Wednesday Meeting

Featured Speaker for February 22nd Meeting: Denise Wheeler Wright Certified Circuit Civil Mediator Denise began practicing law in 1994 in Tampa, Florida. Initially, she litigated cases on behalf of the Resolution Trust Corporation ("RTC") to recover assets for failed savings and loans, along with representing businesses in commercial and contract disputes. Eventually, she focused more of her practice on representing employers in all types of employment litigation. She moved to Fort Myers in 2005 and continued representing employers and litigating commercial and business disputes. In addition to employment and commercial litigation trials, Denise has successfully tried land use cases on behalf of a public entity. In 2014 Denise was certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator. Since then, she has spent more and more time mediating civil litigation matters. She believes that most cases can be resolved through the mediation process and is willing to commit the necessary time, [...]

Featured Speaker for March 1st Meeting: Doris Colgate Co-Owner, President & CEO Before joining the advertising department of Yachting Magazine in 1967, Doris had never been on a sailboat. However, after taking a Learn to Sail course at Steve Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School and then a sailboat racing course run by Steve Colgate, Doris became hooked on sailing – and Steve Colgate – who she married in 1969. Doris joined Offshore Sailing School full-time as its Vice President In 1970, became President in 1978, and CEO/President in 2001. The Colgates grew Offshore Sailing School from a one-branch, two-instructor, two-boat operation into the industry leader with more than 150,000 graduates. Doris launched the National Women’s Sailing Association to create more awareness of sailing among women and help women build confidence in their sailing skills, spearheaded You Can Sail Escapes to provide all-women sailing programs, launched the sailing-mentoring program for at-risk girls AdventureSail, and established [...]

Featured Speaker for March 8th Meeting: Judie Baker-Basil Owner Judie Baker-Basil moved to Pine Island, Florida, in May 2014 with her husband, Mickey Basil. She owns Basil's Bottle and Glassworks, located in Flea masters Flea market. Prior to moving to Florida, she lived in the Washington, DC, area where she co-owned J & F Associates (a safe company). She is a Certified Safe Technician. Other career roles included sales training and opening new branch offices as a Vice­President for WMI, an international sales company. In 2017 Judie met Shawn Gilstad, co-founder of Charlotte County Imagination Library (in 2011), an affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. This program intrigued Judie, as she had studied Biology and Special Education at Towson State University and has a passion for child development. Over the next few years, Judie learned more about the Imagination Library program, which mails a free book to preschool children every month until they [...]

Featured Speaker for March 15th Meeting: Lucrecia Garcia Youth Services Chair Lucrecia Garcia was born and raised in Venezuela. She studied Political Science at the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV)and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Administration. After working for a couple of years at an Advertising and communications company in Caracas as an information department coordinator, she decided to move to the USA. In September of 1994, she landed in Chicago to study English at Concordia University. After a few months, she continued her English language studies at Truman College. In the summer of 1998, she moved to Miami, FL, where she started and continued practical learning in accounting, specifically bookkeeping. From 1998 through 2007, she worked for different companies as Officer Manager and Bookkeeping Clerk. Her two children, Christopher and Alyssa, were born in Miami. In 2007 Lucrecia had the opportunity to move to Fort Myers, where two of [...]

Featured Speaker for March 22nd Meeting: Bryon Wilfert Consulate General of Mongolia Bryon Wilfert has Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education, and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Toronto and a degree in public administration from St. Lawrence College in Kingston. In addition, he is an Accredited Municipal Clerk. He taught history and political science at Havergal College in Toronto from 1977 to 1997. The Honourable Bryon Wilfert has served more than ten years as the Chair and other Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (CJIG) posts. He has contributed significantly to enhancing the relationship and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and Canada through interaction between both countries’ inter-parliamentary groups. In June 2011, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, Japan’s second-highest honor, by Emperor Akihito to recognize these outstanding contributions officially. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne [...]

Featured Speaker for March 29th Meeting: Rob Spicker Assistant Director Rob Spicker is the Assistant Director of Media Relations and Public Information for the School District of Lee County. He serves as the primary spokesman for the School District and is involved in all District communication efforts, social media, video production, and community outreach. Prior to joining the School District, Rob was a broadcast journalist for 27 years. He spent 10 years waking up Southwest Florida as the anchor of WINK News This Morning on both WINK-TV and WXCW. Rob helped lead WINK News This Morning to unprecedented ratings success. Rob and his wife have three children and have called Fort Myers home since 2007. He is Board Vice President for the Animal Refuge Center in North Fort Myers, which is Southwest Florida’s largest no-kill shelter. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza [...]

