The URL can be used to link to this page

Agenda 04/14/2009 Item # 9A EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 1 of 24 Appointment of member(s) to the Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency OBJECTIVE: To appoint I member to serve a 4 year term, expiring on April 4, 2013, to the Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency. CONSIDERATIONS: The Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency has 2 terms expiring on April 4, 2009. This 13 member committee was created on March 28, 1995, by Ordinance 95-22 to induce private investment into distressed areas to create economic opportunities and sustainable economic development for designated areas. To permit Collier County to participate in this program, the Board of County Commissioners nominated the Immokalee Community to be considered by the Florida Department of Commerce for Enterprise Zone designation in Resolution No. 95-248, approved March 28, 1995. As part of the formal application for an Enterprise Zone, the State required that a committee consisting of a broad base of citizens be established. The committee has representation from the Immokalee Chamber of Commerce, financial or insurance entities, businesses operating within the nominated area, residents living within the nominated area, nonprofit community-based organizations operating within the nominated area, local Workforce Development Board, local code enforcement agency, and local law enforcement agency. This committee also serves as the Immokalee Redevelopment Board. A list of the current membership is included in the backup. The terms for Fred N. Thomas, Jr. and Barnardo Barnhart expired on April 4, 2009. A press release was issued and resumes were received from the following 2 interested citizens: APPLICANT CATEGORY DIST ELECTOR ADV, COMM. Fred N. Thomas. Jr.-reappt. Resident in Zone 5 Yes Immokalee EZDA Lake Trafford Task Force Rural Lands Stewardship Comm lmmokalee Master Plan Comm Bernardo Barnhart-withdrew Financial Entity 5 Yes Immokalee EZDA ATTENDANCE: Fred N. Thomas, Jr. - perfect attendance in the last 2 years COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Fred N. Thomas NOTE: Section Seven (B) of Ordinance 2001-55 states 'Tenns of of1iee for Board members shall be limited to two consecutive tenns of service on anyone Board. .." Under (D) of the same section, it is noted that "By a unanimous vote of the Commission, the limitations set forth in subsection (B) above may be waived". According to available records, Fred N. Thomas, Jr. has served 2 or more terms. Should the Board wish to re-appoint Mr. Thomas, the limitations on two consecutive terms will need to be waived. NOTE: Section Five (D) of Ordinance 2001-55 states that "No person shall serve on more than two County Boards simultaneously. If application is made for service on a third Board, the applicant must resign simultaneously from one of his or her current Board positions, or the application for a third Board shall be disqualified. This provision, however, may be waived to allow for service on additional Boards provided the Commission votes unanimously to waive such provision. According to my records Fred N. Thomas currently serves on the 4 committees list above. If Mr. Thomas is appointed the Board will have to waive Section Five (D) of the ordinance. FISCAL IMP ACT: NONE Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 2 of 24 GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: NONE RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners consider the recommendation for appointment, appoint I member, and direct the County Attorney to prepare a resolution