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Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce 2013-2014 Board of Directors Mark Anderson Benchmark General Contractors 16836 McGregor Blvd Fort Myers, FL 33908 manderson@benchmark-gc.com
Ken Kouril The Sanctuary Golf Club 2801 Wulfert Road Sanibel, FL 33957 kkouril@sanctuarygc.net
Doug Babcock Tween Waters Inn P.O. Box 249 Captiva, FL 33924 dougbabcock22@gmail.com
Michael Miller – Past Chair Michael P. Miller CPA, P.L. 2340 Periwinkle Way, Suite J-2 Sanibel, FL 33957 mikemiller@sancapcpa.com
Mark Blust Timbers Restaurant 703 Tarpon Bay Road Sanibel, FL 33957 mblust@prawnbroker.com
Robert Monk Murty & Monk, P.A. 1633 Periwinkle Way, Suite A Sanibel, FL 33957 rmonk@murtymonk.com
Blanaid Colley Hillgate Communications 2451 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, FL 33957 Blanaid@hillgate.biz
Chris Pendleton Edison & Ford Winter Estates P.O. Box 2368 Fort Myers, FL 33902 cpendleton@efwefla.org
Chris Davison Island Inn 3111 West Gulf Drive Sanibel, FL 33957 chrisd@islandinnsanibel.com
Fran Peters – Chair Elect Island Vacations of Sanibel & Captiva, Inc. 1101 Periwinkle Way, Suite 108 Sanibel, FL 33957 fran@sanibelislandvacations.com
Dru Anne Doyle Ocean’s Reach Condominiums Sanibel, FL 33957 drudoyle@mindspring.com Lee Ellen Harder - Secretary BIG ARTS 900 Dunlop Sanibel, FL 33957 lharder@bigarts.org Barb Harrington RLR Investments, LLC 2340 Periwinkle Way, Suite K Sanibel, FL 33957 barb.harrington@RLRLLC.com Chris Heidrick - Chair Heidrick & Company P.O. Box 59 Sanibel, FL 33957 chris@sanibelinsurance.com
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Donna Puma Pinocchio’s Original Italian Ice Cream 362 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, Fl 33957 dmtp@aol.com Jeff Shuff - Treasurer Tween Waters Inn P.O. Box 249 Captiva, FL 33924 jshuff@tween-waters.com Sonja Smith Suitor Condominium Association of Sanibel, Inc. P. O. Box 1041 Sanibel, FL 33957 suitors@earthlink.net Ric Base President 1159 Causeway Road Sanibel, Florida 33957 ric@sanibel-captiva.org
Official Publication of The Islands of
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
1159 Causeway Road Sanibel Island, Florida 33957 Phone: 239-472-1080 Fax: 239-395-0783
www.Sanibel-Captiva.Org EDITOR & DESIGN Bridgit Stone-Budd
LAYOUT & GRAPHICS Lorraine Milano
CONTRIBUTORS Chris Heidrick Bridgit Stone-Budd
Chamber Photography Hillgate Communications
CHAMBER STAFF Ric Base, President Steve Ehrhart, Director of Operations Bridgit Stone-Budd, Director of Marketing Tyrone Humbles, Promotions - Chamber Tour Bus Visitor Center Staff Candice Thompson, Visitor Center Supervisor Bob Bechhold, Anne Liese, Allen Myers, Don Oglander, Barry Solomon, Jim Slattery George Veillette, Lisa Williams, Julianne Kirkpatrick The Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber NewsMagazine is published quarterly by The Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. Circulation: 6000 Online: www.Sanibel-Captiva.Org
For advertising or submissions, please contact Bridgit @ 239-472-8255 or Services@Sanibel-Captiva.Org For subscriptions or address changes, please contact Steve @ 239-472-8759 or Support@Sanibel-Captiva.Org
Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
Facebook Cover Contest
Shelby Jones Schreiber
For this Chamber Mag cover, we decided to run a contest on facebook for fireworks pics shot by guests to our islands. We received many great pics, but could only choose one. And the one we chose was from long time visitor: Shelby Jones Schreiber! Shelby grew up in a small town outside of Baltimore, Maryland. She graduated from Maryvale in Brooklandville MD, in 1991 and from there, attended Roanoke College in Virginia and received a BA in Sociology, graduated in 1995. She enjoys cooking, going to the beach, parasailing, photography, and running and currently resides in the state of Maryland. “Sanibel and Captiva have always been special to me. I’ve been visiting these islands since a kid and look forward to bringing my daughter every year... countless memories with family and friends. There is nothing like watching the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico...a priceless show for sure! Fourth of July is my favorite holiday to visit. These islands put on an amazing fireworks display; it’s an awesome celebration! Can’t wait to go back this Summer, always feels like home.” “If you want to keep your memories, you first have to live them.” -Bob Dylan Great Dylan quote, Shelby…and congratulations! Shelby & Claire
Join Us This Year For Another Fun-Filled Fireworks Display At The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club Thank you to our presenting sponsor again this year, John R Wood Island Real Estate.
