Fort Myers Sunrise Rotary

Featured Speaker for February 28th Meeting: Greg Adams Retired Immigration Law Attorney Until his retirement at the end of 2022, Greg Adams practiced employment-based immigration law and worksite compliance for over 40 years. Following 10 years as an attorney in Connecticut and then Massachusetts, Greg relocated to Ohio where he headed up the business immigration law practices at a regional law firm for 15 years and then at a national law firm for the remainder of his career.  His clients ranged from domestic and international business of all sizes to high tech industry leaders, professional sports franchises, performing arts companies, research organizations, and higher educational institutions. He also served as bar association representative to the U.S. immigration agency, taught immigration law at the law school level, was a regular speaker and author on immigration law topics, and edited the annually published Immigration and Nationality Law Handbook series. Over the course of his career, [...]

Featured Speaker for March 6th Meeting: Kay Peterson Off the Bike Path: A Minnesotan's Guide Catherine (Kay) Peterson was born and raised in a town of 25,000 in the southeast corner of Minnesota called Winona.  She lives there still today. She has two sisters- Liz Christie and Kim Allison- and one nephew, Wyatt Allison.  (Fun fact- Kay was named after Catherine the Great, Liz was named after Queen Elizabeth, and Kim was named after the Kimberly Diamond Mine!). Kay went to college at Minnesota State University, Mankato and enjoyed her last semester studying in New Zealand. Kay has been Client Services Coordinator at a non-profit called Winona Volunteer Services since 2005, where every day she helps meet the basic needs of those who are struggling.  She became a Detroit Lions fan in 2017 and was a Master Gardener for 10 years. She enjoys swimming, reading, cooking, house & room painting, as well as [...]

Featured Speaker for March 20th Meeting: Maryola Dannebaum Daughters of the American Revolution Born in California, raised in NY, moved to FL full time in 2021. She owned and operated a Photography Studio for 25 years, offering all services to her clients. After retiring from her business, she proceeded to work for the Nassau County Government for fourteen years as a press photographer covering the County Executive and the Legislative branch of government. During her time as a professional photographer, she belonged to the Professional Photographers of Greater New York, and served as their president twice. She was a charter member of the Bethpage Central Park Kiwanis and served as their treasurer for four years. She joined Daughters of the American Revolution Society in 2018 and became Regent of the Lawrence Kearny Chapter in 2023. The DAR helps serve her passion for community, conservation, and Veterans. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING [...]

Featured Speaker for March 27th Meeting: Sandy Stilwell Younquist Owner & CEO - Stilwell Enterprises Sandy Stilwell Younquist grew up in the Fort Myers area. Working in her parent’s business Sandy learned the value of a strong work ethic and the role of sacrifice. She displayed her entrepreneur spirit early, starting a bank cleaning business when she was just 17 years old. At the age of 21 years old, Sandy founded Stilwell Enterprises. Over the past 27 years she earned a reputation as an accomplished entrepreneur in the Southwest Florida restaurant industry for her special brand of hospitality. Currently, she employs about 350 people to operate the Captiva Island Inn, Keylime Bistro, Sunshine Seafood Café & Wine Bar, RC Otters Island Eats, Cantina Captiva, Latte Da, and a shopping center. During her career, Sandy has operated under a single, guiding principle; ‘When you give somebody your word, your word is more important than [...]

Featured Speaker for April 3rd Meeting: John Lai President & CEO John Lai is the President and CEO of the Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce, the premier business organization of Sanibel and Captiva Islands with over 450 members, and the Francis P. Bailey Visitor Center, which is open 365 days a year and sees over 80,000 visitors per year. Professionally, John has been in the hospitality and tourism industry for over 28 years and has been a resident of Lee County for over 30 years. He has operated resorts in Sanibel, Captiva, Clearwater, and Vero Beach. John joined the Chamber staff in 2017 and was promoted to President and CEO in 2018. John is the past president of the Lee County Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and currently serves as their Government Affairs Chair. John is on the board of directors of Lee County Sports and is the Chair-Elect [...]

Featured Speaker for April 10th Meeting: Kristen Dimas Family Physician Dr. Kristen Dimas is a woman with a heart for serving her community. After graduating with honors from Florida State University College of Medicine in 2016, she returned to Southwest Florida to complete her residency training at the FSU Family Medicine Residency Program at Lee Health. Throughout her residency, she earned multiple awards for service and advocacy in addition to being elected by her peers to serve as chief resident during her senior year. Transitioning into clinical practice, she decided to continue serving her local community by accepting a faculty position with the same program where she completed her training. Today, as a board certified family physician and clinical assistant professor of medicine, she not only works tirelessly to address health disparities among her patients, but also teaches physicians in training under her to do the same. Recently, Dr. Dimas has accepted a [...]