confirming the appointment. PREPARED BY: Sue Filson, Executive Manager Board of County Commissioners AGENDA DATE: APRIL 14,2009 Page 1 of 1 Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 3 of 24 COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Item Number: Item Summary: Meeting Date: 9A AppoIntment of member to the Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency. 4/14/2009900:00 AM Prepared By Sue Filson Board of County Commissioners Executive Manager to the BCe Date Bce Office Approved By Leo E. Ochs, Jr. Board of County Commissioners Deputy County Manager Date County Manager's Office 4/1/20096:31 PM CRA Governhm Board Commissioner Donna Fiala Chair Commissioner Tom Henning Commissioner James N. Coletta Commissioner Fred W. Coyle Commissioner Frank Halas CRA Advison- Board '" State Entemrise Zone Agear'V Board Fred N. Thomas, Jr. Chairman Bernardo Barnhart Capt. Tom Davis Robert. Halman Ex~fficio Julio Estremera Kitchell Snow Floyd Crews Ana Salazar Richard Rice Rick Heers Eva Deyo Malter Plan & VisioniD2 Committee Fred N. Thomas, Jr. Chairman Edward (Ski) Olesky Clarence S. Tears, Jr. Pastor Jean C. PaUl Carrie Williams Richard Rice Floyd Crews Rick Heers CRA Slalf Penny Phillippi Executive Director 239.252.2310 Bradley Muckel Project Manager 239.252.5549 Christie Betancourt Administrative Assistant 239_252.2313 IMMOKALEE eRA Community Reqevelopment Agency iThe plilceto Cilll Home! Agenda Item No. 9.A. April 14. 2009 Page 4 of 24 MEMORANDUM lmmokalee Community Redevelopment Agency and lmmokalee Enterprise Zone Agency DATE: March 18,2009 TO: Sue Filson, Executive Manager Board of County Commissioners FROM: Penny Phillippi, Executive Director Immokalee Community Redevelopment Agency RE: Immokalee Local Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board (CRA) and the lmmokalee Enterprise Zone Agency (EZDA) The CRA/EZDA received an application for the vacancies on the CRA Advisory Board and the lmmokalee Enterprise Zone Agency sent by your office on February 20, 2009. At a regular meeting of the CRA Advisory Board and the EZDA Board on March 18, 2009, the local Boards voted unanimously to recommend Fred N. Thomas, Jr. (1205 Orchid Avenue, Immokalee, FL 34142) to the Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency Board for appointment to the CRA Advisory and the EZDA Boards. Mr. Thomas is an interested citizen in the regulatory area of the Immokalee Area Master Plan and the EZDA. During the past two years Mr. Thomas not missed any meetings of the CRA Advisory Board or the EZDA Board. Agenda Item No. 9A April 14. 2009 Page 5 of 24 Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency Name Work Phone Appt'd Exp. Date Term Home Phone DateRe-appt 2ndExpDate 2nd Term Mr. Fred N. Thomas, Jr. 657-8181 04/04/95 04/04/96 1 Year ,,/' 1205 Orchid Avenue 657-5447 04/26/05 04/04/09 4 Years Immokalee, FL 34142 E-Mail: fuUr@ao1.com District: 5 Category: Resident in Zone Mr. Richard Heers 229-9970 09121/04 04/04/07 3 Years 507 N. 18th Street 657-4524 04/10/07 04/04/11 4 Years Immokalee, FL 34142 E-Mail: rkheers2u@aol.com District: 5 Category: Resident of Zone Mr. Michael Facundo 658-3560 02/10/09 04/04/11 3 Years 318 Washington Avenue 657-3021 L Immokalee, FL 34142 E-Mail: mikef@rcma.org District: 5 Category: Non-profit Organization Mr. Richard Rice 657-3237 07/25/06 04/04/07 9 Mos, 1247 Madison Ct. 657-6626 04/10/07 04/04/11 4 Years Immokalee, FL 34142 E-Mail: icoc@embarqmail.net District: 0 Category: Chamber of Commerce Mr. Bernardo Barnhart 657-3171 04/26/05 04/04/09 4 Years .../ 913 Laurel Street 657-5328 Immokalee, FL 34142 E-Mail: Bbarnhart@FloridaCo=unityBank.net District: Category: Finanical Entity w~::esd;;'F~';"'-;;'lt2o;;<',r~"~',"M~: .;C=, ""-~"""'_"'CC' -"""'~">--"'P;;;e'j'~74~,--..,':':':.,>:.;":.',rZ'>7:",<>;::;t; 'H'~X";:~=~','",_ --,- ;...._- Agenda Item No. 9A April 14. 