provided to The Santiva Chronicle
The Charitable Foundation of the Islands annual Leadership Sanibel-Captiva program seeks to identify the next generation of volunteers and community leaders on Sanibel and Captiva. The jam-packed six-session program is engaging 13 island residents and employees with a passion for leading and a desire to serve with the aim to educate participants about the Islands’ rich history and current state of affairs through thematic sessions.
The program’s first three sessions focused on Government, the Environment, Health, Wellness, and Social Services. The fourth, most recent Leadership session took place on Feb. 29 and was titled, “Business and Community Prosperity.” The program participants heard from a veritable “who’s who” of local business leaders. Calli Johnson, Owner-Bailey’s General Store and Chair of Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, served as the moderator as a member of the Class of 2022 and a member of the Leadership planning committee. Featured speakers/guests included John Lai, SanCap Chamber CEO and President; Eric Pfeifer, Owner/Broker at Pfeifer Realty and current City of Sanibel Planning Commission Member; Chuck Ketteman, Past Planning Commission Chair; Tamara Pigott, Lee County Visitor’s Convention Bureau Director, John Talmage, Lee County Economic Development Director. Tony Lapi, Chairman of Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts, not only participated, but he generously sponsored the gathering.
The information imparted to participants was invaluable, and discussions centered mainly around the economic recovery of the islands following Hurricane Ian. Issues such as the future of hospitality on the Islands, the timeline for recovery, and the current business climate in Lee County and the SWFL Region were discussed throughout the day. Participants were also given a Crow’s Nest & Shipyard Restaurants tour. Dolly Farrell, Executive Director of CFI, closed the session with a talk about the economic revitalization currently taking place, the role of private philanthropy, and the results of a commissioned business climate survey.
Feedback from the program participants was highly positive, and they came away with a greater understanding of the issues and challenges facing the local business community. Participant Brian Rist noted, “The entire day was very informative. There is a lot of work still to be done, and right now is the ideal time to get things going.” Another participant, Sarah McClure, also talked about the work that needs to be done in the future: “There are significant challenges ahead, but the islands are certainly making meaningful progress.”
Dolly Farrell observed this about CFI’s Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program: “Forward-thinking programs such as this one ensure that the future of Sanibel and Captiva looks bright. We control our destiny by helping to mold informed leaders who are well-versed in the uniqueness of our island community. Saying it’s ‘an investment in our future’ is an understatement.”
For more information, visit www.mycfi.org/leadership
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