Featured Speaker for April 17th Meeting: Chimedlham "Angie" Bayarsaihan Rotary Club of Ulaanbaatar Peace Avenue The Rotary Club of Ulaanbaatar Peace Avenue is the 1st Rotary Club in Mongolia founded by former Rotaractors. They are also one of the only English-speaking clubs in Mongolia. Since their inception, they have developed International Sister Club relationships in Seoul, South Korea, and Dublin, Ohio. In January 2024, the Rotary Club of Fort Myers - Sunrise was added to the International mix as the newest Sister Club in the family. Their past projects have focused on education, women's health, and disease prevention. They continually partner with other clubs to create hope in the world. Join the meeting to learn more about their club, country, and their Rotarian goals. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Doubletree Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 [...]

Featured Speaker for April 24th Meeting: Bill Johnson Executive Director Bill Johnson, Jr. has been the Executive Director of The Horizon Foundation since January 2023. Previously, Bill was the Executive Director of the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association for eight (8) years, and prior to that worked as the membership sales director for the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral. He has 14 years private-sector experience in retail sales and management. The Horizon Foundation’s mission is to improve Lee County’s business environment and ease of doing business—in terms of the ability to source credible local disadvantaged suppliers, retain and encourage the expansion of existing businesses, attract new and diversified employers, and strengthen and sustain the public-private partnership of Lee County Government, community, and business leaders. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Doubletree Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? [...]

Featured Event for May 1st Meeting: Drive For Education Club Assembly Sunrise Rotary Club of Fort Myers will host a club assembly this week for the annual Drive For Education golf tournament, hosted at The Forest Country Club on Friday, May 3rd. Bring your spirit cart tickets (sold or purchased) and alcohol for the spirit cart. We will have a list of silent auction items for you to bid on. We will also finalize volunteer opportunities. WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Doubletree Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? Join our Zoom Meeting - 2 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 [...]

Featured Speaker for May 8th Meeting: Mark Moody District 6960 Rotary Youth Exchange Chair Mark Moody has been a member of Rotary since 2009. He was District 6250 Rotary Friendship Exchange co-chair and organized exchanges with Rotary districts in Nepal, India, Chile, Peru, Australia & Latvia. He has also been a Rotary Youth Exchange post parent. Mark moved to southwest Florida in 2021 & joined the Rotary club of Englewood where he is now treasurer. Mark has been District 6960 Rotary Youth Exchange Chair since May of 2023. Professionally, Mark has an extensive and diverse professional background as a health insurance executive in both the private and public sectors, in the United States and internationally. Mark has been CEO of several health insurance plans, CEO of a small IT services and software company and was director of the Medicaid program for the state of Wisconsin. He worked internationally in health care in New [...]

Featured Speaker for May 15th Meeting: Steve Colgate Chairman - Offshore Sailing School Olympian, America’s Cup competitor, and ever-present participant on the racing circuit, Steve Colgate personifies the sport and lifestyle of sailing. He has dedicated many years to sailing education for people of all ages and walks of life and has a long history of competing and winning in the sailboat racing world. Steve grew up in Cold Spring Harbor, NY, and started sailing Atlantic Class sailboats and Lightnings on Long Island Sound at the age of nine. A 1957 Yale graduate, he served two years as an Air Force officer and then sharpened his knowledge of all things maritime during a four-year stint at a boat supply store in New York City before launching Offshore in 1964. Steve’s racing career spans seven decades and includes nearly every significant race in the world. In 1955 he crewed aboard the Spanish yacht Mare Nostrum in the 1955 Trans-Atlantic Race from [...]

Featured Presentation for May 22nd Meeting: 2024 Drive For Education Tournament Wrap-Up The 10th Annual Sunrise Rotary Club Drive For Education Golf Tournament was a huge success! Thank you to all who supported the event and helped to raise money for our beneficiaries. Join us Wednesday as we wrap up the event and present checks to IMAG and the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools! WEEKLY SUNRISE MEETING Join us on Wednesday at the Doubletree Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops 13051 Bell Tower Drive, FL, 33907 Can't Make it? Join our Zoom Meeting - 2 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 [...]