Trends Chamber
The Official Publication of The Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral
SURFSIDE SUNSET MARKET EVERY TUESDAY AT THE SHOPS OF SURFSIDE YEAR ROUND 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM CAPE CORAL FARMERS’ MARKET AT CLUB SQUARE EVERY SATURDAY DOWNTOWN 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
To Promote and Serve Business and Community
April 2017
APRIL 2017 APRIL 4 | 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE ARCHITECTURAL METAL FLASHING 2659 NE 9TH AVE, CAPE CORAL, FL APRIL 6 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM FOOD FOR THOUGHT LUNCHEON CAPE CORAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE 360 SANTA BARBARA BLVD N, CAPE CORAL, FL APRIL 12 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON CAPE CORAL YACHT CLUB 5819 DRIFTWOOD PKWY, CAPE CORAL, FL APRIL 20 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM BUSINESS AFTER HOURS STATE INSURANCE AGENCY 3321 DEL RPADO BLVD, SUITE 2, CAPE CORAL, FL APRIL 28 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM NETWORKING AT NOON CAPE CREAMERY 1715 CAPE CORAL PKWY W, UNIT 7, CAPE CORAL, FL SURFSIDE SUNSET MARKET THE SHOPS AT SURFSIDE TUESDAYS YEAR ROUND FROM 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM CAPE CORAL FARMERS MARKET CLUB SQUARE EVERY SATURDAY FROM 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM TO REGISTER FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE EVENTS ONLINE VISIT WWW.CAPECORALCHAMBER.COM/EVENTS
Publisher & Editor Stephanie Roberson Technology Director stephanie@capecoralchamber.com
Contributing Editors Donna S. Germain President/CEO donna@capecoralchamber.com Claudia St. Onge Business Manager cso@capecoralchamber.com Annette Siner Special Events Director annette@capecoralchamber.com Shawna Pike Membership Sales Director shawna@capecoralchamber.com Melanie Lempke Membership Services Director melanie@capecoralchamber.com Major Asselin Membership Sales major@capecoralchamber.com Lori Marlowe Welcome Center Specialist lori@capecoralchamber.com Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral P.O. Box 100747, Cape Coral, FL 33910 2051 Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904 Phone (239) 549-6900 Fax (239) 549-9609
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR ONE CHAMBER, ONE VOICE Trish Lassiter, 2017 Chair
Whether we’re paying attention or not, government has a say in many of our business and non-business affairs. In other words, just because you don’t take interest in politics doesn’t mean that politics won’t take an interest in you. The Chamber has always taken its role as the “voice of business” seriously in representing its members, and that includes speaking up on public policy issues that can impact your business. We know that busy businesspeople don’t always have the time to stay on top of laws that affect them. And that’s one of the reasons we at the Chamber have spoken out—and will continue to speak out—on issues impacting both our business community and our overall quality of life.
Our delegation had the opportunity to meet with and discuss important legislative issues with the state’s top decision makers: Kevin Reilly Legislative Affairs Directors, Office of Governor Scott; Deputy Chief of Staff to Speaker Corcoran; Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto; Lance Clemons, Appropriations Chief, Senator Bradley’s office; Representative Heather Fitzenhagen; Representative Jake Raburn; Representative Dane Eagle; and Rachel Cone, DOT Secretary. A special thanks to our local legislative delegation— Representatives Eagle and Senator Benequisto—for their assistance and hosting a welcome reception. Some of the areas for concern for us this year included: water quality and quantity; continued FDEP funding support, Enterprise Florida and workers compensation.
We were well received and our message was clearly understood In March, the Chamber completed its annual Legislative Trip to by everyone we met with. We will see how successful we were the Capitol in Tallahassee along with the Cape Coral City Council as our issues continue to go through the legislative process this and government officials, the Cape Coral Construction Industry session. Association and the News Press.
Diamond Member Lee Health P.O. Box 2218 Fort Myers, FL 33902
Executive Member CenturyLink 2710 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral Gulf Coast Village Retirement Community 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd. Cape Coral
Lee County Electric Cooperative 4980 Bayline Dr North Fort Myers, FL 33917
The News-Press - Fort Myers Office 2442 Dr. MLK Blvd. Ft. Myers
B2 Technology Solutions 1406 SE 46th Lane Cape Coral, FL 33904
Fifth Third Bank 2402 Surfside Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33991 2724 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33904 114 Hancock Bridge Pkwy, Cape Coral, FL 33991 1801 NE Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33909 1600 Cape Coral Pkwy. E, Cape Coral, FL 33904
2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Trish Lassiter, Lee County Electric Coop. Chair-Elect Joseph Francioni, The Smart Companies Treasurer Ed Bolter, Lamar Advertising Past Chair Brett Bisbe, B2 Technology Solutions, Inc Financial Advisor Tony Constantino, Constantino, Nelson and Werlin Barb Adams Keith Banasiak, Waste Pro of Florida Beverly Black, Black Business Solutions, LLC Dana Brunett, City of Cape Coral Matthew Connar, Boost Creative Angela Davis, Merrill Lynch Diane Everhart, Blue Chip Financial Julie Ferguson, Cape Coral Caring Center Cynthia Gallagher, The Breeze Newspapers Tom Hansen, Boat House of Cape Coral Tim Hauck, Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Services Bill Jacob, CenturyLink Bill Johnson, Jr, Cape Coral Construction Industry Assoc Jay Johnson, Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon Laura Koehn, CapeCoral.com Mike Quaintance, Keiser University Ed Ramos, Ramos Builders, Inc Michelle Whitlock, Siesta Pebble Pool Interiors Zachary Zeis, Storm Smart
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS Annette Carrasquillo, LAI Design Associates, LLC Wayne Kirkwood, Kirkwood Electric, Inc. Thomas Giles, Avalon Engineering Michelle Lewis, B-2 Solutions Heather Mazurkiewicz, BJM Consulting, Inc. Joseph Mazurkiewicz, BJM Consulting, Inc. Donna Meola, South Cape Hospitality Entertainment Assoc Don Schnell, Regions Bank Thomas Shipp Jr, Attorney Christopher Spiro, Spiro & Associates Elmer Tabor, Wonderland Realty/Cape Coral Town Center
TRUSTEES Bonnie Brett, Cape Coral Charter School Brandon Deaver, B-2 Technoloy Solutions Lissa Craig Ford, The News-Press Rana Erbrick, City of Cape Coral Keith Lewis, All Power Electric & AC Mike Noone, Goldberg, Racilla, D’Alessandro & Noone, LLC David Owen, BB & T - Oswald, Trippe & Co. Steve Sanabria, The Westin Cape Coral Sarah Sheffield, Massage Envy Molly Wright, Suncoast Beverage
CHAMBER STAFF Donna S. Germain, President Claudia St. Onge, Business Manager & Farmers’ Market Director Stephanie Roberson, Technology Director Annette Siner, Special Events Director Shawna Pike, Membership Sales Director Major Asselin, Membership Sales Melanie Lempke, Membership Services Director Lori Marlow, Welcome Center Specialist
CHAMBER TRENDS HAVE YOU STOPPED INTO THE CHAMBER WELCOME CENTER LATELY? Donna S. Germain President/CEO
The Chamber’s Welcome Centers serve as information hubs for the community. Both visitors and residents come to seek information about things to do, places to live, eat and play and of course places to do business. On an annual basis, we serve more than 30,000 visitors per year in our welcome centers and disperse more than 10,000 Chamber Publications featuring your business in the member directory section.
attraction and hotel information, and business cards of Chamber members. Providing your most up to date brochures, flyers or business cards is one of the most important things you can do as a member. Whether you are a brand new or established member, please be sure to stop in or call us to find out if you have information in our lobby. The information you display in our welcome centers, both at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge and in FOS Furniture, serve as your silent salesmen attracting new customers to your business.
Please help us help you by making sure we have your tri-fold brochures and business cards. Also, stop in a say hello to some of our lobby volunteers who spend at least four hours per week staffing the lobby. There is always a member of the Chamber staff at the Welcome Center as well to answer any Chamber related These same visitors and residents pick up questions. restaurant menus, banking information, See you soon!
JANUARY NEW MEMBERS & RENEWALS
NEW MEMBERS 4 SEASON REALTY LLC Fran Davis 7-11 Keith Campbell
AC JOE HEATING AND COOLING Joseph McNall ACCESSPOINT HR Denise Perchall BUON APPETITO RESTAURANT & BAR Chloe Ermmarino
POINT YBEL BREWING COMPANY Walt Costello SALON ALVAREZ Lynette Vandemark
SHIRTS SIGNS AND STUFF Colette Wilhelm TARPON AIR CONDITIONING Rob Jasienski TROPICAL BREEZE FUN PARK Bob Trimarchi
WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER!
