Our
History |
| 1989 |
- Founded by Arthur Hammel, past Mayor of Fort Myers
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1990 |
- Phyllis Howell, Executive Assistant with the
Governor's Employment Alliance, stated that 5,000 individuals
with disabilities were now employed
- During National Awareness Month, the Mayor's Alliance
sponsored Sensitivity Races and a Spring Abilities
Festival at Fort Myers Centennial Park
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1991 |
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Workshop, a one-day workshop, was co-sponsored
with Goodwill Industries at Shady Pine Community Center
- Holiday House tours (the Edison/Ford Estate),
sponsored by McDonald's were given
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1992 |
- Career day was held
- Speaker's bureau was founded
- ADA Seminar took place
- The first Employer Recognition Dinner was held
- Ten teams representing agencies, commercial media, and
private businesses helped celebrate National Disability
Employment Awareness month
- Joann Bradley, Director of Human Services with the
Fort Myers News Press, was the guest speaker at the
bi-monthly breakfast
- Shopping spree at K-Mart was arranged for individuals with
disabilities
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1993 |
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month was
celebrated in October
- Career day entitled "Future Look" took place
- Employment Recognition Dinner was held in November
- Fund Raising Auction was held at the Edison Mall on
September 18
- The Mayor's Alliance has now served 150 individuals with
disabilities and made 60 job placements
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1994 |
- Agency fair, co-sponsored with Lee County School
District, was held on October 20
- Eight high school students visited during the "Future
Look" career day
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month was
celebrated with Sensitivity Races
- Fund Raising Gala took place on October 3rd
- Speaker bureau was reestablished
- Auction Fundraiser was held
- Honored for "Outstanding Employment Services for
People with Disabilities" by the State of Florida
- The Mayor's Alliance received the Beverly Chapman
Outstanding Employment Program Award for finding jobs
for 170 workers with disabilities
- Guest speakers Richard Bashaw, Fort Myers Councilman
and Michael McNally, Coordinator of Consumer Affairs at
HRS were present
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1995 |
- Career day titled "Passport to Success" was
held
- Guest speakers who spoke at bi-monthly breakfasts this
year were Kathy Mayo with Lee County Library on
Assistive
Technology; David Hope, General Manager Comsis Corp.;
Jim Fetzer, Transit Director with Lee Tran; Larry Spahr,
Goodwheels; Marian Geigar, Director VIP (Visually
Impaired Persons); Marc Snow, Attorney with Pavese,
Garner, Harverfield; and Gerald Ballard, Physical
Therapist
- Video highlighting over twenty Lee County agencies was
presented. Copies are in the public library
- Agency fair titled "Disability Service Expo"
was held
- The "Ball at the Mall" fundraiser was held
on October 29
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1996 |
- Representatives from the Department of Labor, VIP
(Visually Impaired Persons), Deaf Services, the Private
Industry Council, and Lee County Equal Opportunities
attended the bi-monthly breakfast
- Nominated by the SW Florida Chapter for an Annual
Achievement Award
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1997 |
- Job Fair was held at Harborside Convention Center on
November 17th
- Participated in the "Magical Evening of
Giving" with the Edison Mall and News Press to
raise money
- Shopping spree for individuals with disabilities was offered at
K-Mart
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1998 |
- Participated in Disability Awareness week in
conjunction with Florida Gulf Coast University's office
of Multi-Access Services on January 27th
- John Sherwood presents the Employee of the Month award
to Lisa Searcy from Cape Coral Special Populations
- Annual shopping spree for individuals with
disabilities
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1999 |
- The Education Committee developed the official website
for the Mayor's Alliance at lcma.org
- Guest speakers: Ray Judah, Lee County
Commissioner; John Myers, Director of Lee County
Transit; and John Sherwood, President of Mayor's
Alliance were present at the bi-monthly breakfast
- Employee Awards are given to John Scarborough of
Lowe's; Jonathon Galvin and Scott McQueen of Goodwill
Industries
- Employer Appreciation Dinner was held on November 11th
at the Three Oaks Goodwill Center honoring employers of
individuals with disabilities
- Student, Chris Oliver was presented an appreciation
award for serving as website programmer
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2000 |
- Career day titled "Get Real: Explore the
Possibilities" was held at Florida Gulf Coast
University
- Breakfast meetings featured: Mayor Bruce Grady
of Fort Myers; Gerald Dangler, Director of Risk
Management of Goodwill; Kathy Mayo and Karen McLeish
Delgado of Lee County Library; and David Dilley,
Motivational Speaker
- Awards were given to: Ruth Messmer (Long
Standing Supporter of the Mayor's Alliance); Nick Torre
(Outstanding Work); Sue Pearson (Goodwill Employee of
the Month); Yolanda Toomer (Taco Bell Outstanding
Employee of the Month); and Maya Hendricks and Tony
Smiling (Publix Outstanding Employees of the Month)
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2001 |
- In October Debbie Strachan assumed presidency after
John Sutherland's retirement after several years of
service.
