Fort Myers: The Importance of Work Culture in Recruiting and Retaining Employees in 2022

A well-defined and shared company culture gives employees direction and a sense of purpose. This combined with recruitment and retention of top talent, stronger collaboration, and teamwork, greater productivity leads to greater profitability overall.

Cultural fit is as important as skills, experience, education and compensation requirements when recruiting. A good cultural fit means that the candidate’s beliefs and behaviors are in alignment with the company’s core values and culture. A compatible candidate will be more likely to become an engaged and productive employee.

Our February panelists and emcee will share with you what they learned and how they not only are able to recruit the top people but keep them!

Thank you to our meeting sponsors:

• Michael Wynn, President of Sunshine Ace Hardware (Bio listed below)
• Williams M. Blevins, President/CEO Gulf Coast Business Bank (Bio Below)

Thank you to our Angel lunch sponsor:

• Connie Ramos-Williams is the owner of CONRIC pr + marketing. CONRIC is an award-winning creative agency that partners with start-up companies, established national brands, government, and nonprofits to provide comprehensive strategic branding, digital marketing, public relations, advertising and website development.

Meet our Emcee:

Joseph DeSena, CFP^®, MBA Private Wealth Advisor | Managing Director, Siena Wealth Advisory Group. Joseph joined Ameriprise in November 1994 and has been a member of the Chairman’s Advisory Council, top 100 advisors at the firm, since 1999. In 2020, Joe was named Best-in-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes. Joe trademarked a simplified financial planning process titled “The Great 8 Formula”. His focus is helping our clients create wealth, protect their wealth, and preserve a legacy. Joseph is a member of the Above Board Chamber of Fl and sits on our Napels’ Advisory Board.

Our Panelists:

MICHAEL A. WYNN has served as board chairman and president of Sunshine Ace Hardware. With 12 locations, Sunshine is one of the largest family-owned home improvement and outdoor recreation retailers in Florida. Michael is the immediate Past Chair of the board of directors of the Miami Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He was voted the 2017 Gulfshore Business Best Boss, Business Observer’s 2019 Icons of Business and the 2019 Naples Daily News Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Michael is a member of the Above Board Chamber of FL and sits on the Executive Council of the our chamber.

Gary Tasman is the Founder of Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida and serves as its CEO & Principal Broker. The firm provides commercial real estate solutions, locally and globally, in every stage of the real estate ownership and development process, representing clients in buying, selling, leasing, financing, asset valuation, property management and facilities services. His expertise includes: market analytics, financial feasibility studies (office, retail, industrial), site analyses, land development, and disposition/acquisition strategies.

Jennifer Thayer, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP; Manager of Workforce Planning & Development at Lee Health. Jennifer is an accomplished Human Resources leader  who has proven success in creating cultures of collaboration that align workforce strategy with business & performance excellence.  Jennifer possesses experience in several aspects of human resources including:  strategic workforce planning, organizational/leadership development, employee relations, recruiting and performance management.   Jennifer holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Rhode Island College and is certified as a Senior Human Resources Professional.

Williams M. Blevins, President/CEO of the new Gulf Coast Business Bank Southwest Florida which is one of fastest growing regions in the country, yet its residents and business are underserved when it comes to relationship-based Community Banking – a direct result of banking consolidation that has shifted funds to larger banks.  Gulf Coast Business Bank, the first community bank to be started in 12 years, will fill this void and be operated by experienced and proven bankers from our local community.   The eighteen board and organizers will invest  $5M of the $20M (25%) raised in Capital and drive local deposits and loans to support organic and sustainable growth of GCBB. Bill is a member of the Above Board Chamber of FL and sit on our Lee County Advisory Board and is one of today’s Sponsors.

For information on becoming an Annual Sponsor, a Meeting Sponsor, an Angel Lunch Sponsor a Member, an Ambassor or for more information please call 239-910-7426 and ask for Jeanne Sweeney, CEO/ Founder of the Above Board Chamber of FL. Together we can sail into 2022 and make it our best year yet!

Thank you to conric pr + marketing for helping with us with our press releases and website to get this important meeting out!