DIRECT AUTO & LIFE INSURANCE Tara Crary
MedExpress Member Since: 02/26/2016
Cape Jewelry & Pawn Member Since: 03/23/2012
Miromar Outlets Member Since: 03/19/1999
Cape Realty, Inc. Member Since: 03/01/1996
Modern Woodmen Of America Member Since: 02/03/2016
CC Stone w/Coastal Realty SWFL No. 3 Craft Brews and Beer Bar Member Since: 03/03/2009 Member Since: 09/08/2015 Coastal Building Materials, LLC Member Since: 03/21/2012 Desai Dental Studio Member Since: 11/23/2015
RENEWALS Acentria Insurance, Inc Member Since: 03/03/2015 Adult Dentistry of SW Florida Member Since: 12/17/2014
Florida Weekly Member Since: 10/30/2012 Holiday Inn Express Cape Coral - Fort Myers Area Member Since: 03/01/1989
FLORIDA BLUE Diana Henriquez
BAM German Bakery And More Member Since: 03/12/2015
Hope Hospice and Community Services Member Since: 02/01/2016
MARKETING AMERICAN BUSINESSES INC. Alexandra Dziuba
Black Business Solutions, LLC Member Since: 02/25/2009
Horseman’s Landscape Inc. Member Since: 02/25/2008
Boost Creative Member Since: 03/05/2008
iEditWeb, Inc. Member Since: 10/26/2015
Brand 1 Ink Member Since: 01/28/2016
Kobayashi Dojo / Main Campus Member Since: 03/01/1997
NASHCORP Zar Nashman PAINTING WITH A TWIST Barry White
South Cape Hospitality Entertainment Associations Member Since: 02/05/2016 Turn Key Homes Member Since: 03/28/2012
Fix Marine Supply Member Since: 03/25/2013
CORSI AND LEROUX GROUP, LLC Dominique Corsi DIAMOND DAVES CREATIVE JEWELRY David Fulkerson
Brents Music & Sound Member Since: 02/01/1998
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RENEWALS! If you know someone who would benefit from Chamber Membership, please reach out to a member of our Membership Team Shawna Pike Membership Sales Director shawna@capecoralchamber.com
Major Asselin Membership Sales major@capecoralchamber.com
Melanie Lempke Membership Services Director melanie@capecoralchamber.com
RIBBON CUTTINGS NASHCORP Zarrar Nashman 4624 Deleon St | zillur_zarrar@yahoo.com
POINT 57 3522 Del Prado Blvd www.point-57.com | Matt Arnold
PIONEER PRINTING & SIGNS 424-A SE 47th Terr http://mycapeprinter.com | (239) 541-2679
FIRST COMMAND FINANCIAL SERVICES 1222 SE 47th St. Suite #308 www.firstcommand.com | (239) 205-7128
SAM’S CLUB 301 SW Pine Island Road www.samsclub.com | (239) 772-9603
INTEGRITY FIRST FINANCIAL GROUP 1222 SE 47th St, Ste 413 www.mymortgageconnection.loan | (239) 223-3276
HOST A NETWORKING EVENT IN 2017 Business Card Exchange Networking at Noon
Business After Hours
For the early birds, the Business Card Exchange is designed for those who cannot get away midday or for those looking for the extra early morning networking from 7:30am. You will find members passionate about networking the first Tuesday of each month at the Business Card Exchange Networking Event.
Join your fellow Chamber members for the Business After Hours Networking Event from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Enjoy the opportunity to network with 100+ members. We always have networking activities, great giveaways and sponsorship opportunities to expose your business.
AVAILABLE HOST DATES October 3 November 7 December 5
Join your fellow Chamber members the forth Friday of each month from 12:00pm - 1:00pm for Networking at Noon. Enjoy the opportunity to network with other chamber members and potential customers during the lunch hour. AVAILABLE HOST DATES May 26 June 23 July 28 August 25 September 22
AVAILABLE HOST DATES August 17
To host a networking event in 2017 or for questions regarding each of these opportunties, contact Shawna Pike, Membership Sales Director at (239) 549-6900 x103 or shawna@capecoralchamber.com
GO
the
over
TO BENEFIT
EDGE
For A Cause! RAPPEL the
Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village
Saturday & Sunday October 21 (Media Day) & 22 (Main Event) 2017 Catch your breath, step up to the edge and rappel down the 19 story Westin Cape Coral Resort. The first 80 fundraisers to raise a minimum of $1,200 will go Over The Edge to benefit The Heights Foundation. The Heights Foundation works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers.
