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Stevens Construction Inc. has started renovation of the catheterization lab at the Florida Hospital Heart and Vascular Center, announced Mark Stevens, company president.

Located on the Sebring campus of the Florida Hospital Heartland Division, the renovation includes an upgrade to Philips Allura equipment providing state-of-the-art image quality, while allowing the center to accommodate additional emergency heart procedures.  Slated for completion in spring of 2010, the facility will remain in operation during construction.

Designed by HuntonBrady Architects, this project will be inspected and licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), which ensures regulatory compliance for health care facilities throughout Florida.  

Christopher Cooke of Stevens Construction is the project manager; Mike Garland is superintendent; and Terri Sobeck is project administrator.

Stevens Construction has completed more than 15 projects for various campuses of the Florida Hospital. The company built a 36-bed, 50,000-square-foot expansion and remodeled a free-standing medical office on the hospital’s Sebring campus.

With offices in Maitland and Fort Myers, Fla., Stevens Construction specializes in providing construction management, general contracting, and consulting services to clients and design professionals. Other services include site and design team selection, budgeting, project scheduling, permitting, cost and quality control, and warranty service. The company builds commercial, healthcare and hospitality facilities. For information, visit http://www.stevensconstructioninc.com/ or call 239-936-9006.

After nearly two years of trying to get pregnant, a diagnosis of endometriosis brought hope to Jennifer and Joseph Ariola of Fort Myers. After meeting with Dr. Craig R. Sweet, a reproductive endocrinologist and medical director of Specialists in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, the couple learned that Ariola was among the 30 to 40 percent of infertile women who have endometriosis.

“After struggling so long and not knowing the cause of our infertility, we were so hopeful to finally have an explanation and treatment options,” says Ariola. “It’s often a silent disease and many women, including myself, are unaware that they have it until they try for years unsuccessfully to have a baby. That’s why awareness is so important.”

National Endometriosis Awareness Month is an annual event to raise awareness about the disease, its symptoms, treatments and ongoing research. One of the leading causes of female infertility, endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease in which the cells from the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grow outside the uterus and spread to other areas such as the pelvis and ovaries. The resulting damage can block the reproductive organs, in some cases preventing conception. In addition, chemical secretions from the endometriosis itself may interfere with fertility by harming eggs, sperm and embryos.The most common symptoms of endometriosis are pelvic pain, painful intercourse and painful periods. For many women, the pain of endometriosis is so severe and debilitating that it impacts their lives in significant ways. Yet once diagnosed, the condition is potentially treatable. 

“The only way to be sure a woman has endometriosis is to perform a surgical procedure called a laparoscopy that allows us look inside the pelvic cavity with a narrow telescope,” says Sweet. “Treatment is individualized for each patient and depends on several factors such as the severity and stage of the disease, its precise location, the woman’s age and the presence of pain or other symptoms. The good news is that 80 to 90 percent of the patients will have an improvement of their symptoms for up to a year following surgery. Depending on the stage of the disease, the chances of becoming pregnant also increase for most patients following treatment of the disease.”

After Sweet surgically removed the pelvic endometriosis and a polyp found within Ariola’s uterus, the couple tried to conceive naturally. Another six months passed without success and they found themselves back in Sweet’s office to discuss further treatment.

“Following diagnosis and treatment, about one-third of the women with endometriosis achieve pregnancy naturally,” says Sweet. “In some cases, however, ovulation induction combined with intra-uterine insemination or in vitro fertilization may be the next best steps with superb success rates.”

“Dr. Sweet shared with us the statistics, we discussed our chances and he offered us solutions,” says Ariola. “We opted for in vitro fertilization, a process during which my eggs were removed and harvested with my husband’s sperm. We then implanted our two embryos and fortunately, it worked on our first try. Last month, I gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl! As I hold my babies in my arms, I can honestly say it was all worth it.”

Specialists in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, P.A. is a reproductive endocrinology practice providing comprehensive and compassionate reproductive endocrine care including IVF, preimplantation genetic implantation diagnosis (PGD), egg donation, embryo donation, gestational surrogacy, conventional surrogacy, cryopreservation of ovarian/testicular cells/tissues, sex selection, gynecology, genetics, endocrinology as well as menopausal diagnostic and treatment services.For more information, visit www.dreamababy.com. Become a fan of Dr. Sweet on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

In last month’s blog, we emphasized the importance of photography as part of your media tool kit. Professional photography is ideal, but it isn’t always practical so we’d like to offer some tips for the non-professional photographers within your company who may find themselves responsible for capturing images that will appropriately represent your brand.