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C H A M B E R Gulf Coast Humane Society Ribbon Cutting
icky, Terrier
N Tiffany Oliver &
Sapphire. Shep
pard mix
Rebel. Australian Sheppard
Chamber Luncheon hosted by The Sanctuary Golf Club Speaker: Dan Fink with Lee Memorial Health System
Sean Pierce, Aaron Pruss
Dusty Japp, Kelly Fraser, Angelina Choo-DePaolo, John Lopez
Christin Collins, Ken Kouril
Sherri Norris, Bridgit Stone-Budd
Dan Fink, Ric Base
Pam Hower, Barb Harrington, Ellen Lai
Regina Springer, Mary Beth Esposito, Larry Wynberg
Lee Ellen Harder, Sarah Ashton, Janet Strickland, Cindy Sitton.
P A P A R A Z Z I The Islands of
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Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
Chamber Schedule of Events 2013
2013 events will fill up fast! Claim your Luncheon Sponsorship and/or After Hours Host now!
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A Word From Your Chair Changing…to remain the same I am honored to be your 2013-2014 Chairman of the Board. When I first came to Sanibel and Captiva islands, I fell in love with what I saw…a relaxed island feel, a great school and an un-spoiled environment with beautiful aqua waters and plenty of nature. I also fell in love with what I didn’t see…an abundance of high rise condos, a strip of night clubs and T-shirt shops on every corner. I knew immediately that this is where I wanted to raise my family and this is where I wanted to spend the rest of my life. Like most of you, visiting or settling on Sanibel and Captiva was a choice. In almost any other town in the country there are many people who are there because of work or family commitments and not so much by choice. But not our islands, we’ve all made a conscious choice to be here…in large part because we fell in love with what we saw and what we didn’t see. The mission of our Chamber supports this, “Our Mission: To promote the prosperity of our members and preserve the quality of life in our Community”. In other words, it has always been the Mission of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce to preserve our natural and human environment. As the City of Sanibel initiates a review of Commercial Re-Development our Mission will be the foundation of our Chamber’s input and contributions to the process. The economy of Sanibel and Captiva Islands is entirely driven by tourism and seasonal residents who are also here for the same reasons we are…because they fell in love with what they saw and what they didn’t see. Almost every article written about Sanibel and Captiva Islands is based on this point exactly. Our economy is not driven by a convention center, a theme park or any other man-made tourist attraction. It is driven by the Mother Nature. As I said at our Annual Meeting, “On Sanibel and Captiva, business interests and environmental interests are one and the same”. To preserve our economy we must preserve both, our natural and human environments… a complex and delicate balance for sure. As our commercial infrastructure and buildings age and as the world changes around us, we too must change…in order to remain the same.
