Making History

>>Having a thriving community, where quality of life means more than good weather and golf courses, is possible only when citizens put their time, energy and talent to work to make things better.

Naples, blessed with all the above, has strong women leading the way in fields ranging from the arts to communications, business, education and environmentalism—and the Neapolitan chapter of the American Business Women’s Association recognizes the work of such women with its "Women in History" annual awards program.

Each year, the group selects two to four women "who have led the way and opened doors for other women in business," says chapter President Toby Buerger. The honorees, chosen through a nomination and selection process by the nearly 50 club members, are selected for having had a significant impact on Collier County.

This year’s winners—Myra Janco Daniels, "Naples’ First Lady of Culture," and Lavern Norris Gaynor, "Naples’ First Lady of History"—have both made unprecedented "firsts" in their fields. Daniels raised the funding and created the $21 million Philharmonic Center for the Arts. It opened in 1989 debt-free and is now a $105 million corporation with 400 employees and Daniels as founder, chairman and CEO. Gaynor, whose history of philanthropy reflects her parents’ community activism, marks as her most recent achievement The Naples Cultural Landscape Fund and its Naples’ Backyard History initiative, designed to make the area’s heritage a major tourism component.

In line with the ABWA chapter’s 20th anniversary this year, the theme for the award is "20-20 Vision," says member Jenny Craig, who spearheaded the award program.