First of all, we’d like to suggest appointing a staff photographer for a couple of reasons. Specifically assigning this duty ensures someone is responsible and accountable for having the camera charged and ready. They should be responsible for asking the question, “Do we need photos of this event, person, meeting, etc.?”

Practice makes perfect and over time your staff photographer will become practiced at using the camera to achieve better and better images. Reading the owners manual is also an important step since cameras vary in their features, settings and icons. Fortunately, today’s high quality digital cameras, when used properly, do most of the work. Here are a few additional pointers to enhance results:

A Heads Up on Composition
Great photographers spend years perfecting their sense of composition, but the first step is just becoming aware of everything in the shot. Most of us have taken a really nice photo of someone only to realize later that there was a palm frond, lamp post or door jam directly in alignment with the top of their head. That’s just one example of a common problem with composition. The solution is for the photographer to develop a new habit of looking beyond the subject of the photo and actually seeing the background as well. Often a different angle or slight change of location will improve a photo greatly. Remember to pause and think about the composition of the photo and search the background for unwanted images before snapping your final shot.

Lighting the Way
Lighting is another major component of photography. Even with the best flash, photographers should plan carefully for the best lighting. If possible, plan outdoor photo sessions for the early morning or late afternoon. With the mid-day sun directly overhead, it is difficult to overcome the shadows that will naturally form. If you are planning to shoot a stationary object that can’t be moved, such as a building, choose a time when the sun is shining onto the façade. For example, a westward facing building should be photographed in the afternoon when the sun is in the west. In the morning, the sun will be behind the building in the east, casting it in shadow. Know the settings on your camera, and don’t be afraid to try different lighting options indoors. Often turning off florescent lights and turning on your camera’s flash will produce a more flattering outcome.

How to Pose
Not everyone feels natural in front of the camera, and it is the photographer’s job to coach the subject in the art of posing. If the subject is staring into bright sunlight, congratulate yourself on choosing good lighting, but it may cause them to blink a lot. Ask the subject to close their eyes and then open them on the count of three when you shoot. Encourage them to sit up straight. Is their head tilted too far up, or maybe it’s too far down? Be their mirror and look at every detail, from the way their clothing rumples to the way their feet are positioned. Success lies in avoiding unflattering details like stiffly crossed arms, a crooked tie or stray hairs.

Try Try Again
Photographers often feel rushed. The people in the photo are busy with other business priorities, ready to get back to the food and dancing at an event, or simply tired of posing. However, that’s exactly why you should keep trying until you get the photo you need. Once this photo opportunity gets away from you, there may not be another one. The best photographers engage the subject in the process. They put them at ease by making them laugh and explain why they want a few more shots. Make it clear you want to make them look good, and they are more likely to cooperate. Check the preview of each shot before taking another so you can correct composition, lighting and any other issues to get the best photo possible.

Stevens Construction Inc. has completed the renovations at Premier Surgery Center of Sarasota for Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America,  announced Mark Stevens, company president.

Construction entailed a renovation of 20 rooms within the existing facility, located at 983 Beneva Road in Sarasota. Modifications included the reconstruction of restroom facilities and various restorative enhancements. Stevens Construction also expanded the administrative office area and provided improvements to the lobby and waiting room. Two stage-two recovery rooms were also added to the surgery center, which remained in operation during construction. 

Christopher Cooke of Stevens Construction served as the project manager; Pete Garcia was the superintendent; and Terri Sobeck was project administrator. Robert DeVries of Hardaway Associates designed the project. 

With offices in Maitland and Fort Myers, Stevens Construction specializes in providing construction management, general contracting and consulting services to clients and design professionals. Other services include site and design team selection, budgeting, project scheduling, permitting, cost and quality control and warranty service. The company builds healthcare, commercial and hospitality facilities. For information, visit http://www.stevensconstructioninc.com/ or call 239-936-9006.

Gora/McGahey Architects was honored by the Fire Industry Equipment Research Organization (F.I.E.R.O.) for its design of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District’s Station 32. Gora/McGahey was the only Florida firm to earn the international recognition.

The nonprofit group, which primarily serves fire safety professionals in the Southeast, presented Gora/McGahey Architects with an award for the new three-story, 12,290-square-foot fire station located on Fort Myers Beach. The station includes a ground floor with three apparatus bays, bunker gear storage and a laundry/decontamination room; a second floor with living quarters, including six individual bunk rooms, an exercise room and a radio room; and a third-floor emergency operations center with offices, an open work station area and meeting/training facilities.

