Honoring a Legend

It was a quick order to business at the East Naples Civic & Commerce (ENC&C) 2024 Annual Dinner Banquet. Outgoing president Jacob Winge started with the state of the association along with confirming the incoming board members. But the real star and highlight of the evening came when former District One County Commissioner Donna Fiala was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. The 80-plus guests gave Fiala a long, standing ovation with lots of cheers.

Prior to the announcement, a PowerPoint presentation listed all Fiala’s accomplishments in her two decades of service to the county, from Bayshore Community Development and median landscaping in East Naples to the US Open Pickleball Championship in East Naples Community Park and the Aquatic Center at Eagles Lake Park, now known as Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park. (Fiala was anointed “Queen of Pickleball” by Former Commissioner Tim Nance in 2016, the year of the first US Open Pickleball Championship held in East Naples). Guests were also reminded of over 35 organizations Fiala belonged to and/or supported. 

“East Naples would be a lot different – our imprint – everything about us would be different without all of her hard work. All the years of dedication,” said current ENC&C President Pat Sherry. “She didn’t just do a job. She cared about her community and made sure that her job was about her community.”

Winge read the inscription on the Award: “Donna Fiala, former County Commissioner District One, to your tireless commitment to the residents and businesses of East Naples and all of Collier County. Great achievements built a monument that shall endure until the sun grows cold.”

Fiala was joined by son Bob Fiala, daughter Sherri Holcombe, granddaughter Jessica Holcombe, son Todd Fiala and daughter-in-law Jaymee Fiala along with some notable county employees both past and present. Former District Two County Commissioner Frank Halas and Former District Five Commissioner Jim Coletta were in attendance, along with current Supervisor of Elections Melissa Blazier and Crystal Kinzel, Clerk of Courts. And going way back in Fiala’s history in East Naples, Al Schantzen from PBA Airlines was there to celebrate. Fiala and Schantzen started working together in 1974.

Other highlights of the evening included two additional award presentations. The 2023 Business of the Year went to Rebecca Maddox for her contributions to the growth of Bayshore. Winge talked about the importance of Bayshore as an arts and cultural center in East Naples and its impact on the community at large saying, “Rebecca has been a force behind that.”  Maddox was unable to attend the event. The 2023 Citizen of the Year went to Coastal Breeze News Publisher Val Simon. “Our community always comes together, and we end up looking out for each other even when we are on opposite sides of the issues. I think to have a business and institution that you built on Marco Island, without forgetting the surrounding communities of Isles of Capri, Goodland, Port of the Isles and East Naples - what happens around Marco Island - is just a testament to your leadership and the strength that you have in our community as a whole.”

Guests also got to look at the new intuitive and interactive ENC&C website, courtesy of Matt Boggan. Winge also discussed the upcoming 75^th Anniversary of the East Naples Association in 2025. “There’s only a handful of organizations that go back that far, or further,” said Winge. “The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, United Way, NCH, Rod and Gun Club, Woman’s Club of Naples and us.” Winge pointed out that of the hundreds of nonprofit and community organizations, this group has been around the longest.

Fiala was given the mic to address the guests and her message was short and sweet. “What a fun time in our lives we all had,” she said. “We all worked together to make this community what it became. Nobody did it by themselves. Not one of us. We all did it together. And it was FUN. Thank you.”