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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 12 No. 4 / FEBRUARY 2019 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
Financial industry professionals in Southwest Florida share tips to improve company financial operations.
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Achieva merger means new model Special To SWFBT Submitted by Jacob Ogles, Editor
Financial Review
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Achieva Credit Union in October increased its presence in Southwest Florida through a successful merger with Preferred Community Bank. The move added $118 million in assets for the Dunedin-based institution and planted its logo outside three new branches in Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres and Cape Coral. But this isn’t just one bank absorbing another. Credit unions work on a
completely different business model than community banks. So what can account holders—or rather new union members—expect from the change in banners? Jennifer Galley, chief operations officer for Achieva, said the biggest shift comes from the overarching mission. “Fundamentally, credit unions and banks are different,” she said. “Our business model is not-for-profit.” An all-volunteer board of directors leads business decisions, and
it’s based on community need. Part of why expanding in Lee County appeared so attractive to Achieva, Galley said, comes from the fact the region needs financial partners looking out for community interests, not just opportunities for profit and growth. “That area was really hit very hard during the recession,” she said. “We believe it was one of the hardest hit areas in the country. We see a great need to have good financial resources and partners out there.” ACHIEVA See page 4
Commercial Real Estate
A specially focused monthly section exploring the SWFL commercial real estate marketplace.
IN THE NEWS
Capital Bank names Simmering president
Capital Bank, a member of the First Horizon National family of companies, recently named Bryan Simmering SWFL market president.. Simmering will be responsible for leading commercial banking and private client banking, along with the area’s 12 financial centers spanning several cities, including Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples and Venice. BANK See page 2
The Monroe Room awarded $4,000 grant
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), a leading advocate and resource for the selfemployed and micro-business community, recently announced that The Monroe Room, a Port Charlottebased business, has been awarded a $4,000 2018 Growth Grant to expand business operations. Last year, NASE awarded $48,000 in grants to small businesses across the country. The Monroe Room is owned by NASE member Andrew McVicker and specializes is hair coloring services but also provides hairstyling services for men and women as well as waxing services. GRANT See page 11
Photos by Bob Szanto CREW Naples/Fort Myers is devoted to the advancement of business and professional opportunities for women in the field of commercial real estate.
CREW visits Naples Business Accelerator
CREW’s local chapter toured the Naples Business Accelerator to learn about the burgeoning innovation economy in Collier County. The 10,000-square-foot business incubator provides offices, conference rooms, networking, mentoring and training to grow startups and small businesses. It works closely with the Florida Culinary Accelerator in Immokalee, a membership-based commercial kitchen for rent, fully stocked with equipment needed to support a food (Left to right) Nikki Kreuzer, Ahmed El and Ruth Fehr of the Florida Culinary Accelerator, give the group insight business. into their organization.
NCEF Pediatric Dental Center now run by UFCD Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida and the University of Florida College of Dentistry announced a change in their administrative management at the NCEF Pediatric Dental Center. Since opening in December 2008, the center’s operations have been coordinated through a collaboration between Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida and the University of Florida College of Dentistry (UFCD). Healthcare Network handled operational and clinical
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administration of the dental center, and UFCD faculty directed the educational and clinical program that provides comprehensive care for children in Collier County. The dental center will remain on the Collier Campus of Florida SouthWestern State College where it has been since its inception. Beginning Jan. 1, Healthcare Network will transition the admin-
istration of the dental center over to UFCD, as Healthcare Network focuses on the Nichols Community Health Center, a new project that will enhance medical and dental health services offered to the community. UFCD will continue to provide the same comprehensive oral health care services and educational programs, and will take over the operational aspects of the center as well. “Since 2008, working together with UF, the pediatric dental center
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DENTAL See page 9