Lutgert Blogs

Issue Brief: 2025 Holiday Shopping Season in Southwest Florida

April 29, 2026 / RERI Research Team

The holiday shopping season is a critical period for retailers and local economies, often serving as a barometer for overall economic health and consumer confidence. Regions like Southwest Florida can be more prone to the effect of this season, as the area caters to snowbirds and other seasonal residents from across the world. Understanding the trends and patterns of previous years becomes valuable for businesses, policymakers, and consumers alike.

Lutgert Faculty Achieve Record 21 Top Tier Research Awards

April 13, 2026 / Lutgert News / Tags: 2025, Academic Journals, LCOB Top Tier Award, Research

The Lutgert College of Business is proud to recognize a record-breaking 21 Top Tier Research Awards in 2025, honoring faculty whose work has been published in some of the most competitive and highly ranked academic journals in the world. This milestone reflects the depth of expertise, innovation, and dedication across our faculty, with research spanning artificial intelligence, global economics, leadership, supply chain, workplace behavior, and more. These awards are reserved for publications in journals recognized by leading rankings such as ABDC, JCR, ABS, and ARES, reinforcing the level of excellence required to earn this recognition.

Nathan Misirian Named 2026 Beta Gamma Sigma Chapter Honoree at FGCU

April 08, 2026 / Lutgert News / Tags: 2026, BGS, Beta Gamma Sigma, Honoree

For Nathan Misirian, the relationship with FGCU is personal. Both of his children are graduates of the university, and that connection to campus evolved naturally into a deeper investment in its students and programs. Over the years, Misirian has become a familiar presence in the Lutgert College of Business—mentoring marketing students, offering career guidance, and helping young professionals navigate the transition from classroom to career. “Watching a student realize they belong in this industry—that they have something real to contribute—that’s the moment I work toward,” Misirian said. “The degree gets them in the door. The confidence to stay in the room? That takes someone believing in them out loud.” Misirian’s mentorship goes beyond scheduled office hours. Students describe him as someone who takes their calls, reviews their portfolios, and connects them with professionals across Southwest Florida. Several former mentees now hold marketing and business development roles in the region—a point of pride for Misirian, who views each success as proof that investing time in others pays dividends far beyond any balance sheet.

Lutgert Mentorship Program: A Strategic Initiative Creating Lasting Impact

April 06, 2026 / Lutgert News / Tags: Careers, Internships, Mentorship

The Lutgert College of Business Mentorship Program was built on a simple but powerful idea: that meaningful connections between students and industry professionals create impact far beyond the classroom. With a network of more than 250 mentors spanning industries closely aligned with business majors, the program has matched over 350 students with professionals committed to investing in the next generation of business talent.

Regional Economic Indicators: April 2026 Report

April 06, 2026 / RERI Research Team

Headline numbers paint a mixed picture for the US economy, with solid growth tempered by a softening labor market and persistent inflation. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), an overall measure of economic activity, grew at annualized rate of 4.4 percent in the third quarter, reflecting increases in consumer spending, government spending and exports. Meanwhile, the headline unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in December 2025, up 0.3 percentage points year-over-year as total unemployment grew faster than total employment amid a cooling labor market inducing slower hiring and fewer workers quitting. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, was slightly elevated at 2.7 percent in December. Altogether, this combination of data has painted a picture of uncertainty for the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), who opted to take a wait-and-see approach on the economy and hold the federal funds rate at 3.5 to 3.75 in January 2026. FOMC Chair Jerome Powell emphasized a cautious, data-dependent approach, noting that future decisions depend on changes in inflation and labor market conditions.