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

Fort Myers, Fla. (October 8, 2001) ---The Lee County Horizon Council, Economic Development Offices of Lee, Charlotte and Collier Counties and the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board will be hosting Southwest Florida’s third regional Workforce Summit on Wednesday, October 10, from 8:30 a.m.-1:30p.m. at Three Oaks University Center in Estero.

Designed to address rapidly changing workforce needs in Southwest Florida, the Summit provides a forum for business, education and government leaders to share ideas, address challenges and develop a blueprint for meeting current and emerging workforce needs.

Dr. William Merwin, president of Florida Gulf Coast University will co-chair the event along with Steve Shimp, president-elect of the Horizon Council, and president of Owen-Ames-Kimball. Featured speakers include representatives from the Alliance of Educational Leaders, Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board, Horizon Council and Regional Economic Development Offices.

A keynote address on the Vision and Reality of Florida’s Education Reform will be given by Florida’s Secretary of Education, Jim Horne. Secretary Horne is Florida’s first Secretary of Education. He was appointed in July of this year by Governor Jeb Bush and is responsible for governing Florida’s K-20 education system.

"Balancing the supply and demand of qualified workers is one of the most significant challenges facing business and education communities today," said Janet Watermeier, Director of the Lee County’s Economic Development office. "Forums such as the Regional Workforce Summit provide an opportunity for dialog to insure workforce systems are in place to produce future workers with employable skills to meet the needs of the business community."

Three Oaks University Center is located on Three Oaks Parkway just north of Corkscrew Road (Exit 19) off I –75.