Featured Speaker for April 12th Meeting: Bill Waichulis Managing Director Bill Waichulis is Managing Director for the Florida Resort Division of Boykin Management Company.  His career has spanned many property operations with two management companies, Interstate Hotels and Resorts for 14 years and Boykin Management Company since 2006. Bill has managed many different brands to include Westin, Sheraton, Hilton, and Holiday Inn, all within the state of Florida.  In his last position, he was Director of Operations for South Seas and the Sanibel properties.  He is currently responsible for the Florida region. Bill serves on the Board of Directors for Visit Florida, Lee County Hotel Association, and Lee County Tourist and Development Council. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? Join our [...]

Featured Speaker for April 19th Meeting: Brian DelNegro General Manager Brian DelNegro is a proud Worcester native and attended college at Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts. After living in Massachusetts for most of his childhood Brain relocated to sunny Florida in 1994. He began his career in the automotive industry a couple years later where he started selling cars at Fort Myers, Toyota. Brian quickly worked his way up to management positions and transferred over to Naples Nissan after some time. He then took on the General Manager position at Jaguar Land Rover Fort Myers in the year 2010. He has been the General Manager at the dealership for over 13 years now where he works alongside his younger brother Nick DelNegro. Brian is an avid car lover and has enjoyed watching the Jaguar Land Rover brand grow to what it is today. Brian also believes in giving back to the community [...]

Featured Speaker for May 3rd Meeting: Robert Cacioppo Players Circle Theater Robert was born and raised in New York City and began his professional career in 1978 with The Passion of Alice at New York City’s famous Greenwich Mews Theatre. He directed extensively in New York City before coming to Florida 30 years ago and, since that time, has become a leader in Southwest Florida’s theater movement. He became Artistic Director of the Pirate Playhouse in 1990, turning that company, at the time, into the area’s only resident Actors’ Equity Association Company and directing over 60 productions. Robert Cacioppo, Florida Rep’s Founder, was honored by the Florida Professional Theaters Association with the Richard G. Fallon Award for Excellence in Professional Theatre for his tenacity, vision, passion, and leadership in creating professional theater in the state of Florida. Currently, Robert stays busy as the artistic director of Players Circle Theater. Players Circle Theater is [...]

Featured Speaker for May 10th Meeting: Liston Bochette III Ward 4 Council Member Liston “Lin” Bochette is a five-time Olympic Athlete, internationally recognized artist and civic leader. Councilman Bochette served on the Community Redevelopment Agency Board and in 2018 was appointed to the Fort Myers City Council by Mayor Randall P. Henderson to complete the term of a retiring councilperson. He was elected to represent Ward 4 again in November 2020. Bochette received his B.F.A from the University of Florida, then went on to complete his M.A from InterAmerican University, and Ph.D. from Pacific Western University. Councilman Bochette has been a delegate to the White House for Olympic Affairs. Over the years, he worked closely with Olympic bid and host cities around the world as a senior advisor on management, budget, transportation, housing, security, infrastructure, and programing. He has been responsible for multi-million dollar budgets and complex work forces. Bochette was elected to [...]

Featured Speaker for May 17th Meeting: Gary Tasman CEO & Principal Broker Professional Background May 2014 – Acquired 4 mm sf commercial real estate management portfolio – largest 3rd party commercial property management portfolio in Southwest Florida March 2009 – Founded Commercial Property Southwest Florida, LLC (Only Independently Owned & Operated Member of the Cushman & Wakefield Alliance in State of Florida) January 2007 – Joined Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. – Opened Southwest Florida Market Prior – Directed Largest Revenue Generating Team a Grubb & Ellis/VIP for over a decade Experience 32 Years Real Estate Industry Closed over 1,000 Transactions – $700 Million plus Office, Retail Industrial Site Analysis Market & Financial Feasibility Studies Expert Sales & Communication Authority Stonegate Bank (Southwest Capital Bank) – Founding Organizing Director National start up bank; charter from the US Governments’ office of Currency and Controller in July 2006 Certified: Florida State Certified Real Estate Broker and Appraiser [...]