Opening Doors

Representing occupations ranging from baker to Web designer, the 75 members of the Neapolitan Chapter of the American Business Women's Association bring an assortment of skills and experience to the table. "There's quite a variety and diversity of women, which makes our group very interesting," says Sandy Waite, the chapter's president and co-owner of Platinum Dry Cleaners.

Likewise, the chapter's honorees for its annual Women in History event boast diverse backgrounds, having contributed to the area in a variety of ways.

"We look for women within our community who have given back tremendously, whether through education, community service or their entrepreneurial spirit," says Waite. Using nominations submitted by chapter members, a committee of 12 selected Jennifer Edwards, Palma Fuson and Kim Cliett Long as this year's honorees.

Now in its fourth year, the Women in History luncheon takes place March 24 at the Hilton Naples. Proceeds from the event go toward the chapter's education fund, which provides money for scholarships to local students and helps the chapter bring in noteworthy speakers and send members to conferences.

"This year's theme is 'opening doors,'" says Waite, "and these women have opened doors for those behind them to follow through. They've broken barriers, or at least helped to."

Voter's Choice

When Jennifer Edwards assumed the role of Collier County supervisor of elections July 1, 2000, she couldn't possibly have imagined what was in store for her with the November 2000 presidential election. She jokingly calls her predecessor "the smartest lady I know" for her decision to retire that year.

But Edwards takes her job overseeing Collier County's election process seriously. "I tell our staff that what we do in this office is so very important," she says. "We are the gatekeepers of democracy, and the importance of the function of this office is what garnered my interest."

Edwards, 56, grew up in northeast Kentucky and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in business education. She married, had a daughter and spent time as a stay-at-home mom before becoming a high school teacher of business in London, Ky. She eventually transitioned from the classroom into school administration, working at the local level and then for the state as an internal auditor for the Kentucky Department of Education.

In 1984, the promise of a pleasant climate drew her to Naples. "Just like everyone else, I wanted to live in paradise," Edwards says. Her first job in Southwest Florida was as an internal auditor for Naples Federal Savings and Loan, followed by a stint at the Collier County vo-tech center.

Edwards' business and auditing background led to a position in Collier County's budget office in 1987. She has worked for the county ever since, also serving as an assistant to the county manager and director of human resources before becoming supervisor of elections. "I have a very strong work ethic," she says. "I think it's up to the individual to work as hard as he or she can and develop his or her own career."

Edwards appreciates everything about the election process, from dealing with candidates to training poll workers to watching the results come in. She tries to share this enthusiasm with the county's residents by educating them about the importance of voting. "We're constantly reminding people to vote," she says. "It's their opportunity to be a part of the democratic process."

"I think people within Collier County do respect her," Waite says of Edwards. She believes citizens consider Edwards a leader and role model, especially after 2000's controversial presidential election.

When she's not working to ensure that every voter gets a voice, Edwards makes her voice heard as a member of various local organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Marco Island, Marco Island branch of the American Association of University Women and Leadership Collier. She has been involved with United Way of Collier County since 1997 and currently serves as co-chair of its campaign.

A grandmother of two, Edwards also enjoys reading, gardening, exercising and horseback riding. Her husband, Ronnie, is "very understanding," she says. "We had a clear understanding when I began the career I'm in now that it would be challenging to my time."

Though Edwards considers her recognition at the Women in History event to be an honor, that's not the kind of thing that drives her everyday actions. "As an individual, I do things because I choose to do them," she says. "I don't do them because I expect to be honored."

Career in Care

On the weekend, you might see Palma Fuson tooling around on her 2003 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail motorcycle. But during the week, she's sure to be busy at the NCH Healthcare System, where she serves as vice president of ancillary services.

A native of Warren, Ohio, Fuson graduated from Youngstown State University with a degree in medical technology. She moved to Florida 33 years ago at the age of 29 and has worked for the NCH Healthcare System since her arrival in the Sunshine State. "I was hired at the hospital as a blood banker when I first came here," Fuson recalls. She worked her way up the ladder, holding a variety of positions before taking on her current job.

"Palma has quite a large role with the hospital," says Waite. "She has opened the door to allow other females to seek out that position."

Fuson, 62, oversees the system's Marco Healthcare Center, Department of Pastoral Care and retail operations. She also supervises some 1,800 volunteers. She especially enjoys interviewing and talking with the volunteers, learning about their "wonderful experiences and backgrounds." But she admits it can be a challenge to find and retain people willing to give their time to the hospital. "There are so many organizations in town wanting volunteers," she says. "When you're paying somebody, you can always up the salary. But with volunteers, what can you offer them?" She believes that expressing gratitude and providing recognition at luncheons, parties and other events helps keep the hospital's unpaid workers on board.

Fuson also gives willingly of her own time. She got involved with United Way of Collier County six years ago through her job and now serves as the organization's president. "I've just learned so much because I have to be involved in everything United Way is doing," she says. "I've never had so much respect for an organization as I do for United Way, because it watches every dime it spends, and it does not spend on anything frivolous." In addition, Fuson has been active with a number of other organizations, including the Collier County Children's Advocacy Council/Child Pro-tection Team, Shelter for Abused Women & Children, American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and the Naples Winter Wine Festival.

"If you belong to a community, you need to contribute back to the community," she says. "When I was asked to be president of United Way, I was very intimidated, not only because I'm a woman but because of the caliber of the people on that board. But I've found that if you do things for the right reasons, people respect you, and that's all I ever wanted. I don't care if people like me, but I do want them to respect me."

Fuson has been married for 30 years to her husband, Jerry, who she says "is so wonderful to tolerate my work schedule." They have one daughter and four grandchildren. Fuson hopes her Women in History recognition serves as an example to them. "If you make history, it's because you've made an impact someplace," she says. "You have done something good to make it better for people in the community. There are still thoughts out there that women should be at home. We still have some things to overcome, but I've never let that set me back in any way."

Education Matters

As CEO of Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, Kim Cliett Long helps to make education accessible to all. It shouldn't be surprising that education is important to Long. After all, she holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and business administration from Oakwood College in Huntsville, Ala., a master's of science from Mountain State University in Beckley, W.V., and she's currently working to obtain a doctorate in organizational leadership from Northcentral University online.

Long, 45, began her career as an early childhood education teacher, and then spent 20 years as chief operating officer of her family's commercial building maintenance and limousine service businesses in Miami. She moved to Naples in 1996.

She joined the board of Fun Time Early Childhood Academy in Naples in 2000 and became its CEO in January 2004. Her job requires her involvement in every aspect of the center, from fund raising to public relations to overseeing day-to-day operations.

Fun Time provides child care and education for the children of economically challenged working parents. Currently occupying a double-wide trailer on Fifth Avenue North, the academy will move in early 2007 to a new 27,000-square-foot building on 12th Street North that will have space for up to 300 students.

Accommodating more students is important to Long, who believes that all children should have equal opportunities to succeed. "Early childhood care and education are important because it's the most critical period of a child's development for embedding the skills, dispositions and attitudes that they will need for later success in school," she says. "Before, preschool was considered a social setting. It still is, but it's become more academically important over the last 20 years, and the preparation is much more intentional and rigorous."