Your Success Story......

Did you recently reach your goal and graduate with a degree in the career field of your dreams? Did you recently get a job in that career field? If you did, tell us about it!





Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with lifetime placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

McKenna Joins the Southwest Florida College Tampa Campus as Director of Industry Relations and Graduate Placement

Janis McKenna

Tampa, Fla., (May 26, 2011) – An accomplished career and staffing recruiter with over 25 years of experience in the higher education industry, has been named the Tampa Director of Industry Relations and Graduate Placement for Southwest Florida College. In her new position, Janis McKenna will lead the business relationship building and graduate placement activities for the Tampa Campus of Southwest Florida College. 

“Janis McKenna will strengthen our Industry Relations and Graduate Placement initiative in the Tampa metro market, said Dr. Stephen Calabro, President of Southwest Florida College. “Her skills, relationships and direct experience will translate into strong employer relationships and enhanced opportunities for our college graduates. Her work will enhance our ability to be a College Listening to Employers.” 

McKenna began her recruiting career as a Corporate Technical Recruiter with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. She has worked in Career Services for Manatee Community College, (now the State College of Florida), in Bradenton, Fla., and she was the Director of Career Services at Florida Metropolitan University Online, which is now Everest University Online.

For 10 years, McKenna was active in the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise money for college scholarships for women. She was recognized by ABWA as “Women of the Year” at their national conference. She has also been active in the Florida Career Professionals Association (FCPA). 

McKenna has earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Argosy University in Sarasota, Fla. and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich.

With a passion in helping others achieve their career goals and dreams, McKenna expressed that for her, “there is no greater joy than watching a student walk across the stage at commencement, and assisting the student in obtaining their first professional position after graduation.”

About Southwest Florida College: Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call 239-939-4766 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Contact: Diana Sabino 

Director of Marketing Communications 

Website: www.swfc.edu 

E-Mail: info@swfc.edu

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Congratulations IT Students!

Congratulations to these Southwest Florida College, Information Technology students who have recently earned their certifications over the break!


Wendy Davis: A+, Net+, Security +

Frank Rhoades: A+, Net+

Wayne Langer: A+

Adam Oakley: A+, Net+

Terry Collins: A+

Jeff Norris: A+, Net+

Vincent Zinkys: A+, Net+, Security+

Rickie Zarb: Net+

Richard Harris: A+

Robert Rossi: A+

Eston Taylor: A+

Doug Little: A+, Net+

Larry Theil: Net+


Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with lifetime placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit http://www.swfc.edu/.

Patrick Flahive Joins Southwest Florida College as the Criminal Justice Program Manager

Fort Myers, Fla. – Patrick Flahive has recently joined Southwest Florida College as the Criminal Justice Program Manager.
Patrick Flahive is a certified correctional officer, law enforcement officer, general instructor, firearms instructor and first responder by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission. He has earned a master’s degree in Administration.

Flahive has served in the United States Air Force for five years as a munitions systems specialist and Sergeant supervising teams who maintained, tested and assembled precision guided conventional, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

He has worked for the Florida Department of Corrections as a Correctional Officer & Sergeant for nine years where he supervised the Correctional Officers and civilian staff who maintain the safety and security of a maximum security prison.

Flahive has also worked for the Florida Gulf Coast University Police Department as a Police Officer and Reserve Police Officer for seven years, enforcing local, state, and federal laws as well as university rules and regulations.

He has been a coordinator, full-time and part time instructor at the Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy for thirteen years, training Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers.

He has served as a member of the Regional Domestic Security Taskforce and Joint Terrorism Taskforce for three years, determining training and operational needs at the local, state and federal levels.

Flahive has been the Assistant Director of the Southwest Florida Public Service Academy for three years where he supervised, directed, lead, and motivated more than 150 Firefighter and Criminal Justice instructors and 3,000 firefighter and criminal justice students annually.

“Southwest Florida College is a career college; we are going to make sure that students who graduate from our program not only have the academic ability to be successful but that they also have the practical ability to be successful,” Flahive said.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. Campuses are located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design at Southwest Florida College is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐526‐7973 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Southwest Florida College students, faculty and staff reach out to help students in need.

Fort Myers, Fla. - The Angel Tree, organized by Southwest Florida College’s Allied Health Club volunteers Claudia Portalatin, Laida Colon, and Sherry Marshburn, was created two years ago as a way to help fellow classmates during the holiday.

