress the importance of a strong work ethic. They need to enjoy the career path they’ve chosen, always put the customer first and make the commitment to do whatever it takes if they choose to advance in that career.
Who mentored you or helped pave the way for you in your current position? In the banking world, there are too many
What do you see, or hope to see, as the future for women in your field or in other positions of power? This is a fantas-
to count as I have learned from so many through observing their skills and respecting the depth of their expertise. Though I never had the pleasure of working with Mamie Tooke, she was certainly an inspiration for me. She started her banking career as a cashier in Naples, later becoming the first female president in the area. In my ambition to give back to Lee
38 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
tic era for women to pursue a banking career! Within the last decade, many women have risen to be bank presidents and/ or hold other executive-level positions at major money center banks. They are bringing their own perspectives to management practices and serving as terrific mentors for younger women at the start of their banking careers.
PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ
Hometown and where you currently reside: Hometown,
| COVER STORY |
PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ
This is a fantastic era for women to pursue a banking career!
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 39
SOMETHING
NEW Our picks explore new wines and a different take on the cosmopolitan.
t’s 2020 — out with the old and in with the new, right? How does that apply to wine lovers? I’m not sure I’ll ever let go of some old favorites, however, I’m all about discovering something new. That’s part of the fun of drinking wine. There is always an indigenous grape from some far away country to try, or an up-and-coming region now doing great things with some of the better-known grape varieties. Finding new wines and introducing them to millennials is something Naomi Biber is doing as co-owner of the new Palace Pub and Wine Bar in Cape Coral. Along with partner Ryan Lay, they pride themselves in finding off-the-beaten-path wineries, varietals and affordable wines to serve. She joins me this month in offering a few new selections to try for the new year.
Gina Birch Gina Birch is the wine columnist for The News-Press in Fort Myers. Follow her social media here: Twitter: @ ginabirch Facebook: GinaBirch
Naomi Biber
Guest columnist and co-owner of Palace Pub and Wine Bar
NAOMI’S WINE PICKS
DISCOVER
Terres Dorees Fleurie ($38) • I’ve really been into natural wines lately, and I think they are going to get more and more popular in 2020. Some are really weird and funky, and others you would never know were natural wines unless I told you they were. This is one of those. I love Beaujolais; it’s one of my favorite regions. If you love a good pinot noir, look at the gamay grape and definitely try this. Fleurie is so delicious, you could drink it all day.
Weeping Juan ($38) • Another natural wine, this one is a little weirder. From Delinquente Wine Co. in Australia, it’s made by two young guys who want to break the rules and have created a whole new line of wines using a lot of Italian varietals. Weeping Juan is a petnat, a sparkling wine that is just a touch above effervescent. It’s not filtered, and no yeast or sugar has been added, so it has this hazy pink color. It has flavors of raspberry and lime, and it is so good, everyone who tries it loves it.
Bodegas Chozas Carrascal, Roxanne Cava ($36) • I love sparkling wine, and I’m a big proponent of cava from Spain over Champagne from France. You can find similar blends of grapes and flavor profiles in cava without the high price tag. A $20 cava is going to be way more spectacular than $20 Champagne, and Roxanne is one of them. It’s 50% chardonnay and not as floral as some cavas. It is still nice and toasty, creamy and lemony. It’s also natural. Natural wines are a natural step for craft beer drinkers both young and old who want to learn more about wine.
GINA’S WINE PICKS
| WINE & SPIRITS |
Zinck Pinot Blanc ($17) • Pinot blanc is delightful genetic mutation from pinot noir grapes. This one comes from an organic farm in the Alsace region of France, an area known for producing outstanding white wines, and this is no exception. An aromatic wine, this has notes of peach, honeysuckle and apple. It’s lean and clean, mineral-driven with fresh fruit, including pear. It’s a wine that goes well with a variety of foods but is also good to sip on its own. If you like an unoaked chardonnay, chances are you’ll like this one, too.
Dona Maria Grande Reserva 2012 ($45) • I spent much of July in Portugal, sampling wine from across the country, and can’t get enough of the red blends from the Alentejo region. Old school moves are used to make this one; think foot stomping and fermenting in ancient marble lagares. It’s 50% alicante bouschet, an inky grape with massive structure. Petit verdot, syrah and touriga nacional make up the rest of the blend. It’s a wine that benefits from decanting and when it hits its stride is full bodied, yet silky, with beautiful black fruit and spice.
Frank Family Vineyards Rouge ($55) • Bubbles, in general, are fun and it was especially fun to discover this one from Frank Family Vineyards in Napa. New to their portfolio, this ruby red sparkler looked beautiful on my holiday table and tasted lovely, too, with hints of strawberry and pomegranate. Made méthode Champenoise from pinot noir, its deep color is a result of leaving the grapes in contact with the skin for a brief period. That contact also gives the wine a bit of tannin and more acid making it a full-bodied sparkler well suited for food.
(Wine prices may vary.)
40 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| WINE & SPIRITS |
COCKTAIL PICK
he cosmopolitan is a classic. While it might not be a new cocktail for the new year, The Empower Cosmopolitan is. Tiffany Hall spent years working in a large wine and spirit company where men were often noted as the key target customer during the new product development process. She thought, “Women should also be considered and have multiple options on the shelf to choose from. So, I created a cocktail to expand the market.” The vodka in this pre-mixed cosmo comes from sweet potatoes grown on a family farm in northern California. “I wanted to do something nontraditional,” she says. “Most
vodkas are made from wheat or rye.” It also helps to fashion a cocktail that’s lower in calories, at 80 per 3-ounce serving. Besides providing a tasty, convenient low-calorie cocktail targeted to women, Tiffany is also on a mission to help them and has partnered with various organizations that focus on women’s initiatives. “I hope that my story empowers women to follow their dreams,” she says. The Empower Cosmopolitan Martini is a near perfect blend of sweet potato vodka, triple sec, white cranberry and lime, ready to be shaken over ice and poured into a martini glass. But for another option make it into this spritzer:
EMPOWER SPRITZ • 1.5 parts Empower Cosmopolitan Martini • 1.5 parts Aperol • 2 parts sparkling rose wine • 1 part club soda
METHOD
Combine all ingredients in a wine glass. Top with ice and gently stir. Garnish with a lemon and serve immediately.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 41
| RIDE |
STORY AND PHOTOS BY LANCE SHEARER
ROLLING IN
STYLE Car enthusiast Sal Campo’s collection covers classics to Corvettes
al Campo says he owes his ownership of antique Rolls-Royces to two women – his wife JoAnn and mystery writer Agatha Christie. “JoAnn was reading a lot of Agatha Christie novels, and she said, ‘I’d love to ride in one of those, in a Rolls-Royce.’ They were in the books a lot,” said Sal says. Well, cross that one off the bucket list. Sal bought one and then another, and now they are the flagships of his car collection. Currently, that number is 15 vehicles, down from a high of about 30, and they run the gamut from his dad’s old restored tractor and a tiny Nash Metropolitan – a car that looks like Minnie Mouse should be driving it – up to Sal’s black 1954 RollsRoyce Silver Wraith limousine.
42 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| RIDE |
This car – although it almost seems demeaning to call such a vehicle a mere car, as opposed to an automobile or perhaps a motorcar – has the chauffeur out in the elements, while the passengers sit in the back, separated by glass and a retractable privacy panel. The radio console, incidentally, is in the back seat for the passengers to control. The Silver Wraith has the classic Rolls massive “bonnet” or hood, with sweeping mudguards and a Lalique crystal hood ornament, featuring an unclad nymphet, that is illuminated from within at night. The rear doors, which hinge at the back, “suicidedoor” style, feature a faux wickerwork ornamentation, painstakingly applied with a painter’s palette knife, one of which Sal keeps on hand to demonstrate how it is done. While there is a removable cover for above the front seat to keep the chauffeur dry should showers become intense – remember, it’s from England – the front seat compartment, with right-hand drive, is relatively spartan apart from the burl-wood dash. In the “Upstairs, Downstairs” world of British motorcars, this is the servants’ quarters. These days, though, the chauffeur is most likely to be Sal, and he even has a black cap he keeps in the
glove box to help him look the part. According to Sal, the most fun he has with the Silver Wraith is lending it (and himself as driver) out to people, be they friends, family or strangers. Antique rides like the Silver Wraith, along with his 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II sedan, and his 1933 Auburn Touring Sedan Convertible, have a way of reaching people and disarming their defenses, says Sal. “Cars break through barriers. When I drive down the road, people start pointing and waving. They slow down and beep their horn.” It’s a reaction he doesn’t get driving his modernday Cadillac Escalade. Sal has been known to play fairy godfather to people needing a ride for a special occasion. “The thrill is in sharing with other people. One day at a car show in New Jersey, a woman asked if I rented out my car for weddings. Her daughter was getting married. I told her to come to my house and pick out cars, and we’d do her wedding. “She chose the 1940 Caddy limo I had for her daughter, and the Auburn for her. They didn’t think I’d show up, but we took them to the wedding, then took them to the reception. And I gave her daughter $200 as a wedding present.”
