Bridge Directory Spotlight & Bios 2

Welcome to the The Bridge Directory Spotlight! Each month we will pick a business from The Bridge Directory to showcase in this space and in The Bridge Business View. Our goal is to share their logo, bio and contact information so that you can read up on them and see if there is any potential business, referrals or mutual interest that could arise from this connection. If you are listed in the Bridge Directory please email your logo, contact information and bio to Michele@TheBridgeNetworking.com today! You could be next month's Spotlight!

JULY EDITION SPOTLIGHT

Amanda Brand,

JetScape Copier & Cartridge Saves Florida Thousands of Dollars

As and endorsed vendor of the Florida Tax Collector Service Corp. JetScape Copier and Cartridge has saved 26 Florida counties a total of $62,213.45 since its adoption as a vendor in August of 2007. JetScape has provided the tax collectors offices of these 26 counties with compatible “green” ink and toner at a price up to 70% cheaper than the major office supply stores.

By using a local business, Lee County’s tax collector saved $12,669.88 this year, but the largest savings by a county was Palm Beach County’s tax collector with a savings of $31,414.99. With looming budget cuts and a slow economy the savings couldn’t come at a better time. Surprisingly, not all of the county departments are using this cheaper, greener alternative. If the tax collectors office saved this much money, imagine if every county department used JetScape’s cartridges. The savings would be exponential. Counties could save millions.

The biggest winner though would be the Southwest Florida economy. By saving the counties money, thereby saving the taxpayers money JetScape Copier & Cartridge will be helping to stimulate the economy in this region. Please take the time to ask your local government why they are spending thousands of dollars more than they have to on ink and toner. It is after all your money they are spending.

About JetScape Copier & Cartridge:

JetScape Copier & Cartridge Warehouse is a division of JetScape Laser Service Inc. JetScape manufactures and sells compatible ink jet and laser toner cartridges for printers, copiers and fax machines. JetScape also sells and services commercial digital copiers and fax machines. JetScape has been in business in Lee County for 11 years. They are endorsed by the Florida Tax Collectors Service Corp. and an approved vendor of the Lee County School System. JetScape is also a fundraising partner with Barbara’s Friends a Lee Memorial children’s cancer charity.

JULY EDITION SPOTLIGHT

All U Need Pest Control was established in April of 2003 in Cape Coral, Florida by Craig and Kim Carlson.

Craig began his career as a Culinary Institute of America graduate and has been a five star chef for over 20 years in San Francisco, New England and Southwest Florida. His experience as a chef has given him priceless knowledge of where bugs hide in a residential and commercial kitchen.

Craig has been in the pest control business for over 13 years. He is educated in the latest products, trends and technologies of pest control. He has continued his education in the pest control field and holds three certifications. He is a certified operator in General Household Pest Control, Termite Control & Prevention and Lawn Care.

Craig and Kim began All U Need Pest Control to ensure their customers receive the most professional up to date pest control and lawn treatment available.

All U Need Pest Control is licensed and insured. Their Pest Control experts take great care in protecting your home, family and pets with only environmentally responsible pest prevention techniques.

They are here for all your pest needs. Call today (239) 549-9669 for your FREE commercial or residential inspection.

JUNE EDITION SPOTLIGHT

Kent Kelly

History of A. W. Kelley’s Gardens Inc.

In 1946 Arthur Kelley followed family footsteps and started his first nursery with 20 acres located on

Winkler Ave.

(1 ¼ mile west from where the Edison Mall is today). The business, Kelley’s Gardens became well known for their skill in landscaping, propagation, grafting and supplying quality retail plant material to Fort Myers and Southwest Fla. They grew to own 60 plus acres with over 50 employees at a total of 4 locations.

Arthur, a Fort Myers native, enjoyed his life-long passion for plant life and was committed to the community and the horticultural industry. Numerous plants were named after his relatives such as the James Hendry Hibiscus and Helen Johnson Dwarf Bougainvillea. Arthur’s rich heritage inspired grafting and development of his own prize winning hybrid hibiscus which he fondly named after family and friends.