For the past 28 years, Gora/McGahey Architects has been Southwest Florida’s leading architectural design firm. Earning recognition from the Florida Southwest American Institute of Architects, The Florida Home Builders Association and the Lee County Building Industry Association, the firm has provided award-winning architectural and interior design services for a broad range of clients in the public and private sectors, including several leading area developers. For more information, call 239-275-0225 or visit http://www.gora-mcgahey.com/

Sun Splash Family Waterpark opens for the 2010 season on March 13. The Cape Coral water park is home to more than 14 acres of attractions for visitors of all ages including the Main Stream River Tube Ride, Electric Slide, Power Surge, Cape Fear and a tot spot for small children. More adventurous visitors will enjoy three heart-pounding speed slides, the Thunder Bump, Terror Tube and X-celerator.

“We are looking forward to another exciting season at Sun Splash and are pleased to offer affordable family fun to be enjoyed all season long,” said Michael Kalvort, Deputy Director of the City of Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department.

Sun Splash will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March 13 through March 28. The waterpark will be open every day the week of April 1-11 for Lee County Public Schools’ spring break, then three days a week (Friday-Sunday) until schools dismiss for summer break in mid-June. The park will be open seven days a week from June 16 until Aug. 22 and open Saturdays and Sundays August 23 through Sept. 26. Details about this year’s operating schedule are posted at www.SunSplashWaterpark.com.

“Early Bird” season passes are available through April 11 and offer savings up to 29 percent over regular season pass prices. Early Bird season passes are $49-$59 for Cape Coral residents and $69-$79 for non-residents through April 11. A list of season pass benefits is available online.

Sun Splash Family Waterpark is Southwest Florida’s largest waterpark with more than 14 acres of slides, pools, food and fun for all ages. It is located at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., just 2.5 miles north of Veterans Parkway in Cape Coral, Fla., and is open March through September. Sun Splash is owned and operated by the City of Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department. For hours, ticket information and directions to the park, visit the Sun Splash Web site at http://www.sunsplashwaterpark.com/ or call 239-574-0558. Also, follow Sun Splash online on Facebook or twitter.com/sunsplashcc for park information and exclusive discounts.

BB&T has donated $2,500 to help the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA) Builders Care program provide free home repairs to disadvantage Lee County residents.

Bob Bassett, BB&T senior vice president, also serves as president on the Builders Care board of directors.

“This donation demonstrates BB&T’s ongoing commitment to the community and the building industry,” said Heidi Taulman, Builders Care executive director. “We are so grateful for the company’s continued support.”

Builders Care is the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA). Its objective is to provide emergency repairs and construction services to elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged people who are unable to obtain home repairs through traditional means. Builders Care enlists the volunteer services of Lee BIA members and leverages grants and donated materials to provide construction and remodeling services to qualified homeowners throughout Lee County. Most recent top corporate sponsors include Armadillo Underground and Real Estate Investment Society. Builders Care is headquartered at the Lee BIA offices at 4210 Metro Parkway, Suite 100 in Fort Myers. Donations can be made online at http://www.leebuilderscare.org/, or to the Builders Care general fund at BB&T (formerly Colonial Bank) Page Field branch at 4959 South Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056.

Tickets and sponsorships now are available for Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s 2010 Business Hall of Fame, Lee County. The dinner and awards ceremony will take place May 5 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Estero.

At the event, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida (JA) will induct Jim Nathan, president of Lee Memorial Health System, and Tom Uhler, a founding principal of Uhler and Vertich Financial Planners into the Business Hall of Fame. The prestigious award recognizes prominent business leaders for their professional accomplishments and commitment to the community.

Gold sponsorships are available for $5,000, while silver and bronze sponsorships are $1,650 and $850 respectively. Each sponsorship level offers a variety of benefits designed to provide sponsors with exposure in the business community. In addition, student sponsorships are available at the cost of $125 per ticket. By attending the event, students have a first-hand opportunity to practice business etiquette skills and interact with local professionals.

Individual seats are $250. Half-page advertisements for the event program book are $500. All proceeds benefit JA programs. To sponsor the event or purchase tickets, call the Junior Achievement office at 239-225-2590.

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students that focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Today, 138 individual area operations reach four million students in the United States, with an additional five million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. For more information, contact the local office at 239-225-2590 or visit http://www.jaswfl.org/ on the Web.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida will induct Jim Nathan, president of Lee Memorial Health System, and Tom Uhler, a founding principal of Uhler and Vertich Financial Planners, into the 2010 Business Hall of Fame, Lee County, at a dinner and awards ceremony on May 5 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Estero. The prestigious award recognizes prominent business leaders who are outstanding entrepreneurs and serve as role models for youth through their professional accomplishments and commitment to the community.

Nathan and Uhler will join a distinguished group of individuals who have been inducted into the Business Hall of Fame since it was founded in 1987.