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 43
| RIDE | He takes friends to dinner and picks them up, just as a favor, and notes, “When we take the Rolls out to dinner, they always leave it parked up front.” Family also gets to ride. “I’ve got 10 grandchildren, and I love to pile them into the car to go to 7-Eleven.” The kids may or may not realize the automotive royalty in which they are being squired. The 1960 Silver Cloud shares the imposing Rolls grille with the limousine, although the hood ornament is JoAnn and Sal different. It’s a winged figure titled Campo the “Spirit of Ecstasy.” The Auburn, manufactured by the automotive group that also made Duesenberg and Cord, evokes “Bonnie and Clyde” with its custom hand-built body, and sports a 12-cylinder Lycoming engine. It was one of only 50 built. Sal spent decades as a building contractor in upstate New Jersey, after growing up in Brooklyn, and he and JoAnn divide their time between a home in Morris County, New Jersey, and a condo
on Marco Island. The bulk of Sal’s cars are still in Jersey, but you could say the cream of the crop have made the trip south. Additional vehicles in Sal’s stable include a 1937 Buick four-door, the same model his father once drove, the 1940 Cadillac limousine, a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro,
A BETTER 2020 brought to you by Collins Vision
A new decade calls for new vision. Dr. Collins offers a unique approach to Refractive Cataract Surgery that’s allowed thousands to enjoy Southwest Florida with the vision they deserve. It’s your turn!
SEE the DIFFERENCE
Awarded Expertise
Customized Care
Excellent Results
Sincere Hospitality
Schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Collins today.
239.215.2233 • CollinsVision.com 6900 INTERNATIONAL CENTER BLVD • FORT MYERS 860 111TH AVENUE NORTH • NAPLES
NP-0000974562
44 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
a 1975 Mercedes-Benz convertible, a 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow originally owned by Bobby Vinton, 1959 and 2000 Chevy Corvettes, a 1936 Ford V-8 four-door, an antique fire engine, and as mentioned, the restored Ford tractor and the Metropolitan. He says it’s good to have a selection available since, “One or two are always in the shop. Like us when we get older, cars have little aches and pains.” JoAnn says that before she got Sal interested in luxury motorcars, speed and hotrods were his thing. “He was more into muscle cars,” she says. “As a teen, I had a ’64 Vette I used to race,” says Sal. “I had a ’66 Vette in ’66, and a ’68 Vette in ’68. Then I got married and got a station wagon.” It was a Ford Torino. But Sal is getting back to his “fast and furious” roots. As a present from JoAnn, he soon expects to take delivery of a brand-new car, a 2020 Corvette. “I’ve been waiting for that mid-engine Vette for at least three years,” he says. “I can’t wait to see how it handles.”
WELLNESS DIRECTORY
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 45
There’s a new alternative to the busy Emergency Department Feeling sick during the week or weekend and can’t get in to see your primary care doctor? There’s a new alternative to the busy Emergency Department. Millennium’s Fort Myers & Cape Coral Walk-in Medical Centers are now open late and weekends to better care for you during all of life’s minor emergencies. There are no appointments necessary and wait times are much shorter than a typical Emergency Department or Urgent Care Center. The Walk-in is now accepting new patients, and you don’t have to be an established Millennium Physician Group patient to utilize the convenient services. Most insurance plans are accepted and
self-pay patients are always welcome. Millennium’s family-friendly Walk-in Medical Center provides treatment for all of your urgent care needs, such as colds, sore throats, flu, rashes and earaches. Our physicians also treat non-life threatening emergencies like sprains, abrasions, and burns. Our Walk-in Medical Center teams know that when you visit our Centers, you want to feel better quickly and without a lot of hassle. No need to wait in an emergency room or wait to schedule an appointment with your physician, the Walk-in Medical Center can see you today. Skip the Wait. No need to wait hours at a local
Emergency Room or busy Urgent Care Center. Millennium’s Walk-in Medical Centers now have a feature to allow you to view all of the wait times at their Walk-in facilities. You simply “skip the line” by pre-registering for a time that you would like to be seen for the day and essentially you get to “skip the line” when you arrive. If the provider is running behind you will receive a text message letting you know to come in a few minutes later, reducing any wait time. Log-on to www.MillenniumPhysician.com and select “Skip the Line” at the top of the webpage. View the wait times and get in line to feeling better today. To learn more about Millennium Physician Group, please visit www.MillenniumPhysician.com.
357 46 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Wellness Millennium_46_47_November.indd 68
10/24/19 3:35 PM
NOW PATIENTS FOR PRIMARY CARE & SPECIALTIES
Connecting You to a Healthier Life 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE MILLENNIUM 1| Our Experienced Physicians 2| Walk-in Medical Centers 3| Dedicated Care Teams 4| Diagnostic Services 5| Patient Portal & Electronic Medical Records
www.MillenniumPhysician.com Lee & Collier County Walk-in Medical Center Locations Cape Coral Walk-in Medical Center 3571 Del Prado Blvd N, Ste 2 Cape Coral, FL 33909 Phone: 239-652-4711 Mon - Fri: NOON - 7 PM Sat & Sun: 8 AM - NOON
Cape Coral Pkwy Walk-in Medical Center 1708 Cape Coral Pkwy, Ste 2 Cape Coral, FL 33914 Phone: 239-333-3333 Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sun: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Fort Myers Walk-in Medical Center 13813 Metro Pkwy Fort Myers , FL 33912 Phone: 239-308-0005 Mon - Fri: 7 AM - 7 PM Sat & Sun: 8 AM - NOON
Bonita Walk-in Medical Center 9500 Bonita Beach Rd SE, Ste 101 Bonita Springs, FL 34135 Phone: 239-498-9294 Mon - Fri: 8 AM - 6 PM Sat & Sun: 9 AM - 3 PM
Estero Walk-in Medical Center 10201 Arcos Ave, Ste 105 Estero, FL 33928 Phone: 239-333-2273 Mon - Fri: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sun: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Naples Walk-in Medical Center 400 8th St N Naples, FL 34102 Phone: 239-649-3333 Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 7 PM Saturday: 8:30 AM - 5 PM
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Reach for 20/20 in 2020
Advances in Cataract Surgery Offer More Visual Freedom Than Ever Cataract surgery has come a long way, and the specialists at Collins Vision have been on the leading edge of those advances for over 15 years. Consider Refractive Cataract Surgery, where the goal is to remove your cataract and reduce your dependency on glasses at the same time. Refractive Cataract Surgery takes the procedure to new heights, offering you the visual freedom you deserve. If you want to have reduced dependency on glasses, bifocals and/or readers after cataract surgery, this exciting procedure may offer you the opportunity for more desirable (and many times, glasses-free) visual outcomes than with basic cataract surgery. A Lens for Every Lifestyle Collins Vision offers so many great lens options—including the new PanOptix® Trifocal lens—that could offer
48 48 || JANUARY JANUARY 2020 2020 || grandeurmagazine.com grandeurmagazine.com
you increased visual freedom; something Dr. Collins knows is very important to many busy and active Southwest Florida residents. During your thorough one-on-one consultation, Dr. Collins hand-selects the lens that will best fit your goals, lifestyle and eye health, personally recommending a path customized just for you. Customized Cataract Care from an Expert You Can Trust Michael J. Collins, MD, FACS is a board-certified ophthalmologist with fellowship training in cornea, refractive and cataract surgery. At Collins Vision, every little detail matters. Awarded Expertise. Customized Care. Excellent Results. Sincere Hospitality. A Better 2020...brought you by Collins Vision. Schedule your cataract surgery consultation with Dr. Collins today and get ready to See the Difference.