In 1983 the

Winkler Ave.

location was sold and operations moved to the alternate Hendry Creek growing area. Departing from landscaping, the new corporation, A.W. Kelley’s Gardens Inc., shifted to a “wholesale only” nursery with 48 acres at 4 locations. Most of the family was on board to help with the transitions including Arthur’s wife Dixie and his two sons, Drew and Kent.

Regrettably Arthur passed away in 2005 at 83 yrs. young. However, the nursery continues to flourish with focused determination to uphold their good name in the area. They persist in stocking over 250 varieties of plant material from ground covers all the way up to large field grown trees and palms. A.W. Kelley’s also stocks an assortment of bagged mulch, potting soil and bailed pine straw.

The entire family & their well established staff members are in for the long haul. A.W. Kelley’s has been fortunate to have such an extensive list of loyal, long standing clients. Their goals are to continue supplying high quality plant material, products and great customer service to Fort Myers and the surrounding counties. They learned decades ago that promoting customer satisfaction and building strong business relationships can have a positive outcome in maintaining a first-class reputation.

A.W. Kelley’s is “wholesale only” and sells only to horticultural professionals but gladly promotes education to the public through their website. This user friendly site has current articles on pests, family history, water issues and many other horticultural issues. www.awkelleys.com has hundreds of color plant photos and even streams a how to video of plant grafting by the master, the late Arthur Kelley. Homeowners are welcome to tour their nursery grounds with the aid of their lawn or landscape professional.

MAY EDITION SPOTLIGHT

SEAN WILKINS, WILIKINS & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Sean Wilkins will celebrate 10 years as owner of Wilkins & Associates Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. this June. Wilkins and Associates provides a broad range of legal services.

Specialized services include:

Business Service Plans
Employee Benefit Plans
Identity Theft Shield
Family Legal Service Plans
Insurance and Financial

Wilkins Pre-Paid Legal Plan, company founded in 1972 and is listed on New York Stock Exchange, is easy to implement with no long-term contract, no claims forms, and no deductibles with on site enrollment. Coverage begins immediately. Unlike other legal service providers, Pre-Paid Legal provides you with direct, toll-free access to a quality law firm when you have a legal need. For a low monthly rate, his business plan provides small businesses with comprehensive legal services. The Plan also provides focused benefit through GoSmallBiz.com.

Prior to owning Wilkins and Associates, Wilkins had extensive experience in sales. He credits his family for his involvement in the Pre-Paid Legal Business.

Sean is a dedicated member of BNI and attends various networking groups including The Bridge Networking Group, Inc. events and is in the Bridge Directory. He is also very active in community fundraisers such as TLC Children’s Home in Cape Coral.

Professional Bio by:

Jodie Andre

Marketing Dazzle

www.MarketingDazzle.com

MARCH 2nd EDITION SPOTLIGHT

Celeste Hanson, Celeste & Company

It all started when Celeste Hanson had her nails done at an upstate New York, Volpe Nail Salon. She had no idea how her life would change by chatting with the Nail Tech. that day. After many questions, answers and a lot of thought, she bought her own Volpe Franchise in Cape Coral and the rest is history!

After a terrible New York house fire, instead of rebuilding in 1992, she decided to move to Florida to open her Volpe Salon! Her husband stayed in New York with their three children while Celeste setup shop in sunny Florida. The separation of the long distance took its toll on the marriage and it finally ended in divorce. However, Celeste and her ex-husband have remained good friends and he has been very supportive with her salon business and success through out the years.

For six years, life and business were crazy busy and good for Celeste. She opened a Volpe Salon on Cape Coral Pkwy. in Big John’s Plaza and her business was thriving and expanding. She doubled the size of the salon and added tanning, massage and skin care to the salon services.

By 2000, Celeste being the perfectionist that she is and the long hours working at the shop, she succumbed to burn out! Things came to a screaming halt. She closed shop and became a booth renter in another salon. But Celeste, being the eager business person she is, became a partner in 47^th Street Retreat Salon in the Cape. Soon she fell ill, this time it was tragic. Celeste was in a coma and was given a 5% chance of survival. But Celeste is a survivor and she fought her way back and beat the odds. With the help of rehab, she was able to regain the strength to do things we take for granted like walking and talking. She lost everything materialistic but not for long. Her tenacity and hard work has since paid off.

