BOARD OF DIRECTORS -  2013-2014

Linda LaRue Brown, President

Personal Profile:  Linda is a professional interior designer with a life long commitment to both interior design and creative gardening. Linda is married to Jerry J. Brown, the former President of Duggan & Brown, Inc. of Barrington, IL & Abington, PA.  They have two children; a daughter who lives in Ladue, Mo and a son who lives in Palatine, IL. Linda and Jerry have five grandchildren, ranging in age from 21 to 10 months.

Experience: During her 25 year career as an interior designer, Linda worked solely, designing homes and corporate offices for clients in the Chicago, St. Louis, Naples and West Palm Beach, Pittsburg, Spokane, WA, Raleigh, NC and Gulfport, MS areas. Her homes and gardens have been featured in several magazines over the years.

Education: The University of Missouri and Life!

Current and past civic involvement:

• President: Naples Garden Club
• First Vice President: Naples Garden Club
• Chairman of Naples House & Garden Annual Tour, 2009 & 2010
• Everglades Wetland Research Park Advisory Committee
• Naples Botanical Garden
• Conservancy of Southwest Florida
• Vice President: Infant Welfare Society of Barrington, IL
• Served on The Art in the Barn & Art Gallery Committee for Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington, IL
• President: Barrington, IL. Newcomer’s Club
• Graduate, Greater Naples Leadership, Class XVII

Gail Duke,  First Vice President

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Arlene Cluff,  Second Vice President

Personal Profile:  Arlene is a retired RNC, BSN. Arlene is married to Roy A. Cluff, CPA, retired from International Paper Co.

Experience: Certified Registered nurse and Lactation Consultant, at New York University Medical Center- University Hospital and University of Rochester Medical Center- Strong Memorial Hospital. Nurse Manager of the Burn-Plastic Surgery Unit with professional  achievements in Burn Nursing at the national level.   A member of the Nursing Governing Board and Hospital Ethics and Infection Control committees.

Education: Saint Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing, Elmira, NY (1966), Alfred University, Saint John Fisher Campus, BSN (1980)

Current and past civic involvement:

• Naples Garden Club- House & Garden Tour Chair
• Mendon Foundation Land Trust Director and Mendon Station Festival Co-Chair
• American Hosta Society, Genesee Valley Hosta Society and Annual Hosta Show Chair
• 40-year member of the 7th District Federated Garden Clubs of NYS, Inc. and Four Seasons Garden Club. National Master Landscape Design Consultant.
• Naples Botanical Garden Volunteer in horticulture, docent for the Scott Florida Garden and Lea Asian Garden and the Horticulture Committee
• Town of Mendon Environmental Conservation Board and Town of Mendon Open Space Master Plan Committees.

Roberta Ross,  Third Vice President:

Personal Profile:  Roberta M. Ross is a retired licensed Real Estate Agent & Appraiser.

Experience:Past owner Stafford Ripley Real Estate Company, CT. Past owner of Simple Elegance. Current owner Osophis Boutique a website based company. Student Judge working on Accreditation Flower Show Judge. Past President Board of Directors Carriage Circle HOA

Education: Fine Arts Major University of Bridgeport, CT

Current and past civic involvement:

• Third Vice President NGC
• Chair of NGC Flower Show 2013-2014
• Naples Botanical Gardens
• Conservancy of Southwest Florida
• American Orchid Society
• Naples Orchid Society
• Naples Museum of Art
• St. Croix Yacht Club
• Holy Cross Church St. Croix
• National Rifleman’s Association
• Judges Council IX District

Arlette Bradley, Recording Secretary

Personal Profile: Arlette Bradley is a retired educator. She is married to David Bradley, retired Director of Worldwide Packaging for Kellogg’s Cereal.  They have one daughter, Megan, who is a Director of IT for Westin Hotels in Chicago.  The Bradley family has traveled extensively to Europe, Asia, Australia, England, Ireland, and throughout the Americas.

Experience:

Education: B.A., Nazareth College; M.A., Western Michigan University; M.S., Michigan State University; M.S., University of Florida

Current and past civic involvement:

• Florida Master Gardener
• Michigan Master Gardener
• League Club of Naples
• Membership Chair of the Naples Garden Club (2006-present)
• Master Gardener Workshop Series Committee
•  Naples Women’s Club
• Chair of the House Hostess Committee, Naples Garden Club
• Naples Women’s Club
• Chair of the House Hostess Committee, Naples Garden Club
• President of Michigan Junior League

Candace Childs Kelley, Corresponding Secretary

Profile: Candi grew up in Andover, MA and now lives on the North Shore of MA. She is a retired educator. She enjoys gardening, golf, travel, bicycling and work outs at the gym. She is married to Skip Kelley, owner of Skip Kelley Associates-an inspection service company serving the  real estate community. Candi has three stepchildren and six grandchildren. She spends six months in Naples and enjoys participating in the floral arranging classes.

Experience: Retired school administrator having served 35 years in the Lawrence, MA school system. Several part-time positions in various educational endeavors. Part-time real estate salesperson. Retail experience upon retirement.