| GETAWAY |
STORY BY JENNIFER THOMAS
A PERFECT
WINTER PARADISE For those looking for powdery snow, nothing tops Colorado
hite powder, snowcovered trees and panoramic, breathtaking views await skiers on the hunt for a winter escape to Colorado. From beginning hills (green runs) to black diamonds, this dream ski destination offers a seasonal wonderland for all levels of skiing and other wintertime activities. An adventurous and memorable vacation in the southern Rocky Mountains is pure inspiration with just the right mix of snow conditions, allowing the traveler to partake in a variety of experiences. Colorado’s winter weather is unbeatable, filled with bright blue skies and sunny days. “We offer everything from outdoor adven-
ture to urban adventure, including a worldclass culinary scene featuring award-winning restaurants, locally sourced ingredients and an exciting liquid arts scene,” says Abby Leeper, spokesperson for the Colorado Tourism Office. “Our mountain towns have distinctive personalities, with accomplished locals, pasts steeped in Old West history and loads of charm, especially when covered in snow. We have the highest-altitude collection of peaks in the continental U.S., which gives us our powdery snow, the longest ski runs, the longest ski season and unbeatable views.” Colorado is the No. 1 ski state in the country for good reason. It hosts between 20 and 25 percent of all skier visits nationally each year, according to Colorado Ski Country USA Public Affairs Director Chris Linsmayer.
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 49
| GETAWAY |
“Colorado’s higher elevation helps with consistent snow conditions, our ski areas’ guest service is world class and our resorts are constantly working to upgrade the guest experience,” Chris says. “In the last two years, our 23 ski areas have installed 11 new chairlifts, 10 new dining facilities and four new lodging properties.” There are many new developments unveiling in 2020. For example, guests to Telluride Ski Resort can experience 40 new acres of north-facing gladed terrain around Lift 9 this winter, Abby says. “This new tree skiing will be for advanced and expert skiers and will also include new natural features like steep chutes and rock drops.” She also mentions that in Breckenridge, the Peak 8 Base Area is being transformed with new escalators, skier services and amenities including an outdoor ice skating rink. For those seeking a luxury Colorado getaway, Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen and Telluride offer high-end excursions and experiences. Yet this state offers many quaint ski towns worth exploring as well. Chris outlines five great skiing areas to consider when planning a ski vacation to Colorado, including Aspen Snowmass, which has four mountains. Aspen Mountain is designed for intermediate and expert skiers as is Aspen Highlands. Beginners can find many runs at Snowmass, which also offers more difficult terrain. Another mountain great for beginners and intermediate skiers in this area is Buttermilk. Fresh powder is a dream for any skier – hitting the slopes on the most recent snowfall. To help facilitate this craving in the Aspen Snowmass area, a new program titled “First Tracks/Last Tracks” debuts in January in partnership with The Limelight Hotels. “Offering guests the chance to ski/ride freshly groomed corduroy or powder before Snowmass Mountain opens to the public, The Limelight Hotel’s First Tracks program will take place every Friday 50 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
beginning January 2020,” Abby says. “This service is complimentary and available to the first six guests who register. Additionally, the hotel’s Last Tracks program allows guests to join the ski patrol at both Aspen and Snowmass Mountains to be a part of the patrol’s safety measures that includes a final ‘sweep’ of the mountain.” No stranger to the Aspen Snowmass area is Sanibel resident Kay Casperson. “When I was growing up in Minnesota, we took annual trips to Vail with friends, which was our favorite at the time, but we now own property in Snowmass and, of course, prefer the Snowmass and Aspen Mountains,” she says. Just this past Thanksgiving, Kay and her husband traveled to Snowmass, Colorado, and their 13- and 16-year-old girls snowboarded for the first time. “They have skied before but are now more interested in learning to snowboard,” Kay says. “While the girls were in their snowboard lessons, we did a bit of skiing ourselves. My husband and I did some crosscountry skiing as well some snow-shoeing.” For those seeking a bit of a remote village, the ski town of Telluride is tucked into a box canyon surrounded by 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks and is only just eight blocks wide and 12 blocks long, as stated on the Colorado Tourism Office site. “Telluride is known for having some challenging terrain, but it has a fantastic beginner area that is great for learning. Telluride is a fantastic luxury destination nestled in the San Juan mountains, and it is often referred to as the Switzerland of America,” Chris says. “Steamboat is another destination that offers something for everyone – beginner, intermediate and expert levels. Winter Park also offers something for all ski levels.” Chris recommends Telluride and the helitrax program, which picks up at the Three Peaks Lodge. “Heliskiing is very different from resort skiing.
You will be dropped off on top of the terrain by a helicopter with a guide and avalanche equipment. Heliskiing is typically for experts,” Chris says. While visiting Telluride, Abby also suggests having a spa day the way nature intended. “Dunton Hot Springs near Telluride is an allinclusive resort set in a restored ghost town, featuring private log cabins, mineral-rich hot springs and long-table dinners held in an 1800s saloon,” she says. “Enjoy the soaking pool inside the restored 19th-century bathhouse or venture to Colorado’s only geyser, which is located nearby.” Of the many ski spots in Colorado, there is one that stands out as a gem - Copper Mountain. “I think Copper is on the less well-known side, and they are in the midst of an over $100 million investment phase, including four new lifts, four new dining properties and a new hotel,” he says. “Copper’s mountain is segmented with beginner terrain in the west village, intermediate terrain in the center village and expert terrain in the east village.” Colorado offers a diverse collection of 28 ski resorts, offering everything from backcountry skiing to world-famed resort experiences, however, a few more hidden gems worth exploring include Monarch Mountain, Granby Ranch and Wolf Creek. “Wolf Creek Ski Area is known for its deep-powder skiing, friendly atmosphere, delicious homemade food and affordable pricing. Located in southwest Colorado in the San Juan Mountains, Wolf Creek has always been known for its uniqueness in the ski industry since its opening in 1939. Wolf Creek recently became the first solar powered ski area in the nation,” Abby says. “Whereas Monarch Mountain is the perfect ski area for people looking to get away from the hustle-bustle of bigger resorts, and they have great cat skiing. Also consider traveling to Granby Ranch, a family-owned mountain resort designed and operated with families in mind.”
| GETAWAY |
New for winter 2020, Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby is offering a full immersion dog sled experience that will provide guests instruction and will allow them to work up to a solo sled ride with a team of dogs on the expansive resort property, Abby adds. Non-skiers have many options for snowy activities, including snowmobiling, ice climbing, snowshoeing, winter sightseeing, or simply relaxing in hot springs or bright sunshine after a day of play. “Combine the thrill of a high-speed ride with the beautiful scenery of the snowy alpine environment, and you’ll discover why snowmobiling is so popular in Colorado,” Abby says. “With miles and miles of trails in nearly every region of the state, you won’t have trouble renting equipment and taking a ride. Some of the most popular areas include Grand Lake, Winter Park, Leadville, Buena Vista and South Fork.” Extreme winter sports are no stranger to Colorado. “A number of waterfalls-turned-ice-walls can make for great winter climbing for experienced climbers, but the mountain town of Ouray is considered by many to be the ice-climbing capital of the world,” Abby says. “Each year, thousands of ice climbers descend on Ouray to scale the imposing Ouray Ice Park and experience the world-famous Ouray Ice Festival in January. Other towns, like Lake City, Vail, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Redstone, Boulder, Telluride and Silverton, are popular with experienced ice climbers.” Kay says she and her kids love to ice skate. Many of the ski villages have an ice rink at base level. “Travelers can enjoy some old-fashioned ice skating fun at one of Colorado’s many outdoor rinks. For an urban setting, visit the rinks in Fort Collins or Denver. Both are located in lively pedestrian areas and are surrounded by charming shops and cafes,” Abby says. “For a more mountainous venue, glide over to 40-acre Evergreen Lake, west of Denver, where you can spin on the ice and then cozy up to the fireplace
in the rink’s warming hut. Keystone, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Vail, Lake City and Crested Butte are also favorite spots for a skate.” Kay also recommends getting out for a great workout on snowshoes and cross-country skis and a few other winter fun activities. “There are also some really nice hiking trails to explore,” she says. “Another neat thing to do is to take a sleigh ride with horses in the mountains.” Cross country skiing and hitting the snow via snowshoes is a great way to take in the mountainous views and spectacular scenery. “Vacationers can take a break from downhill skiing and explore pristine groomed trails and backcountry beauty through a Nordic, cross country or snowshoefocused vacation,” Abby says. “Crested Butte is known as the Nordic Ski Capital of Colorado, and the Crested Butte Nordic Center grooms over 55 kilometers of trails accessed right from the town. The Tennessee Pass Nordic Center, Cookhouse, & Sleep Yurts outside of Leadville offers the finest in cross-country skiing, exquisite backcountry dining (accessed via cross country skis or snowshoes), and the coziest of overnight accommodations with their ski-in sleep yurts.” In fact, Abby says one travel trend she is observing is an increase in hut trips. “Colorado has more huts and yurts than any other state in the country. Red Mountain Alpine Lodge near Ouray serves as the ultimate year-round backcountry accommodation for discerning clientele who seek to be on the doorstep of Colorado’s ultimate outdoor playground without sacrificing a single amenity including gourmet eats, a bar/tavern, wood-burning sauna, access to guides and more,” she says. Another spot Abby recommends traveling to is Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort and Spa, which offers 120 kilometers of trails nestled in the pristine and private Ranch Creek valley at the base of the Continental Divide.
