Newsletter

Michael Swindle is a third generation Hendry County resident. Swindle Swindle lives on farmland that has been in his family for over seventy years. Living and growing up on the family farm have influenced his belief system and core values. He is a graduate of Clewiston High School and the University of Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida, Swindle returned to Clewiston where he taught Agri-Science Education and served as the advisor to the Future Farmers of America for nearly twenty years. Swindle is currently the Director of Workforce Development for Hendry County Schools where he has added multiple programs in order to provide training opportunities for Hendry County residents. In one instance, he was able to take a program that was in jeopardy of being shut down and instead, he grew it by over 300%. A FutureMakers Champion, Swindle has been a tremendous supporter of the Coalition for the past four years and recently wrote an op-ed supporting workforce development in our region, published in the News-Press.

The hard work and values instilled by this rural agriculture lifestyle have led to his success as a teacher, administrator and leader in our community. Swindle was appointed to the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners in November of 2013. Commissioner Swindle was elected his colleagues to serve as the Chair of the Board from 2015-2017. As a County Commissioner, Swindle is known for advocating for common sense approaches to improve Hendry County services. He is a constant advocate for economic development, especially in terms of small, local business growth. As a landowner, farmer and educator, Swindle has a grasp of Hendry County’s heritage but is committed to moving the County forward as a key player in the future development of Southwest Florida.

Commissioner Swindle’s life passion lies in his position as the Director of Adult Education and Workforce Development for the Hendry County School Board. As Director, Swindle implemented programs geared toward individuals obtaining certificates in trade work such as welding, building construction, industrial mechanics and nursing. Commissioner Swindle’s focus is to ensure that citizens of Hendry County have the opportunity and tools needed to excel and succeed in their hometowns. His passion for workforce development has led to a leadership role for FutureMakers Technical Colleges Strategic Grant Team as well as being an active member of the FutureMakers Guiding Team.

Dr. Anthony Jewett is the Managing Partner of SW Florida Impact Partners LLP and a fourth generation native of Fort Myers and the Dunbar Community. His deep understanding of the history of Southwest Florida in concert with his work focusing on social change has made him a natural fit to help lead the FutureMakers Equity Action Team. Dr. Jewett and the entire Equity Action Team will be presenting a compelling Implicit Bias training offered monthly at Collaboratory beginning in January of 2020.

In his current role with SW Florida Impact Partners, Anthony manages the day-to-day affairs of the partnership and its work in neighborhood renewal alongside the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency. His career began as a classroom teacher with Teach for America in New York City. He was awarded a 2006 Echoing Green Public Service fellowship to establish a youth-serving nonprofit and worked on the foundation team of a private family office. He has been a Fellow at Tides Foundation in San Francisco, an Innovation Fellow at Movement Strategy Center in Oakland, and an Integrated Capital Fellow with RSF Social Finance, and an Advisory Board Member to a student-led honor society at his alma mater, Morehouse College. Anthony holds a B.A. from Morehouse College and a doctorate from Harvard University.

There are many unsung heroes in Southwest Florida who work hard in the trenches to move the needle on the most critical issues facing the community. These individuals volunteer their time and give selflessly to ensure that work is being done to create a sustainable future for the next generation and beyond. FutureMaker Andy Getch is the epitome of such a hero. An engineer by trade, artist and musician by night Getch has been hailed as one of the most dedicated of all citizen volunteers within the Coalition. During the most recent scholarship cycle for the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, Andy held the record for most amount of scholarships reviewed by the entire panel of volunteers. A member of the FutureMakers Data Team, he works tirelessly to shine a light on the areas of the work that require the most attention by contributing to the Annual Outcomes Report and Business Survey. This is invaluable to the coalition’s efforts to target equity in attainment by defining priority populations in the five-county region. Getch grew up in the Lee County School System during a time when the area was still segregated, which has translated to a deep concern for closing the equity gaps that plague the community. Andy also volunteers his time to serve on the Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s Sustainability Committee where he gathers transportation data to support the sustainable community design aspect the group’s work. Andy and his wife Debby are members of the Americana Community Music Association. They have incorporated their love of music to host a FutureMakers Coalition benefit concert where artists like Friction Farm, a modern folk duo who are outcome aligned with the Coalition, joined forces to increase literacy rates. Andy Getch continues to be a great example of FutureMakers working to dedicate their time to create impact.