Karen Moore

For 10 years, Skyplex at the regional airport in Fort Myers has been heralded as a commercial zone that would change the region. To date, only a few office buildings by major players have been built there. Karen Moore reports on the latest updates provided by the head of commercial real estate firm Cushman Wakefield.

The Lee County Long-Term Recovery Task Force hosted 19 community townhalls to hear directly from citizens on what the county could have done better to withstand and recover from Hurricane Ian. Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane shared the purpose of the task force with a group from the Southwest Florida Chamber of Commerce.

"Since I own and run a small business AND my small business’ main focus is to serve other local small business owners, I love the month of May, because it’s “Salute To Small Business” month." Karen Moore shares the results of the Florida Small Business Development Council Awards for 2023.

A popular part of the Edison Awards is the Young Edison Challenge, which is open to students from around the world. Out of the 60 applications, two Naples high school students were winners for their innovations: one received a bronze medal, the other was named a "Game Changer" for its global impact.

Karen Moore, publisher of Southwest Florida Business Today, recently spent time talking with innovators at the Edison Awards in Fort Myers. Torrey Smith, the inventor of Pillbot was on the top of her list.

Executive Director Frank Bonafilia has described the recent 36th annual international Edison Awards as the Oscar awards for the field of innovation. Named for the pre-eminent innovator and 40-year Fort Myers resident Thomas Edison, the event is in its third year, and will be returning to Fort Myers for the next 5 years.

Lee County Economic Development Director John Talmage spoke at a recent real estate gathering and shared how much Hurricane Ian affected Lee County's growth pace.

At a recent gathering of business owners and entrepreneurs, the guest speakers were family members of Ray Lutgert. Lutgert began his commercial real estate development business nearly 50 years ago, starting with the Park Shore planned unit community in Naples. When Lutgert died in 2010 at the age of 90, his legacy has been continued by his children and grandchildren.

Hodges University and a Naples company is hoping to start an innovative business hub similar to Silicon Valley and the Research Triangle. Hodges and LabX introduced a new program they believe will accelerate entrepreneurialism in Southwest Florida.

Fort Myers mayor Kevin Anderson provided an overall economic update for local commercial real estate professionals. For him, the prognosis looks positive.