Ruth McCann Celebrates 30 Years With MICA

Tuesday, September 26th marked Ruth McCann’s thirty years as Executive Director for the Marco Island Civic Association (MICA) and MICA decided to throw her a “surprise” celebration and filled the room at Joey D’s Restaurant. 

She received a very special plaque from her colleagues with a message that summed it up best, “Presented to Ruth McCann, in recognition of the 30 years of exceptional devotion, guidance and leadership that keeps MICA the organization it has become today.” 

Ruth also received a Citizen Commendation from the Marco Island Police Department, which was presented by Chief Tracy Frazzano, “This Citizen Commendation is awarded in recognition of 30 years of service as Executive Director of Marco Island Civic Association and in appreciation for your many contributions to the City of Marco Island and its residents.”

In 1993, then-President of MICA, Joe Corriaci hired Ruth. She started working part time for about a year and then went on to full time becoming MICA’s first Executive Director. 

MICA is the oldest and largest civic group on Marco Island, serving over 20,000 residents and property owners on Marco Island. MICA is a non-profit corporation whose general purpose is to promote and advance the principles of civic improvement and betterment on Marco Island.

Marco Island Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dianna Dohm has worked with Ruth for over 15 years in a number of capacities, from her bank days to MICA Board President to the present. “Ruth’s unique charm lies in her ability to seamlessly blend professionalism with a warm personal touch,” shared Dianna. 

“Ask Ruth.” Whenever anyone has a MICA question, the reply is always, “Ask Ruth!” According to Dianna, “After 30 years, Ruth’s knowledge of our island’s development and history is astonishing.” 

Daren Pledger of Hang 10 Media also had a message read by Dianna Dohm. Daren recounted his part in “dragging MICA kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.” As a key partner of MICA, Daren shared that “Ruth’s impact on MICA is immeasurable and we at Hang 10 Media are proud to be part of her remarkable journey.”

“She still looks 30,” remarked Katie O’Hara, who drove back to Marco from Central Florida to celebrate Ruth’s special moment with friends and colleagues. Katie first met Ruth in 2009 when she got involved in beach clean-ups and even then, Katie remembered thinking, “Wow, she looks about 30 – so young for such an important position.” 

Katie worked with Ruth during her time at the Marco Chamber of Commerce and as a member of Marco’s Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee (BACR), and then as a member of the MICA Board of Directors. 

Ruth is passionate about the environment and according to Katie, as Chairperson for the BACR for eight years and during her tenure, three important ordinances were sponsored and passed by the City Council: The elimination of single-use plastic straws on the beach, the Fertilizer Ordinance and protection for local wildlife. 

An ordinance banned single-use plastic straws on the beach, and beach front restaurants switched to biodegradable straws.

The Fertilizer Ordinance, approved on May 7, 2016, created a rainy season ban on the use of fertilizer and limits the type of fertilizer that can be applied. 

The third ordinance added protection to local wildlife, such as burrowing owls and gopher tortoises.

Ruth is “Hurricane Seasoned,” as 2004 brought four hurricanes to Southwest Florida in just 44 days. The first was Charley, which delivered devastating winds to Residents’ Beach and required extensive clean-ups and repairs, followed by Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. 

On October 24, 2005, Wicked Wilma whipped through Residents’ Beach as a Category 3 Hurricane, having made landfall at Cape Romano, just south of Marco Island. 

More recently, on September 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma’s eye passed over Marco with devastating winds as a Category 3 and again on September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian’s storm surge brought damages to Residents Beach.

Through them all, after each storm, Ruth immediately checked on the damages to both Residents Beach and Sarazen Park and started arrangements for repairs.

According to Katie O’Hara, in the past 30 years, “Ruth managed to raise two wonderful adults, Katie and Patrick and is a devoted grandma to Landry, Kate and Corbin.”