Chris Heidrick, Chair The Islands of
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Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
Annual Meeting 2013
Anne Liese & Ric Base
Lenora Hoffmann, Orlene Shimberg, Jim & Louise Slattery, Anne Liese, Steve Shimberg, George Veillette
Rebecca & Melissa Congress
John Schubert & Mike Miller
Paul McCarthy & Chris Heidrick
Mary Benzrihem & Scot Congress
Lisa Williams & Ric Base
Alison Dry & Mike Miller Liz Sieberkrob, Ric Base, Mary Bondurant, Anna Turner
Blanaid Colley, Sarah Ashton, Mary Bondurant, Bridgit Stone-Budd
Jeremy Kane, Blanaid Colley, Chris Davison, Barb Harrington, Bridgit Stone-Budd, Edie Gleason
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Melissa Congress & Chris Heidrick The Islands of
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Annual Meeting 2013
The Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce hosted its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 16 at ‘Tween Waters on Captiva. More than 160 members and guests were in attendance for this sold out event. The Chamber gathered in the Wakefield Room at ‘Tween Waters to review the key activities and achievements of the Chamber over this past year. During the presentation, Visitor Center staff and volunteers were recognized for the excellent work they do welcoming the 190,000 visitors to our islands 365 days a year. Chris Heidrick, of Heidrick & Company Insurance and Risk Management Services, LLC, was appointed the new Chair of the Board of Directors. The Chamber also gave four individual awards to businesses and individuals during the ceremony to those whom the Chamber Board had nominated: The Business Person of the Year was awarded to Paul McCarthy of Captiva Cruises. The New Business of the Year Award went to Cip’s Place. The Citizen of the Year Award was presented to John and Donna Schubert. The Sue Rosica Gray Volunteer Award was given to Melissa Congress. Following the ceremony, a cocktail reception was held at The Old Captiva House where members of the Chamber and guests mingled and enjoyed fine food and cocktails. The Islands of
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
Welcome New Members
Island Computer Solutions Patrick Legall, Owner Serving Sanibel & Captiva Islands Island-CS.com 239-258-0133
Northwood Map Publishing, Inc. Elden Brown Serving Sanibel & Captiva Islands NorthwoodMap.com 239-362-3226
Sell My Timeshare Now Jason Tremblay, Owner Real Estate Sales Sellmytimesharenow.com 1-877-815-4227
Tarpon Tale Inn
Phyllis Mueller, Owner 367 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel TarponTale.com 239-472-0939
Wells Fargo - Ft. Myers
Aaron Polk, Personal Banker 15569 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers 239-896-1610
Shawn Henderson, Sales
15700 S. Tamiami Trail, Ft. Myers MarineMax.com (239) 481-8200
Whitney Jones, Proprietor
1554 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel WhitneysBaitandTackle.com 239-579-0399
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Robert Rauschenberg Residency Ann Brady, Director Captiva Island, FL RauschenbergFoundation.org 239-472-5445
Barnacle’s Island Resort Deb Skinner, Proprietor North Captiva Island BarnaclesIslandResort.com 239-472-0066
Dusan ‘’GiGi’’ Matic, Proprietor Serving Sanibel & Captiva Islands GigiCompanies.com 239-541-7282 The Islands of
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Welcome New Members
Brian Silveria, Manager 2761 West Gulf Drive SanibelSandbar.com 239-579-0235
Aventure Properties Vacation Rentals Sanibel & Captiva Islands Joan Sherman, Proprietor 1-646-942-1060
John Wilson
Serving Sanibel & Captiva Islands MySalesPromotion.com 239-989-9352
Lynx Educational Foundation War of 1812 Tall Ship Lynx PrivateerLynx.com 949-723-7814 The Islands of
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Island Pursuit
Crista Lukowski, Director of Marketing Periwinkle Place, Sanibel 239-472-4600
Captain Daniel Andrews
Kym Nader, Proprietor In The Village Shops KymNaderInteriors.com 239-395-0586
Sanibel & Captiva Fishing Charters AndrewsCharters.com 239-989-9352
Sanibel Dairy Queen Tim Palmer, Manager 1046 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel (239) 472-1170
Dr. Maria Badami Family Medicine Serving Sanibel & Captiva Islands 239-233-5835
Cynthia Reinhardt, Store Manager 2407 Palm Ridge Rd., Sanibel 239-472-7100
Dru Doyle
Community Partner drudoyle@minspring.com 239-233-1514
Wells Fargo - Sanibel
Furniture World
Keith Melvin, Owner 15631 San Carlos Blvd. Furniture-world.net 239-489-3311
Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community
We’ve Got Florida Covered! Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce 2013 Tour Bus Schedule
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Our Mission: To Promote the Prosperity of Our Members and Preserve the Quality of Life in Our Community