Many travelers might reserve biking as a spring, summer or even fall sporting activity. Fat bikes, however, are becoming fixtures on groomed multi-use trails throughout the state. “Many Nordic centers and ski resorts are now allowing them on their trails. Some areas are even hosting competitive races,” Abby says. “With fatter tires and handlebars and not-kidding-around treads, these new bikes aren’t speedy, but they can go just about anywhere, floating on the snow and giving people of all skill levels a new mode of exploration. Many ski areas offer lessons with staff instructors. The bikes’ three-point stance and low centers of gravity make it an easy activity to pick up.” Colorado also offers a world-class culinary scene that features award-winning restaurants, locally sourced ingredients and an exciting liquid arts scene, Abby says. For the first-time Colorado traveler, Kay advises not being intimidated by a lack of gear or skill. “If you don’t have the gear for either skiing or snowboarding, no worries as everything can be rented and if you book ahead of time there are usually some good discounts of ski lessons and gear packages as well as lift tickets. There is also plenty of good outerwear to buy when you get there as well since there are very few places in Florida to do so. Most of all, enjoy and try to experience a variety of outdoor activities to get a good taste of the mountain experience.” Skiing in Colorado, according to Kay, is “a beautiful and fun family activity.” Yet, she appreciates all that a Colorado winter offers. “I love it all - skiing, hiking, dining and shopping. Because I grew up in Minnesota but have lived in Florida for the past 30 years, it is a nice feeling to see snow again and experience some of the things I did when I was young. But I like it in little bits, not for long periods of time. I have become an Island girl!” GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 51
| EVENTS |
A COLLECTION OF
MEMORIES
ArtFest Fort Myers celebrates 20 years and incredible growth.
LulaBelle
STORY BY ANNE REED | PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR 52 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
wo decades. For many of us, 20 years isn’t much in the grand scheme of our individual timelines. But for the organizers and volunteers of ArtFest Fort Myers, their 20th anniversary marks two decades of learning, growing, celebrating and bringing extraordinary visual art to Southwest Florida. We sat down with three of the original organizers, including executive director Sharon McAllister, to talk about a few of their favorite memories and what they hope to see in the years to come.
For the Young at Art “One of the things that I’ve loved to watch grow since the beginning is Art Under 20,” says Kristin Woolam. “When we started, we had $1,500 in award money to distribute to student artists and this year we have over $10,000. It’s just grown steadily over the years through everything that Sharon does and it’s an event now. People know what it is and they want to be involved in it. Our sponsors continue to be more generous.” It’s not just sponsors who donate to Art Under 20, but individual artists in the community who contribute funds as a way to support young artists in Southwest Florida. As sponsorship has grown, so has the tent. “The first tent was 20-by-20,” Sharon says. “It was just three sides. And now the tent is 30-by-75 with electricity and it is packed.” More than 300 young artists had works on display in the Art Under 20 tent in 2019, up from the 50 artists that participated in the first year. Another highlight over the years is the Young Art Collectors tent. “It is wonderful,” Kristin says. “Professional artists donate their pieces to the tent and if you are ages 5-10, for $5 you can go into the tent and pick out a piece that you like.” This allows children to explore the different pieces of art and choose something that catches their eye without the influence of their parents — who are not allowed into the tent. “It’s not what mommy says you should like, it’s what speaks to the child,” Kristin says. “It’s a good way to expose kids to art and then we encourage them to take the art and find the professional artist who donated it and thank them for it.” Meeting the artist also gives children the opportunity to ask questions about the work of art they purchased. “The artists love meeting the kids,” Sharon adds. “We ask them to donate things that are $25 or less but it’s frequently a lot higher. It’s a really great opportunity for kids and we now have a line each year when the tent opens.”
| EVENTS | Sharon McAllister
Best in Show 2020 : Watercolor by Russel Yerkes
Weathering the Storm For John Stefani, one thing that sticks out over the years is the weather. “We have had some horrendous weather conditions over 20 years time,” he says. “It seems like it was more toward those earlier years than the later years.” Wind storms, rain, cold fronts — none of these are conducive to an outdoor art festival, but all possibilities during the unpredictable month of February. In the early years, John recalls that there were maybe 10 volunteers compared to the almost 300 there are today. And that small group of volunteers would be rushing to help when a strong wind picked up a tent, or rain started blowing sideways or the temperature plummeted. “And those were the days before weather apps,” Sharon notes. “So we had a great relationship with our local weather guys.”
And while technology like weather apps has helped the staff and volunteers at ArtFest prepare in advance for adverse conditions, 20 years of experience has also played a role. “Since we are so established, we have so many more volunteers now than we did then,” explains Kristin. “Now we have more hands to close down tents and batten down the hatches if the weather gets that bad.”
The Artists Many of Sharon’s memories are tied to the artists. ArtFest is a juried event with only 200 spots available and the competition each year is high. In 2019, there were 900 applications. And once the artists are chosen, they have months of preparation, set-up for the event, hours spent on their feet during the festival, then time spent packing up before heading home to create more art and prepare for
the next festival. For the participating artists, Sharon notes, “Art is not a hobby. It’s a business.” And just like in the business world when you work regularly with someone, the artists form friendships with each other and with the staff and volunteers of ArtFest. “The artists are what bring so much value to this event,” Sharon says. “They share their excitement each year with us, they share so much information with us and so much advice.”
The Future With big changes coming to downtown, with the completion of the Luminary Hotel and renovations to Harborside Event Center, Sharon expects ArtFest to grow and evolve as well. “We are having big discussions,” she says. And that includes discussing diversity and demographic changes. “How do you use art to increase
diversity and inclusion? How do you do that organically?” Another discussion topic is age. “How do we serve our current audience that has supported us for our first 20 years while bringing in new people?” Sharon says. Kristin noted that another part of the age discussion is their past Art Under 20 participants. “We are now seeing Art Under 20 students who are coming to the event as art teachers,” she says. “We would love to get some of those former Art Under 20 kids to come back as volunteers and committee members.” Sharon adds, “We would love to keep that circle going.” “I’m excited to see what comes next,” Kristin says. That excitement is something John and Sharon echo. “Artists elevate my life,” Sharon says. “The last 20 years have been my best 20 years.”