REGISTER AT www.heights-overtheedge.com Questions? Contact Karen Lesza 239.482.7706 karen@heightsfoundation.org FOLLOW US
@heightscntr
Facebook.com/heightsfoundation
Sponsorships are available with VIP benefits
UNIVERSITY TRENDS LISTEN HERE Mike “Q” Quaintance, MBA, CCE Keiser University, Fort Myers Campus Business and Hospitality Department Chair
The life of a manager is filled with disruptions throughout the day, which may cause stress. This stress can translate into poor interrelations with those that the manager supervises, as the manager may not present themselves in an empathetic way. Thus, those being supervised may become less motivated because the manager is not meeting their needs. As a manager, it is your job to create a sympathetic environment where everyone feels valued. In contemporary management, we talk about follower job satisfaction, and one of the major components of that environment is the ability for the manager to engage in active-listening. Consultants and academics justify this behavioral approach because employees often spend more of their awake time at work then at home. Therefore, creating a more compassionate environment can improve job satisfaction and desired corporate social behaviors,
where employees experience managers that value them and their contributions. Below are a couple of suggestions to help create an empathetic environment in the workplace. • Observe, listen, and ask questions. Not only will managers and leaders gain information from employees, employees will perceive these activities as caring and compassionate behaviors. • Stop multitasking when an employee comes in to speak with you. Stop reading and writing e-mails, put down your cell phone, and give your full attention to the person in front of you. • Do not give into distractions, slow down, do not worry about deadlines. Listen to that person in front of you. • Practice mindfulness, and encourage employees to do the same when they are interacting with other team members. Research shows that cultures which embrace transformational or servant leadership approach, which create empathetic environments, often have more satisfied employees that produce better outcomes. This allows employees in dynamic industries to deal with stress in a much better way than in traditional work environments.
Looking to Hire? Let us give you a helping hand use the chambers online Job Bank If you need more information about the chamber Job Bank, please contact Stephanie Roberson at (239) 699-8442 or stephanie@capecoralchamber.com http://web.capecoralchamber.com/jobbank
Join Us For
Food For Thought How To Raise Money without Going to the Bank Funding Opportunities for Small Business Thursday, April 6th 11:30am - 1:00pm Cape Coral Technical College 360 Santa Barbara Blvd N. Cape Coral, FL 33993 This compelling, fact-filled workshop is essential for business owners who seek to obtain funds from nontraditional sources to buy, grow and expand their businesses
Topics to be covered:
Crowdfunding and Kiva: How to Get Started & Market Your Campaign Other Alternative Loan Options When Your Bank says ”No”
What you will learn: •
How crowdfunding can help you fund growth, receive an overview of Kiva, and find out how to engage in this crowdfunding platform • The ins and outs of how to market your crowdfunding campaign • Other alternative borrowing options for new and existing businesses
Speaker
Jack Dunigan SCORE Mentor and Workshop Chair is a published author, internet marketer and blogger with 30 years of experience as a trainer and consultant with clients in non-profit agencies, tribal governments and small and larger businesses. He is also a small business owner, which included 10 years of experience as owner and operator of the 3rd largest millwork company in the Caribbean islands.
$15 Chamber Members | $20 Non Chamber Members RSVP HERE For questions, call Annette Siner at (239) 549-6900 x111 annette@capecoralchamber.com
HEALTHY TRENDS
EXERCISE VERSUS FITNESS TRAINING
Salvatore Lacagnina, D.O. Vice President of Health & Wellness, Lee Memorial Health System
Most people know the American Heart Association’s recommendation for exercise (30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity on most days of the week) but do most people know if all this activity is doing any good? Many people are told by their doctor when they go in for their annual physical to exercise; yet, how many people are formally tested for information about their baseline level of fitness before starting an exercise program? Also, over time how many people work with an exercise specialist to measure their progress? At a recent medical conference I attended, the speaker stated: you would not start treatment for high blood pressure without knowing the individual’s baseline blood pressure; and, you would over time measure the response to treatment (a blood pressure medication in most cases), so why don’t we do this when we prescribe exercise? In most cases, we do not measure baseline fitness and we do not measure the response to the exercise in order to decide if the current exercise regimen is working. Why don’t we? If people are exercising while not progressing and getting fit and healthier, what is the purpose? And, what is the purpose of exercise?