Students of Southwest Florida College can sign-up their children for the Angel Tree. The age and interest of each child is written on the back of paper angel ornaments and hung on the tree located on the third floor lobby of the Southwest Florida College, Fort Myers campus.

Fellow classmates, faculty and staff then choose an angel from the tree and purchase a pair of pajamas and a book for each child, based on the child’s interest.

“We thought about what Christmas was all about and what most of us remember is being a child and sitting around the tree in a pair of pajamas with a good book,” said Liz Levine, Allied Health Program Manager and Club Advisor. “We feel that this teaches kids the spirit of giving.”

This year, there are 75 angels on the tree. Students will be able to pick up their Angel Tree gifts on December 13th. Whatever doesn’t get picked up will be donated to the ACT Shelter.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Cheryl Vanande joins Southwest Florida College as the Graduate Placement Coordinator for the Port Charlotte Campus

Port Charlotte, Fla.  – Cheryl Vanande joined the Southwest Florida College, Port Charlotte campus as the Graduate Placement Coordinator. Vanande has an impressive background, with over 25 years of experience in training, development and human resources management.

She said she is pleased to be a part of Southwest Florida College because of its focus on student success. Which Vanande said is “a success that is thought out and includes future employers’ needs.”

“Students matter, employers matter and the community benefits. Our students leave with a real education that is career-oriented, competency based, and is what employers are looking for,” she said.

Vanande is currently the president of CNO, Inc., a nationwide provider of training, consulting and publishing services. Prior to establishing CNO, Inc., Vanande served as Manager of Training and Organizational Development for Charlotte County’s Board of County Commissioners (BCC), headquartered in Port Charlotte, Fla. In addition, Vanande is a retired (reserve) Navy Commander.

Her educational background includes a master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University (2003), and a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Iowa (1982).

Vanande has earned certifications/licenses in:

• Professional Human Resources (PHR)
• Performance Leadership Instructor
• Achieve Global Instructor: Customer Service Program Instructor, and Integrated Leadership Concepts, Applications and Practices
• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Administrator
• Emotional Intelligence (EI) Instructor
• CPR and First Aid American Red Cross Instructorships

Vanande is a founding member of Charlotte County’s Toastmasters Club, currently serves on the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development, is a past board member of the Charlotte County Society of Human Resources Management, past member of the American Society of Public Administrators, past member of the Florida Public Personnel Association and certified labor relations negotiator.

“My personal goal in my new position is to help each and every graduate maximize their potential for obtaining a career position. Basically, make sure they stand out in the sea of applicants so they get an interview opportunity where I know they will shine,” Vanande said.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. Campuses are located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design at Southwest Florida College is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐526‐7973 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Southwest Florida College Students Earned Top Awards at the ASID Annual Student Design Competition

Bonita Springs, Fla. – Four students from the Institute of Interior Design at Southwest Florida College claimed top awards at the annual ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Student Design Competition, held on September 24, 25 and 26 in Marathon, Fla.

In the residential design category, Sandra Dressler won first place for the second year in a row and received a check for $500. First time competition entrants Alexandra Hutchinson and Mary Seca took second and third place respectively in the residential design category earning a check for $250 and $175.

Sandra Dressler also won second place in the commercial design category and received another check for $250. Student Chris Beebe won the student rug design competition. Beebe earned a check for $500 and will have the honor of seeing his rug manufactured of silk in wool in Tibet. The rug was on display at the ASID South Florida Chapter Annual Design Conference and will be used in the home show in Naples early next year. Following the home show, the rug will be auctioned off at an ASID fundraising event.

“We all had a wonderful time at the conference and we hope that even more students will attend next year’s conference in Jupiter, Fla.,” said Linda Petersen, Program Manager of Interior Design at the Institute of Interior Design at Southwest Florida College. “We are very proud of all our winners and we are looking forward to seeing how great they will become when they graduate.”

The ASID Student Design Competition is open to all interior design programs in the South Florida area. Projects are judged on the overall professionalism of the design, the presentation of the design, and the appropriateness of the design in relation to the design requirements.



Southwest Florida College is an accredited, private institution of higher learning that is listening to employers and providing its students with placement assistance in today’s most demanding career fields. The college is located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs. The Institute of Interior Design is also located within the Bonita Springs campus. For more information, call toll free 888‐279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

Southwest Florida College Holds 36th Commencement Ceremony

Graduation Ceremony will take place Saturday, June 19, 2010 at Harborside Event Center.

