Business Notes

SANIBEL CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK
Rachel Flores

SAN CAP BANK ANNOUNCES PROMOTION, HIRINGS

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently announced the promotion of senior credit analyst Rachel Flores to vice president, as well as the hiring of Sandy Inness as residential loan operations manager and Leslie Donfrancesco-St. Jean as a teller.

Located at the Bridge Branch in Fort Myers, Flores will continue in her role analyzing financial statements, evaluating credit risk and recommending appropriate loan structures.

She joined the bank in July and has nearly 20 years of experience in commercial and residential underwriting and credit analysis. Flores previously held a senior credit analyst position at a regional financial institution in Southwest Florida.

She graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor of Science, double majoring in finance and financial services.

Inness will be based out of the Bridge Branch and Downtown Branch in Fort Myers. She will oversee the day-to-day operations of the residential loan operations department. Inness will manage the loan coordinators and processors, while also streamlining workflows to enhance efficiency.

She joins the bank with over 20 years of experience in residential loan processing, underwriting and management. Inness most recently served as a senior mortgage underwriter for a large regional bank. Throughout her career, she has held various roles including mortgage processing manager, loan originator, mortgage processor and trainer. In her previous roles, Inness has been recognized as a top mortgage processor and honored for her exceptional customer service and leadership skills.

Located at the Main Office on Sanibel, Donfrancesco-St. Jean is responsible for assisting customers with personal and business banking transactions.

She has an extensive background in retail management, real estate, restaurant operations and banking. Donfrancesco-St. Jean’s prior roles include restaurant manager, real estate broker and, most recently, store manager for a large women’s clothing retailer.

CHAMBER REPORTS ON INCREASES, SUCCESSES

FLIP SIDE CHARTERS
Capt. Jenni Maughan

SanCap Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai reported recently to the board of directors that membership numbers grew from 121 active members in 2023 to 452 in 2024.

He attributed the growth to the work and dedication of the board and staff, support of the business community and value the chamber continues to provide. Lai reported that the demand for the chamber’s services continues to trend up, evident in the increase in web visits, Wander map downloads and foot traffic at the visitor center.

He underscored the success of the new Preserving Paradise leadership program. Other triumphs in 2024 included 46 ribbon-cuttings, the return of the chamber’s annual meeting and awards, partnering with the city in planning Sanibel’s 50th anniversary, first State of the Islands and return of the Luminary Stroll.

Looking ahead, Lai expressed optimism for continued hurricane recovery efforts. He reported that over 42% of the hotel room inventory is expected to be available by February and 65% by December.

FLIP SIDE CHARTERS EARNS TRIPADVISOR AWARD

Flip Side Charters — Sanibel and Captiva Islands ecological tour boat of owner Capt. Jenni Maughan — announced that it has been selected for Tripadvisor’s 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards.

It honors travelers’ favorite destinations, hotels, restaurants, things to do and beyond based on the reviews and opinions collected from travelers and diners around the world over a 12-month period.

Travelers’ Choice recognizes businesses that earn consistently great reviews. The winners are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor. Travelers’ Choice honors select accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently demonstrate a commitment to hospitality excellence.

The only female-captained eco boat charter in Lee County, Maughan holds the U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s license and is a Florida Master Naturalist. She grew up on Captiva, where she gained years of experience navigating and exploring the Southwest Florida waters.

For more information, visit FlipSideCharter.com or contact 239-309-8525.