The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI), recently hosted its first-ever Small Business Expo at the Sanibel Community House. The event drew more than 120 attendees and featured close to 20 vendors, showcasing the strength and resilience of the local business community.
Much appreciation is extended to Angi Semler Welch, partner of Cultivate Advisors, whose vision and initiative brought the idea of the Expo to life. With her leadership and the support of CFI and the Chamber, the inaugural event was a resounding success.
Reflecting on the day, Semler Welch shared her perspective on the importance of creating space for business owners to connect and collaborate:
“It was inspiring to see so many business owners and community members come together for the luncheon and Small Business Expo. I know it can be difficult to step away from the day-to-day demands of running a business, but these entrepreneurs made the important choice to work on their business for a few hours. My hope is that each one walked away with at least one new partner or resource to support them on their journey. Given the enthusiastic response, I’d love to see this become an annual tradition on the island—one that continues to grow and draw even more business owners, organizations, and service providers each year.”
The Business Expo highlighted the power of collaboration and underscored the strong commitment of Sanibel and Captiva’s business community to growth, partnership, and resilience.
