Dear Friends of Education:
On behalf of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc., I wish to thank you for your generous support of public education in Lee County. Your investment in our community and the children of Lee County is an essential element in the growth and development of a world class educational experience. Your financial and in-kind contributions will continue to pay dividends as students of today become the leaders, parents, teachers, and citizens of tomorrow.
Despite the economic challenges facing our local economy this past year, The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc. was able to provide much needed support for public education. We continued to offer Programs that enriched and supported student achievement, promoted teacher learning, such as Classroom Grants and the Collegium, broadened student awareness for the arts and culture, with Programs like Dancing Classrooms, and recognized excellence in education, with such programs as the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Program, and the A-Team Challenge.
We continue to expand and improve time-tested and proven Programs, while introducing new and creative Programs in response to the needs of the children in Lee County. Take Stock in Children has expanded scholarship opportunities for middle school students, and the need is greater than ever for more funding and mentors. ArtSpeak continues to expand as a Program that helps students with autism use art as a medium for expression. The Ben Carson Scholarship Fund benefits students in the elementary grades for academic excellence. The Teacher Resource Center was also expanded, making it more convenient for teachers to gain access to classroom supplies at no cost to the teachers.
As I begin my first year as Chairman of the Board, I wish to thank Harlan Parrish, past Chairman, and Chuck Reynolds, past Vice-Chair, for their dedication and leadership these past two years. I wish to also recognize The Foundation Staff, and the Board of Directors for conferring and entrusting me with this wonderful privilege and honor. In addition, The Foundation wishes to extend our gratitude to the Lee County School Board for their teamwork, vision and leadership. Special gratitude to the dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators of Lee County Public Schools, who inspire me with their passion for the children in their care, and finally the Community for recognizing the value and benefits of public education..
By working together we will improve the lives of others, while enhancing the educational experience for all.
Sincerely,
Kenneth A, O’Donnell
Foundation Board Chairman
July, 2009 – June, 2011

2009 - 2010 Board of Directors
Officers
-
Chairman
Kenneth A. O'Donnell
Senior Vice President
Bank of America
Vice Chairman
Robbie B. Roepstorff
President
Edison National Bank/Bank of the Islands
Treasurer
Cole Peacock
RC Peacock Consulting, LLC.
Secretary
John Hayes
President and CEO
GATES
Immediate Past Chairman
Harlan C. Parrish*
Area Executive
BB&T
Executive Director
Marshall T. Bower, Esq.
Board Members
- Wilson Bradshaw, Ph.D.
President
Florida Gulf Coast University
James Browder, Ed.D.
Superintendent
The School District of Lee County
Mark J. Castellano
President
Teachers Association of Lee County
Joseph R. Catti
President and CEO
FineMark National Bank and Trust
Jon Cecil
Chief Human Resource Officer
Lee Memorial Health System
Heidi Colgate-Tamblyn
President
SunTrust Bank of Southwest Florida
Brent Crawford
Private Client Advisor
Banc of America Investment Services, Inc.
Dominic DiMaio
Market President, SW Florida
SYNOVUS
Kelli L. Eastman
Broker, Director of Sales
Bonita Bay Group
President
Elite Flooring of Naples, Inc.
Thomas Fewster, Jr.
Vice President, Customer Relations
McBLT Ventures, Inc.
Eva Freeman*
Design Consultant
Thomas H. Giles
President
Avalon Engineering, Inc.
Ryan S. Goldberg
Regional President
Regions Bank
David Carleton Hall
President
First Community Bank of Southwest Florida
Bob Janes
Commissioner, District 1
Lee County Board of County
Commissioners
Gregory H. Jones
President
Compass Rose Foundation
Southwest Florida College
Judy Kenney
Vice President and General Manager
FOX-4 WFTX
Jane Kuckel, Ph.D.
Chairman
The School Board of Lee County
Michele Laboda, D.M.D.
Gulf Coast Orthodontics
William C. Merwin, Ed.D.
Hodges University
Heather Messmer
Owner
Ruth Messmer Florist, Inc.
Thomas A. Mueller
Business Manager
Covanta Energy
Greg Pasanen
Regional Vice President
Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union
Steven Personette*
Community Volunteer
Steven Pontius
Executive Vice-President and General Manager
Waterman Broadcasting
Joe L. Pressler
Vice President, Estimating
Kraft Construction Company, Inc.
Chuck Reynolds
Community Volunteer
Scott Saxon
General Manager
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
Bruce A. Schultz
President and CEO
Southwest Capital Bank
Mike Scott
Sheriff
Lee County Sheriff's Office
Wayne Simons
Vice President, General Manager
Fort Myers Broadcasting Company
Nancy M. Solliday
Senior Vice President/Sales & Marketing
The News-Press
Noreen Thomas, Ed.D.
Executive Vice President and Lee Campus President
Edison State College
Douglas Torretta
Vice President, Branch Manager
Smith Barney Citigroup
Louis Traina, Ed.D.
Vice President, University Advancement
Hodges University
Gary V. Trippe*
Chairman of the Board
Oswald Trippe and Company, Inc.
Bridget Trombley-Nunez
Director of Business Development
Herman Strackbein Construction, Inc.
Eric Whitehouse
Campus Director
Rasmussen College
Emeritus
-
Richard Ackert*
Retired
Chris Bundschu*
President
Bundschu Kraft, Inc.
Charles K. Idelson*
President and CEO
Investors Security Trust Company
Gerald Laboda, D.M.D.*
Southwest Florida Oral & Facial Surgery
Jerry H. Schmoyer*
Executive Vice President
Miromar Development
Steven C. Shimp*
Chairman of the Board
Owens-Ames-Kimball Company
E. Bruce Strayhorn*
Partner
Strayhorn & Strayhorn
Linda K. Taylor*
Florida State Board of Education
*Past Board Chairman