Education: B.S. Elementary/Special Education, Boston University, Boston, MA; M.Ed. Elementary School Administration, Boston State College, Boston, MA

Current and past civic involvement:

• Recently appointed corresponding secretary for the NGC
• Head house and garden tour hostess 2012
• Past house and garden tour hostess 2010, 2011
• Volunteer for the NGC Flower Show
• Member of the Newbury, MA Garden Club
• Program Committee for the Newbury Garden Club

Margaret Blackburn, Treasurer

Personal Profile: Peggy was born and grew up in Pittsburgh, PA.  For 35 years she lived outside Baltimore, MD where she raised her family on a farm.  Now married to Bill Blackburn, she lives in Naples, FL and spends summers in Chautauqua, NY.  Their combined families include 7 children and 12 grandchildren.  Her interests include philanthropy and issues affecting the nonprofit sector, Duplicate Bridge, landscape architecture, historic architecture, decorative arts, travel, music, knitting and needlepoint.

Experience: Licensed CPA specializing in tax work and financing for the rehabilitation of historic buildings. Consultant to endowments, pension funds and wealthy families .

Education: The Masters School, Dobbsferry, NY;  Wellesley College, Goucher College, Johns Hopkins University

Current and past civic involvement:

• Greenspring Valley Garden Club – 30 years
• Co-founder of the Secret Garden Tour to benefit Hammond Harwood House, Annapolis, MD
• Treasurer, Pelican Point West Condo Association
• Trustee or advisor for several private foundations
• Numerous volunteer associations

Pat McNamara, Assistant Treasurer

Personal Profile: Pat is a retired attorney and educator. She and her husband, Michael, reside in Naples and summer in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. They have two children, a daughter in Maine, and a son in Vermont and have two granddaughters. Pat has served on a number of community and state-wide boards with a focus on finance, education, social services and politics.

Experience: Attorney , Portland, ME law firm; postsecondary educator and administrator at Maine’s community college system.

Education: BA in English; Masters in Higher Education, University of Maine, Orono; J.D., School of Law , Portland

Current/Past Civic Involvement:

• Assistant Treasurer, Naples Garden Club
• Current member and past president of a Maine Education Foundation board
• Fundraiser, volunteer and treasurer of Maine gubernatorial and Senate races
• Board member and officer of social service agencies
• Gubernatorial appointee to The Maine Health and Higher Education Finance Authority

Sondra Quinn, Immediate Past President/Governance Chair

Personal Profile:  Sondra is a retired museum executive.  She is married to Jim Quinn, retired President, KQ & Associates.  She has served on numerous boards in her field, and has been recognized by former Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood, and the Florida Association of Museums.  She has been named Woman of the Year in Arts and Culture, and is listed in Who’s Who in America.

Professional Experience:  Founding President/CEO of Naples Botanical Garden; President/CEO, Orlando Science Center; Interim Director, Capital Children’s Museum, Washington, DC; Vice President, Program, The Science Museum of Minnesota.

Education:  M.Ed., Elementary Education, University of Pittsburgh; B.A., The Arts, Pennsylvania State University;  Getty Leadership Institute (GLI), University of California at Berkeley; Quality Management, Philip Crosby Quality College, Winter Park, FL

Current and past civic involvement:

• President of Naples Garden Club
• V P and Governance Committee Chair, Windstar Board of Directors
• Executive Committee Naples Area Tri Delta Alumnae Chapter
• NGC Flower Show School
• 1st VP/Chair, Program-NGC
• 2nd VP/Chair, House & Garden Tour
• Camden Garden Club, Camden, Maine
• President Bayshore Cultural Arts Board
• President Naples Area Tri Delta Alumnae Chapter
• Greater Naples Leadership (Class VIII), Community Services Committee

Beverly Metcalf, Membership Committee Chair

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Liz Chehayl, Communications Committee Chair

Personal Profile:  Liz is a retired health care and medical school administrator and active volunteer. She is a Florida Certified Horticultural Professional, Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee at Windstar, has participated in planning and design at the Naples Botanical Garden, and was a Master Gardener and garden designer in Chicago and New Jersey. She is married to Peter Chehayl, a financial executive, and has one son, Daniel, who lives in Vermont, and two stepdaughters, who live in New Jersey and Brooklyn.

Expereince:    She created and managed Medicare HMOs for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Northern Ohio (1986-88), was Assistant Dean for Policy Development at Case Western Reserve Medical School (1983-86) and held other policy planning positions at the medical school.

Education:  B.S. and B.A., Washington University in St. Louis; M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Current and past civic involvement:

• Chair, Communications Committee, Naples Garden Club
• Website Administrator, Naples Garden Club
• Collections Committee, Naples Botanical Garden
• Accessions Volunteer, Naples Botanical Garden
• President, Naples Garden Club
• Flower Show Chairman, Naples Garden Club
• Several Benefit Committees, Naples Botanical Garden

Raynelle Perkins Hospitality / Events Chair

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