The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce will host its inaugural Leadership NEXT program 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 12 at FGCU’s Emergent Technologies Institute. Leadership NEXT is a professional organization for advancing business leaders in Southwest Florida.
Leadership NEXT will be among the first to tour the new ETI Innovation Hub to learn how the facility will offer qualified students the opportunity to study and gain employment in the emerging technologies marketplace. The hub is located at 12451 Alico Road in Fort Myers.
Joseph H. Simmons, Ph.D., the Backe chair for renewable energy, and Richard Behr, Ph.D., the dean of the Whitaker College of Engineering, will speak about the projects to be conducted at the facility and how research will be applied throughout Southwest Florida. Glen Salyer, the assistant Lee County manager and acting Lee County economic development director, will also present about the area’s business environment and the focus to bring diversified industries to the region.
The Jan. 12 Leadership NEXT program is free to attend, but guests are encouraged to register in advance at www.fortmyers.org. Programs will continue to take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month and will change location every month based on the program topic.