provided to The Santiva Chronicle
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce celebrated the formation last fall of the Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association (SCBWA) with a ribbon cutting Wednesday, July 21 at Blue Giraffe 2, Sanibel.
“As a local organization focused on mentoring, networking, and supporting continuing education, I feel it is important to join the chamber of commerce,” said president Taylor Osborne. “Many of our members are small business owners who live and work in our community, making becoming a member of the chamber of commerce a natural step for our organization.”
Other officers include treasurer and founding board member Gloria Garrett, secretary Colleen Zurcher-McGauran, and speaker chair and founding board member Mary Bondurant. With a membership of 26, SCBWA holds hybrid meetings on the third Tuesday of the month, offering the option to attend via Zoom or in-person at Sundial Resort. The group is currently conducting a Women in Leadership Speaker series at its lunch meetings, which are open to the public.
On the third Wednesday of each month, SCBWA hosts Tips & Sips, an in-person networking event held at various locations on island. It is also partnering with Sundial Resort and the nonprofit organization Let’s Pink Out to host its first major event, a Pink Flamingo High Tea, on Oct. 5. The collaborative fundraiser will support cancer needs in the community along with SCBWA’s continuing education platform. The organization recently awarded its first annual continuing education scholarship to local high school graduate Haley Caponi, who will be attending Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers this fall.
“Like the chamber of commerce, The Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association’s mission is to positively impact the local business community,” said John Lai, chamber president and chief executive officer. “With its focus on education, networking, and mentorship, it fills an important role that the chamber fully supports and welcomes.”
ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. With more than 460 active Chamber members from both islands and businesses from Lee and Collier counties, the Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. The Francis P. Bailey, Jr., Chamber Visitor Center is located at the entrance to Sanibel Island and welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. VISIT FLORIDA named the visitor center one of 13 official Florida Certified Tourism Information Centers in the state. It is open 365 days a year and provides comprehensive information about things to do, places to visit, and where to stay, shop, and dine. The chamber website receives more than 1.3 million website visits per year.
For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact Landen Drake, communications and marketing manager, at 239-472-8255 or Landen@sanibel-captiva.org
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