2009 Page 6 of 24 Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency Name Work Phone Appt'd Exp. Date Term Home Phone DateRe-appt 2ntlExpDate 2nd Term Mr. Edward "Ski" Olesky 657-2401 02/10/09 6001 Lake Trafford Road 657-2401 Immokalee, FL 34142 E-Mail: Christiebetancourt@coIliergov.net District: 5 Category: Local Business in the ZonefResident Mr. Floyd Crews p.o. Box 5157 Immokalee, FL 34143 E-Mail: District: 5 Category: Resident/business 657-2429 11 /24/98 657-2370 04/10/07 ( Mr. James I. Wall 225-2500 02/10/09 9530 Marketplace Rd., #104 872-0811 Ft. Myers, FL 33912 E-Mail: jwall@sfwdb.org District: 0 Category: SW FL Workforce Development Board Ms. Eva J. Deyo 658-3630 04/26/05 642 Clifton Street 657-6894 OS/23/06 Immokalee, FL 34142 E-Mail: evadeyo@embarqmail.com District: 5 Category: Resident Ms. Ana Salazar 658-3318 02/08/05 109 Georgia Road 303-0737 04/10/07 Ft. Myers, FL 33966 E-Mail: ana_salazar@earthlink.net District: 0 Category: Non-Profit Community-Based Organization \._- '-,"" ""._~.--""''''--~'- ,..... c-_'" ,- ~:~' - 'Wednesday, i7~b"/.uary-I 1, 2009 ,~"', H Page 2 of 4 "",---,;",.,"<;:.:~-.::~,t""',~~"'- ..c- ."_ ;:,;,:.-__'"",,"';e;,<7;:c-'; 04/0913 4 Years 04/04/99 04/04/11 4 Months 4 Years 04/04/11 2 Years 04/04/06 04/04/10 I Year 4 Years 04/04/07 04/0411 1 2 Years 4 Years Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 7 of 24 Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency Name Work Phone Appt'd Exp. Date Term Home Phone DateRe-appt 2ndExpDate 2nd Term Captain Tom Davis 3301 E. Tamiami Trail Naples, FL 34112 E-Mail: District: Category: Local Law Enforcement 774-4434 06/14/05 OS/23/06 04/04/06 04/04/10 1 Year 4 Years Mr. Julio Estremera 658-3327 10/11/05 10220 Boca Circle 594-8073 04/10/07 Naples, FL 34109 E-Mail: jestreme@fgcu.edu District: 2 Category: Nonprofit Community Based Organization f Mr. Kitchell T. Snow 252-2493 06/24/08 2800 N. Horseshoe Drive 732-5742 Naples, FL 34104 E-Mail: kitchellsnow@colliergov.net District: Category: Local Code Enforcement Mr. Robert Halman 353-4244 12/09/97 14700 Immokalee Road Immokalee, FL 34120 E-Mail: District: 5 Category: non-voting ex-officio member 04/04/07 04/04/11 2 Years 4 Years 04/04/11 3 Years 00/00/00 unlimited ( '-. . >.:c",,:':,"',:"'':L",Z';:::''~.n~~' r;~:='C;-.:..:.cz:'.c.:"'E'",'__.:.'_~-'" ,~::c". _~/~.__~~=,_'S_ .'-";;:;"',,",:".;:' ~'."'T",,";t' Fi",,,,,,,,:",: : "E -, "..,.~,.:..=,_:_" ",,,.n, ~"'<"'"",;.'-".=.: ",=, "' ',,,,, Wednes~, February 11, 2009 Page 3 of ~ Agenda Item No. g,A. April 14. 2009 Page 8 of 24 Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency Name Work Phone Home Phone Appt'd DateRe-appt Exp. Date 2ndExpDate Term 2nd Term This 13 member committee was created on April 4, 1995, by Ord. No. 95-22 to induce private investment into distressed areas to create economic opportunities and sustainable economic development for designated areas. Initial members were appointed by Resolution No. 95-249. To permit Collier County to participate in this program, the Board of County Commissioners nominated the Immokalee Community to be considered by the FL Dept. of Commerce for Enterprise Zone designation in Reso. No. 95-248, approved March 28, 1995. As part of the formal app for an EZ, the State required that a committee consisting of a broad base of citizens be established. The committee has representation from the Chamber of Commerce, financial or insurance entities, businesses operating within the nominated area, residents, nonprofrt community-based organizations, local workforce development board, local code enforcement agency, and local law enforcement agency. Amended by Ord. No. 97-81 Terms are 4 years. This committee also serves as the Immokalee Redevelopment Board. FLSTAT: 290.001-290.016 Staff: Thomas Greenwood, Principal Planner. 