After a six-year career selling cars in his family’s automobile business and serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, Nathan earned master’s degrees from Xavier University and moved to Lee County to begin a one-year residency at Lee Memorial Hospital. Upon completion of his residency, he was offered the position of vice president at Lee Memorial Hospital and went on to become president and CEO in 1981. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a single hospital to a large system of acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a skilled nursing facility, home health services, outpatient facilities and physician group practices. Nathan left the company in 1997 to provide leadership consulting and pursue interests in national healthcare reform, including testimony before the U.S. Senate. He returned to Lee Memorial Health System in 2000 and continues to serve as president. Nathan holds a bachelor’s degree from Miami University and master’s degrees in business administration and health care administration from Xavier University. Nathan is a leader in professional organizations such as Hospital Safety Net Alliance of Florida, Florida Hospital Association, VHA-Southeast and American College of Healthcare Executives. He serves the community as a board member for Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, American Heart Association of Lee County, Southwest Florida Community Foundation, Coalition for a Drug-Free Lee County and The American Red Cross of Lee County.  Most recently, he was named in Gulfshore Life magazine’s “Men and Women of the Decade” and received the title “A Champion of the Movement” by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee.

A 30-year veteran of the financial services profession and a member of the Financial Planning Association, Uhler is founding principal of Uhler and Vertich Financial Planners, an independent firm specializing in comprehensive estate, financial, retirement and investment planning for successful families. This entrepreneur also founded The Wine Merchant in Fort Myers and is a member of the Society of Wine Educators. A frequent speaker on financial planning, investments and food and wine, Uhler is frequently called upon by local media as a resource for stories on food, vintner’s specialities and wine collecting. Uhler holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Susquehanna University. A resident of Sanibel Island since 1977, Uhler has been an active community leader, serving on the boards for organizations such as Kiwanis Club of Sanibel-Captiva Islands, Good Neighbor Community Foundation of Sanibel-Captiva, Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Association, United Way of Lee County and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). He has a special interest in assisting nonprofit organizations with planned giving efforts and has helped a number of Lee County groups identify, educate and establish long term relationships with donors. He is a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association, a former Cub master and serves on the Council Executive Board and Endowment Investment Committee of the Southwest Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Many Lee County students involved with Junior Achievement will attend the Hall of Fame event, where they can interact with local professionals and practice their etiquette skills. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the event are now available. Proceeds benefit Junior Achievement programs. For event tickets and sponsorship information, call the Junior Achievement office at 239-225-2590.

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Today, 138 individual area operations reach four million students in the United States, with an additional five million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. For more information, contact the local office at 239-225-2590, or visit http://www.jaswfl.org/ on the Web.

With the March 13 opening day fast approaching, season passes to Sun Splash Family Waterpark are on sale now. “Early Bird” season passes offer savings up to 29 percent over regular season pass prices and are the most affordable way for budget-conscious families to enjoy the park all season long.

Prior to the park opening on March 13, season passes are on sale at the Sun Splash Administration Building, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on three Saturdays, Feb. 20, Feb. 27 and March 6. After the park re-opens, season passes will be on sale 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and weekends during normal park hours. Early Bird season pass prices are valid through April 11.

 “We encourage season pass holders to purchase their passes before opening day on Saturday, March 13, so they can begin enjoying the park right away,” said Michael Kalvort, Deputy Director of the City of Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department. “We are very excited about the season pass benefits we are offering this season, and hope Cape Coral and Lee County residents take advantage of the Early Bird savings.”

Season pass benefits include unlimited park entrance all season; discounted parking; 15 percent off at the Calypso Cafe, ice cream shop and gift shop; 15 percent off same day guest tickets; and exclusive special offers and discounts throughout the season. This year, season pass holders will redeem discounts by swiping their season pass instead of using printed coupons. The full list of season pass benefits is available online at www.SunSplashWaterpark.com.

Sun Splash will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March 13 through March 28. The waterpark will be open every day the week of April 1-11 for Lee County Public Schools’ spring break, then three days a week (Friday-Sunday) until schools dismiss for summer break in mid-June. Details about this year’s operating schedule are posted at http://www.sunsplashwaterpark.com/.

Sun Splash Family Waterpark is Southwest Florida’s largest waterpark with more than 14 acres of slides, pools, food and fun for all ages. It is located at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., just 2.5 miles north of Veterans Parkway in Cape Coral, Fla., and is open March through September. Sun Splash is owned and operated by the City of Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department. For hours, ticket information and directions to the park, visit the Sun Splash Web site at http://www.sunsplashwaterpark.com/ or call 239-574-0558. Also, follow Sun Splash online on Facebook or twitter.com/sunsplashcc for park information and exclusive discounts.