Tuesday, Jan. 17, brought representatives of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce out to celebrate the opening of another Sanibel Island business. Having purchased the John Naumann & Associates real estate brokerage one week before Hurricane Ian hit in September, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty, which operates 33 offices statewide, has completed recovery efforts at 1149 Periwinkle Way.
“We were privileged to acquire the 40-plus years of goodwill and the exceptional reputation John Naumann & Associates always had,” said managing broker Craig Dorfman. “Our entire Sanibel office is comprised of agents with many years of experience successfully marketing and selling Sanibel and Captiva properties under John Naumann. So, our Sanibel and Captiva customers will continue to receive the same outstanding service from agents they’ve loved working with all these years, but now that great service is paired with the worldwide exposure and resources that comes with being affiliated with Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway.”
Berkshire Hathaway suffered only light damage from Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28. Since the storm, its agents have worked tirelessly to check on hundreds of properties affected by the hurricane.
“They have definitely served as valuable resources for those homeowners trying to navigate the renovation and/or sales process – all while many of those customers have been living out of state but needed assistance locally,” said Dorfman.
“We welcome the Berkshire Hathaway team to the island and to the chamber,” said John Lai, chamber president and CEO. “Its name, combined with the long-trusted John Naumann expertise, is a win-win for the islands’ real estate industry.”
“The SanCap chamber has always been a very strong and important force in supporting the businesses on Sanibel and Captiva Islands,” said Dorfman. “We at Berkshire Hathaway are very fortunate to have such an efficient organization helping rebuild our local economy.”
ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. With over 560 active Chamber members from both islands including businesses from Lee and Collier counties, the Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. The Francis P. Bailey, Jr. Chamber Visitor Center is located at the entrance to Sanibel Island and welcomes over 160,000 visitors each year. VISIT FLORIDA named the Visitor Center one of thirteen official Florida Certified Tourism Information Centers. The Visitor Center is open 365 days a year and provides visitors with comprehensive information about things to do, places to visit, where to stay, shop and dine. The Chamber website http://sanibel-captiva.org receives over 1.3 million website visits per year.
For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or John@sanibel-captiva.org.
