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John Penna, 57, has suffered with colon cancer since the early 1990s. Most recently, John has developed a major bacterial infection caused by the extreme heat within his home. Despite his struggles, Penna maintained his construction business up until a few years ago. His health and mobility continued to worsen and the heat was contributing to his failing health.

The Penna family completed several repair jobs on the air conditioning unit over the past few years. However, two months ago when the unit went out again, the Penna family was in dire straits. With the recent loss of his job and rising medical bills, the Penna family could not afford the $2,000 in repairs needed to get the air conditioning going again. With John’s failing health, they could not afford to go without air conditioning either.

On July 9, volunteers sponsored by Builders Care, the charitable agency of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA), sent out a call for help to its BIA members. Almost immediately, a local community member stepped forward to offer a helping hand. Jim Glennon, president of Florida operations for Modern & Anderson Service for Home & Business, responded and in less than one week, the Penna residence had air conditioning. Modern & Anderson Service for Home & Business provided all of the labor and needed materials to make this happen.

“The residents of Southwest Florida have been very supportive of our company since 1965 so it’s the least we can do help give back,” said Jim Glennon of Modern & Anderson Service for Home & Business. “We are proud to be part of Lee County BIA and are grateful to be able to help whenever we can. Builders Cares helps us give back to our community, and we felt it was time to give back to them.”

“This is a great project for a man that served in the building industry for many years. It is great to see other companies looking out for others in our community,” said Heidi Taulman, executive director of Builders Care. “We are so thankful for the support of Modern & Anderson to be able to provide this service to a sick man in need.”

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. Builder’s 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, Fort Myers FL 33916. 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 Avenue in Fort Myers. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056.

For the fourth consecutive year, Stevens Construction has won Aurora Awards at the Southeast Builder’s Conference. The Aurora Awards honor the best in residential and commercial construction in a 12-state region. The company also was presented with a Grand Aurora Award, which recognizes the best project within an entire category.

In a ceremony held on July 24 in Orlando, Stevens Construction won an Aurora in the best healthcare division for the Surgery Center of Mount Dora. Located at 3710 Lake Center Drive, the project consisted of an 11,052-square-foot ambulatory surgery center featuring three operating rooms, a minor procedure room, pre- and post-operation beds and associate support services.

Stevens Construction also was awarded an Aurora Award within the best public works/environmental division for the Lee County EMS Hangar Facility. The 15,000-square-foot facility includes an aircraft hangar, offices and crew quarters for EMS flight operations. Located at Page Field Airport in Fort Myers, the hangar also features two apparatus bays for ground EMS vehicles. The project also won the distinguished Grand Aurora Award.

Entries were judged on design, quality of construction, unusual constraints, cost savings techniques and outstanding features.

Last year, the company took home an Aurora in the hospitality category for South Seas Island Resort Kid’s Pool and was also honored with the prestigious Grand Award within the hospitality category for the Captiva resort project.

Surgery Center of Mount Dora is the second Aurora Award that Stevens Construction has won within the healthcare category. In 2008, the company was presented with an Aurora for St. Mark’s Surgery Center.

In 2007, Stevens Construction won its first Aurora for the Lagoon Pools and Clubhouse at the Pointe, a project to restore the waterfront resort after damage from Hurricane Charley.

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 commercial, healthcare and hospitality facilities. For information, visit www.stevensconstructioninc.com or call 239-936-9006.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida will induct Dr. William Figlesthaler, managing partner/shareholder at Specialists in Urology, and Len Zaiser III, president, CEO and founder of Structure Medical, into the 2010 Business Hall of Fame, Collier County, at a dinner and awards ceremony Oct. 27 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. 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.

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

Figlesthaler started the small Naples urology group Specialists in Urology in 1997. Over the past 13 years, the practice has grown considerably to include 15 physicians, more than 250 employees and seven full service facilities from Fort Myers to Marco Island. The focus has been expanded to include surgery centers, radiation oncology centers and a clinical pathology lab. Currently, the practice provides Southwest Florida patients with the most advanced state-of-the-art technology and treatments for urological and other types of cancers. Specialists in Urology has an extensive clinical research department that participates in 15 to 20 clinical trials at any given time, which allows the practice to offer international cutting-edge treatments to patients even before they are available to the general population.

Supporting employees, through an exceptional benefits program, and giving back to the community are priorities for Figelsthaler. The Specialists in Urology team participates in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and supports organizations that help those suffering from abuse and breast cancer. The company is also a major sponsor of the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County. For seven years running, Specialists in Urology has provided free prostate cancer screenings with thousands of free exams and blood tests in Lee and Collier counties. They also lead the local chapters of both “Us Too International” and “Man to Man,” which are national prostate cancer educational and support groups.