Back on her feet and running, she opened Celeste and Co. Hair at

1319 Cape Coral Pkwy. E (again in Big John’s Plaza) and Celeste is still going strong. In October 2008, she held a very successful fundraiser with The Cape Coral Chamber and raised $1000 for their Education Fund by doing services for ten dollars 3 nights in a row with all proceeds going to the Chamber Education Fund.

Now she is taking good care of herself and trying to pace herself. Celeste and Co. Hair & Nail Design is a remodeled, modern upscale and immaculate salon. It is unique salon because Volpe Product for nails can only be used if you have been or are a Volpe Franchisee. Her Salon uses and retails Schwarzpopf German made hair products (voted #1 in International hair products). Salon’s Color Specialists offer expert color, highlighting, designer cuts and styling. There has been a growing demand for “hair extensions” and use “Simplicity Hair Extension System”. Her salon offers many services such as Permanent Makeup by Karen Loughrey, a Permanent Cosmetic Technician who offers a pre-payment plan and Care Credit. Another service added is Eyelash Extensions by Lisa Becker. Nail Services also include gel toes and nails, glitter & mylar nails, as well as manicures, spa pedicures and acrylic sculptured nails. Remember to ask about any specials.

Want a full set of Acrylic Sculptured Nails for $15.00? That’s what Celeste offers you when she has a Nail Tech in training. Of course, being the perfectionist Celeste is you will always leave with a professional set of nails as Celeste is beside the Nail Tech in training during the process to make sure everything is perfect before you walk out the door. Stop in Celeste & Co. Hair Design, say hello and look around. Open Monday thru Saturday or by special appointment. You deserve the very best… call Celeste at 239-541-5427.

Bio written by Jodie Andre of Marketing Dazzle

Above in photo: Kristen Quinn, Deborah Daus, Neil Koch, Celeste Hanson, Lynn Herwat, Lisa Becker. Not in photo: Karen Loughrey & Lisa Becker

Celeste & Co. Hair & Design

1319 Cape Coral Parkway E #1

Cape Coral, FL 33904

(239) 541-5427

www.celesteandco.com

email- celesteandcompany@mac.com

MARCH 1st EDITION SPOTLIGHT

Susie Golubock

KnowledgePoints Tutoring Center

Susie Golubock is the owner of the Fort Myers KnowledgePoints Tutoring center. She has a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Development from North Texas State University and a BS in Elementary Education with a Special Education endorsement from the University of Texas in Austin. She has taught for 13 years in both Texas and Georgia in the public school system in elementary education and in special education. She has worked in the early childhood field for an additional 7 years. Ms. Golubock was an adjunct faculty member at Brookhaven Community College in Dallas, Texas in Child Development. She also directed Zale Corporate Child Care Center where she managed and trained teachers, maintained a day care budget, developed curriculum, and consulted with other businesses. Currently, she enjoys reading, gardening, and traveling. She has two grown children and a grandbaby on the way.

Susie Golubock

KnowledgePoints

8140 College Parkway #108

Ft. Myers, FL 33919

(239)277-READ ( 7323 )

Fax 239-277-7324

ftmyers@knowledgepoints.com

http://www.knowledgepoints.com/

FEBRUARY 2nd EDITION SPOTLIGHT

Missy Becker

Re/Max & Reel Women Charters

I am a full-time real estate professional with 23 years experience in the residential market. Specializing in waterfront homes, condos and vacant lots in Charlotte County, I am the Realtor to call if you have ever dreamed of living on the water! I am a Certified Short Sale Specialist and have experience in foreclosures as well. I offer hands on, "go beyond the call" service to my customers and clients and references are available upon request.

I am also a US Coast Guard licensed captain and the owner/operator of Reel Women Charters, offering fishing and small boat handling instruction for women, as well as Charlotte Harbor and canal tours.

Visit my website: www.reelwomencharters.com.

Very active in the community, I volunteer for Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, Habitat for Humanity Women Build, March for Babies, Dollars for Mammograms, The Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce, Team Punta Gorda and several others.