Emily Budd-Schepperly is 28, but her long list of community involvement shows she’s wasted no time investing in meaningful work.

The 2008 Youth Leadership Collier Graduate has volunteered with more than a dozen local nonprofit organizations, including the League of Courageous Women, Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, and Collier Honor Flight. She’s president of the Young Professionals of Naples and a member of the David Lawrence Center (DLC) Young Executives, Association of Fundraising Professionals, and Young Professional Strides, in addition to other commitments.

Budd-Schepperly has excelled just as quickly at DLC, where she became director of development in 2018, one year after joining as associate director of development.

“The most important lesson I have learned in my career is to be willing to grow,” Budd-Schepperly says. She first learned this lesson when returned to Naples to start her career, armed with a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations and nonprofit leadership from Murray State University.

“A challenge that I think a lot of young professionals can relate to was at the beginning of my career, finding direction and confidence as a professional,” Budd-Schepperly says. “It took time investing in myself and finding ways to engage in my community. Once I started getting involved, I saw my confidence grow because I recognized I had so much to offer.”

Budd-Schepperly is a Certified Nonprofit Professional through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. She enjoys hunting and fishing with her fiancé, Travis. She also loves spending time with her family, including her two nephews, LJ and Henry.