Zaiser is a lifelong entrepreneur who has founded many companies within the medical device and aerospace industries and holds multiple patents for his inventions. He has been recognized for his unique engineering talent and creative ability using state-of-the-art precision machine tools and equipment. Currently, he is founder, president and CEO of Structure Medical LLC, a leading manufacturer of medical implant products that are used by orthopedic surgeons to treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use these medical devices to treat trauma, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, tumor and congenital conditions.

Zaiser founded the Naples-based company in 2004 and established a second facility in Mooresville, N.C. two years later. The company was quickly recognized and rewarded with significant market share due to its unique design and manufacturing ability, and today it is a top one-percent supplier to global industry leaders. Zaiser is also a philanthropist, giving back to the community through organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, Naples High School Academic Booster Club and The Community School of Naples.

Many Collier 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 local 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 of Southwest Florida, Inc. provides in-school and after-school programs for students in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties that focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Today, 126 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. If you would like to become a part of this thriving agency, contact the local office at 239-225-2590 or visit http://www.jaswfl.org/ on the Web.

Builders Care, the nonprofit arm of the Lee Building Industry Association, has completed another extreme home makeover in Fort Myers.

The recipient of the most recent extreme home makeover is Junior Florence, a 78-year-old man living in a small home off Edison Avenue. His 50-year-old, wood-framed home had an aging roof, rotting floors and no air conditioning. There were also no grab bars in the bathroom for stability. With help from a partnership through the State Housing Initiatives Program, hosted by the City of Fort Myers, and Builders Care building partners, the home received renovation services totaling more than $45,000, complete with the addition of air conditioning, new roof, floors, paint, kitchen, bathroom, fixtures and more.

“We are so fortunate to have such a giving community and volunteers always willing to help change someone’s life,” said Heidi Taulman, Builders Care executive director.

Local subcontractors contributing labor and material for the latest project include: Abash Enterprises, A-Rite Glass, Cabinets Plus, Cape Coral Plumbing, Cornerstone Construction, D.E. Moff Construction, D. Peck Roofing, Hide-Away Storage, JTE Electric, Mark’s Dumpsters, Murphy’s Handyman Services, Nilles Design, Gulfcoast Engineering, Raymond Building Supply, Sherwin Williams, Sunset Air, T&M Portable Restrooms, Totally Detailed Services and Renovations, TPI Aluminum, Universal Engineering, Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings and Westcoast Insulation.

Builders Care is the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee 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. Donations can be made to the Builders Care general fund at any Colonial Bank. For more information, call 239-938-0056 or visit http://www.leebuilderscare.org/.

The American Red Cross, Lee County Chapter honored Paul Sands, former senior advisor at VIP Realty, Commercial, with a Humanitarian Award at the organization’s annual luncheon on June 15.

The award, which was presented to VIP Realty, Commercial in memory of Paul Sands, was accepted by Sands’ successor and his former partner in life and business, Lisa Sands, as well as VIP Realty, Commercial advisors Kim Hudak and Mark Morris. The award recognizes Sands for serving as an inspiration to others and exemplifying the spirit of humanitarianism.  

“Paul cared about the community and was an avid supporter of organizations such as American Red Cross throughout his life,” said Lisa Sands, advisor and manager at VIP Realty, Commercial. “I was honored to accept this award on his behalf and know he would have been honored too.”

Sands passed away on April 14 after a year long battle with cancer, during which time he assisted the American Red Cross in finding a new business location and negotiating a lease. The American Red Cross moved into the new location at 7051 Cypress Terrace, Suite 110 on June 21.

 VIP Realty, Commercial provides a full range of real estate services for land, office, retail and industrial properties. Specialties include sales and acquisitions, 1031 exchanges, investments, retail and office site analysis, and market and financial feasibility studies. For more information about VIP Realty, Commercial, located at 13131 University Dr. in Fort Myers, call 239-489-3303 or visit http://www.vipcommercial.com/.

Mike Garland and JP Pencil, superintendents for Stevens Construction Inc., have earned their Healthcare Construction Certificate (HCC) from the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association.

The HCC program involves completing coursework and programs directly related to construction and renovation projects within the healthcare environment. Program curriculum includes risk management assessment, quality control, medical gas systems, life-safety code, infectious control planning and implementation. The certification demonstrates their understanding and knowledge of the latest compliance issues in healthcare construction and the expectations of owners, staff and patients.

Garland joined Stevens Construction in 2004 and has completed numerous projects for the Florida Hospital, including a 36-bed addition and a 50,000-square-foot medical office building and surgery center, both located on the Sebring campus.

A Stevens Construction superintendent since 2005, Pencil’s project experience includes South Seas Island Resort Kid’s Pool Complex, Florida Heart Associates Cath Lab renovation and the Builders Care Tanksley project, which earned him the Hearts and Hammers Award from the Lee BIA in 2009.

With offices in Fort Myers and Maitland, 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 health care, commercial, public and hospitality facilities. For information, visit http://www.stevensconstructioninc.com or call 239-936-9006.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) assistant project manager Abel Natali has earned his state of Florida general contractor license.

