Trending
Talmage to speak at REIS meeting Jan. 13
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Real Estate Investment Society will hear from John Talmage, director of the Lee County Economic Development Office, who will introduce the newest businesses and industries coming to Southwest Florida.
Talmage has more than 20 years' experience in city government and economic development and has developed a national reputation as a leader in innovative practices by pairing better information with capital development to create new approaches for economic development in underserved communities across the country. Talmage has spent his career working in economic development for both municipal governments and research organizations.
This REIS luncheon, sponsored by LSI Companies, will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m. in the Osprey Room at Pelican Preserve's Clubhouse, on Treeline Avenue at Colonial Boulevard, one mile east of I-75, exit 136, in Fort Myers.
Tickets are $30 for members and $45 for non-members. Reservations are required by Friday, Jan. 9.
For more information or to register, visit reis-swfl.org.
Record number of passengers travel through RSW during October
During October, 774,689 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers. This was an increase of 18% compared to October 2024 and was the best October in the history of the airport. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 1.4%.
The traffic leader in October was Delta with 171,055 passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (163,266), United (120,101), American (106,602) and JetBlue (67,561).
Southwest Florida International Airport had 7,230 aircraft operations, a 4% decrease compared to October 2024.
Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 11 million passengers in 2024 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction. For more information, visit flylcpa.com or facebook.com/flyRSW.
Smith named Attorney of the Year
Christopher Smith, co-managing partner at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith P.A. has been named Attorney of the Year by the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
The ABOTA, founded in 1958, is an organization dedicated to defending the American civil justice system. With a membership of more than 7,300 experienced attorneys representing both plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases, ABOTA promotes the value of the constitutionally mandated jury system as the protector of the rights of individuals and property.
The Attorney of the Year award for the Southwest Florida chapter is a local award that recognizes an attorney for outstanding work and commitment to excellence in advocacy. Honorees demonstrate a distinguished career, a superb reputation for high ethics and fair play, an outstanding recent case result, and meaningful service to ABOTA while exemplifying its ideals.
Smith was given the award at the chapter's annual Judicial Appreciation Dinner and Award Ceremony on Oct. 30 at The Club at Grandezza in Estero.
Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith P.A. is a personal injury firm representing those injured by the wrongdoing of others in Southwest Florida since 1962. The firm's experienced attorneys are board certified by the Florida Bar, and areas of practice include personal injury and accidents, trip, slip and fall, premises liability, wrongful death, motorcycle and truck accidents, wills, and estate planning and administration.
With offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres and Port Charlotte, attorneys can be reached by calling 239-500-HURT or visiting JusticeStartsNow.com.