BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/New_York X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/New_York BEGIN:VEVENT UID:1917@aboveboardchamber.com DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250612T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250612T130000 DTSTAMP:20250604T153923Z URL:https://www.aboveboardchamber.com/events/fort-myers-lessons-from-the-t op-how-great-entrepreneurs-built-their-success/ SUMMARY:Fort Myers: Lessons from the Top: How Great Entrepreneurs Built The ir Success DESCRIPTION:This month's Above Board Chamber meetings will shines a light o n the real-world journeys of some of Southwest Florida’s most accomplish ed entrepreneurs and business leaders. This dynamic discussion will uncove r how each panelist turned early obstacles into opportunities\, made bold decisions to grow their companies\, and stayed true to their mission while adapting to change. You'll walk away with practical insights\, inspiratio n\, and tools to elevate your own business or professional path.?\n\nFort Myers: Lessons from the Top: How Great Entrepreneurs Built Their Success!\ n\nThursday\, June 12th at the DoubleTree By Hilton Fort Myers at the Bell Tower Shops\nPanel discussion (11:30 to 1:00) ? \;\nOptional Mini Wor kshop (1:00 PM – 1:30 PM)\n \;Sponsors:\n\n William M Blevin\,  \; \; \;Gulf Coast Business Bank\n Peter Ocsody\, PhD\,. \;Pr ogram Director\, \;Daveler Institute of Entrepeneurship at Florida Sou thWestern State College\n\n? Emcee:\n\nDr. Guido Minaya is CEO and Chief L earning Officer of Minaya Learning Global Solutions\, a global corporate t raining firm serving Fortune 500 and large organizations. With a track rec ord of leading regional and global teams\, he founded the company after ho lding executive roles at AT&\;T\, Lucent Technologies\, Avaya\, and Acc enture. In 2024\, his firm launched an AI-HI Center of Excellence. Dr. Min aya is also a founder of the Horizon Council and currently serves as Presi dent of the Horizon Foundation. LinkedIN\n\n? Panelists:\n\nL. Gail Markha m\, CPA/ABV\, CFF\, CFE\, CFP®\, Florida Supreme Court Certified Family M ediator Partner / Litigation Support\, Forensic Accounting and Mediation. Gail is  \;the founder and partner of Markham Norton Mosteller Wright &\; Company\, P.A. (MNMW)\, which she began as a sole practitioner in 1 979. Today\, she is member of a team of 60 across Fort Myers and Naples\, offering services in tax\, accounting\, business consulting\, forensic acc ounting\, litigation support\, and mediation. A highly decorated professio nal\, Gail has received numerous honors\, including the Lifetime Achieveme nt Award from Gulfshore Business\, Woman of the Year by Gulfshore Life\, a nd induction into the Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement of SWFL. Her firm is consistently ranked among Florida’s best places to work. Sh e holds credentials as a CPA\, CFP\, CFE\, and Florida Certified Family Me diator\, and is accredited in Business Valuation and Financial Forensics. LinkedIn \;\n\nJoAnn Elardo\,is the Founder and Owner of \;Wicked Dolphin Distillery. she is a dynamic and accomplished serial entrepreneur with a diverse business background spanning several industries.recognized as one of GrowFL’s Companies to Watch in 2016. JoAnn is also the Founder of Cape Spirits Inc.\, Commercial Quest / L &\; E Capers – Commercia l Investments\, and a proud Founder of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter.Her e ntrepreneurial journey began in 1991 when she launched AmerSport\, a U.S. athletic and shoe distribution company focused on Central and Eastern Euro pe. Under her leadership\, AmerSport grew to become one of the largest pri vately owned companies of its kind in the region. JoAnn also owned Soul\, a successful athleisure retail brand with stores in multiple countries.​ After selling her European ventures\, JoAnn moved to Florida in 2008\, wh ere she continued to build successful businesses and make a lasting impact on her community. \; \;LinkedIn\n\nSandy Stilwell Youngquist is t he CEO and owner of Stilwell Enterprises &\; Restaurant Group\, which i ncludes seven restaurants\, an inn\, shopping centers\, and a food truck a cross Southwest Florida. An entrepreneur since age 17\, She helped to orga nize Gulf Coast Business Bank in Fort Myers\, a de novo (new) community ba nk. She is currently on the Board of Directors. She is the author of Resil ient Spirit and an active leader in philanthropy and community service\, s erving on numerous boards including Hope Hospice\, Habitat for Humanity\, SWFL Children’s Charities\, Pace Center for Girls\, and Lee Health Found ation. Sandy also played a key role in the Resilient Lee initiative that s ecured $1.2 billion for post-Hurricane Ian recovery. LinkedIn\n\nKena Yoke \, Vice President of Island Piling\, Inc. and Managing Member of Island Pi ling Manufacturing\, LLC\, brings 40+ years of expertise in construction\, administration\, and project coordination. A former founder of Kena Yoke Consulting\, she pioneered virtual office solutions post-2008. Known for l eadership in business and philanthropy\, Kena supports veteran initiatives and nonprofits like Collier-Lee Honor Flight and Freedom Waters Foundatio n. Her passion for community and service is inspired by her lifelong commi tment to connection and building relationships. LinkedIn\n\nJennifer Johns on is the Founder of True Fashionistas\, Florida’s largest lifestyle res ale store\, and creator of The Confident Entrepreneur\, a platform empower ing small business owners to succeed without sacrificing balance. A former national model and actress\, Jennifer is the bestselling author of Grace &\; Grit and host of The Confident Entrepreneur podcast. She’s been f eatured on national TV\, radio\, and in publications including TIME\, News week\, Vogue\, and Real Simple\, and is a sought-after speaker both locall y and nationally. \;She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs grow with confidence\, clarity\, and grace. LinkedIn ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.aboveboardchamber.com/wp-content/upl oads/2025/05/Lee-County-ad-ABC_FM_June-_1_.jpg CATEGORIES:Fort Myers Meeting LOCATION:DoubleTree by Hilton at Bell Tower\, 13051 Bell Tower Dr\, Fort My ers\, FL\, 33907\, United States GEO:26.55136;-81.86832 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=13051 Bell Tower Dr\, Fort Myers\, FL\, 33907\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=DoubleTree b y Hilton at Bell Tower:geo:26.55136,-81.86832 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York X-LIC-LOCATION:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20250309T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR