Media Contact:    Beverly Fox, Economic Development Office
                            (941) 338-3161
                            Teri Hansen, Priority Marketing
                            (941) 267-2638

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 19, 2001) – The Lee County Horizon Council appointed 13 members to its 2001 executive committee, including five officers, at its annual meeting Friday, January 12. The new committee members will direct the efforts of the council to improve business in Lee County in 2001.

The 2001 officers include Ron Inge of Florida Rock Industries Inc. (Chairman), Steve Shimp of Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (Vice-Chair), Carol Conway of Computer Rescue Squad (Secretary), Stephen Royal of Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center (Treasurer), and Cyndi Doragh (Horizon Foundation President.)

Other members of the executive committee include Dennis Gilkey (Smart Growth Task Force Chairman), Marty Harrity, Jim Humphrey, Bob Johns, Ray Murphy, Doug St. Cerny, Donald Stilwell and John Warfield.

The Horizon Council is a public-private group that works toward improving the business environment in Lee County, retaining and encouraging the expansion of existing businesses, and attracting new and diversified employment to the area.