Leadership Collier Foundation Announces Recipient of 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award

Leadership Collier Foundation Announces Recipient of 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award

The Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF), of the Greater Naples Chamber, announced the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor granted to LCF graduates who transform the community through their endeavors professionally and personally. The Distinguished Alumni Award for 2023 goes to Mary Beth Geier, graduate of Leadership Collier Class of 2016, Florida Director & Senior Program Officer for the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation.

Previous winners include Don York​, Ed McNamara, Bud Hornbeck, Kathleen Passidomo, Carlton Case, Jeff Fridkin, Alan Reynolds, Fred Thomas, Terri Douglas, Barbara Berry, ​Scott Salley, Tom Schneider, Russell Budd​, Patrick O’Connor, Paul Marinelli, Dave Weston, Donna MacNiven​, Bart Zino, George Drobinski​, Jan Kantor​, Patrick Neale​, James French, Ted Soliday, CJ Hueston, Michael McComas, Kamela Patton, Sheriff Kevin Rambosk​, Kathy Swingley.

The award is presented each year to an individual who fulfills the mission of LCF through his or her continued education and work toward community solutions in the public interest. Distinguished alumni have exemplified the highest standards of the LCF and remained informed, engaged, and contributed directly to the mission of building a stronger Collier County.

Mary Beth Geier, a graduate from the Leadership Coller Class of 2016, serves as the Florida Director & Senior Program Officer for the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation.  In her role at the foundation, Geier is responsible for their extensive philanthropy reach throughout the SWFL region.

Serving as a liaison between nonprofits throughout SWFL and the Schulze Foundation Board, Geier and the Schulze FL Team, have been able to increase grant making and awareness in very important areas of growing concern in the community, such as: housing, early learning and after school programs, career and technical education and healthcare.

In response to the important work done by non-profits in the community, Geier has instilled collaborative relationships with some of our community’s highly regarded and impactful non-profit organizations, including:  The Collier Community Foundation, Lee Health/Golisano Children’s Hospital, Naples Community Hospital, Neighborhood Health Clinic, St. Matthew’s House and the YMCA of Collier County, and our very own Leadership Collier Foundation.

In addition to her role at the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, Geier serves on several local boards and advisory committees which include: Board of Directors, Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors, Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation; the FGCU College of Education Dean’s Advisory Council, and has served as Vice Chair and Chair of the 2020 and 2021 classes of Leadership Collier.

Geier was recognized at the Leadership Collier Foundation’s Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday, April 19.