252-2323 \. ". -~'-"-. _ _ ",". .. '::'C' ;.r,,- .:~"'"'~ :-'-'''.W,ni-:'" _'.0 "." _s~,,'c.._.,.:, 'WednesdaY; February 1 j:~j009- - -C;:-:~."""":>. - Page 4 of4 MEMORANDUM N ~. Agenda Item No. 9A April 14. 2009 Page 9 of 24 r.n :>: 0: r.n -0 '0 N 00 ('., co t.LJ t.... DATE: February 20,2009 TO: Elections Office FROM: Sue Filson, Executive Manager Board of County Commissione RE: Voter Registration - Advisory Board Appointments The Board of County Commissioners will soon consider the following individuals for appointment to one of the county's advisory committees. Please let me know if those listed below are registered voters in Collier County. Also, please list the commission district in which each applicant resides. IMMOKALEE EZDA COMMISSION DISTRICT Bernardo Barnhart 614 New Market Road ImmokaIee, FL 34142 5' Fred N. Thomas. Jr. 1205 Orchid Avenue ImmokaIee, FL 34142 :5 Thank you for your help. filson s Agenda Item No. 9A .I\priI14.2009 Page 10 of 24 From: Sent: To: Cc: Bernardo Barnhart [BBarnhart@fcb1923.com] Monday, March 09, 2009 11 :08 AM filson s Betan-courtChristie Mrs. Filson, I re applied for the eRA advisory board; I would like to withdraw application. Thank you, BemardoBarnhart A VPlLoan Officer Florida Community Bank: 239-657-3171 Fax: 239-657-8482 This message (and any associated files) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is confidential, subject to copyright or constitutes a trade secret. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copying or distribution of this message, or files associated with this message,is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notilY us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. Messages sent to and from us may be monitored. 1 MEMORANDUM Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 11 of24 DATE: February 20, 2009 TO: Penny Phillippi, Executive Director Immokalee Community Redeve~o m Ag7CY FROM: Sue Filson. Executive Manager Board of County Commissione J RE: Immokalee Enterprise Zone Development Agency As you know, we currently have vacancies on the above-referenced advisory committee. A press release was issued requesting citizens interested in serving on this committee to submit an application for consideration. 1 have attached the applications received for your review as follows: Bernardo Barnhart 614 New Market Road Immokalee, FL 34142 Fred N. Thomas, Jr. 1205 Orchid Avenue Immokalee, FL 34142 Please let me know, in writing, the recommendation for appointment of the advisory committee within the 41 day time-frame, and 1 will prepare an executive sununary for the Board's consideration. Please include in your return memo the attendance records of the applicants recommended for reappointment. Please categorize the applicants in areas of expertise. If you have any questions, please call me at 252-8097. Thank you for your attention to this matter. SF Attachments . . . Agenda Item No. 9A April 14. 2009 Page 12 of 24 Board of County Commissioners 3361 East Tamiaml Trail Naples, FL 34112 (239) 252-8097 Fa:<: (239) 2S2~ Application for Advisory Committees/Boards Name: 'ber-Y\a:rcJ1!J ~'fY\~.rt ~PbMe: ~3qtI;7-~'1c'd- Home Add....., 0/t/ 1l1Z,{) jtAQrM P.t:{ ~ ~, 7Jp Code: ~4/q;t FuNo. BWJiessftoaed~:;:5I,~-W/-..naddress: P-&tr"j,.,yttli pi",.ldQ~_.;~b... PIac:e oCEmpIor-at--El nr ~ d Co ( ()W\ 1/1,,\ I' )\ '~ P-n t1 t BoanlorColuJiUeeApplledf8r: ~uw.Dtt)l4.P 5J-er~~ 3""p ~ ~nC~ C.tegory (tfapplicable): ~ c--~..r;.