Lee County: The Value of Giving - Charity begins at Work! Sponsor by Goodwill Industries of SWFL
Meet our panelists: Plus Ribbon Cutting for SUNDIAL BEACH RESORT & SPA below!
Tom Uhler is a founder of and principal of Uhler and Vertich Financial Planners, has over three decades of experience in financial services in Southwest Florida, and has a special interest in assisting non-profit organizations in their planned giving efforts. He volunteers for a number of Lee County groups, helping them identify, educate and establish long term relationships with donors and is a frequent speaker on financial planning, investing, and charitable giving. He lives on Sanibel with his wife Linda. He is Branch Manager of this Raymond James Financial Services office. Tom serves on the board of the United Way of Lee County, is President of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra board and Treasurer of the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation Board. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Sanibel-Captiva Islands (Past President) and serves on the Executive Board of the Southwest Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is currently president of the Sanibel-Captiva Orchid Society. Tom is an Eagle Scout and life member of the National Eagle Scout Association. Tom is honored to have been chosen as the 2011-2012 Campaign Chair for the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades, as Citizen of the Year by the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce, as Hero of the Year in 2013 by the Fort Myers News-Press and as 2010 Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida's Lee County Laureate. Tom was also awarded the American Red Cross' Legacy Award in 2013.
Cliff Smith has been the President of the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee for the past 23 years. Prior to that he was the Executive Director of the Monadnock United Way in Keene, New Hampshire. In another lifetime he ran programs helping abused and neglected children. In his United Way career, Cliff has worked with enthusiastic volunteers, talented staff and generous companies and donors to raise over $130 million to help improve the quality of life in our community. Our local United Way supports the local network of 85 agencies and over 200 programs and initiatives that last year helped over 300,000 of our friends, neighbors and co-workers right here in our community. Cliff graduated with Distinction from the University of Virginia. He also has a Master’s degree in Religious Studies form Florida State University and a Master’s degree in Non-Profit Administration from Antioch University. Cliff lives in Fort Myers with his wife Roxanne and has two small sons (one is 6’4” and the other is 6’8”). In his leisure time he enjoys reading, running and playing basketball.
Carolyn C. Rogers, VP, Development and Communications, Southwest Florida Community Foundation Combining more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit fund development and public relations with her passion for the community, Carolyn holds what she calls the “dream job” of overseeing development and communications at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. In her role, she works with the Foundation team and board of trustees, community leaders and philanthropists to positively impact the community making it a better place for everyone who lives, works, learns and plays here. Carolyn was the owner of Simplify PR handling marketing and PR campaigns for a variety of clients. Prior to that, she was a partner in a local public relations firm, served as director of development for Canterbury School and Lee Memorial Health System Foundation/The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, and worked in health care marketing for physician practices and in the PR department at University Community Hospital in Tampa, Fla. She is most proud of the 9 years she worked with the founding chairman of the SWFL Wine & Food Fest to establish and grow the event into the nation’s top 3 charity wine auctions, and Lee County’s all-time most successful fundraising event which is in its 12th year. Carolyn was honored as PR Professional of the Year in 2012 by the Southwest Florida chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association, and her work has been recognized over the years by the state FPRA organization with Golden Image Awards for printed tools, best special event, and best community relations program. She also received local awards including recognition by the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA and the SWF Chapter of the Ad Federation. She was named one of Gulfshore Life’s Men and Women of the Year in 2013. Carolyn has been a resident of Southwest Florida since 1974 and currently lives in Fort Myers with her husband Bill and two beautiful sons Rex and Clay who attend FGCU.
Attorney Vera Bergermann, Managing Attorney at Bergermann Law Firm. Attorney Bergermann's first law job was as the 1979 summer intern for the State's Attorney's Office, Juvenile Division, Homicide Unit, on the south side of Chicago. This eye-opening experience led her to the corporate world later that summer when she joined the legal department at ITT and became a staff attorney negotiating and drafting contracts for telecommunications systems. Vera continued this work in the New York City area for Northern Telecom and, later, UNISYS in Philadelphia. After earning her Master's degree in taxation, she moved to Pittsburgh and opened up her own tax practice. Moving to Fort Myers in 1992, Vera worked for General Electric where she earned a customs broker license and handled disputes involving GE imports. She passed the challenge of the Florida Bar on her first attempt in 1994 and opened her practice downtown after becoming a certified family law mediator in 1996. Ms. Bergermann's practice has since expanded to serve Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and DeSoto counties.
Emcee:Connie Ramos-Williams is the CEO and Chief Marketing Officer for CONRIC PR & Marketing and President of CONRIC Publishing, both recipients of numerous regional and state awards. Connie is the Founder of SWFL Parent & Child magazine and former Niche Advertising Director at the News-Press. She is a public speaker, educator, mentor, and philanthropist. Connie volunteers and serves on many boards and has won numerous awards, including the prestigious APEX Award in 2015. Since opening the doors to CONRIC in 2007, Connie has grown the company to become one of the leading public relations, marketing, advertising and publishing companies in SWFL and across the state of Florida. Connie gives her CONRIC team much of the credit for the company’s success. Her team includes award winning graphic designers, writers, digital strategists, website designers and media specialists. CONRIC PR & Marketing serves more than 100 clients locally and internationally in all areas of business including financial, real estate, development, government, hospitality, retail, and manufacturing. Connie is a native Floridian, born and raised in Miami, but considers Fort Myers home. She moved to the area in 1998 where she raised her children and lives with her husband Rick Williams. Please help me in welcoming… Connie Ramos-Williams.
Our Sponsor: Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is committed to serving people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering life-changing opportunities to achieve independence.
Undates from Ingrid Fuller, President of Fuller Online Solutions. Ingrid Fuller is an energetic speaker, creative internet marketer, expert networker and philanthropist. She is the president of Fuller Online Solutions, a website design and internet marketing company helping small and medium size business succeed online. Fuller Online Solutions has been recognized as one of the top three Website Design companies in Southwest Florida by Gulfshore Business Magazine for 2013, 2014 and 2015. Ingrid is a business partner with Constant Contact and was the first Certified Authorized Local Expert in Southwest Florida. In 2012, she was recognized as the top Authorized Local Expert in South Florida and received the Excellence Award in 2014. Ingrid is also a 2015 40 under 40 for Gulfshore Business.
Please note there will be no refunds if you do not show up as this is a sit-down lunch and the food has to be pre-ordered
Non-Profits can put up a free table
Members can put up a table for $25
Call Jeanne for details 910-7426
Not a member of the Above Board Chamber of Florida Please go to this link http://www.aboveboardchamber.com/benefits-of-membership/ and join us! You will be a member in two counties with lots of free benefits. Plus, our monthly meetings will help give you the tools to better yourself and your business in 2016! Questions call 239-910-7426
239-910-7426. Make it a great years by being a part of the Above Board Chamber of Florida in 2016!
Fun Alert!
Everyone is invited to join us on Tuesday, April 12th at the
"SUNDIAL BEACH AND SPA"
On Sanibel Island
from 4:30 - 6:00
Ribbon Cutting 5:30
Live Entertainment * Refreshment
At their New Shima Japanese Steakhouse
&
Sushi Bar or Sea Breeze Cafe
15% off with the invitaion below!
