Wednesday Meeting

Featured Speaker for August 3rd Meeting: Sam Lewis Intersection of Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy A Southwest Florida native, Sam Lewis, attended the University of Florida where he studied business and psychology. Whether it has been through business or a medical field, Sam always knew he had a calling for helping others. This ultimately transpired into his discovery and passion for social entrepreneurship, and later his “WTF (Wear The Fund) epiphany”. WTF is a Fort Myers-based company that specializes in screen-printing, embroidery and promotional items. Wear The Fund donates 3 percent of every purchase to the clients’ specified charity or non-profit choice, which is significantly higher than Amazon’s program at .5 percent of sales and Patagonia's at 1 percent. In his seventh year of operation, Lewis’ company has given diverse causes close to $200,000. That includes amongst many others: LARC (Lee County Association for Remarkable Citizens), Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Keep Lee County Beautiful, Human [...]

Brendan Sloan Roads & Roads: A Day in the Life of a Civil Engineer Featured Speaker for July 27th Meeting: A Southwest Florida native, Brendan Sloan attended Bishop Verot High School before graduating from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. He has been a licensed professional engineer in the state of Florida for more than a decade, helping to complete the Reitz Student Union redesign in Gainesville, residential communities at Ave Maria, University Village near FGCU, and Hope Healthcare's Lehigh Acres campus. Mr. Sloan is now one of the owners of Avalon Engineering, a Cape Coral-based firm that has served the tri-county area for more than 40 years. As the Vice President and Director of Engineering, he manages a growing team of professionals that specialize in the planning, design, and permitting of residential, commercial, and industrial projects of all sizes. Mr. Sloan is an active member of the [...]

Norm Lutz A Travelogue Through the Pictures on Norm's iPad (Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.) Featured Speaker for July 20th Meeting: Norman Lutz grew up in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Pequea Valley High School. After a 20-year career as a paramedic and 10 years in the insurance industry, Norm and Michele moved to Fort Myers, FL. Currently, Norm is the CEO of Iron Ridge Insurance Services. Iron Ridge Insurance is a boutique independent insurance agency with a focus on insurance solutions for architects & engineers, physician practices, residential associations, and religious organizations. While not operating the company, Norm spends much of his time volunteering with the Rotary Club of Fort Myers – Sunrise and the Strasburg Cemetery Association. Norm’s hobbies include woodworking, genealogy, and the occasional round of golf. Norman believes he is not a member of a tribe and often quotes, “It is better to be wisely self-daring than unwisely [...]