The Renaissance Group of Bonita Springs Annual Meeting - April 29th 2008

The Renaissance Group of Bonita Springs held its annual meeting and reception in one of the new homes being built at Renaissance at Rosemary Park at 4:00pm on April 29, 2008.
The meeting was attended by Members, Corporate Partners, and City Officials. The material presented and discussed at the meeting can be viewed in the attached Powerpoint presentation (8.1 Megs).

Three New Directors Elected to the Renaissance Group Board of Directors - April 18th 2008

RENAISSANCE GROUP ANNOUNCES ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bonita Springs, FL: April 17, 2008 – The Renaissance Group of Bonita Springs today announced the election of three new members to its Board of Directors. New members include Peter J. Gravina, David C. Jeronimus, and Robert G. Wade. With the election of these individuals the current Board of Directors is comprised of ten members.

Peter J. Gravina, Esq., is a partner in the Pavese Law Firm with principal offices in Ft. Myers. He practices in the area of real property law and is also active in the corporate, business, and probate areas of practice. In 1987 he gained the distinction of being the first attorney in Lee County to be a Board Certified Real Estate Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. He is a member of the American Bar Association, and a member and past president of the Lee County Bar Association. In 2007 Mr. Gravina was named to the 2007 list of Florida Super Lawyers, a peer selection that recognizes the top five percent of attorneys in each of 31 states.

David C. Jeronimus has been associated with Premier Properties of Southwest Florida, Inc., since 1998, where he established and now manages the Promenade office as well as all of the company’s operations in Lee County. Prior to his current assignment Mr. Jeronimus was a member of the development team at Weitz Properties, which built five Bonita Bay residential neighborhoods and the Bonita Bay Executive Center. He became a resident of Bonita Springs in 1982 when he entered the real estate business with the Mariner Group of Sanibel Island.

Robert G. Wade was most recently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chancellor Capital Management in New York City, and was previously Chief Investment Officer of Citicorp and Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Bank of America. Currently Mr. Wade is a member of the Board of Directors of Citiventure III, an offshore venture fund, and a member of the New York State Teachers Investment Advisory Board. In Bonita Springs he serves as a member of the United Way Steering Committee of Bonita Bay.

Commenting on the addition of the new members to the Board of Directors, Dennis Wilkie, President, said, “We are very pleased to welcome Pete, Dave, and Bob to our Board of Directors. Each brings unique expertise and experience to our ongoing efforts to create additional affordable workforce housing in Bonita Springs. Pete has been a fixture in the Lee County real estate community for many years, often representing large developers in the buying and selling of large tracts of land for future development. Dave has been a resident of Bonita Springs for more than 25 years, understands the housing needs of our community, and has been involved in the development of several major real estate projects. Bob, who has been a member of the Renaissance Group since its founding, has a breadth of senior level financial experience, and has been a major – and enthusiastic -- supporter of the work of the organization.

Founded in 2003, The Renaissance Group is a 501 c (3) not-for-profit corporation, comprised of area citizens and private sector partners who are committed to enhancing the City of Bonita Springs for people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and financial means. Major projects since its founding have included a partnership with the Bonita Springs Area Housing Development Corporation and the City of Bonita Springs to provide 39 affordable homes in Rosemary Park; initiation of the Paint Your Heart Out Bonita program; funding the paving of several streets in Rosemary Park; and providing the leadership and funding for the Coalition of Affordable Housing that analyzed the need for such housing in the city.

For More Information: Bruce Wheatley 498-1870

Renaissance Officer Press Release - March 17th 2008

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE RENAISSANCE GROUP OF

BONITA SPRINGS ANNOUNCES ELECTION OF NEW OFFICERS

Bonita Springs, FL: March 18, 2008 - The Renaissance Group of Bonita Springs today announced the election of the following officers: Dennis Wilkie, President; Bernie Long, Secretary & Counsel; and Steven "Rusty" Whitley, Treasurer.

Mr. Wilkie, retired Corporate Vice President of both Ford Motor Company and Motorola, Inc., succeeds Pete Mootz, retired Controller of Monsanto Chemical Company, who is relocating his primary residence to Wake Forest, North Carolina. Mr. Long was most recently Senior Tax Partner with the firm of Dow Lohnes LLC, while Mr. Whitley is a partner in the firm of Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English, certified public accountants.

Commenting on the change in leadership, Mr. Wilkie said, "We are very grateful for the countless contributions Pete has made to Renaissance. Under his leadership we have made significant progress in creating partnerships with other businesses, organizations, and the city as collectively we work to enhance our primary goal of creating affordable housing in Bonita Springs. He has been passionate in his efforts to help Bonita Springs become a better community in which to live. We are also very pleased that Pete has agreed to continue - at least for the foreseeable immediate future - as a member of our Board of Directors."

Mr. Mootz noted, "I have been very fortunate to work with so many fine, outstanding citizens who are committed to making Bonita Springs a great city. The credit for our success as an organization goes to the people who work tirelessly in eliminating undesirable housing conditions which adversely impact the image of our city. It has been an honor and a privilege to interact with so many dedicated people. Dennis Wilkie has been one of these individuals, and under his leadership I am most confident that the Renaissance Group will continue to make a positive impact on Bonita Springs.

In addition to Messrs. Mootz, Wilkie, Long, and Whitley, the following individuals also serve as members of the Board of Directors: Ross Roberts, retired Corporate Vice President and officer of Ford Motor Company; Fred Weinman, Vice President of Northern Trust,; and Bruce Wheatley, retired Senior Vice President of Commercial Intertech

Founded in 2004, The Renaissance Group is a 501 c (3) not-for-profit corporation, comprised of area citizens and private sector partners who are committed to enhancing the City of Bonita Springs for people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and financial means. Major projects since its founding have included a partnership with the Bonita Springs Area Housing Development Corporation and the City of Bonita Springs to provide 39 affordable homes in Rosemary Park; initiation of the Paint Your Heart Out Bonita program; funding the paving of several streets in Rosemary Park; and providing the leadership and funding for the Coalition of Affordable Housing that analyzed the need for such housing in the city.

For More Information: Bruce Wheatley
498-1870