How Times Have Changed

ECONOMY Lee County
Don Paight
Executive director, Fort Myers Downtown Redevelopment Agency
1998
"The city of Fort Myers’ population has grown and diversified, and new construction has expanded the city limits both upward and outward. Eight new high-rises grace the downtown waterfront, and over a dozen more have been approved for development. Construction throughout the city poses a challenge for drivers, but despite the mess, citizens boast about how nice the new streets look and how great it is to have a skyline. Even the form of government underwent a dramatic change from a mayor and council to a city manager government without a hitch. The citizens of Fort Myers have experienced the growing pains associated with growth, but it all seems to be worth it."

HEALTHCARE
Jim Nathan
President, Lee Memorial
Health System
2000, 2007
"With a workforce dependent on construction, tourism, agriculture, service economy and part-time employment, Southwest Florida now has the second highest rate of uninsured for healthcare services; 25 percent above the state average and 50 percent above the national average. However, the specialization of certain hospitals in providing an organized trauma program has saved countless lives for our region, and advances in children’s healthcare, the prevention of disease and the emergence of less-invasive surgery technologies have been significant as well."

BUSINESS
Norman Love
Chocolatier, Norman Love Confections
2006
"While the growth of our area has been tremendous, we are also a part of the global community, thanks to the Internet. The confidence that consumers are gaining in Web transactions is growing and so are sales opportunities, so small businesses are now able to compete with larger, out-of-market companies. I’m confident that business in Southwest Florida in the next 10 years will remain very sweet."

THE ENVIRONMENT
Ed Carlson
Executive director, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
2002
"In spite of economic conditions, growth and development over the last 10 years have been booming in Southwest Florida. The greatest impacts are to wetlands and natural habitats for wildlife, and the development is causing water quality and availability to be greater and greater issues. I think it can be remedied, but it has to come from the citizenry. The citizens have to decide to use more water-conserving techniques and to reduce impacts to development in wetlands and other natural habitats."

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
Susan Watts
Senior vice president,
Bonita Bay Group
2000
"The unprecedented growth in Southwest Florida has pushed the real estate market into new territory. We have created public-private partnerships to address infrastructure needs and worked closely with environmental groups to help sustain our local natural resources. Our focus is on sustainable communities that serve the environment, the economy and the social needs of all residents. This will help ease the burdens on our infrastructure and provide opportunities to protect and restore our natural treasures."

THE ARTS
Jonathan Green
Artist
2005
"The caliber of artists here is different, but the quality is still at a very high level. Here in Naples, there are international visual arts happening, which allows American artists to be in that venue without having to travel to Europe anymore. It also allows our audience to see our work among artists from all over the world. We have probably some of largest art collections in the country and many international artists right here in Naples."

PHILANTHROPY
Denise Cobb
2000
"The amount of money that is donated now is so much greater than in the past, and the growth of the number of people involved and their level of involvement has also increased. Before, the same people were called on over and over—the people who lived here full-time and had lived here for many years. Now, the people who are here just for the season are more involved in the community. A lot of it has to do with the Naples Winter Wine Festival. That took giving to a whole other level—more than half of [the money raised] came from people who don’t live here."

HOSPITALITY
Michael Watkins
President, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
2001
"I have been working with The Beach Club since 1968, and my family has been here since 1946, so we’ve seen a lot over the years. In the Naples area, there has been one hotel property loss in the last few years, leaving five along the beachfront. The Ritz-Carlton is the most elite; the newly renamed Naples Grande Resort & Club has a classy, Miami Beach style to it; LaPlaya is a wonderful property directly on the water. The Edgewater is the last property on the beach, just north of us. There’s more competition, but there are fewer hotels on the beach now and fewer people working in the industry, too."

FASHION
Marissa Hartington
Owner, Marissa Collections
1999
"If the Florida fashion world could be broken up into geographic fashion regions, it would be difficult to improve on the cosmopolitan taste and sophistication of Naples shoppers. Constant growth over the past 10 years has brought the median age in Naples surprisingly low, and each year this younger clientele filters into the mainstream old guard and shakes things up a bit, both socially and sartorially. And with a philanthropic society to rival big cities in America, the events that take place here call for current, classic—but never mainstream—dressing."