January Note from the Chair
Date Posted: 12/22/2009
January 2010
A note from the Chairperson
of ABL
Rochelle Cherniawski
Communications Coordinator
Shell Point Retirement Community
I’m pleased to report that 2009 was a great year for ABL. We welcomed an impressive list of notable speakers, including Lydia Black from the Alliance for the Arts, Pason Gaddis of Florida Weekly, Gavin Riches of AutoQuest, Scott Fischer of Harley Davidson, and Courtney Jones of Blu Sushi, just to name a few. We also had our share of fun with a Wii tournament, a lesson in crime prevention, virtual golf demonstrations, and more. Needless to say, the bar is set pretty high for 2010. Fortunately, we are up for the challenge!
ABL will be kicking off the New Year in style at Hotel Indigo in downtown Fort Myers. Please plan to join us at Hotel Indigo on Tuesday, January 12, to hear from a very special guest speaker and to network with the Advancing Business Leaders who are shaping Lee County.
As we look forward to continued growth and success in 2010, we hold true to our mission of promoting the professional and personal development of Advancing Business Leaders through educational activities, community involvement, and networking. With an impressive array of influential speakers and programs lined up for the year, ABL remains an ideal environment for any professional to expand their business education and increase their community involvement.
For more information about
ABL, or to register for the January event, visit the Chamber website
at www.fortmyers.org. You can also keep up with ABL on
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/
See you at Hotel Indigo!
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December note from the Chairperson of ABL
Date Posted: 11/17/2009
ABL attendees were in “hawg heaven” during the November event at Harley Davidson of Fort Myers. The evening was packed with power, chrome, leather, and speed… not to mention the thrill of networking with advancing business leaders who are shaping Lee County.
We were honored to hear from Scott Fischer, the owner of Harley Davidson of Fort Myers and Naples, who shared five lessons that have helped him maintain the success of his company and position it for even greater growth. Scott revealed that it is important to:
1) Remember
where you came from
2) Always
ask for help
3) Provide
exceptional customer experience
4) Provide
exceptional employee experience
5) Plan
forward and think forward
As Scott explained, those five lessons can be
applied to any business. We truly appreciate and value his advice.
In December, we’ll be postponing our usual ABL meeting so we can all join in the fun of the Chamber Holiday Party! Plan to be at The Verandah in downtown Fort Myers on Tuesday, December 8 to mix and mingle with the who’s who of Fort Myers. It promises to be the best networking event of the entire year. And you can’t beat the delicious appetizers, salads, carving station, deserts, and, of course, drinks.
For more information, or to register for the Chamber Holiday Party, visit www.fortmyers.org. And remember, you can always keep up with ABL on Facebook at www.facebook.com/advancingbusinessleaders.
Rochelle Cherniawski
Communications Coordinator
Shell Point Retirement Community<< Go Back
September Note from the Chair
Date Posted: 09/11/2009
September was an exciting month for ABL. I suppose that comes as no surprise. There’s always something interesting happening with the ABL group. The September event was held at AutoQuest, where the Owner and Rally Race Driver, Gavin Riches, spoke about his experience of turning his passion for premium vehicles into a successful career.
Seasoned ABL attendees, as well as a large group of first-timers, learned some valuable advice from the auto and racing enthusiast. Gavin shared that, when it comes to business, it is important to “make decisions based on financial results and not emotions.” And when it comes to racing, it is vital to “be consistent, be fast, and don’t crash!” Throughout the event, ABL attendees had the opportunity to network alongside Ferraris, Aston Martins, Porsches, Bentleys, and other awe-inspiring vehicles.
But that wasn’t all of the excitement ABL saw in September. The September issue of Gulfshore Business recognized five ABL members in their list of the top 40 under 40. Congratulations to Lydia Black, Executive Director of the Lee County Alliance for the Arts; Michael Briers, Partner and Certified Public Accountant with Briers CPA, P.A.; Michael Cherniawski, Director of Florida Operations for MLSonline.com; Angela Schivinski, Business Development with the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce; and Heidi Taulman, Executive Director of Lee BIA Builders Care. Pick up a copy of the September issue of Gulfshore Business to learn more about these rising stars.