-lMmitt,~~~..,.~ear.. How loug ....ve yon lived ill Collier eo....ty: V....... ;;) (.. MDadas Areyon.,q;i.l\....svoterillCollierCGlmty: Ves I.--'"'" No Do yon eurrcDtIy hold poblle oftk:e! Ves If.... ""w.. _ oftIce! No .-- Have you ever been eollvieted of allY offense agaiDst the Law? Yes If,.... expbla, Do _ ............ or..".. Y................... a c..- CAMudy"""" ~ ""_1fr.1 V.l/'"' lfy...pIoaeliotdae....__ds: TW\Wll>Jrg~R:>~ ('~ " } No ......- No f:-;!t.lr.\ Please liltyoar mllllD1lllity _~ (eirie clabo, adgIlbortwoch..odatiollo, eCc. ud ~ held:--E!t:t.:;('11J T~"i"p r~ 'Iw....."!-J,,, (J",...k 1l'~b"'" Eomeatioa: D'~"--"" r::1.J.J""'.lYli~t1~ -(tD.... tu lJn';IJfr::,)~ r'>~ flaidq Es:perieD= l'fa1se~.. ~.-... R'bt[t... 'k'll,...fal~ fJ6..wJ- a'! .' ...._fi-_4J.".~ II;' ..........-M......lO ..._.,~" ~""_T_'-NtpIar.n34Ill. q__",.."",__ nO' - ftJ (Z39)2D-UtJ6 (>>' e.....o to SMdlIso1lii:tcol/ItrIH1klld. J'7wMtYfJll./bt'WI&.M ~' *""""*. dW;Mr fdCdlkr c..c.u.. ~OO/~OOd wdEE'EO GOOl E~ q'j mS/99GEl XOj N~a IiltO~ IKIIMOlj filson s Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 13 of 24 From: "ent: "0: Subject: FNT JR@aol.com Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:10 AM filson s New On-line Advisory Board Application Submitted Advisory Board Application Form Collier County Government 3301 E. Tamiami Trail Naples, FL 34112 (239)252-8097 Application was received on: 2/1112009 11:09:44 AM. Name: !Fred N. Thomas Jr.1 Home Phone: 1239-6S7-S44~ Home Address: 1120S Orchid Avenu~ City: lImmokaleej Zip Code: ~ Phone Numbers Fax: Business: 1239-6S7-81811 -"Mail Address: ~'NTJR(ii)aol.colTll Work Place: !Retired! How long have you lived in Collier County: !more than Isl Have you ever been convicted of any offense against the law? ~ IMisdameanor Traffic Violation! Are you a registered voter in Collier County? ~ Board / Committee Applied for: lImmokalee Enterprize Zone Development Agency! Category: !Resident in the Zon~ Do you currently hold public oftlice? ~ Do you currently or ever served on a Collier County Board or Committee? ~ 1 Please list your community activities: ~ee attached Resum~ .ducation: !Norfolk State College,Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Also Attended Howard UniversityJ Ex erience: See attached Resum . . 2 Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 14 of 24 Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 15 of 24 ~ FRED NICHOLAS THOMAS, JR. 1205 O,'chid Ave. Immokalee, Florida 34142-2830 (239) 657-8181 fntjr@aol.colD 10 Januar'Y 2008 PERSONAL: Married: Wife, C1lenyle Son,: FredN. 1110mas, III, M.D. (Lea, M.D.) Children, Fred IV, Peyton & Jutea Daughter,: Mrs. Stephanie Williams (Roger) Children, Aaron & Kellie EDUCATION: DEGREE: Bachelor of Arts NORFOLK STATE COLLEGE - NorfuIk, VA January, 1964 to May, 1967 ~or: Psychology HOWARD UNIVERSITY - Washington, DC September, 1957 10 February, 1 %0 Major: Chemistry SPECIAL PROGRAMS .-, Hwnan Motivation and Achievement, Dr. David McClellan Harvard University, Summer 1965 Color Perception and Language Cognition, Dr. DccLee Lantz Hftlvard University & Norfolk State College, 1965-66 Manpower Research Institute, Norfolk Slate College Norfolk, Virginia 1966-67 Community Leadership School, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Norfolk, Virginia, 1969 Housing Intern, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Norfolk, Virginia, Summer 1967 NAHRO Certified Public Housing Manager. July 14, 1978 Executive Development NAHRO Training Program Cincinnati. Ohio, June 14, ] 979 U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Sea Captain Leadership Collier, Class of ]992 Leadership Southwest Florida - September 8-11, 1993 Leadership Florida, Class XVU (1998) EMPLOYMENT: December, 1986 - December 2002: Executive Director of Collier County Housinl!: Authorit" . July, 1985 - 1986: District Manager for CllT.l!inaJ Industries. .... September, 1983 - 1985: Director of Housinl!: Manftllement of the Tampa Housing Authority. Agenda Item No. 9A April 14. 