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 [...]

Featured Speaker for August 10th Meeting: Susana Mapu FBI Special Agent, Tampa Division Ms. Mapu joined the FBI in 2004 and has worked in McAllen, Texas and Tampa. During her career, she has investigated health care fraud, bank fraud, mortgage fraud, bankruptcy fraud, investment fraud, money laundering, and public corruption. Currently Ms. Mapu is the Tampa Division Field Office primary Civil Rights representative. Prior to joining the FBI, Ms. Mapu was enlisted in United States Navy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Tarleton State University and is fluent in Spanish. 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 Zoom Meeting - 3 Ways to Join ONE Click on the link to our ZOOM ROOM below. With this [...]

Featured Speaker for August 17th Meeting: Kelly Thawley College/Career Specialist, Lee County School District Kelly Thawley, College and Career Specialist for The School District of Lee County, oversees work-based learning, career exploration, and business partnerships from kindergarten through 12th grade within the Career and Technical Education Department. She is dedicated to helping students discover their passions and connecting those students to the local workforce in Southwest Florida, encouraging them on the pathway to a successful career. Kelly is also deeply committed to inspiring young women to follow their dreams and fulfill their true potential by serving on the Planning Committee for the LEAD Like a Girl program, on the Board of Directors for Our Mother’s Home, and as the Chair of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Committee. She graduated summa cum laude from Muskingum University, Ohio, with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a minor in Psychology. Kelly [...]

Featured Speaker for August 24th Meeting: Vickie Gelardi Author & Medicinal Food Consultant Vickie Gelardi has been helping people reverse disease and live healthier lives since the late 1970s. Initially, she worked with children on the autism spectrum. Vickie broadened her consulting work to adults with various diseases. In 1976, Vickie founded the Feingold Association of New York. At that time, food labeling was not clear. Vickie testified before congress concerning proper labeling as most children with learning and behavior issues cannot tolerate artificial coloring and flavoring in foods. Our labeling today is significantly more transparent as a result of her efforts. Her rich background in food and psychology contributes to her work in holistic healing. As a Medicinal Food Consultant at Lotus Blossom Clinic in Fort Myers, Vickie works with clients dealing with various health issues such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, auto immune diseases, etc. Vickie is one of the founders [...]

Featured Speaker for August 31st Meeting: W. Brent Cox, Jr CFE Former FBI Agent and Private Investigator SA Cox entered duty with the FBI on 8/2/1998. After graduation, he reported to the San Antonio Division, McAllen RA, where he worked on drugs and public corruption matters until 9/11/2001. He transferred to the National Security Branch and was a full-time bureau pilot with the Special Operations Group. In 2004, SA Cox transferred to the Tampa Division, Fort Myers, RA, where he started the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). In 2009, SA Cox was assigned to the Intelligence Division, and in 2010, he was transferred to the Cyber Division, where he expanded the Innocent Images Task Force and battled child pornography. In 2014, he was transferred to white-collar crimes working public corruption, healthcare fraud, and financial crimes. SA Cox completed a tour of duty in Iraq on behalf of the FBI in 2005. [...]

Featured Speaker for September 7th Meeting: Kerri Goldsmith Area 3 Assistant Governor Kerri Goldsmith is a senior financial advisor in the HBKS® Wealth Advisors office in Fort Myers, Florida and has been with the firm since 2009. She specializes in helping her clients fulfill their dreams through personalized financial planning, investing, and risk management services. Her assistance helps her clients plan for their own future, their children’s or grandchildren’s education, or passing their wealth onto future generations or charitable causes. Kerri also works with businesses to provide qualified retirement plans and financial education for their employees. She takes great pride in providing individualized, hands-on client solutions with strategic vision and problem-solving creativity that offer unique perspectives on financial planning. With a strong belief in professional development and community involvement, Kerri is active in numerous organizations. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Southwest Florida and the Estate Planning Council of Lee County. [...]

