Featured Speaker for January 18th Meeting: Dilman Thomas Executive Director Dilman Thomas is the former Executive Director of the Horizon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which works in partnership with the Horizon Council and the Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO). He has been in SW Florida for over 30 years and has served as a Senior Vice President for SunTrust Bank, Retail Banking, Regional President for Encore Bank, and Executive Vice President and General Manager for Oswald, Trippe and Company, and now McGriff Insurance. Prior to coming to SW Florida, he served in a similar role with Pioneer Savings Bank, managing 27 offices from Springhill to Marco Island. Community Service has been an integral part of his life, serving in the following roles in SW Florida: Campaign and Board Chair of the United Way Founding Chair of the Housing Development Corporation, building affordable housing in Lee County Chair of Jr. Achievement of [...]

Featured Speaker for January 25th Meeting: Dr. Andrew M. Kurtz Music Director Gulf Coast Symphony founder Dr. Andrew M. Kurtz enters his twenty-eighth season as the Symphony's Music Director, President & CEO. His deep-rooted commitment to new work, community, and education, combined with a vibrant artistic vision, has led to creating and nurturing one of the most dynamic arts organizations in the region. He was named the 2007 Performing Artist of the Year at Lee County's Angel of the Arts Awards. Kurtz's repertoire encompasses a wide range of music styles, from baroque to contemporary, and multiple genres, including symphonic, opera, ballet, musical theater, jazz, cantorial, and symphonic pops. Kurtz also served as General Director of Center City Opera Theater, a professional opera company in Philadelphia dedicated to new work, new audiences, and new artists. During his sixteen-year tenure, he led over four dozen productions, including numerous world or regional premieres. Notable productions that [...]

Featured Speaker for February 1st Meeting: Earl Quenzel Rotary Club of Fort Myers - Sunrise President Earl Quenzel will provide an overview of what to expect from this year's Super Bowl advertisers, share insights about what makes a television commercial effective, and preview a few of the television commercials that will air during Super Bowl LVII at this week's Rotary meeting. Earl currently serves as president of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers - Sunrise, president of the McGregor Woods Homeowners Association, and is on the Players Circle Theater board. 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 - 2 Ways [...]

Featured Speaker for February 15th Meeting: Jeff Mielke Executive Director Jeff Mielke has been the Executive Director of the Lee County Sports Development (LCSD) department since its creation in 2003. In his time as Executive Director, LCSD has increased sports tourism by over 500%. As the sports development agency for Lee County, the Sports Development office markets the region as a destination for state, national, and international sporting events and sports business. Sports Development works closely with Lee County Parks & Recreation, the Visitor & Convention Bureau, and our local colleges, universities, and sports clubs in attracting and managing over 150 events annually. Jeff has a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from Florida State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Missouri. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower [...]

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 [...]