2009 Page 16 of 24 . FRED N. THOMAS, JR. Page 2 EMPLOYMENT - Continued November, 1980 - August, 1983: Director of Administration of dlC Tamva Housing Authority. October, 1977 - October, 1980: Executive Director of tbe Indianaoolis HousinR Autboritv . September, 1974 - October, 1977: Executive Director of the EvausviIle Housiru! Authority. July, 1969 - September, 1974: Director of ComlDunitv Services-Richmond Redevclooment and Housing Authoritv. Scptember, 1969 - September, 1974: Field Placement Supervisor for Graduate Student at VirRinia Com'nonwealth Universitv Scltool of Social Work. June, 1967 - Juty, 1969: Tenant Relations Advisor --Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. CIVIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: . lmmokalee Water and Sewer District Commissioner Vice Chainnan Citizens Advisory Committee of the Collier County MPO Member Vice Chairman Chainnan 2005-Present 2oo6-Present Oucst for Kids 200S-Present 2006-2007 2007-present 1995 - 2003 Mentor Bil! Brother & Bill Sister Mentor t 996 - 2003 Norfolk State Alumni Association Member Richmond Chapter President National Vice-President National President 1967 - Present 1970-1972 1972 - 1973 1973 - 1975 . Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Member, Omicron Beta Beta Dean of Pledges Pi Iota Chapter Charter Member Beta XI Chapter Keeper of Finances Beta XI Chapter Vice Basileus Beta XI Chapter Dean of Pledges Phi Phi Chapter 1973 - Prescnt 1990 - Present 1980- t986 1975 - 1976 1974 - 1976 1976 - 1977 1973 - 1974 ... ~ -4 FRED N. THOMAS JR Page 3 Board of Directors. Bil! Cvoress Basin Board Vice Chlurman Immokalee Enternrise Zone Board Chainnan Vice Chainnan Immokalee Community Development Advisory Board Chairman Board of Directors. Bil! Cypress Wilderness Institute President Immokalee Rotary Member President Director Irnmokalee Optinust President Board of Directors Redlands Christian Mil!rant Association Vice President Collier County Sheriff's Commission Software Sunoort COllsortium. Inc. fA non-vrollt sol/ware comuanv fOr ImbUe housin2 a2eneies.J President Collier County Republican Executive Committee National Rifle Association Member Life Member NAACP. Collier County Executive Committee Board ofDircctors of Innnokalee Chamber of COIIUllerce President Public Housing Authorities Directors Association Trustee National Association of Housin8 and Redevelopment Officials Board of Credentialing Trustees National Members Services Committee North Central Regional Executive Board President ofIndiana Chapter ofNAHRO Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 17 of 24 1998 - 2005 1997 - Present 1997 - 2001 2001 - Present 200 I - Present 2001 - Present 1996 - 2006 1998 - 2005 1987 - Present 1997 - 1998 t987 - 1998 Charter Member 2002-2003 1992 - Present 1998 - Present 1989 - Present 1996 - 2002 1996-2002 1999 - 2005 1967 - 1976 1976 - Present 1991 - 1994 2000-2005 1988 - Present 1994 - 1996 1990-2003 1999-2003 1967 - 2002 1977 - 1980 10/79 - 1983 10/79 - 11/80 1979 - 10/80 Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 18 of 24 . FRED N. THOMAS JR Page 4 Florida Association ofHonsill!! and Redcvc/oomcnt Officials President President-Elect Board of Directors F AHRO State Legislative Chairnl811 1983 - 2002 1995 - 1996 1994 - 1995 1992 - 1997 1989 Governor's Advisorv Oil Fam1\vorker Affuirs Chainnan 1993 - 1998 1997. 