Griffin Parkway and the university. “Miromar Lakes affected the look, feel and value along Ben


Hill Griffin,” he says. “Margaret created a very, very desirable area in Lee County." Just as she sees the world in multicolored dimension, Antonier


believes supporting the community and its charitable organizations is a given. “It is very important to help the people around you,” she says. “We have been part of Southwest Florida for 20 years and have been involved from the beginning.” Miromar Outlets has supported the Harry Chapin Food Bank


and its Stuff a Bus program since 1999. Christmas marked the 18th year the shopping center purchased and delivered clothing, shoes and wrapped toys to 400 chil- dren in Immokalee. Miromar Lakes hosted the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest for nine years, when it raised $25 million, and Miromar Develop- ment has sponsored five homes to date through Habitat for Humanity. Miro- mar Outlets alone supports 40 chari- table organizations. There are many more organiza-


“My objective isn’t to build something quick but to create something of enduring beauty,” she says. “It just requires more creativity. What we develop will have lasting impact, so we put a lot of thought into everything we build.”


tions and events. Close to Antonier’s heart is Dancing Classrooms, a national program proven to turn around the lives of at-risk fifth- grade students through ballroom dancing. She was captivated after seeing the documentary Mad Hot Ballroom. “At our next marketing meeting, I gave each member of the team a copy of the documentary. I said, ‘watch it tonight and we will talk tomorrow,’” she remembers. “The program is powerful. I knew we had to bring Dancing Classrooms here.” Antonier worked tirelessly to get the program added to the curriculum of specific Lee County Schools. Since she brought Dancing Classrooms to Florida and Lee County schools in 2008, 9,000 local students have participated. “It’s a wonderful program,” she says excitedly. “This changes the lives of under-privileged stu- dents. They do better in school; they learn respect and social skills. They become ladies and gentlemen.” Antonier’s passion and enthusiasm for Dancing Classrooms


has never wavered. “Margaret understood from the very begin- ning, that this was much more than teaching ballroom dancing,” says Marshall Bower, president and CEO of The Foundation for Lee County Schools. “It was about helping to build and enrich the character of our greatest community asset – our children. Teachers, parents, and school administrators all report positive changes in the behaviors and attitudes of the fifth graders participating. I hear many success stories throughout the year.” Antonier believes most anything is possible. Like Miromar


Lakes’ white-sand beach which many said couldn’t be done. Dur- ing its evolution, she was insistent the beach remain accessible to all residents. “The water and the sand are what set Miromar Lakes apart from every other community,” she says. Antonier also created Miromar Design Center, a furniture shopping center dedicated entirely to home furnishings in a single building which, as expected, demonstrates her impeccable taste and brilliant marketing savvy. “What many people don’t realize is that the entire center is open to the public,” she says. “Consumers


will find everything they need for their complete household in a one-stop venue for all budgets. The Design Center is also available for seminars, tradeshows and special events.” When the shortage of apartments for FGCU students made headlines, Antonier and her team created University Village, a mixed-use shopping center and residential development that brought restaurants and businesses closer to neighboring com- munities. Phase I opened in August 2018 fully leased. With the completion of the second phase this summer, University Village will have 924 student residents. It also offers a 14,400-square-foot amenity filled clubhouse. A new south access road between Univer- sity Village and FGCU, a collaboration between the two entities, is now open. “We wouldn’t have accomplished anything if we were not good partners,” notes former FGCU President Dr. Wil- son Bradshaw. “Margaret defined the character of both Miromar and FGCU.” “I’m a strong advocate of FGCU and its positive impact on Southwest Florida,” Antonier adds. “The univer- sity is educating our future leaders and


employees. We employ student interns and FGCU graduates in our various projects.”


Antonier has also been a significant but quiet supporter, Dr.


Bradshaw notes. “Margaret is a great philanthropist. She’s support- ed our food pantry and is a major sponsor of our annual President’s Gala, our main fundraiser,” he says. “Margaret is accomplished and a very smart businessperson.” Antonier never set out to win awards – 249 and counting


– however gleaming trophies have practically taken over the Miromar Lakes sales gallery and the walls in the Miromar Outlets executive office display two decades of awards. The honors are a testament to Antonier’s unique vision, her ability to see beyond the physical and create the future. Other awards acknowledge 20 years of philanthropic contributions to the community. Like Estero, Miromar Development has grown from a handful


of employees to over 250 today. Several have stood by Antonier’s side since day one and many have been with the company well over 10 years. Peering into the future Antonier sees continued growth for


Estero and because of her unstoppable imagination there’s definite- ly excitement in Miromar Development’s future. Just don’t expect her to play her cards until she’s ready.


W


hen asked about the difficulties of a woman succeeding in a man’s world, Antonier is nonplussed. “I never thought


that I couldn’t do something because I’m a woman.” Meg Judge, founder of the Estero Chamber of Commerce,


shared Antonier’s vision and confidence; their common goals helped to not only create a strong friendship, but also a prophetic force in the evolution of Estero. “I believe there would be no Estero without Meg Judge. She was amazing and believed in Estero’s potential. She had the abil- ity to get things done … and she did it with a smile.”


2019 Estero Chamber of Commerce 11


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