Horizon Council
Now Accepting Nominations for this year's Industry Appreciation Awards Event! Just click the banner to the right and complete the nomination form.
The Horizon Council is a public-private board established in 1991 to advise the Lee County Board of Commissioners on economic development issues. The Council has up
to 80 members representing five cities; 10 chambers of commerce; 16 economic development and trade organizations; 14 community, business, and education organizations; along with various officers and at-large members.
The mission of the Horizon Council is to:
- Help improve the business environment in Lee County;
- Retain and encourage the expansion of existing businesses; and
- Attract new and diversified employment to the area.
Horizon Council Calendar | Horizon Council Brochure | 2012 Annual Report
Organizational Membership
Local Government:
- Lee County Commission
- Lee County Administration
- City of Bonita Springs
- City of Cape Coral
- City of Fort Myers
- City of Sanibel
- Town of Fort Myers Beach
Executive Committee
- Bob Koenig, Chair
- Dennie Hamilton, Vice Chair
- Gary King, Treasurer
- Denis Noah, Secretary
- Wayne Kirkwood, Horizon Foundation President/Horizon Foundation Task Force Chair
- David Barton, Industrial Development Authority
- Cecil L. Pendergrass, Lee County Commission
- Doug Meurer, Lee County Administration
- Ron Toll, Florida Gulf Coast University
- Benjamin Siegel, Lee County Port Authority
- Ben Nelson, City of Bonita Springs
- Rana Erbrick, City of Cape Coral
- Randy Henderson, City of Fort Myers
- Marty Harrity, City of Sanibel
- Alan Mandel, Town of Fort Myers Beach
- Russell Schropp, Business Issues Task Force
- Janet Watermeier, Workforce Task Force
- Mei-Mei Chan, Regional Initative Task Force
- Bill Valenti, Prospect Development Task Force
- Ron Inge, Incentive Task Force
- Gary Griffin, Healthcare Task Force
- Kitty Green, Strategic Plan
Geographical Chambers of Commerce:
- Bonita Springs: Joseph A. Murgalo, Jr.
- Cape Coral: Chris Spiro
- Estero: John Garvalia
- Fort Myers: Dave Douglas
- Fort Myers Beach: Barbara Farrell
- Lehigh Acres: Joanie Jeannette
- North Fort Myers: John Gardner
- Pine Island: Jay Johnson
- Sanibel-Captiva: Mark Blust
- Southwest Florida: Richard Lewis
Economic Development, Business, Community and Trade Organizations:
- Airport Special Management Committee: Fran Myers
- American Institute of Architects: Amy Nowacki
- Cape Coral Construction Industry Association: Robert Ryan
- Christian Chamber of Commerce: Rob Fowler
- Cape Coral Council for Progress Foundation: Dave Mulicka
- Fort Myers/Lee County Enterprise Zone: Kenneth A. O’Donnell
- Gulf Citrus Growers Association: George Austin
- Human Resources Management Association of SWFL: Beth Barger
- Lee Building Industry Association: Mark Stevens
- Real Estate Investment Society: Kim Donnelly
- REALTOR Association (Ft. Myers & the Beach): Doreen Falcone
- SCORE: Dale A. Johnson
- Southwest Florida CCIM: Mike Doyle
- Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association: Matt Chambers
- Southwest Regional Technology Partnership: Brooke Gabrielson
- SWFL Air Conditioning Contractors Association: Gary Griffin
- SWFL Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Roberto Arreola
- SWFL Workforce Development Board: Ed Bolter
- Tourist Development Council: Tony Lapi
Educational Institutions:
- Florida Gulf Coast University: Ronald B. Toll
- Edison State College: Robert R. Jones
- Hodges University: Nancy Wyant
- Lee County School District: Mary Fischer
At Large Members
- Lawrence Antonucci
- Roy Bailey
- Dave Dale
- Gray Davis
- Ryan Goldberg
- Kitty Green
- Kevin Hawkesworth
- Patricia Heath
- Stephanie Justice
- Marilyn Miller
- Steve Pontius
- Bill Schroeder
- Leroy Sullivan
- Gary Tasman
Lee County Industrial Development Authority
- David Barton
- Doug Gyure
- Tom Hoolihan
- Wayne Kirkwood
- L. Gail Markham
- Ric Pritchett
- Robbie Roepstorff
For more information, contact the Fort Myers Regional Partnership at 800.493.4396.