1998 Immokalee Main Street Board Chainnan 1997 - 2000 1997 - 1998 Conicr County Planninl! COIrunissioll Chainnan 1988 - 1997 1992 - 1993 Illunokalee Foundation Vice President Executive Conunittce Beneficiary Advisory Committee 1991 - 1998 1991 - 1998 1991 - 1998 1991 - 2003 . Collier County Affordable Housing; Commission 1991 - 1998 2008 - present Chairman. Conier Countv Affordable Housirul Task Force 1989 - 1990 Housinl! PartnershiD for Conier Countv 1991 - 2003 Able Care Advisory Board 1987 - 1997 Collier County Parks & Recreation Advisol\' Board 1987 - 1988 Board of Governors of the Naoles Institute 1994 - 1997 Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida. Inc, 1994 - 1998 lrnmokatce VocatiOllllt Adviso,,' Board 1988 - 1997 United States Coast Guard Auxiliarv Member of Flotilla Materials Officer Boat Handling Instructor Member of Flotilla 93 Qualifications Examiner 1981 - 1986 1982 - 1985 1981 - 1990 1986 - 1990 1984 - 1986 . U.S. Jaycees National Chainnan of Membership and Retention Plamling Committee 1972 - 1973 1972 - 1974 Agenda Item No. 9A April 14. 2009 Page 19 of 24 .. FRED N. THOMAS JR. PageS National Clutinnan. Minority Affitirs National Director of Virginia Jaycees ]972 - ]974 ]972 - 1974 AWARDS: Life Membel"ship in the Florida Association of Housing and RedevelopmeJlt Officials 2003 NAACP's Life's Blood Award 2002 Listed by: the Naples Daily News as one of the 100 Most Influential Persons in Southwest Florida for the last 100 years 2000 Leadership Collier ]999 "Alumnus of the Year" ]999 Greater Inunokalco Chamber of Commerce "Citizen of the Year" 1998 Listed in Personalities of the South 1972 ~ Listed in Ol/tstandtnf! YOllnf! Men of America 1972 Norfulk Ja\'cces Region ill Speak Up WimlCI SPARK PLUG OF THE YEAR SPOKE - Established State Record by Qualifying in 21 days ]972 197] ]969 Norfulk Mace ]968 -4 Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 20 of 24 . Fred N. Thomas, Jr., a retired public administrator has a passion for photography that began 35 years ago. Prior to coming to Florida in 1980, he has had several posters published to support various communities' activities. When he accepted the position as the Executive Director of the Collier County Housing Authority in 1986 he was able to combine his love for hunting and his passion for photography developing into a special kind of wildlife photographer. He was selected in 1998, 1999 and 2000 to appear in the "Best of Photography Annual" published by The Pholographer's Fomm magazine. In 1989 he took a picture of an historic warehouse in Micanopy, Florida that hangs at that museum and is on one of their best selling post cards. In eight of the past nine years, Mr. Thomas' photographs were selected as Best of Show at Collier County Annual Fair photo contesl. The exception year was won by his student, Annie Oleski. He has provided cover art work for several magazines and now prides himself as being "The Wildlife Photographer". His photographs can be found in two congressional offices in Washington, DC; Congressman Porter Goss and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, and in several Legislative offices in Tallahassee; Representatives' Spratt, Goodlette, Davis and Senator Burt Saunders. He was a finalist for two coIlsecutive years in The Selby Gardens Photo contest in Sarasota. Florida. . Mr. Thomas was selected as the "Artist of the Month", for May 2003, by the Museum of The Everglades. He also had a six month display of over three dozen of his photographs at the offices of the Big Cypress Basin Water Management headquarters during 2004. Also in May of 2005, he was selected Resident Artist of the Month by the Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. . Agenda Item No. 9A April 14, 2009 Page 21 of 24 ~ /'~'~I''':'''''\ . . ! "~ I ............t..... TUE WHITS HOtlnS WASrtJro.:(,-rO!