Lee County: Field Trips are not just for Kids! Create fun in your office: Sponsor by Karen Hawes, KB Spirit Design, Inc.
Employers who know how to create fun in the workplace generally enjoy greater loyalty from employees who are more productive and healthier in mind, body and spirit. As the old saying goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Learn some team-building techniques from our panel of experts on this seriously fun topic!
Our panelists:
Julio A. Morales, Director of Services Sundial Beacg Resort and Spa, Julio has been making a difference in our industry everywhere he goes. From Orlando Fl, to Sanibel Island working at Casa Ybel as the Director of Operations to Palm Coast Fl working at the five star five diamond Hammock Beach Resort & Spa as the Director of Housekeeping Services. Involved in many projects from Opening Hotel Indigo in down town Fort Myers and becoming the General Manager to being Assistant General Manager at the Holiday Inn Gulf Coast Town Ctr.. Now one of the key members of the operations team as the Director of Services his responsibilities include managing the day to day operations in Housekeeping, Activities, Front Office, and In-house reservations. Also working together with Owner services and both East and West Sundial Condo Associations.
Christina Harris Schwinn, a partner with the Pavese Law Firm. Primary practice areas include employment and business law. Previously, she served as a General Counsel for two large human resource outsourcing companies where she managed legal and legislative affairs and oversaw HR. Ms. Schwinn serves in numerous leadership roles. To name a few: for Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, Inc. (“JA”) and SHRM SWFL, Inc. Schwinn has a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Master of Laws in Employment Law from Atlanta’s John Marshall School of Law. Schwinn has received numerous awards, including the Michaeline A. Doyle Volunteer Leadership Award from the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations in 2001, Robert F. Krinock Outstanding Senior Award while in law school, JA’s 2014-2015 Over-the-Edge Achiever Award, and JA’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015-2016.
CAROL L. OBERMEIER, Director of Air Service Development, Lee County Port Authority As the director of air service development, Carol Obermeier works to promote increased passenger air service and cargo activity at Southwest Florida International Airport (SWFIA). Her office also represents the Port Authority in the local, state, national and international travel and tourism industries as well as within local economic development, business and governmental groups. Carol holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She worked as a customer service representative for United Airlines before joining the Port Authority in 1994 as an airport operations agent. She joined the air service development department in 2000 as air service development coordinator, was promoted to senior manager in 2006 and in 2008 Carol was promoted to her current position as director of air service development.
Andrew Williams, Owner/CEO Spada Salon & Day Spa Andrew Williams, PMP- is the Co Owner/Director of Spada Salon and Day Spa in Ft. Myers for almost 5 years with his wife Judy. Andrew and Judy moved to the USA in 2007 from South Africa where Andrew was a project manager for Shell oil for 16 years . The Williams family moved to Florida in 2010 and purchased Spada in October 2011.Spada salon and day spa is a 11000SQ foot luxurious day spa and a Loreal professional and Aveda hair salon. Andrew firmly believes in the culture of giving back to the local community and also selecting his business partners whom do the same.He has developed this culture and this is reflected in his team of over 50 employees whom also give of there time giving back to the local community .Andrew and Judy and the team at Spada have since October 2011 have donated over 130k to organizations such as PACE center for girls Lee, The Golisanos Children's hospital and Valerie's house. Andrew firmly believes in teamwork, staff motivation and appreciation and believes the team has grown to what it is today because of this. He, Judy and his 3 daughters love living in Fort Myers and have been so overwhelmed by the loving and welcoming nature of the many people they have met so far and continue to meet.
Emcee: Connie Ramos Williams, CEO and Chief Marketing Officer for CONRIC PR & Marketing. Connie is the CEO and Chief Marketing Officer for CONRIC PR & Marketing and President ofCONRIC 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.Marketing
Sponsor Karen Hawes KB Spirits Designs, LLC Karen grew up in Pittsburgh, as a teen she dreamed of one day being able to design millinery and fashion. When she graduated from high school she had a scholarship to New York Fashion Institute but being from a single parent family it was not financially possible. She took other pathways until her retirement when she reinvented herself to fulfill her dream. Building a small business is challenging but extremely rewarding. She soon discovered that many of the fabrics and tools have changed over the years so she started learning an entire new industry and materials. She has studied at the Hat Academy in Australia, and has taken classes with award winning milliner’s Lina Stein, Wayne Witchern, Eugenie Van Oirschot and Waldred Reiner. She has created a studio in her home and spends many hours designing, creating millinery for weddings, and custom pieces. She also loves purchasing vintage hats and restoring them to a fine work of art. As a milliner Karen has connected with many internationally known milliners who have not only been an inspiration but encouraging her creative talents. Karen has competed Internationally and is participating in the Hats for Happiness Project Australia. This fall she will be one of 70 international milliners published in the Project “Chaos” benefitting and bringing awareness to the lack of mental health services worldwide. One of her customer reviews “The craftsmanship is excellent, the hat was made and shipped within a week of my order, and it looks and fits beautifullly!” (Etsy) “As I reflect on my prior work history I discovered that I was never happy unless I was creating something new, innovative and challenging. Now, I’m truly blessed with a wonderful husband, family and the ability to pursue my dream creating millinery wearable art.”
Non-Profit Alert!
Our sponsor KB Spirit Designs will be donating one of her beautiful internationlly knows hats that we all can bid on. The money raised will be given to one of our "member" non-profits that attend this meeting. All member non-profits who attend will be put in a raffle to have the opportunity to win! This is one of the ways we love to give back to our member non-profits!
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. Make it a great Years by being a part of the Above Board Chamber of Florida in 2016
Special thanks to our 2016 sponsors:
CONRIC PR & Marketing 
Fuller Onlind Solutions 
Charlie McDonald Photography 
This months newslettter is being sponsored by Sue Huff owner of E.Sue Huff and Associates
Register for the Lee County meeting on this button below!
Want to go to our Naples meeting which is Monday, July 11th at the Hilton?
Here is their link to RSVP http://tinyurl.com/jxnzkjw