Horizon Council

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.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Industry Appreciation Awards. The deadline to nominate a business is May 25, 2012. To nominate a business, please complete and return the 2012 Nomination Form

Horizon Council Calendar and Membership Roster | Horizon Council Brochure | 2011 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

• Kitty Green, Chair
• Bob Koenig, Vice Chair
• Dennie Hamilton, Treasurer
• Gary King, Secretary
• Wayne Kirkwood, Horizon Foundation President/Horizon Foundation Task Force Chair
• Robbie Roepstorff, Industrial Development Authority/Health Care Task Force
• John Manning, Lee County Commission
• Karen Hawes, Lee County Administration
• Benjamin Siegal, Lee County Port Authority
• Ben Nelson, City of Bonita Springs
• Marty McClain, 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
• Mei-Mei Chan, Education Task Force
• Jeff Kottkamp, Prospect Development Task Force

Geographical Chambers of Commerce:

• Bonita Springs: James Dati
• Cape Coral: Chris Spiro
• Estero: Jeff Maas
• Fort Myers: Greg Frith
• Fort Myers Beach: Jennifer Seaborn
• Lehigh Acres: Joanie Jeannette
• North Fort Myers: Wendy Murray
• Pine Island: Jay Johnson
• Sanibel-Captiva: Mark Blust
• Southwest Florida: Fred Erdman

Economic Development, Business, Community and Trade Organizations:

• Airport Special Management Committee: Noel Andress
• American Institute of Architects: Ted Sottong
• Cape Coral Construction Industry Association: Robert Ryan
• Christian Chamber of Commerce: Judy Sylvia
• 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: Kevin Fitzgerald
• REALTOR Association (Ft. Myers & the Beach): Marion Briggs
• SCORE: Dale A. Johnson
• Southwest Florida CCIM: Enn Luthringer
• Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association: Matt Chambers
• Southwest Regional Technology Partnership: Brooke Gabrielson 
• SWFL Air Conditioning Contractors Association: Gary Griffin
• SWFL Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Christina Collins
• SWFL Workforce Development Board: Ed Bolter
• Tourist Development Council: Tony Lapi

Educational Institutions:

• Florida Gulf Coast University: Hudson Rogers
• Edison College State College: Robert R. Jones
• Hodges University: Nancy Wyant
• Lee County School District: Mary Fischer

At Large Members

• Lawrence Antonucci
• Mei-Mei Chan
• Dave Dale
• Ryan Goldberg
• Rick Hayduk
• Patricia Heath
• Ron Inge
• Stephanie Justice
• Marilyn Miller
• Denis Noah
• Steve Pontius
• Bill Schroeder
• Don Schrotenboer
• Leroy Sullivan
• John Talmage
• 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.