Weekly Lunch Meeting: Hurricanes on the Islands from Setback to Success
Join Us for our Weekly Meeting! Captiva Island continues to make steady progress in its recovery from Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton. While much of the island’s infrastructure, beaches, and utilities have been restored, work continues on rebuilding homes, businesses, and several landmark resorts. Many shops, restaurants, and accommodations have reopened, welcoming visitors back while maintaining the island’s distinctive charm and natural beauty. Ongoing beach restoration, resiliency improvements, and careful redevelopment are helping ensure Captiva remains one of Southwest Florida’s most treasured coastal destinations for years to come.
Our Speaker:
Sandra Stilwell Youngquist is the CEO and owner of Stilwell Enterprises & Restaurant Group, which operates seven restaurants, inns, and three shopping centers across Captiva Island, Fort Myers, and Boca Grande. A self-employed entrepreneur since age 17, she has built a dynamic portfolio in hospitality and real estate.
She serves on the Board of Directors for Gulf Coast Business Bank, Chapters Health System—the world’s largest nonprofit hospice provider—and The Horizon Foundation, where she chairs the Edison Awards committee. Her civic involvement includes serving on the Captiva Community Panel, Gulfshore Life Magazine’s Advisory Editorial Board, and the Advisory Board for Florida Gulf Coast University’s Resort and Hospitality Management program.
Sandra co-chairs the Planning & Capacity Branch of Resilient Lee, a regional task force formed after Hurricane Ian to develop resiliency strategies and secure $1.2 billion in federal HUD funding.
A committed community leader, she actively serves on the boards of organizations such as Hope Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Junior Achievement of SWFL, Pace Center for Girls, Lee Health Foundation, and SWFL Children’s Charities.
She is also the author of Resilient Spirit, a book on entrepreneurship available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.