As we transition into fall, we are looking forward to our next meeting at BLU Sushi in the Gulf Coast Town Center on Tuesday, October 13. Don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy a little slice of “Blutopia.”
To register for the event,
visit the Chamber website at http://www.fortmyers.org. You can also keep up with ABL by
joining the Facebook fan page at Advancing Business Leaders.
Have a wonderful month, and we’ll see you on the 13th!
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Note From the Chair
Date Posted: 08/13/2009
Q: What do you get when you mix golf therapy with crime prevention?
A: An ABL event to remember.
The August Advancing Business Leaders (ABL) event was held at Apex Golf, a unique rehabilitation facility offering golfers of every skill level the opportunity to utilize an HD simulator to analyze their swing and play their favorite course. Some event attendees stepped up to the tee for a friendly competition to see who could achieve the longest drive. And while the golf equipment was certainly enticing, there was much more to the event.
The excitement continued with an informative and very entertaining presentation about crime prevention, including the true benefits of commonly marketed protection devices. Surprisingly, many of the items designed to secure your safety are more valuable when used as a paper weight. Fortunately, the presentation included multiple tips and strategies for enhancing personal protection.
Following the success and energy of the August event, many attendees began to wonder…
Q: How are they going to follow an event that offered both golf therapy and crime prevention?
The ABL committee determined one clear solution…
A: Continue the excitement with exotic cars and personal passion!
On September 8, the ABL crowd will gather at AutoQuest, where Owner and Rally Race Driver Gavin Riches will show off his impressive inventory of “really cool cars” and share his personal experience of turning his passion for premium vehicles into a successful career. It’s never too late to turn your dreams and passions into a career! In addition to the hot cars and inspirational career advice, you’ll also enjoy cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres, and networking with a diverse group of Advancing Business Leaders shaping
To register for the event, visit the Chamber website at www.formyers.org. You can also stay connected with ABL through Facebook by becoming a fan of “Advancing Business Leaders (ABL).”
See you on the 8th!
Rochelle Cherniawski
2009 – 2010 ABL Chairperson
Communications Coordinator
Shell Point Retirement Community
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August Note from the Chair
Date Posted: 08/01/2009
We beat the heat in July with a cool summer celebration at Hotel Indigo in Downtown Fort Myers. We kicked-off the celebration by giving Chris Black, the outgoing chairperson of ABL, a proper send-off before the gavel was officially passed my way. The event was set in the stylish lounge of Hotel Indigo, and included entertainment by Heather Brooks, an immensely talented local singer/songwriter. A Wii tournament added to the fun, offering ABL goers the opportunity to flaunt their virtual rock star status or show off their Wii gaming skills. Some event attendees even embraced the complete Hotel Indigo experience by taking advantage of special room rates offered to the ABL crowd. With the successful summer celebration behind us, we look forward to the August event featuring an interesting mix of golf therapy and crime prevention. The location for the August event, Apex Golf, offers the latest and greatest technology, along with physical therapists and golf professionals, to help golf enthusiasts take their game to the next level. Golf, however, is not the sole focus of the event – sorry golfers. We’ll also be taking a bite out of crime with an informative and entertaining presentation about crime prevention. You will learn valuable information on how to protect yourself and stay safe. We hope to see you at Apex Golf on Tuesday, August 11. First time attendees and returning visitors are always welcome to join in the fun. You’ll be glad you came! For more information about ABL, check us out on the Chamber website or become a fan of Advancing Business Leaders (ABL) on Facebook. Rochelle Cherniawski 2009 – 2010 ABL Chairperson Communications Coordinator Shell Point Retirement Community
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Looking to the future of ABL
Date Posted: 07/01/2009
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Benzing Technologies raises the bar for ABL
Date Posted: 07/14/2008
With the latest release of our newly developed website we are pround to present to the local community a resource online to help develop, attract and retain talented business leaders for Lee County by providing a forum for forward thinking, forward moving young business leaders to increase their sphere of influence and advance their careers. The website highlights several areas of interest for any affluent entrepreneur. An interactive Gallery featuring our latest events, A resource library to educate and influence our minds, Job links to our Greater Fort Myers Chamber website, and meeting times for all our ABL events. We would like to thank Benzing Technologies for bringing our online presence to life.
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