Featured Speaker for September 14th Meeting: Drew Ogden President of Fort Myer's Lions Club Drew Ogden grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has been the CEO and founder of Gurrilla Marketing for Small Business since 2014, a marketing agency that focuses on providing services to local businesses in the Southwest Florida area. Prior to working with Gurrilla Marketing for Small Business, Mr. Ogden worked as a Marketing Manager for Verizon Wireless. Also, he was an Area Sales Manager for General Hotel and Restaurant Supply. Ogden has dedicated his professional life to marketing and sales for small businesses, wireless companies, and the hospitality industry. Before his professional career, Ogden served as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force from 1971-1975. After his service, Ogden received his Bachelors of Science in Accounting from the University of Texas, Austin. Later he received his CHA for Hotel and Motel Administration and Management. Drew Ogden is always looking to improve himself; [...]

Featured Speaker for September 21st Meeting: Elmer Tabor Cape Coral Rotary Club Elmer Tabor grew up in West Virginia before his family moved to Cape Coral, Florida, about 62 years ago. While living in Cape Coral, Tabor has witnessed much of the growth of Southwest Florida. Tabor watched his town grow from a place that did not have stores, restaurants, or parks to a thriving community in Southwest Florida. Tabor says that witnessing the growth of Cape Coral “gave me the advantage to learn all I could about growth-related issues, be it infrastructure, building codes, zoning, utilities, public reverse osmosis systems, construction types, parks systems, and much more.” With his expanded knowledge of growth issues, Tabor became an owner and broker for Wonderland Realty Inc. Aside from his work in real estate, Elmer Tabor has owned and operated many local Cape Coral businesses ranging from grocery stores and banks. Outside of owning his businesses, Tabor spends [...]

Featured Speaker for October 5th Meeting: Neil Snyder Rotary International District 6960 Mr. Snyder received his Law Degree and Master’s Degree from the University of Baltimore. Mr. Snyder was a prosecutor in Collier County from 2003 through 2006. Since he left the State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Snyder has been in private sector, devoting his practice to civil litigation and criminal defense. Mr. Snyder is a member of the Florida Bar and the DC Bar and practices in the Federal Courts, Middle District of Florida, and Southern District of Florida.Outside of his success as an attorney, Snyder spends much of his time working to help his community. Snyder is currently the District Governor of Rotary District 6960 and works tirelessly to help the community of Marco Island through his work with the Rotary Club and his law firm. His efforts won him the 2017 Naples Daily News Marco Island Citizen of the Year Award. Every day Neil [...]

Featured Speaker for November 2nd Meeting: Earl Quenzel Rotary Club of Fort Myers - Sunrise President Earl currently serves as president of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers - Sunrise, president of the McGregor Woods Homeowners Association, and is on the board for Players Circle Theatre. In addition to his active community involvement, Earl is a partner at Quenzel Marketing Agency with his wife, Colleen. 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 Zoom Meeting - 3 Ways to Join ONE Click on the link to our ZOOM ROOM below. With this method you can join via a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet or phone. If you use a desktop or laptop you can use your regular browser [...]

Featured Speaker for November 9th 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 one of [...]

Featured Speaker for November 16th Meeting: Michael Perino One Digital - Managing Consultant Michael Perino grew up in Laurel, New Jersey, and graduated from Lenape High School in 2006. After high school, Mr. Perino went to Drexel University to get his Bachelor's in Hospitality Management and Business Administration, where he graduated in 2011. During his education at Drexler, Michael worked as a Benefits Enrollment Counselor to help people understand and enroll in their company's benefit plans for Univers Workplace Benefits. Michael would continue this work with employee benefits shortly after college by working with Roller Consulting Co. in Pennsylvania. After about a year, Michael took a new job with M.F. Irvine AssuredPartners Company as a Senior Account Manager/Executive. Then in 2019, Mr. Perino moved to Bonita Springs to be a Senior Benefits Consultant and a Managing Consultant for One Digital. Michael often stays busy at work to help benefit his community and provide for [...]