ARTFEST FORT MYERS Dates: February. 1-2 • Hours: Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • Where: Downtown Fort Myers River District • Cost: General admission is free • Website: artfestfortmyers.com/
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 53
| STYLE |
ROBBIE
ROEPSTORFF As president of Edison National Bank and Bank of the Islands professional ensembles are a mainstay in her closet
WHO SHE IS: “I hate to talk about myself so I asked some of my staff members and they described me as a multi-tasking banker. As president I get involved in everything from making sure the key goes in the door each day to hiring and making sure we have the best staff. I enjoy doing community volunteer work and am very active in the nonprofit world. I’m a wife and a mom. I keep myself rather busy. I just love to give back. I have a good team here that allows me to do so much in the community.” WHAT ARE HER FASHION INSPIRATIONS: “When I grew up,
my female mentor in life was Jackie O. I loved her style. I have always tried to be very simple and very polished. Today I love to follow Amal Clooney — she is very put together. I just love her style and her grace — a classic.” HER FASHION TIP: “I had a friend at Sax (Stephanie Giles) who got me out of the dark banker attire and started getting me into color. She was so right. Wearing color gave me more of an upbeat, uplifted spirit. She knew my style and I was kind of her project. My advice is find that favorite store you like to shop in and then find that favorite personal shopper that will look out for you.” » INTERVIEWED BY ANNE REED
54 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
“In this temperature, sleeveless dresses are perfect. Tahari is the perfect fit for me. I tend to stay with colors and solids or very small print so my jacket can be the contrast.” 4
TAHARI STAR NECK CAP SLEEVE STRETCH CREPE SHEATH DRESS, $128 AT NORDSTROM.COM
5
| STYLE |
Robbie’s
FASHION PICKS
FOR PROFESSIONALS “A daily essential is a big leather sleek tote bag that can fit a file and my personal essentials. Simple, streamlined, not a lot of bells and whistles.” ROBINSON TOTE BY TORY BURCH, $348
1
B
“It’s just what catches my eye. I have a few in my closet. I’ll see one and then I’ll know. I have learned that when you see it, you have to go ahead and get it because somewhere along the line, a dress or skirt will come along to go with it.” 2
NEW MIX JACKET BY NIC+ZOE, $188 AT NICANDZOE. COM
O
N
U
S
“I’m a devoted weekly manicure. It’s very important in the business world. My nails don’t have to be long and fashionable, just well groomed.”
“Being a traditionalist, I love pearls. Pearls will go with most of my outfits. If it’s not pearls, I just love diamonds. I love Mark Loren and he does beautiful work. I also love Lily & Company.” 3
FANCY SHAPE DIAMONDS SET IN 18-KARAT ROSE GOLD AND FRAMED IN BLACKENED WHITE GOLD BY MARK LOREN DESIGNS, $21,370
“I love shoes, and I love comfortable shoes. I absolutely love Jimmy Choos. They are a major, but good, investment. I’ve had a pair that I’ve worn for five years and they still look as good as the first day. The ones I buy are not as trendy – they are the classics. They work and they last.” 5
LOVE POINTY TOE PUMP BY JIMMY CHOO, $675 AT NORDSTROM.COM GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2019 | 55
Talis Park is renowned for its beautiful homes and remarkable amenities, including the Greg Norman/Pete Dye designed golf course.
At Talis Park, Discover a New You in the New Year The start of a new year brings an opportunity to discover a new you – and it all begins at Talis Park. Within the luxury community renowned for its beautiful homes and remarkable amenities, including its championship Greg Norman and Pete Dye designed golf course, you’ll find an inspired approach to Naples living that perfectly complements a modernminded lifestyle. Talis Park’s award-winning clubhouse, the Vyne House, is at the center of it all. Offering a fresh take on the country club lifestyle, Talis Park forgoes formality in favor of fun and spontaneity. You’ll meet residents and club members who share your passion for an active lifestyle and inspire you to get up and get out! You’ll feed your spirit with the camaraderie of new friendships forged through playing tennis, golf, or bocce, catching up over cappuccino at Fiona’s Café, or sharing a selection from the fully-stocked wine room. Within the relaxed, everyday elegance of the Grand Hall, Chef Rob DeFrancesco and his team strive to exceed your expectations whether you’re seeking a heart-healthy meal or desiring something a little more indulgent to celebrate. A new year calls for new traditions, like catching up with friends over a leisurely delicious Sunday brunch in the Grill Room, or taking a little “me time” each week to treat yourself to luxurious spa treatment or a soothing massage in the Espirit Spa. If fitness is part of your “new you” plan, Talis Park offers a pair of fitness centers filled with state-of-theart cardio and strength training equipment,
56 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
fun group classes, and motivating professional trainers who can help you create a personalized program to help you reach your goals. Basking in the sun more your speed? A spacious, resort-style pool sparkles near a cool pool bar and deck overlooking the 18th green – a perfect place to enjoy Naples’ legendary sunsets. Nearby, three-acre Sports Complex offers six lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, four bocce courts, a two-lane lap pool and a playground. Casa Cortese, Talis Park’s sports pub located on the driving range, offers even more fun with casual daily dining, billiards, shuffleboard, darts, a Trackman golf simulator, and televisions in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. When the beach beckons, Talis Park’s exclusive complimentary Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, The Beach Runner, whisks club members off to the white sand and cool water of Naples’ Vanderbilt Beach. To celebrate the new year, Talis Park is offering a limited number of non-resident, full equity golf memberships that provide members with the exclusive use of one of Florida’s highest ranked golf courses – an 18-hole design that is one of only two Norman/Dye collaborations worldwide. Non-resident members will also have access to all Talis Park’s award-winning amenities. You’re invited to immerse yourself in the Talis Park experience with the Gold Pass program, which affords two days of member status and access to the dining, exercise and sports complex. One round of golf for two is offered to the holder at the member
guest rate. For more information about the Gold Pass and the non-resident golf membership, call 239-4495900. Talis Park’s neighborhoods are situated just a short walk, bike ride, or golf cart ride from the community’s heralded Great Lawn and the Vyne House. A full offering of move-in ready and to-be-built opportunities from the high $600,000s to $10 million await future Talis Park residents – whether you crave the convenience of coach, terrace or penthouse living in Corsica and Viansa, opt for a move-in ready home in Watercourse with views of Lake Il Corso, or choose to build a dream home in the exclusive Isola Bella neighborhood, Talis Park’s very own “beautiful island.” Two new elegant model homes from Seagate Development Group illustrate the possibilities within the intimate, 4.5-acre Isola Bella enclave that offers 17 water and golf course view homesites to accommodate custom estate residences from 3,500 to more than 6,000 square feet. Since every Isola Bella homesite is unique, homebuyers may choose from a selection of five stunning floor plans – or custom design one that suits their personal needs and style. For a limited time, Isola Bella homesites will include a golf membership valued at $97,500, with year-round access to enjoy Talis Park’s championship golf course. Visit Talis Park Garden House Information and Sales Center at 16980 Livingston Rd. Models Open Daily. For more information, visit www.talispark.com
Live the view
ISOLA BELLA BY SEAGATE DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Magnificent waterfront estate residences steps from Vyne House and the Great Lawn with spectacular water and golf course views
THE MONTEREY
THE LAGUNA
THE SONOMA
Terrace elevation floor plans from 3,500 to more than 5,000 square feet from $2.5 Million
Norman & Dye Golf 16990 Livingston Rd, Naples, FL 34110
A Kitson & Partners Community
TalisPark.com
Broker participation is most welcome. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Oral Representation Cannot Be Relied Upon As Correctly Stating The Representations Of The Developer. For Correct Representations Reference Should Be Made To The Documents Required By Section 718.503, Florida Statutes, To Be Furnished By A Developer To A Buyer Or Lessee. Not An Offering Where Prohibited By State Law. Photography In This Ad May Be Stock Photography Used To Depict The Lifestyle To Be Achieved Rather Any That May Exist.
| PETS |
Cathy Grain walks with her dogs Voltaire and Jackson near their home in Bonita Springs.
