Ft Myers Beach - Good Neighbor

A single DIY bar, some leftover lumber, and a flood of Marketplace messages—that’s how K Dog Custom Designs began. We sit down with Kevin and Dawn Lindsey to trace their path from Ohio basements to Fort Myers Beach workshops, where epoxy, local sand, shells, and even shark teeth become functional coastal art. What emerges is a candid look at how a small, community-first business can grow by saying...

Sunsets that wash the Gulf in gold. Conversations that turn strangers into friends. And a hospitality comeback that proves resilience can look like joy. We sit down with Melissa Schneider, Chief Marketing Officer at TriPower Vacation Rentals, to explore how Fort Myers Beach is welcoming travelers back with smarter homes, warmer service, and a community spirit you can feel the moment your toes hit...

Shovel-ready isn’t enough when your town lives on salt air, neighborly kindness, and a street-level rhythm that makes strangers feel welcome. We sit down with realtor and community builder Dennis Wagaman to map out how Fort Myers Beach can bring back small and mid-sized commercial spaces without losing what makes the island feel like home. The plan is simple to say and hard to do: respect the vibe...

If HVAC quotes have ever felt like a maze, this conversation with 5 Star Air’s Chris Kagan brings a much-needed map. We dig into why he built a repair-first company with no commissioned salespeople, how seasoned technicians change the customer experience, and what transparent pricing looks like when you can see the photos, notes, and logic behind every recommendation. It’s a grounded look at an in...

Want a fresher face, faster recovery, and a longer, healthier life without needles or quick fixes? We sit down with Dr. Greet of REnew YU Naples to unpack a natural approach that helps the body repair itself using closed-loop bioelectrical modulation. Instead of fillers and toxins, this conversation explores how gentle electrical signals can improve muscle tone, fascia health, and blood flow, lead...

Big problems don’t shrink on goodwill alone—they change when people, data, and dollars move together. We sit down with Dr. Dawn Belamarich, president and CEO of the Collaboratory, to explore how a 50-year-old regional foundation is turning generosity into measurable progress across Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties. From $132 million in grants to a bold 15-year plan, Dawn breaks...

Forget the sci‑fi headlines. We zero in on the kind of AI that actually ships value today and unpack how to choose it, pilot it, and prove ROI without blowing up your workflow. With Ken Johnson from USIT Systems, we sort hype from reality, cut through vendor noise, and focus on targeted wins that save time, reduce errors, and move the bottom line. We start by clarifying the landscape: narrow AI th...

Think you’ve only got one real internet option and no leverage when things go down? We unpack a better way to buy and manage connectivity, voice, cloud, and AI by partnering with an independent agent backed by master agencies. Ken Johnson from USIT Systems lays out how a single address check can reveal fiber builds on your street, business-class circuits with SLAs, 5G fixed wireless backups, and l...

A home for every child sounds simple until you see the real barriers: empty pantries, unstable housing, and trauma that follows kids into every new placement. We sit down with Karlene Masse,  Partner Engagement Officer from 4Kids Southwest Florida to unpack how prevention, foster care, and therapy fit together to keep children safe and help families heal. We start with the ground game of preventio...

Beach breeze, clinking ice, and a plate that refuses to behave—this week we head to the brand-new Marina Cantina Waterfront Tin Tiki at Salty Sam's Marina for a first taste that’s equal parts flavor and view. We go straight for a frozen margarita flight—blackberry, strawberry, mango, and watermelon—built with gold tequila, triple sec, sour mix, agave, and fruit puree. Each glass is light, ref...

Real estate dreams are built on more than sunshine and signatures. We sat down with Title Adam, a Florida title insurance pro with deep Southwest Florida roots, to unpack how safe closings actually happen: from verifying identities and ownership to navigating wire fraud attempts that hit inboxes at the worst possible moment. If you’ve ever wondered who protects your money when you buy, sell, build...

A tiny car, a pair of pink sunglasses, and a beachside town that decided to choose joy—meet Jameson, the Fort Myers Beach icon whose daily strolls turned into a movement of smiles and neighborly kindness. We sit down with Adrian and Alice Barrett to trace the unlikely path from a Sarasota pup to a community legend, and the surprising ways a dog can change how people show up for each other. We dive...