- Breakfast meetings featured: Steve Myers from
LeeTran, Mayor Jim Humphrey, Dr. Vincent June from Florida
Gulf Coast University, Sherry Stranahan from Blind
Services, and Ron Perkins, from the Epilepsy Association.
- Outstanding Employee Awards were given to: Linda
Thompson at Goodwill, Betty Smith at Goodwill, Abuit
Cintron from Fort Myers Edison Center, and David Dupree
from Cypress Lake High School Food Service.
- Hosted an Employer Appreciation Dinner at Three Oaks
Center on October 25, 2000.
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2002 |
- Career Fair for High School Juniors and Seniors at
FGCU attended by 250 students and 70 staff members.
- Information and Referral committee designed a new
brochure.
- Mayor Alliance held a book sale at Goodwill for a
fundraiser.
- Participated in the "night of Giving" at the Edison
Mall.
- Kmart Shopping for people with disabilities was held
December 1.
- Speakers at the bi-monthly breakfasts were: Mary
Watford from Vocational Rehabilitation, Richard Shine from
Transit Project, Department of Transportation, Becky
Scheall, a Victim's Advocate from the Ft. Myers Police
Department, Gerald Dangler from Risk Management of Good
will Industries, Mayor Jim Humphrey, City of Ft. Myers,
and Don Landrum, Interim Director Goodwill Industries.
- The following persons received awards as "Outstanding
Employees" during the year: Norris Hammond at Walmart,
Bradley Silcott (student from Fort Myers Edison Center) at
Xtreme Car Wash, Clara Hayden at Goodwill, Traver Davis
(student from Fort Myers Edison Center) at Juicy Lucy's
and Matthew Havenner at Regal Theaters.
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2003 |
- Co-sponsored a booth with Project Transition at an
Expo at the Edison Mall on February 10, 2003.
- Participant in Disability Awareness Expo at the Edison
Mall sponsored by the Center for Independence on October
10, 2003
- Hosted an Employer Appreciation Dinner on October 16,
where 27 employers who hire people with disabilities were
honored.
- Sponsored Kmart Holiday Shopping day for people with
disabilities on December 7.
- Speakers at the bi-monthly breakfasts were: Joseph
Shepard, Dean of Students at Florida Gulf Coast
University, Scott Straub with the Center for Independent
Living, Tom Feurig, President, CEO of Good will
Industries, Mayor Jim Humphrey, City of Fort Myers, and
Ron Perkins with the Epilepsy Association.
- Awards to Outstanding Employees: Terry Dattolico at
Recycling Projects with Cape Coral Special Populations,
Jocelyn Hamilton at Lee Memorial Hospital, Steven Brown at
Florida Gulf Coast University, Brian Newman (Lee County
Schools student) at Publix and Howard Lowery at the
Salvation Army
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2004 |
- Career Fair for High School students held at Florida
Gulf Coast University on May 7 entitled "CEO of My Life:
Career Employment Opportunities."
- Key West Express Raffle which raised $250 was won by
Linda Philander.
- Employers Appreciation Banquet was held on December 2.
- 50 people attended the Kmart Holiday Shopping Day for
people with disabilities on December 12.
- Featured speakers at the bi-monthly breakfast: Ray
Judah, Lee County Commissioner, Andy Coy, candidate for
Congress, John Sheppard, Altruist of 2003, Roberta Hafle
from SWFAS, Mayor Jim Humphrey, City of Ft. Myers, Susan
Sanders, Director of Aviation Marketing at Southwest
international Airport.
- Awards to Outstanding Employees were presented to:
Matthew Weeks (student at Fort Myers Edison Center) at
Burger King, Bill Van Wie at Liberty Tax Services, Amy
Offenbach at Goodwill and D.J. Staley (student at Cypress
lake High School) at Publix
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2005 |
- A strategic planning seminar was held in the summer
where the Board of Directors set new goals and directions
for the organization and revised our mission statement -
Advocate and identifies community resources to secure
employment for people with disabilities, and recognize
those who fulfill that ideal.
- Our website name was changed to LeeMayorsAlliance.org.
- Outstanding employee Phillip Brunk was featured in an
article in the News-Press.
- Kmart Holiday Shopping Day for people with
disabilities was held on December 3, 2005.
- Featured speakers at the bi-monthly breakfast were:
Dr. Carol Kennedy with Kennedy Consulting Service, Patty
Warren from Disability Program Navigator, Richard Shine
with the Transit Project, Department of Transportation,
Mary Lou Tuckwiller, of Visually Impaired Program, John
Albion, Lee County Commissioner.
- Awards for Outstanding Employee were given to: Philip
Brunk (Fort Myers High School student) at Publix and Chase
Burnstein, Cape Coral Special Populations.
- Jonathan Perkinson (Lehigh Senior High School student)
at Walmart.
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