the body is able to use in order to make energy. It is essentially a measure of cardio-respiratory fitness or how well the heart and lungs do their job. The Vo2 max is measured when a person walks or runs on a treadmill. The individual’s heart rhythm, blood pressure and oxygen levels are monitored during a 6-8 minute walk on a treadmill. The walking starts out slow and then progresses over the 6-8 minute period, as does the elevation of the treadmill. The test is stopped when the individual gets to about 80% of their calculated maximum as determined by age. This is a very important number since an increase in Vo2 correlates with a decrease in the risk of death, cancer, diabetes, dementia and more. Regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s by 50% (the reference is from the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation). Regular physical activity improves heart function by enabling the heart to pump more blood with each contraction. It enables the body to extract more oxygen from the red blood cells. It also increases the capillaries around the muscles which mean there are more blood vessels in the muscles which bring more oxygen and nutrients to the muscle cells. Finally, it increases the efficiency of the mitochondria, the parts of the cells where energy is made. When it comes to making the heart and circulatory system healthier, endurance exercise is better than strength training. The latter in many cases is associated with more periods of high blood pressure which strains the heart and can potentially result in ventricular hypertrophy. This means the main pumping chamber of the heart (the ventricle) becomes abnormally thickened which is not healthy for the heart. If the goal is to improve heart function and lower the blood pressure, endurance exercise wins out. How long do you need to exercise to get these benefits? Research shows that the higher the intensity of the exercise the more the benefit. High intensity exercise is the best way to improve cardio-respiratory fitness. (References in the Journal of Applied Physiology Dec 2014 and in JAMA 2013 volume 309 section 2, page 143).
Exercise has many purposes and multiple benefits. Research shows that regular physical activity lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, decreases the risk of heart disease, improves insulin sensitivity and lowers the risk of diabetes, improves brain function and minimizes the risk of dementia. Exercise lessens the risk of most chronic illnesses, decreases overall mortality and improves longevity. Therefore, with all these wonderful benefits (and almost no true side effects) why are we not more prescriptive about the exercise regimen; and, why are we not doing more to For the beginner exerciser, it is more important to initially focus on frequency – the number of times you exercise weekly. Once this measure baseline levels and the progression over time? is consistent, the exercise regimen focuses on the time the person When it comes to measuring, how is this actually done? The is exercising; and then, when the person is consistent with the answer is: Vo2 max. This is the maximum amount of oxygen amount of exercise, the prescription moves on to intensity. Studies
HEALTHY TRENDS CONTINUED
have shown the higher the intensity, the more the overall benefits allows consistent frequency of exercise. Once this is done, then and the less time a person has to exercise. increase the time of each exercise session and start to increase the intensity of the exercise for maximal benefit. Have a baseline The exercise prescription should therefore include a deliberate measurement of Vo2 max and then repeat the measurement every schedule (frequency), a specific time allotted for each exercise 6-12 months. Over time you should start to see physical changes session and then take measurements of progress over time. There in how your body looks (more muscular and less flabby). Energy should be a focus on weaknesses to work on and there needs to be should improve. Sleep quality should also improve. Your level attention paid to mindless repetition. If the exercise is so mindless of overall fitness and well-being should be obvious to you and that you are not focusing on progress, then you are not probably others. Aging will slow down -- you will feel younger and more getting the most out of the routine. The overall goal of exercise is vital. Therefore, the action plan for the reader is to work with his/ to become healthier, more fit and more functional with emphasis her physician and an exercise specialist to develop a program as on functional. If a person is able to walk 30 minutes on a treadmill described above and enjoy all the benefits that regular physical but has difficulty carrying a heavy bag of groceries up one flight activity has to offer! of stairs, the exercise regimen needs to be reworked. Fitness and functionality lead to improved quality of life and longevity. Stay well my friends and please send comments and questions to Dr.Sal@LeeHealth.org In summary, even the sedentary person can benefit from regular physical activity; again, start by developing a schedule which
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REAL ESTATE TRENDS PUTTING THE PUZZLE TOGETHER Berge Aslanian (CDPE) Realtor, Island Harbor Realty
Being past the halfway mark of high season for tourism and real estate, we seem to be seeing disjointed bits of information. Prices are up, sales are weak for most agents and prospective buyers are hesitant to pull the trigger on that home they coveted when they saw it. Let’s see if we can figure out why.
do not show in the numbers reported here. We also know that there is plenty of new construction popping up all over the Cape even though those numbers do not show in these monthly reports if they are not listed in our MLS. So, even though mortgage rates are creeping upward, it appears that local prices have broken through past resistance levels and continue to climb. Every time the prices go up $10,000 about 5% of the prospect base gets priced out of the market by not qualifying for financing.