Did you know there's only one nonprofit deaf service center between Tampa and Miami? The Sally J Pimentel Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center stands as a critical lifeline serving deaf and hard of hearing individuals across five Florida counties, addressing challenges that many of us never consider. Executive Director Amy Turner takes us behind the scenes of this vital organization, revealing the...

What happens when you reimagine coastal living from the ground up? Brian Sodre of Miniopolis Builders joins us to share a revolutionary approach to beach homes that's changing how we think about paradise. Breaking away from the conventional wisdom that bigger is better, Sodre reveals how his company creates small footprint homes specifically designed for coastal living. "You can have mor...

Behind the paradise of Sanibel Island's pristine beaches and breathtaking sunsets lies a crucial challenge – housing the essential workers who keep this slice of heaven functioning. Nicole McHale from Community Housing and Resources (CHR) pulls back the curtain on the affordable housing crisis affecting our coastal communities and the innovative solutions making a difference. Founded when San...

Daniel Clarkston never imagined owning a bar when he first moved to Southwest Florida from Germany in 2017. Yet today, his Mr. Waves Island Bar stands as a testament to entrepreneurial spirit and community resilience on Fort Myers Beach. When Daniel and his wife purchased a prime Times Square property in mid-2022, they had no restaurant experience and an uncertain vision. Then Hurricane Ian hit. W...

Peter Ennis invites us into the heart of Fort Myers Beach's resilient restaurant scene, showcasing how his trio of beloved establishments—Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, Wahoo Willies, and SOB—are contributing to the community's remarkable comeback story. When Peter opened Snug Harbor six years ago, he revived more than just a restaurant—he reconnected with local history, establishing...

Hurricane Ian changed everything for Fort Myers Beach businesses. While some remain shuttered, others push forward with rebuilding efforts, determined to reclaim their slice of paradise. At the heart of this recovery stands Gulf Coast Business Bank, Southwest Florida's first community bank in 15 years, providing crucial financial support when it's needed most. Treasury Manager Kathy Stef...

From the rubble of Hurricane Ian rises a story of resilience, community, and cold beer. Matt Faller, manager of The Beach Bar on Fort Myers Beach, shares the remarkable journey of keeping a beloved local establishment alive against seemingly impossible odds. The Beach Bar stands as a testament to the strength of Fort Myers Beach, having reopened just 97 days after Hurricane Ian devastated the isla...

Resilience, community, and the sweetness of ice cream amid reconstruction—this is the story of Graham Belger and The Goodz on Fort Myers Beach. Graham takes us on a journey through his roots as an island native who transformed a run-down hardware store into a thriving local business, only to face Hurricane Ian's devastating impact. With remarkable candor, he shares how his entrepreneurial ins...

The unexpected heroes of disaster recovery often emerge from the most unlikely places. When Hurricane Ian devastated Fort Myers Beach in 2022, a local golf cart shop transformed overnight into a lifeline for an entire community. Heidi shares the remarkable origin story of FMB Strong, which began when business owners Tim Ryan and Dan Allers found their building relatively undamaged after the hurric...

Have you ever wondered what happens when you finally take your own advice and chase your dreams? Gregg Flowers did exactly that when he and his wife Sarah left their comfortable life in Ohio after 30 years in logistics to start fresh in Fort Myers Beach. Their story isn't just about relocating - it's about reinvention, resilience, and discovering what truly matters. Gregg's candid c...

Just a Quick Bite on Tequila & Taco Tuesday on Ft Myers Beach at Charros Brothers on wheels!!! Charros Brothers on wheels 2801 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931   (239) 414-4422 Ft Myers Beach-Good Neighbor To Nominate Someone to be Featured Or To Subscribe to the Newsletter CLICK HERE https://cabowabojim.com/listen-to-podcasts/

When Hurricane Ian devastated Fort Myers Beach, Darcy Kuenzel and her family faced a crossroads: rebuild what was lost or create something entirely new. Standing amid the wreckage of their recently purchased marina, they asked themselves a simple question: "What is going to make people happy?" The answer became the Tiki Pub – a floating celebration that embodies the resilient spirit of t...

Pull up a beach chair and dive into an inspiring conversation with Ben Duval of Tuna Skin Greetings, a Fort Myers Beach business that embodies the resilience and community spirit of this beloved coastal paradise. Ben shares the quirky origin story behind the Tuna Skin name, born from a fishing trip in the Florida Keys where the founders noticed tuna's unique skin-like appearance. What started...