IT’S A
COLORFUL
LIFE
adsfasdf Otas et, unduciiscium o dollatem quatur? Tis non et illestium iundel id eumquae
58 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| PETS |
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTOS BY JON AUSTRIA
ig fluffs of bright purple cover Voltaire’s head and ears and match his furry hocks. Across his body are the colors of the rainbow. This month the standard poodle is a rainbow poodle. But that is just one of a long list of styles that Voltaire sports as he struts through local festivals, parades, art shows, assisted living facilities, restaurants, cruises, airplanes and more. He’s been colored to look like a zebra, a giraffe, lion, tiger, leopard, parrot, Big Bird, Elmo, and many times a mixture of these characters. His owner Cathy Grain has been decorating her dog since Voltaire was 4 months old. Now an 8-year-old, the proud poodle is very used to his coloring days which happen about every four months. Cathy’s daughter, Cheryl Grain, is a professional creative groomer in Michigan. “She does it professionally and I thought I want to play with it,” Cathy began. Her daughter taught her the basics of grooming and coloring and Cathy started with simple styles. “At 4 months, he was just solid teal,” Cathy said. “He was all solid colors, all the time for a few years.” Then Cathy got more daring and started making her dog tie-dye and rainbow. Then she colored him to look like various animals. Voltaire won first place for his tie-dye colors in a show in Ohio. He also competed in a creative grooming show in Chicago, but did not place. This fall he got best of show in a dog show in Naples. Cathy uses a bowl and three sizes of brushes just like the ones salon hair stylists use. After grooming, Cathy paints on the permanent color that lasts about four months. She uses a permanent dye called Opawz. “It is made for dogs. It is vegetable based. It is very safe. Whatever dye is leftover, I use,” she said pointing to her
purple hair. During the holidays she uses a less permanent color to make him look like Santa Claus or have Easter eggs splattered on his coat. “I did it in chalk because I didn’t want him to do Easter for three months,” she said. She also adds accessories. With his rainbow coloring, Cathy added blue gems on his nose, feathers on his ears and sparkly blue nail polish on his front toes. “He lets me do anything with him,” Cathy said. “He loves to be groomed. People think it is kind of cruel, but he loves it. It gets him all kinds of attention.” At a festival in the park in Bonita Springs, a little girl runs up to hug the dog and happily explains that rainbow is her favorite color. At the assisted living facilities that he visits, residents gently pet the poodle and look in amazement at his coloration. “And he was a hit on the cruise,” Cathy said about a cruise to Mexico where the dog was decorated as a zebra, tiger, leopard and giraffe. His natural color is cream and Cathy leaves that color on his face. She doesn’t want to get the paint too close to his eyes. Cathy says Voltaire is a real people dog. “If I take him to the dog park, he goes from person to person. He doesn’t play with other dogs.” Yet he does have some dog features. “He likes chasing rabbits and squirrels,” Cathy said. Cathy’s husband, Alan, named their dog Voltaire after the famous French writer, historian and philosopher. Voltaire is a certified therapy dog so he can go everywhere that Cathy goes. She lives in Bonita Springs in the winter and Michigan in the summer. Cathy got her precious poodle from a shelter in Michigan. “I went to the pound in Lupton, Michigan, and I paid $50 for him,” Cathy said. She had smaller poodles, but fell in love with the larger size. Jackson, her 9-year-old small party poodle, sports a coat with light blue and black. Jackson does show off his colors at festivals, but does not go all around town like Voltaire does. Voltaire has also had his moments of fame. Designer Leoma Lovegrove used him in one of her shows. “She had an art show at Bealls and everything she has is colors, so he was perfect,” Cathy said. Cathy said she never knows what colors Voltaire will sport next. When the color fades, she shaves and grooms her dog and then decides what creation she wants. “I do have fun with it,” she said. She also has fun interacting with people that stop by to admire the colorful poodle. “People ask, ‘Is that natural?’ and I say, ‘Yes, I feed him Skittles,’” Cathy said. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 59
| OPEN DOOR |
THE
FUTURE
HAS ARRIVED Don Koogler, president of Koogler Homes, takes us on a tour of his new high-tech home.
A sazerac made by the bartenders at the 86 Room at the Patio de Leon.
The 86 Room, created in Prohibition-era style in Fort Myers’ Patio de Leon, serves up classic cocktails with throwback flair.
60 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTOS BY CRAIG HILDEBRAND OF THE SHOOT GROUP
hen Don Koogler sits on his lanai in the heat of summer, he can be as cool as he is indoors. That’s because his 2,000-square-foot lanai is completely air conditioned. “I am trying to set a trend,” Don says. If Don goes to the store and wants to know what he needs to buy, he can press an app and ask his smart refrigerator or freezer what items are running low. The stove is computerized to hold recipes. The master bathroom has a touchpad to turn on the shower, control temperature and set one of 20 light patterns. Every room has a picture-frame TV. They weren’t even on the market when Don bought them, but he has them in every room. When the TV is off, he can put one of thousands of pictures in the frame, making it look like a giant photo and not at all like a TV. Don’s new home on the water in Cape Coral is like a luxury house from the future. The under-roof portion of his lanai has shutters that come down at the push of a button. Once they are lowered, Don can turn on the air conditioning. FACING PAGE: One of the most unusual features of this new home in Cape Coral is the lanai. When the shutters are down, the lanai is air conditioned making it comfortable to use year round. • THIS PAGE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: The stone on the outside of Don Koogler’s new home in Cape Coral looks like wood. It matches the stone in the back of the home on the lanai. The house has three garages with windows that have the same rectangular design as the door. • The family room has a huge, gray leather couch that faces the television and linear fireplace. The television and fireplace are set in panels of granite. Sliding glass doors from this room lead to the lanai. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 61
| OPEN DOOR |
The outdoor seating area is huge. Don Koogler says there is seating for 42 people in the air conditioned portion of the lanai. In this section of the lanai, a 145 inch television can come down from the ceiling.
on the lanai.” Inside the home, it’s just as unique and technologically advanced. In the kitchen, the full-sized, side-by-side refrigerator and freezer are hidden behind cabinet doors. But it’s the smart features that make it special. From his phone Don can not only see a current photo of the contents, but can find out what items might be needed. “It will say, ‘The ketchup is almost empty,’” Don says. Don points to the gas stove and turns on a computer screen that can hold thousands of recipes. The huge pantry has a microwave and countertops for appliances. It also has a sink and numerous cabinets to store food and other goods. The kitchen has a very wide center island with a sink and seating for eight. There is also a dining room table that seats six. In the family room, a gigantic L-shaped gray leather couch faces the TV that is set in panels of granite. Nearby, the den has a picture frame TV. “That’s the cool thing about this. You don’t really know it’s a TV,” he says. “Picture frame TVs are just coming out on the market.”
Don Koogler, the president of Koogler Homes, has built hundreds of homes during the past 30 years, but this one he built for himself. He put all his favorite, high tech creations into his new house in Cape Coral.
PHOTO BY RICARDO ROLON
“I just decided I wanted to try it,” Don explains. “I live on my lanai. I always have. That is one of the things when people see it, they will want to do it.” This huge space has a table for eight, an Lshaped bar with eight stools, a tall table with four more seats, plus a big, plush lounger, couches and chairs. “There is a ton of seating — 42 seats under air on the lanai,” he says. “I had a party with 154 people and we didn’t even come inside.” There is also a fire pit and bar with a TV. One of his favorite elements is a 145-inch TV screen that comes down from the ceiling. “The other thing I like about it is my family comes over quite a bit,” he says. “With the screen on the lanai, the grandkids can watch their own movie.” The lanai is all under a ceiling of cypress wood. The pool and spa are just beyond and overlook the canal. “I plan to have a cup of coffee and read the paper on the lanai,” he says. “Many days, I don’t have to go to the office. I can do a lot of my work 62 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
GR-January60-65.indd 62
12/20/19 4:21 PM
| OPEN DOOR | Don says there are hundreds of free pictures to choose from or he can pay a bit to add an even greater selection. The home has two guest room suites. One is done in gray and white. The other has a king-size bed covered with a glittery, silver bedspread. The master bedroom has a king-sized bed in a pattern of tan, brown and black colors. A padded gray wall behind the bed matches the bottom frame of the bed. A wooden ceiling soars above. Glass French doors lead to the lanai. In the master bathroom, the shower has four rain heads and two regular heads. The bathtub can be filled by a faucet that pours from the ceiling above. “We did a lot of different things in here,” he says. One of Don’s favorite rooms is his man cave with its 155-inch TV. “It can split it into four TVs so I can watch four ballgames at once,” Don says.
THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Don used interesting ceiling designs throughout his new home including this one in the dining area. He also worked with a designer to find modern looking light fixtures and chandeliers. • The master bathroom features lots of storage space with its numerous drawers. • The master bedroom was designed with a variety of features to break up the large size and make the wall space more interesting. A padded wall was created behind the bed and that wall matches the bottom of the bed frame. Wood on the ceiling comes down one wall and forms a backdrop for the picture frame television. • Every television, including the one in the den, is a picture frame television. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 63
GR-January60-65.indd 63
12/20/19 4:23 PM
| OPEN DOOR |
A large, leather recliner couch offers lots of seating along with bar stools behind a long table. Don says with the sliding doors open, people can watch TV from the lanai too. The bathroom by the man cave serves as the pool bath. While Don did most of the design work, he got help from Lori Manning of Lori Manning Designs. “Probably the man cave is my favorite,” Lori says. “It just feels cozy, and I really feel that’s the room he is going to live in.” The house also has touch keypad and remote-controlled window shades and light fixtures. An in-wall hose makes it unnecessary to lug around a vacuum. Real stone on the front of the house and on the pillars on the lanai look like wood done in a three-dimensional Jenga pattern. “It’s time to show something a little bit more
unique,” Don says. “This is three years in the making.” “Don really wanted to hit it out of the park with this house, and I think he succeeded with that,” Lori says. For almost 30 years, Koogler Homes has built award-winning, fully customized, eco-friendly residences in Southwest Florida, but this house Don, the president of Koogler Homes, built for himself. The house has three bedrooms and a den and three full and two half bathrooms. There are three garages. Don won’t move in until March because he wants to use it as a model to show people what is possible in an ultra-modern home. “It is definitely one of a kind. This is the most advanced house we have ever done,” Don says. “This is a completely different style. It’s unique. I always try to set a trend.”
THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: The bathroom by the giant man cave also serves as a pool bath. Besides a toilet, it also has an urinal. The light blue wall is broken up by putting tile on the bottom portion and paint above. • The high tech kitchen has a refrigerator and freezer hidden behind cabinets. The appliances have smart technology that allows the owner to find out which items are running low from an app on his phone. The oven has a computer screen that holds thousands of recipes.
THIS P wall is can be water 155-in also a 64 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
GR-January60-65.indd 64
12/20/19 4:24 PM
| OPEN DOOR |
THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: The home has two guest suites. This one has a king-size bed. On the wall is a picture frame television. When the TV is off there is a choice of thousands of photos that can be displayed. • The master bathroom has computer pads in the shower. These control the water temperature, lighting and more. • The man cave is Don Koogler’s favorite room. It has a 155-inch television. Don says he can watch four sporting events at once on the television. There is also a ton of seating with the large leather couch and additional seats behind the long table. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 65
GR-January60-65.indd 65
12/20/19 4:25 PM
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
STORY BY GINA BIRCH PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE
SERVING UP THE
WOW FACTOR
For a real treat, venture off menu at 7th Avenue Social
th Avenue Social is one of those bars that locals like to discover and keep all to themselves. Two blocks off the bustling Fifth Avenue South in Naples, it could be called a hidden gem with its friendly, cozy, rustic vibe. A huge mural of Anthony Bourdain and some of his more famous quotes cover the back wall in the small bistro. Jars of spices and garnishes line the bar, used for crafting the cool cocktails. Those listed on the menu, however, are just a jumping off point. Regulars know to check the chalkboard for Bartenders Choice of the Night, or better yet, trust mixologists Daniel Grabowski and Nick Doll to craft unique combinations. Bar manager Barry Larkin encourages creativity, giving them journals to track their work and perfect new drinks. Have you ever ordered an entrĂŠe with sauce so good you wanted to drink it? You can here. Larkin raided the kitchen for curry powder that he adds to coconut milk and rum.
66 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Pearfection is an award-winning gin-based cocktail with a garnish that puts it over the top. • Bar Manager Barry Larkin seeks out unique and small batch spirits to craft cocktails with at 7th Avenue Social. • The brilliant color of Bee Social comes from dried butterfly pea flower that is infused in gin.
“It tastes like panang curry without the chicken,” he laughs. “Part of the fun is sitting at the bar and telling us what you want, your favorite alcohol, boozy, not too boozy.” Then sit back and let them work their magic. Bartenders use a house-made blend of bitters as well as vermouth for classic and craft cocktails. “I love it when someone says they don’t like gin,” Larkin says with a smile. That’s when he whips up an
award-winning First Class Pearfection. Besides gin, it has St. George Pear Brandy, Luxardo and Noilly Prat. A delicate fan of thinly sliced pear makes a picturesque garnish. It’s fresh, a little tart and if you like a margarita, this is a gin drink for you. It took Larkin five months after creating Ryes-n-Shine to name the cocktail, a play on words from its Templeton Rye and St. George Nola coffee liqueur. The coffee flavor is subtle on
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 67
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
the mid-palate and finish, and the drink itself has layers of flavor. A clever twist on a Manhattan served over a crystal clear block of ice and garnished with Luxardo cherries. The color of Bee Social is a stunning bluish purple thanks to the dried butterfly pea flowers that are infused in Fords Gin. A riff on a traditional Bees Knees, it has fresh squeezed lemon juice, honey, and Velvet Falernum for body — a nice balance of sugar and acidity. Topped with dried flowers this is a classy cocktail you could sip all night. In April the name changes to Bee Kind for Autism Awareness Month. Larkin plans to have a different craft cocktail each month featuring various social platforms. Where’s the Beef is one of those off-the-menu cocktails that makes you go hmmm. Featuring Smooth Ambler bourbon from West Virginia, the final product is sweet and savory. The kicker comes in the rim, which is dipped in butter and porcini mushroom powder. It’s the perfect sidekick for a meat dish including lamb sliders, which are found on the happy hour and late-night bar menu, with the later preparation including a mouthwatering black truffle potato cake. The kitchen, led by talented chef Everett Fromm, stays open until midnight. After work, try the $7 on 7th Happy Hour featuring a host of appetizers and drinks for $7, and on weekends there is live music. “We want to create an experience,” says Larkin. While you can find a vodka soda anywhere, Larkin says, “I like to wow people.”
68 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
E N O Z E R THEAT SEASON
15
CONCERthTeS Lights:
Beyond g Sammy Davis Jr. Discoverin y Beatles:rpool The Mersefr m Live Four Lads o m t the Palladiu Judy & Liza a
EVENTSay & Happy Hour
Broadw gacies: Legends & LpeBroadway Growing U ver We Gon: e r e h W r, e th Toge ee by her so Gypsy Rose L e: My Lifepinsy Merman &aM ast of Gy the Origin l C
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
ION LIVE PROFESS
AL THEATRE
one z . e r t a e h t . w ww 3 5 2 x 1
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Where’s the Beef bourbon cocktail is set apart by the buttered porcini mushroom powder rim. • Ryes-n-Shine is a play on words and the cocktail’s two main spirits, Templeton Rye and St. Georges Nola Coffee Liqueur. • The crunch is perfection on fried green tomatoes served over spicy jalapeño cream, topped with sweet pepper jam, a great combo of taste and texture. • The bar staff at 7th Avenue Social, led by Barry Larkin, are encouraged to experiment and come up with unique and creative cocktails. • Served with Meredith Dairy goat cheese, the succulent lamb meatballs are only $7 during happy hour.
888-966-3
Follow us on social media! NP-0000974563
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 69
| GRAND TIMES |
CHARITY FOR CHANGE
1
2
3
4
6
5
7
8
PHOTOS BY TIM GIBBONS PHOTOGRAPHY | SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
Charity for Change’s Enchantment in the Rainforest gala with a theme “planting seeds of humanity” raised $177,425 on November 16 at Quail West Golf & Country Club to support more than 5,000 students throughout Collier County who participate in Charity for Change’s after-school, summer school, preschool and in-school programs. Attendees enjoyed a cocktail hour with a silent auction, interactive trivia-style games, dancing and dinner. After 135 guests viewed the preview of a video about the serious impact of Charity for Change programs, a cash call raised $35,000 that was matched by the William Rosenberg Family Foundation.