In our local market, we see a high percentage of cash buyers coming in from other states to buy Florida sunshine. They are But first, we should look at the numbers to see if they can mostly baby boomers and they can afford our prices; in fact, they unlock the puzzle a bit more. Here are the numbers for Cape often see them as bargains compared to the northern cities they Coral residential real estate for the three month period ending are coming from. 3/23/2017: Local buyers sometimes have trouble financing. Recently a seller of mine received an offer about 10% lower than the moderate listed price. The buyers also wanted the sellers to “contribute” 3.5% to their closing costs, thereby reducing the total price by about 13%! They wouldn’t budge in price even though the sellers countered with a very reasonable price reduction. We sometimes see younger buyers reaching too high with way too little justification and a The number of single family homes for sale has been fairly sense of entitlement. This was one of them. steady through the first quarter of this year. Median prices are firmly above the $300,000 mark. The big news is that the number We have sales numbers lower than they should be for a of single family homes sold in the last 30 days INCREASED 15% community of our size. We have rising prices and fewer people who over the prior month with a median price increase of 6.6%! can qualify for financing. And we have plenty of new construction Condo inventory for sale also held steady with median prices slipping ever so slightly. The number of condos sold increased by 41.8% over the prior month and the prior month showed a 48% increase from January. Although the median price of condos sold only increased slightly this month, the year-to-date median price has increased 19.6%!
going on. Hmmmm, what could it mean?
When looking at this puzzle, it seems buyers are beginning to show confidence in spending more money to get what they want. They seem to be feeling better about what the future has in store for them rather than the bleak future they saw during the past eight years. “Hope and change” forced many to learn to understand the old adage, “be careful what you wish for”; it turned out to be “I There is an anomaly in the figures that bears mentioning. hope I can survive this change…” And we are surviving it! Builders’ products of new homes and condos typically are NOT listed in the MLS from which the above figures are taken. We Builders also are showing confidence by committing their do know that developments up on Del Prado and some of the resources to building new homes at higher prices and getting them scattered building by local builders as well as by national builders
REAL ESTATE TRENDS CONTINUED sold. The national builders have teams of economists projecting has proven to be a consistently great shelter while providing high scenarios to determine if they should build, where they should returns when investing prudently. build and how much they should charge. All of those lines have been converging in Cape Coral and Lee County even in the shadow Whether upgrading your own lifestyle or investing in property for profit, the question asked is “How do I invest prudently?” Talk with of rising interest rates. folks you know to find out who they recommend for real estate and Repeating the message once again, all of the pieces of this interview agents. Buying and selling real estate for investment or puzzle lead to this simple conclusion “It is wise to buy when in a residence is always much easier with an experienced real estate continually rising market.” professional. And always remember, successful real estate IS a team sport. Happy Property Buying and Selling! With looming tax reductions on the horizon in the form of income tax relief and lowered capital gains taxes, real estate Berge Aslanian (CDPE) is a Realtor in Cape Coral with Island investment once again “trumps” the stock market for high rates of Harbor Realty. For questions about residential real estate, please return. For those naysayers who still believe prices will come down call (239) 989-3463 or email realtorberge@att.net or visit www. again we can remind them that prices do fluctuate but real estate RECapeCoral.com.
PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Dental Assisting Digital Design* Electronic Technology* Electronic Systems Technician* NEW!
Medical Assisting Medical Coder/Biller* Network Systems Administration* Network Support Services* Nursing Assistant- Articulated Nursing Asst.- Long Term Care
Pharmacy Technician* Practical Nursing Practical Nursing, part-time Surgical Technology Technology Support Services* NEW! Veterinary Assisting* NEW!
