Executive Director

  • Michael Puchalla

Board of Directors

  • Stephen Hruby, President
  • Mary Jo Diegel, Vice President
  • Todd Sabin, Treasurer
  • Cynthia Valenti Smith, Secretary
  • Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
  • David Ellis
  • Michelle Lopez McLeod
  • Sean Murphy



Meet the Board of Directors

Todd Sabin

Todd Sabin
Treasurer

Todd Sabin is a partner and the managing broker of KOVA Commercial Real Estate with offices in Naples, Marco Island, and Ft Myers.  A Naples resident since 2005, Mr. Sabin is originally from Michigan with a degree from Western Michigan University.  He is involved in many business associations in Collier county including Leadership Collier (class of 2008) and a varsity soccer coach at Community School of Naples.

Todd Sabin

Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster

Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster is the Public Affairs Director for Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold. She previously served as director of government relations at the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. In her role, Jenna helped the chamber advance its governmental and legislative priorities at the city, county and state levels. She advocated for the needs of chamber members on a wide range of topics and managed the One Collier campaign, which advocated for the successful passage of Collier County’s one-cent infrastructure sales surtax.

Prior to joining the chamber, Jenna spent more than a decade as a reporter covering Florida politics and government for the Naples Daily News and FloridaPolitics.com.

David Ellis

David Ellis

David Ellis is a graduate of Furman University where he was recognized with the Bradshaw-Feaster Medal for General Excellence (most outstanding graduate) in 1986. In his career, he served in leadership roles in several of the largest building industry associations in the country. Among his many accolades, he was recognized as the Best New Executive Officer and the Best Executive Officer in the Nation by the National Association of Home Builders. David is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville, Leadership Collier and Leadership Florida. He has worked as an advocate for workforce housing throughout his career.

Mary Jo Diegel

Mary Jo Diegel
Vice President

Mary Jo Diegel, a retired attorney from Michigan, has been a seasonal resident in Naples since 2015. She obtained a B.A. in English, Phi Beta Kappa, from Michigan State University, and a law degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. She practiced civil litigation in Michigan state and federal courts, and then served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for nine years in Macomb County, Michigan until her retirement in 2014, after which she earned attorney emeritus status with the State Bar of Michigan. Since coming to Naples, she has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Heritage Bay Golf & Country Club where she served as President, Vice President, and Secretary. She has been certified as an arbitrator for FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and has been an active volunteer Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), and Literacy Volunteers of Collier County tutoring English as a second language to adults.

Stephen Hruby

Stephen Hruby
President

Stephen J. Hruby is a founding partner of Architects Unlimited, a 39-year old architectural, urban design and town-planning firm. He is nationally recognized for his work with affordable housing, mixed income communities and community revitalization.  His work has received awards and acknowledgement for contributions to the community.

Mr. Hruby is active in community and professional affairs in Naples Florida, where he has resided for the past 24 years. He served on the board of directors of the Naples Zoo. He presently serves on the board of directors for AIA Florida Southwest, the Florida Foundation for Architecture and has served on the board of directors of AIA Florida. He is chairman of the Collier County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and is the president of the Collier County Land Trust board of directors. He is chairman of the Design Review Board of the City of Naples. Both AIA Florida and AIA Florida Southwest have awarded him the designation of Citizen Architect in recognition of his community service. He is also the recipient of the W.R. Frissell Medal of Honor, AIA Florida Southwest’s highest honor.

Mr. Hruby holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Architecture and Urban Design from Washington University. He is a member of AIA, NCARB, ULI and USGBC. He is a registered architect in numerous states and is a LEED AP BD+C.

Michelle Lopez McLeod

Michelle Lopez McLeod, M.B.A.

Michelle is a third generation Floridian, of Spanish immigrants, raised in Fort Myers. Upon graduating from Fort Myers High School, Michelle attended St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana and then later earned an MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University.

For over 25 years, Michelle has lived and worked in the City of Naples where she has stayed very involved in community service. With so much vested in this community, one thing led to another and Michelle ran for Naples City Council in 2016 and successfully won a seat on the council where she served with great honor for four years.

Today, Michelle serves on various boards and committees such as the Women’s Foundation of Collier County and the Collier Coalition for Healthy Minds.

Michelle is a proud graduate of Leadership Collier, Class of 2014 and Leadership Florida, Class of XXXVI. In her pass time, Michelle enjoys running, cycling, swimming and competing in athletic events. She also enjoys cooking and visiting with her friends at her home.

Michelle Lopez McLeod

Cynthia Valenti Smith

Cynthia Valenti Smith is a Production Manager at Regions Bank for SW Florida. She works with a team of Loan Officers and Processors to assist clients throughout Collier, Lee, and Charlotte County. Personally, she has assisted clients with their residential loans for over 28 years and over $900M in volume. She is well versed in Conventional Loans and specializes in Portfolio Lending for those clients with more complex transactions. These programs include Jumbo Loans, Construction Loans, Condominium Financing, Physicians Loans and Affordable Housing Products. Cynthia works closely with retail, commercial and wealth management areas of the bank to ensure that her clients’ are obtaining the appropriate program to fit their financial goals.

Cynthia and her Team work closely with local non-profits in educating on Financial Wellness and Budgeting for home ownership. They work with Developers that will fulfill Affordable homeownership needs for First Time Homebuyers throughout our communities.

Cynthia’s previous banking experience included working with the Local Land Trust in Rhode Island to assist with financing of the homes that were being built in the community. Funds to the Land Trust were provided by Donations of Money and of Land. These funds allowed them to purchase the land and construct the homes. They built single family homes, condominiums and townhomes.

Michelle Lopez McLeod

Sean P. Murphy

Sean P. Murphy currently serves as the General Counsel for The St. James, a private-equity backed growth business headquartered in the Washington, DC area. He previously served as a partner with Duane Morris LLP and as an officer of several commercial real estate investment businesses. A Naples resident since 2019, Sean is originally from N. Palm Beach, Florida. He holds a BS from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University where he also earned a Master’s in real estate finance and development and a law degree. He has advocated on housing issues through his association with Catholic Charities and through his previous service on the board of the Teresian House, a seniors housing community in New York that is operated by The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm.

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