1 1. Rob Carvell and Freddie Torres 2. Judy Tomlinson and Karen Roberts 3. Laren Jacobi and Tom Galanes
2
3
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SUNSHINE ACE HARDWARE
1. Becky Sharon and Suzanne Todd 2. Dee Schwartz and Rick Schwartz 3. Teri Hansen and Chris Hansen 4. Reg Buxton and Sandra Lee Buxton 5. Karen Conley, Tara Rosenberg, Alex Boreham, Zach Rosenberg, John Rosenberg, Rebecca Rosenberg and Lois Thome 6. Caroline Martino, Frank DiMella, Deborah Antonelli and Stephen Antonelli 7. Brian Sawyer and Sonya Sawyer 8. State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo and John Passidomo
BELL TOWER SHOPS TREE LIGHTING Bell Tower kicked off the 2019 holiday season with its third annual community Tree Lighting event on Dec. 6, featuring an evening of fun and entertainment. Santa Claus arrived on a fire truck and made his way to Center Court, leading the crowd in a countdown before flipping the switch to light up Bell Tower’s 25-foot tree.
70 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
GR-January70-73.indd 70
12/20/19 4:33 PM
| GRAND TIMES |
CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA RECOGNITION BREAKFAST
ADVERTISING
ArtFest Fort Myers 2020 Let Art Elevate Your Everyday!
PHOTOS BY TIM GIBBONS PHOTOGRAPHY | SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
Hope Clubhouse of Southwest Florida has set a new fundraising mark, collecting $200,000 at its annual mental health luncheon, which brought more than 300 people to the Broadway Palm dinner theater in Fort Myers on October 28. The theme of this year’s luncheon, “Faces of Hope Who Give,” was designed to spotlight the people who have given of their time, talent and treasure since the clubhouse’s inception.
1
PHOTOS BY GREG WILLETTE | SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
2
3
5
4
1. Tess Scalise, Rod Mease, Ashley Wells, Nikki Wood and Joanna Fitzgerald 2. Jon Kukk, Rob Moher, Kim Collins and Phil Collins 3. Joseph Stusek, Rob Lancaster, Rachel Chaimowiz and Ian Breusch 4. Van Williams and Rob Moher 5. Bob Edwards, Terry Edwards, Sharon von Arx and Stefan Bothe
Spend a few hours, all day or a weekend being surrounded by imagination, inspiration and incredible talent at ArtFest Fort Myers – Southwest Florida’s premier art festival featuring over 200 nationally-known artists, high school art competition, street chalk art competition, children’s art activities, fine food and entertainment. The artists, who are selected from the John Mroczek 900 artists who apply, are the best-of-thebest traveling from 43 states and many foreign countries to share their artwork with you. Amazing ceramics, gorgeous jewelry, remarkable glass, unique paintings and more await you at ArtFest Fort Myers. The VIP Club provides reserved weekend parking, Friday Night Opening VIP Club Tent with delicious food and drinks, plus unlimited access to the VIP Tent with breakfast treats, a delightful lunch & beverages all weekend long. VIP Club is $125 per person and supports the year-round art education outreach programs of ArtFest Fort Myers. This familyfriendly festival connects art Chris McCarthy
48 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
GR-January70-73.indd 71
Bonnie Hawley
and artists with our community in a way that is not to be missed – this is an art experience that delights every sense. For more information on many of the artists and festival exhibits go to ArtFestFortMyers.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram-#artfestfm.
Fast Facts • WHAT: ArtFest Fort Myers Southwest Florida’s premier art festival. • WHEN: Friday, January 31, 2020, opening night, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, February 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, February 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • WHERE: Downtown Fort Myers River District on Edwards Drive. • COST: FREE Admission. • PARKING: Look for bright Event Parking signs and flags. Trolleys available from remote lots. GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 71
12/20/19 4:35 PM
| GRAND TIMES |
BLUES BY THE BAY
4
1
2
3
5
6
7
PHOTOS BY EDWARD WEILAND | SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
Blues by the Bay, an evening of live music, excellent food and drinks, raised $70,000 to support The Heights Foundation’s education programs. The event was held November 19 at the riverfront home of Dean and Lori Munro, in the St. Charles Harbour community.
1. Cindie Barker and Teri Palmer 2. Sandy Stilwell-Youngquist and Tim Youngquist 3. Karen and David Galloway 4. Robert Duff and Gina Birch 5. Jake and Beth Spanberger, Annabelle and Buddy Martin 6. Larry Hobbs and Tom Lytton 7. Marlene Moulton and Vee Yerrid
Benson Blackburn, LLC, a wealth consultancy firm recently hosted entrepreneur Jim McDermott, founder of Stamps.com and NanoH2O, as keynote speaker at its December NextGen Speakers Series event. The event drew more than 275 people to hear from McDermott, who has started, run and invested in more than 25 successful and innovative companies. The prestigious NextGen Speaker Series brings together local professionals to hear from renowned entrepreneurs and leaders.
4
1
2
3
5
6
7
PHOTOS BY REAGAN RULE PHOTOGRAPHY | SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
NEXTGEN SPEAKER SERIES
1. Denyse Mesnik and Sharon Hood 2. John DeAngelis, Dr. Sandra Kauanui and Phil Wood 3. Karen Conley and Genesis Martinez 4. George Tamke and Scott Blackburn 5. Martin Schappell and Lisa Church 6. Steve Krivda and William Benson 7. Kate Albers, Alexa Nargi and Meg Hardt
72 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
GR-January70-73.indd 72
12/20/19 4:51 PM
| GRAND TIMES |
PHOTOS BY MARK SCHOENFELT | SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
1
2
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WINE & FOOD FEST PRE-EVENT SOCIAL SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. recently hosted a social reception in anticipation of the 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, bringing trustees, sponsors and supporters together to commence another season of spirited philanthropy. The cocktail reception was hosted by trustees Ray and Jessica Higdon at their home in Miromar Lakes. 1. Armando Llechu and Tamara Llechu 2. Joe Pavich, Jenn Pavich, Sonya Sawyer, Nicole Roland, Brian Roland 3. Rachel Bell and Ed Bell 4. Patrick Denson and Michael Rubenstein 5. Wayne Wiles, Maria Wiles, Elaine Hawkins and Fred Hawkins
3
A TRUSTED PARTNER FOR CONSERVATIVE INVESTORS
In these uncertain times, risk averse investors quite often face the dilemma of sacrificing current income for safety of principal. Ames Capital Management Inc. is dedicated to finding solutions for clients faced with these prospects.
4
5
We specialize in facial and body rejuvenation The Latest Advances in Treatments: Botox • Fillers • Spider Vein Treatment Fat Dissolving Procedures Platelet Rich Plasma Procedures (including PRP for sexual rejuvenation)
Preservation of Capital Generating Current Income Growing Wealth
TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
239-789-3098 HOURS: Open 7 days a week
Medical Rejuvenation Spa located in Epic Salon & Suites. 4989 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33907 CONNECT WITH US!
amescapmgmt.com • 941-378-5000 • info@amescapmgmt.com 4419 Samoset Drive Sarasota, FL 34241
NP-0000955073
GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE! Contact our office to purchase. AMY INGLE BSN, MSN, APRN, FNP-C Nurse Practitioner
GRANDEUR | JANUARY 2020 | 73
GR-January70-73.indd 73
12/20/19 5:36 PM
Join us
as SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. paints a difference to provide lifesaving health care and educational programs for the children of our community. CHEF VINTNER DINNERS
Friday, February 21 S O U T H W E S T F LO R I D A WINE & FOOD FEST
21-22
February 2020
HYATT REGENCY COCONUT POINT RESORT & SPA
Creatively hosted in luxury homes across the region, experience artful cuisine created by celebrated chefs expertly paired with vintners from some of the finest and most exclusive wineries. THE GRAND TASTING & LIVE AUCTION
Saturday, February 22 Festivities continue with chefs’ signature creations and renowned wines. Then, raise your paddle at our spirited live auction and help fund a children’s cause! Benefiting Golisano Children’s Hospital of SWFL, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College.
239.433.4260 | swflwinefest.org/GD1
SWFL CHILDREN’S CHARITIES, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7252) TOLL FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. FEIN: 26-2302491/FL REG: CH 35035
74 | JANUARY 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Quality Furniture & Interior Design
50% Off
*
R O YA L K A H A L A
Live Beautifully Find your nearest showroom at baers.com
*Discount taken off of MSRP