Economic development group has new board officials

FORT MYERS — The Southwest Florida Economic Development Alliance named prominent area urban planner Alan Reynolds chairman and construction executive Gary Griffin chair-elect of its board of directors.

Reynolds is vice president of Stantec Consulting Services and has served as the principal planner for more than 100 communities in the U.S. and Caribbean, according to a statement. Griffin is president and CEO of B & I Contractors and the current chair of the Horizon Council of Lee County.

Joseph Catti, president and CEO of FineMark National Bank & Trust, will serve as treasurer of the alliance board and attorney Richard Grant, with Grant, Fridkin, Pearson P.A., will serve as secretary, according to the statement. Officers also include Laura Holquist, immediate past-chair, and Eric Berglund, president.

The alliance is as a non-parochial economic development coordinator with site selectors, real estate consultants and targeted companies, working in collaboration with local economic development organizations. It represents Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties.

Board members serve three-year terms and contribute their expertise, time, talent and resources to advancing Southwest Florida Economic Development Alliance's mission of attracting businesses to the region.

In addition to the leadership posts, four new members were named to the alliance's board of directors: Robert Jones with Florida SouthWestern State College; Mary Andrews with Lee Health; Russell Schropp with Henderson Franklin; and Ayesgul Timur with Hodges University.