We’re All Business
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS VOICE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 9 No. 2 / DECEMBER 2015 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
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IN THE NEWS
Whole Foods Market signs lease for Lee store Whole Foods Market, a national grocery retailer of natural and organic foods, has signed a lease to build its first Fort Myers store. Committed to supporting the communities it serves, Whole Foods is planning a 45,000-square-foot market that features locally sourced products and wares, in addition to many of the company’s standard features that consumers have come to expect such as an open-air market feel, displays of baked goods and perishables, a variety of healthy product choices and the like. Currently, the proposed site at the northwest intersection of Daniels Parkway and Six Mile Cypress/Ben C. Pratt Parkway in Fort Myers is zoned for Commercial/Retail/Medical/Hotel use. Working with the community, the property would be rezoned to substantially reduce the intensity of the site in order to accommodate Whole Foods Market.
Photography by Jim Jett
The CRS Technology Consultants team celebrates its win 1920’s style at the Uncommon Friends Foundation event.
Uncommon Friends name ethics winner
STORE See page 9
Accreditation team seeks clerk, comptroller feedback “A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive Dec. 2, to examine all aspects of the Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Internal Audit/Inspector General Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services,” said Chief Internal Audit Officer/Inspector General Tim Parks. The Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller is required to comply with 44 standards in order to receive their initial accredited status. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The CFA Assessment Team Leader is Accreditation Manager Flora Butler, Palm Beach County Office of the Inspector General, and Capt. TEAM See page 4
Guests in attendance “dressed to the nines,” in 1920’s garb.
The Uncommon Friends Foundation (UncommonFriends.org) has announced the winner of the 2015 Business Ethics Award at the annual “Uncommon Evening” event held Oct. 27 at the Burroughs Home & Gardens in downtown Fort Myers. Cape Coral-based CRS Technology Consultants is the winner of the 2015 Business Ethics Award. CRS provides managed IT and cloud services to companies. Services include IT consulting, staff support, network support and telephone services. Other finalists were CPR Tools; Spiro & Associates Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations; and The Smart Companies. The finalists participated in the 10th Annual Ethical Leadership luncheon at Florida Gulf Coast University last month, where a panel of judges listened to the finalists
William C. Huff Companies goes totally solar
Lee County Clerk of Court Linda Doggett is presenting a public seminar, “The Value of Searching Records and Online Services” from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec.9 at Cape Coral Public Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, Cape Coral. Doggett will guide attendees through the information available on the Lee County
William C. Huff Companies officially went “solar” with a ceremonial “throwing of the switch” at their Naples warehouse, 4227 Progress Ave., Naples, in mid-November. Jim Henderson, owner of Huff – a full-service company specializing in complete personalized logistics support for high and ultra-high net worth homeowners, builders, designers, architects and estate managers – joined local government officials and community leaders to celebrate the achievement. The installation of its new 137 kilowatt, direct-current solar photovoltaic system project began Aug. 10, so now the Huff 34,000-square-foot Naples warehouse is cooled by the power of the sun. There is also be enough solar electricity to power the 10,000 square foot addition planned next year for the high-efficiency storage facility.
WORKSHOP See page 9
SOLAR See page 9
Lee Clerk of Court presents public records workshop
before making their ultimate decision. Educator Patricia Cicero, teacher at Pinewoods Elementary School in Estero, has been named the Uncommon Friends Foundation 2015 Champion Teacher. She has been in the field of education for 32 years as a teacher, tutor and consultant. The Eleanore “Ellie” Newton Student Chair in Humanities was awarded to Sierra Williams, a sophomore at Florida Southwestern State College. The James D. Newton Student Chair in Leadership was awarded to Emily Casey, a student at Florida Southwestern State College. The Uncommon Friends Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1993, is dedicated to lifelong character building among today’s youth and business leaders.
LOOKING BACK,
Photography by Jim Jett
Jim Henderson, owner and president of William C.Huff Companies in Naples “pulls the switch” on the new solar-powered warehouse.
LOOKING AHEAD