Meeting with Florida Secretary of Commerce

The Greater Pine Island Alliance (GPIA) arranged for members of the local business community to meet with Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly to discuss business recovery on the Island. The meeting, on Monday, Oct. 14, allowed the business leaders an opportunity to discuss barriers to recovery on the Island and seek help with solutions. Front row: Larry Solinger, Treasurer of the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce (GPICC) and Co-Owner of Matlacha Menagerie; Lt. Col. Aaron Barreda (ret.), GPIA Co-Founder and Kiwanis Board Member; Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly; Linda Solinger, Co-Owner of Matlacha Menagerie; Char Seuffert, Owner/Broker ReMAX Sunshine; Greater Pine Island Civic Association (GPICA) Board Member Sue Dahod, Nadine Slimak, GPICA Vice President; Erin Lollar- Lambert, GPIA Executive Director; Declan Kiely, Owner of The Waterfront Restaurant, St. James City; John Lynch, Owner of the Blue Dog restaurant in Matlacha. Back row: William Tidball and Carlos Gomez, Co-Owners of CW Fudge in Matlacha; Stephen Soloway, Co-Owner of Island Tactical and Consumers Contracting Service; and Dave Connor, Owner of Island Brew Promotions and President of the GPICC.