FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Pamela Cox
                Lee County Economic Development Office
                (941) 338-3161

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 13, 2001)-Steve Shimp, president of Owens-Ames-Kimball Construction, has been elected the 2002 chair of the Horizon Council, a public-private organization that advises Lee County's Board of County Commissioners on economic development.

Additional officers include Steve Royal, president and CEO of Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center, vice chair; Jim Nulman, attorney and shareholder with Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, secretary; Robbie Roepstorff, president of Edison National Bank, treasurer; and Ron Inge, vice president of business development with Florida Rock, immediate past chair and 2002 Horizon Council Foundation president.

Horizon Council membership is comprised of representatives from area chambers of commerce, government, educational institutions, economic development and trade organizations, community and business groups. Thirty-nine members representing these various organizations were voted into membership. An additional seven at-large members were elected to serve on the Council.

The Economic Development Office of Lee County works to attract new and diversified businesses resulting in high-wage, high-skilled jobs; retain and encourage expansion of existing businesses; and improve the overall business environment in Lee County. Additional information, along with a complete membership list of the Horizon Council, is available on-line at http://www.leecountybusiness.com/