Fort Myers, Fla. – A well known business leader and entrepreneur will accept an honorary degree and deliver the commencement address to 509 students receiving bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees and diplomas at Southwest Florida College’s 36th commencement exercise, planned for Saturday, June 19 at Harborside Event Center.

“Graduation marks an important milestone for our students and is the culmination of years of dedication, hard work, and sacrifice,” said Dr. Stephen Calabro, Executive Vice President of Southwest Florida College. “We look forward each year with great excitement as we watch our graduates begin a new chapter in their lives.”

Mr. John Marazzi of John Marazzi Nissan and Audi Jaguar Land Rover of Fort Myers will deliver the Commencement Address and will also receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration. Mr. Marazzi entered into the automotive business as a car washer at the age of 12. His desire to do right by each and every customer and his passion for building a strong community has led him to become a successful business leader. He demonstrates that hard work and perseverance can turn dreams into realities and therefore sets a strong example for the Southwest Florida College graduating class of 2010.

Since the College was founded in 1974, approximately 4,500 students have graduated with degrees, diplomas and certificates in career fields such as allied health, legal studies, education, business, design and information technology – all of which offer high growth potential. This year’s ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 19 at Harborside Event Center. There will be a reception to follow for the guest speaker and honorary degree recipient. For more information on the event and directions to Harborside Event Center, please call toll free 888-279-2342 .

Southwest Florida College is an accredited private institution of higher learning centrally located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte, and includes the Institute of Interior Design located within the Miromar Design Center in Estero. The College has been providing post secondary education to Floridians since 1974 and offers programs in Allied Health, Business, Design, Education, Information Technology and Legal Studies. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities for individuals to acquire knowledge and skills that will help prepare them for rewarding careers in fields with high growth potential. For more information, call toll free 888-279-2342 or visit http://www.swfc.edu/.

Record Growth - SWFC Port Charlotte Campus

The Southwest Florida College, Port Charlotte campus opened its doors in February of last year. Since then, the physical campus has expanded and new classrooms and labs have been added. The build out has made the Port Charlotte campus double in size. New programs as well as some noteworthy personnel have also been added.

Dora Kunz is now the Director of Education for the Port Charlotte campus. Kristen Heermance is now the Associate Registrar and Erin Barnes has been promoted to Assistant Director of Admissions.

There has been a lot of growth in just a short period of time. The Southwest Florida College, Port Charlotte campus is now just short of 300 students.

New programs at the Port Charlotte campus include: Crime Scene Investigation; Early Childhood Care & Management; Criminal Justice; Early Childhood Education; and Management & Marketing. Programs that are also still being offered that were introduced when the campus first opened include: Medical Assistant; Medical Billing & Coding Technology; Health Information Technology; and Surgical Technician.

Medical Billing & Coding Technology; Health Information Technology; Criminal Justice; and Management & Marketing can also be taken fully online.

New personnel

Dora Kunz – Director of Education, Port Charlotte Campus

Mrs. Kunz was hired in September of 2006 as the Program Manager for Early Childhood Education. She began her career as an elementary and middle school teacher as retired as a Principal. Mrs. Kunz holds a master’s degree in Education and has earned posts graduate credits in Educational Administration from Ohio State University.

Kristen Heermance – Associate Registrar, Port Charlotte Campus

Ms. Heermance is currently pursuing her Bachelors degree at Southwest Florida College. She began her career with the institution in July 2007 as a receptionist and was promoted to Associate Registrar in 2009.

Erin Barnes – Assistant Director of Admissions

Mrs. Barnes grew up in Southwest Florida and graduate from Cape Coral High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Florida State University in 2003. Mrs. Barnes started with Southwest Florida College in March 2007 as an Admissions Representative. In July of 2009 she was awarded Admissions Representative of the Term. She was recently promoted to Assistant Director of Admissions for the Port Charlotte Campus and intends to begin her master’s degree studies in the Fall. “I am very proud to be a part of an institution that says it’s “students come first” and really they really do,” Mrs. Barnes said.

Southwest Florida College is an accredited private institution of higher learning centrally located in Fort Myers, Tampa, Port Charlotte, and includes the Institute of Interior Design located within the Miromar Design Center in Estero. The College has been providing post secondary education to Floridians since 1974 and offers programs in Allied Health, Business, Design, Education, Information Technology and Legal Studies. Its mission is to provide educational opportunities for individuals to acquire knowledge and skills that will help prepare them for rewarding careers in fields with high growth potential. For more information, call toll free 888-279-2342 or visit www.swfc.edu.

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