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.................................................................................................. 360 Santa Barbara Blvd. North Cape Coral, FL 33993
239-574-4440
Visit us online: capecoraltech.edu @capecoraltech
LCEC – your cooperative
empowers you!
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* 7% Public Service Tax – Imposed by Cape Coral City Council * 3% Cape Coral Franchise fee * 4.5% Unincorporated Lee County Franchise Fee – Approved by Lee County Commissioners
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LUNCHEON HIGHLIGHTS
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON The Jr Leadership Cape Coral Students joined the Chamber Membership at the April General Membership Luncheon at the Cape Coral Yacht Club. Junior Leadership Cape Coral is an educational and interactive program for local high school juniors. One of the program goals is to provide supplemental learning possibilities to students interested in developing leadership skills before leaving their high school years. Another goal is to share with the students the many career possibilities in the local area.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS GOVERNMENT AFFECTS YOU Julie E. Ferguson Chairperson 2017 Chairperson, Government Affairs Committee
Several weeks ago, the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, The Cape Coral Construction Industry Association (CCCIA), and The News-Press traveled with City of Cape Coral Officials to Tallahassee to meet with the legislative delegation. Face-to- face meetings took place with our State Legislators and State Agency Leaders. Many critical issues directly affecting Cape Coral were discussed. Issues, including water quality, Home Rule Authority and Economic Incentives were presented. The attendees included: Trish Lassiter – Chair, Chamber Bill Johnson – Executive Director, CCCIA Frank Bumb – Reporter, News Press Rana Erbrick – City Councilmember Richard Leon – City Councilmember Jessica Cosden – Cityy Councilmember
Terri Hall – City Legislative Coordinator Dana Brunett – City Economic Development Manager Jeff Pearson – City Utilities Director Gianna Pack – Legislative Assistant to Council
April 11-13 is SW Florida Regional Days in Tallahassee. We will be traveling there to take our Regions issues and message directly to our Legislators. Make your reservations for the General Membership Luncheon in April. Your Government Action Committee (GAC) will be hosting a Speed Networking Event. You will have an opportunity to get faceto-face time with Cape Coral & Lee County Elected Officials. Come prepared with questions for our local legislators. Some of the issues the GAC Committee is currently working on are: Workers Comp, Enterprise Florida and Water Quality. Always remember: Government affects you and your business and the GAC, along with Chamber are working to keep you informed.
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MEET YOUR CHAMBER STAFF ANNETTE SINER
Special Events Director annette@capecoralchamber.com | (239) 549-6900 x111 Annette moved to Cape Coral in 1986 and attended Once she returned home she got her Associates of Arts Mariner High School. Right after high school, she went into degree at Edison State College and then a Bachelor degree the United States Air Force where she was stationed with the in Management from Florida Gulf Coast University. Annette 6th Security Forces Squadron. Shortly after her placement at proved her passion for the chamber after working for a year MacDill AFB she was deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base, United as a contract sales person and only making commissions. She Arab Emirates in support of Operation Southern Watch. When was then hired on full time working in membership sales. Recently Annette has taken on the task of Special she returned to MacDill AFB she supported Security efforts for the Special Operations Command and the United States Events Director at the chamber. Her consistent involvement Central Command where she received recognition from both with multiple events, including Relay for Life of Cape Coral, General Anthony C. Zinni Commander in Chief US Central Holiday Festival of Lights, Red, White, and Boom, Casino in Command and General Peter Shoomaker Army Chief of Staff the Cape and many others has made her a perfect fit for this position. United States Special Operations Command. If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring any While in the Air Force, Annette had two children; Preston and Bailey which helped her in making her decision to of our events please reach out to Annette. return back to Cape Coral after her four-year term.
CLAUDIA ST ONGE Business Manager and Farmers Market Director cso@capecoralchamber.com | (239) 549-6900 x101 Claudia St. Onge has been with the Chamber since the popular Cape Coral Farmers Markets. 1997. Originally from Farmington Hills, Michigan, she On a personal note, Claudia is married to Mike St. Onge graduated from Eastern Michigan University. Upon relocating and has a grown son, also named Mike and an adored, furry to Lee County in 1986, she worked in the Automotive Industry family member named Norton. until she joined the Chamber. Claudia is the business Manager, responsible for day to day operations at the chamber. She is also the coordinator of
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2051 Cape Coral Parkway E Cape Coral, FL 33904 (239) 549-6900 www.capecoralchamber.com