Rotary News

Dr. Scott Nygaard Medical History Featured Speaker for June 15th Meeting: Dr. Scott Nygaard is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Lee Health. Dr. Nygaard is a Minnesota native, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in science and attended medical school at the University of Minnesota. He began his medical journey in 1990, completing training in internal medicine, followed by a fellowship in 1993, where he started training in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Iowa. Dr. Nygaard served time as a senior vice president for Corporate Services at Via Christi Health System in Wichita, served as the CMO at Affinity Medical Group, and is currently at Lee Health. At Lee Health he is the leader for all clinical operations since 2010 when he first joined.

Mark Pollock Sunrise Rotary Fort Myers Head of Golf Committee Featured Speaker for June 8th Meeting: Mark Pollock is the owner and manager of the Freedom Insurance Center in Fort Myers and Cape Coral. Mark has served as a Sunrise Rotary Fort Myers member, secretary, and chairman of the golf committee. Mark has contributed to the club's growth and management for many years. Please join us this Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. for the Golf Tournament Breakfast Celebration, where we will celebrate our efforts and another successful year for the 2022 Drive for Education golf tournament.

David Gallentine Stock Market History Featured Speaker for June 1st Meeting: David is a Certified Financial Planner™ and holds business degrees from the University of South Florida. He began his career in 1984 as a banker and worked in the southwest Florida banking community for 15 years. In 1999, he began working in his present capacity as a financial advisor in Fort Myers. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers–Sunrise and believes in Rotary’s mission of helping local communities around the world. He is a proud Ohio State Buckeye – in spirit – and has lived in Fort Myers since 1973. He has personally experienced the dramatic growth of southwest Florida. He still remembers a Thomas Edison “quote” that regularly appeared on every front page of the Fort Myers News-Press: “There is only one Fort Myers…and ninety million people are going to find it..!” [...]

Special Agent Jordan Brown White Collar Crime in Fort Myers, FL Featured Speaker for May 18th Meeting: Jordan Brown began his career with the FBI in Jacksonville, FL, in 2017 as an Intern. For the summer of 2017, Jordan worked on various violations, including criminal and national security matters. At the conclusion of the internship, Jordan was hired full-time as an Operational Support Technician for the Jacksonville Field Office of the FBI. Jordan continued his work in Jacksonville until 2019, when he was selected for New Intelligence Analyst training in Quantico, VA. Upon graduation, Jordan was assigned in Huntsville, AL, at the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center where he worked with scientists to disseminate intelligence pertaining to Improvised Explosive Devices recovered throughout the world. In June 2021, Jordan began training as a New Agent in Quantico, VA. Upon graduation from the Basic Field Training Course, Jordan was assigned to work White Collar Crime in [...]

Laura Schell Featured Speaker: Amarok Society - "How the Poorest Mothers are Transforming Communities" Featured Speaker for May 11th Meeting: If the world's children are going to write their own stories… they're going to need to know how to write. We stand for the freedom of children. We stand for their freedom from poverty, violence, and oppression. For the freedom to direct their own lives, explore, and contribute their full potential to the world. That all starts with education. Right now, 1 in 3 children is growing up illiterate. Who can reach them when conventional schools are failing to do so? Their mothers.Teach mothers to teach othersThis simple yet remarkably effective concept provides a revolutionary solution to a longstanding humanitarian problem – 1 in 3 children growing up illiterate. Each of our schools teaches 25 mothers. Each of those mothers teaches at least five children. Once education feels genuinely accessible, it spreads. The children are so [...]

Dr. Jeffery S. Allbritten President, Florida SouthWestern State College Featured Speaker for May 4th Meeting: With over 30 years in higher education, Dr. Jeffery Allbritten has served in leadership roles at Middle Tennessee State University, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and Broward College in Fort Lauderdale. Prior to becoming FSW’s fourth president, he was president of Middle Georgia State University. Since becoming FSW’s president in 2012, Dr. Allbritten has worked with college administrators on initiatives that have reestablished FSW’s athletics program; secured a $5-million-dollar gift from Suncoast Credit Union for the Suncoast Credit Union Arena; expanded FSW’s international education programs by establishing university partnerships worldwide; and enhanced research opportunities for FSW faculty and students. Dr. Allbritten holds a Doctorate in Arts degree in chemistry from Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, a Master of Science degree in mathematics, and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Murray State University, Murray, Ky. [...]

Marc Farron Consultant, Florida SBDC at FGCU - Fort Myers Featured Speaker for April 27th Meeting: After over thirty years of working in the technology sector, Marc joined the Florida SBDC at FGCU as a business consultant specializing in Information Technology. The focus of his assistance to start-ups and small businesses is perennially around website design, search engine optimization, and digital marketing. He often helps mid-size firms with their IT infrastructure. "Being a consultant at the Florida SBDC has been the most rewarding work I've done. The thrill of helping small businesses save money, implement best practices and grow their business is priceless. The positive feedback from clients is priceless. It's a genuine honor to be part of the Florida Small Business Development Center." Marc Barron

Frank Mann District 5 Commissioner Featured Speaker for April 20th Meeting: Commissioner Frank Mann is a lifelong resident of Lee County and received his degree in political science from Vanderbilt University in 1964. He has spent 45 years in the business community and was the founder of his own insurance agency in 1967. Frank’s career in public service began in 1974. He served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives and four years in the Florida Senate, representing Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties. In 1986 he was his party’s nominee for Lt. Governor of Florida. During his 14 years of service on the Commission, he has served as chairman of the Lee County Commission, the Lee County Port Authority, and the Tourist Development Council. His priority during his career in public service has been preserving our quality of life in the face of almost overwhelming growth. On June 1, 2021, Frank and [...]

Michael C. Maibach “The Founders’ Electoral College & How Other Republics Choose Their Head of Government” Featured Speaker for April 13th Meeting: Michael Maibach is a seasoned professional in global business diplomacy, advisor to non-profit organizations, and a supporter of vital civic causes. From 2003 to 2012 he was President & CEO of the European-American Business Council, a group of 75 multinational companies.From 1983 to 2001 Mr. Maibach was Vice President of Global Government Affairs for the Intel Corporation. He worked closely with its four founders, Robert Noyce, Gordon Moore, Andy Grove and Les Vadasz. At Intel he built a global team of 150 professionals advancing the company’s commercial policies. From 1976 to 1983 he was a Government Affairs Manager at Caterpillar, Inc. in Illinois, California, and Washington DC. His initial job at CAT was as a machine shop foreman in their East Peoria tractor factory. Today he is a Distinguished Fellow on American Federalism at [...]

Bob LeSage Club Assembly Featured Speaker for April 6th Meeting: Dr. Robert G. LeSage received his B.A. from Florida State University. He received his B.S. and O.D. degrees from the University of Houston. Dr. LeSage is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry which adds FAAO to his name. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Sarasota, Florida. He is married to Bonnie, and together they have two children and three grandchildren. He is active in many church and community activities, including past president of the Cape Coral and Sanibel Rotary Clubs.