Natali graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and business administration from the University of Florida. He joined O-A-K in 2006 as a job site superintendent on the $80 million Marco Marriott Resort and Spa renovation. Abel was promoted to assistant project manager in 2007 and continues to work in that capacity at O-A-K’s Punta Gorda office. He is a LEED^® accredited professional through the United States Green Building Council and was a part of the team assisting Charlotte County Public Schools with LEED certification of the first elementary school in Florida, the first Silver-level certified elementary school in Florida, and the first LEED for Schools Silver-level certified elementary school in the Southeastern United States.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build, and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982. O-A-K’s Florida operation is an affiliate of its parent company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Florida operation has offices in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. Its Charlotte County office is located at 1877 Manzana Avenue in Punta Gorda. Learn more about O-A-K at http://www.owen-ames-kimball.com/.

Duke Eye Center has reappointed Dr. Alexander M. Eaton of Retina Health Center as a consulting associate in the department of ophthalmology, a role he has served since 1999.

The Duke Eye Center, part of the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., is a world-class eye care and research center, which specializes in the treatment of blinding eye diseases such as macular degeneration. The Duke Eye Center was recently ranked one of the top 10 ophthalmology hospitals in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

Eaton, an alumnus of Duke University School of Medicine, is a well-known macular degeneration expert. He has won numerous honors and awards for his research and service, holds a number of patents on surgical devices, and authored See Again! Reversing and Preventing Macular Degeneration, published by Random House Company.  

Retina Health Center and the Macular Degeneration Research Center were established in 2002 by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton, a long-time Southwest Florida resident who has been practicing ophthalmology in Lee and Collier counties for more than 13 years. Eaton has been the principal investigator for numerous studies to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For more information on the latest studies or to make an appointment, call 239-337-3337 in Fort Myers or 239-793-5200 in Naples, or visit http://www.retinahealthcenter.com/.

Every week, more than 100 of our nation’s youth die as a result of suicide. To provide educators, law enforcement, youth leaders and anyone who works closely with young people with the tools and resources to recognize the warning signs and identify at-risk behavior, the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition will present a free suicide prevention training seminar on July 21 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the United Way, 7275 Concourse Dr. in Fort Myers.

Designed for those working with youth in grades seven through 12, “A Promise for Tomorrow” is presented by Melissa Krone, an expert on suicide prevention from the University Behavioral Center and the Jason Foundation, a nationally recognized, not-for-profit provider of educational curriculums and training programs for students, educators, youth workers and parents. Krone will give guidance on the following topics:

-Recognizing the warning signs of depression or suicide risk

-Identifying at-risk behavior and elevated risk groups

-Finding resources to help a depressed or suicidal student

“This seminar focuses on the relationships and interactions that exist between adult leaders and youth and how to recognize the warning signs for depression and suicide,” says Syndi Bultman, chairperson of the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition. “Anyone who works closely with young people cannot afford to miss ‘A Promise for Tomorrow.’”

If you plan to attend the free seminar or would like more information, call Bultman at 239-336-6797 to reserve a seat. Space is limited.

The Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition has been working to prevent injuries in Lee County since 1995 under the auspices of the Lee County Health Department. Today the group is comprised of more than 80 different health and safety agencies and experts. The coalition is a multi-disciplinary cooperative of private and public partners that include fire and rescue agencies, emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies, hospital outreach programs, health agencies, and public and private schools. This strong partnership provides increased resources, efficiency, and consistent delivery of unified safety messages to the public. For more information, visit http://leecountyinjuryprevention.org/.

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida announces the members of its 2010 Business Hall of Fame, Collier County, Advisory Board. The chair is Craig Sherman, executive vice president/chief loan officer of EverBank.

Other members selected to this year’s board include: Lisa Barnett Van Dien, attorney with Cheffy Passidomo, P.A.; Wilma Boyd, president/CEO of Preferred Travel of Naples; Carleton Case, vice president, business development of Brown & Brown Benefits; Clay W. Cone, president of Cone Communications Company; Kristin Conroy, attorney with Conroy, Conroy & Durrant; John English, PE, vice president/principal of WilsonMiller Inc.; Carl Howes, vice president/controller of Pachira Company; Dr. Paul Jones of Dr. Paul Jones, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.; Jerry F. Nichols, executive vice president of Brown & Brown Benefits; David Port, senior vice president of Northern Trust Bank; Katie Sproul, vice president of real estate for Barron Collier Companies; and Len Zaiser IV, senior vice president and general manager of Structure Medical LLC.

The advisory board selects laureates for the 2010 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, Collier County, which recognizes individuals who have served as positive role models and have made significant contributions to the local business community. The 2010 Business Hall of Fame, Collier County event will take place October 27 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort.

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.