\l December 9, 2002 Mr. Fred N. TIIU""'''. Jr. Executive Director Collier County Housing Anthority Irnmokalee, Florido. . Dear Mr. Thorn".: Congralulaclons on your retirement as Executive Director oflha ColJier County Hou,ing. AUlhority aOer more th... 2S yea" orsen-iee. OllT Nation is. deeply indebted to the men om.l wum.;n Will') de\'Ole their live. to publie sen'iee. I know how proud your family. friends, and eollcaSU" musl be of)'our accompli.hmenl.. ~ l.aurajoinr; me in sending bC:il wishes roc mflny ycp;r:; of happiness. Sincerely, 11 L I ... In Town NRples file:IIIC:lDocumcl~S%201md%20Sellin~~~.#~e~R:ntsIF... Page 22 of 24 . r- Main Street DispRtch From Ibe Provinces red Thomns' second act by Elizabeth Heath A continuing series "f pr"jiles "f the men and 11'0""'" "f ImnlOkl/lee . "There are uo second acts in American live.." wrole F. Scott FitzserakL But Fred 11lOmas, recently retired executivc director of the Collior County Housing Authority, would call .\7gerald only half right. "There are row careen; that we gel to cany with us to the grave," says Thomas. "Doctor, judge, politician, fme artist," It's that last one-f'me artist-which Thomas cites with a gleam in his eye. Theu he ceremoniously leads me back to his home offioe, where he uufurls a roll of large color photographs-beautiful nature shots of deer, alligators, gaUinule aod ball}' anl.u.ga. "This," be says, "is my next career." His goal is straightforward: to be one oftbe "Florida Fine Artists. whose work graces tbe hallowed halls of the slate capital building ii, Tallahassoe, And one gets the impression, looking around 11.omas' office, where dozens of certificates of achievement aod appreciation, awards, degrees, blue ribbons, plaques Rud trophies vio for shelf alld wall spacc, that he'U reach his goal-Fred Thomas is used to gelling what he wants. 11.omas grew up in New York City ("a llalive New Y orlrer" he is quick to remind), and got what he calls "0 white man's education. It didn't dawn on me until I attendcd Howanl University (m Washington, DC), that there was any other kind. r d heard of George Washington Carver and Crispus Attucks, but that was it. I thought I was the cock 0' the walk until I gottn Howard. There were guys there my age who owned cars.1I 11.omas spont his boyhood in public housing, fmished college while llvil.g in public housing and, upon graduation, ",entto work in public housing, first as all intem, then as tenant relations advisor, and evcntuall.,)r as executive director. Along the way, he broke down color barriers, serving as the first black executive director of public housing in Evansville and later Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1996, be became executive director of the CoDier County Housing Authority, frOlll where he retired in December 2002. . When Tholllas CRme aboard, the Housing Authority, though ostensibly mom.! to represent all of Collier County, was essentially just the Immokaleo Honsing Authority. "Its sole purpose was really just to house fanll workers," he says. "It was a coullty board but they only appointed Immokaleans, and ouly focused ou farm worker isslles." During 11lOmas' tenure, the Honsiug Authority asserted its role as the agency for all of the county's lof3 1219120082:32 PM In Town Naples file:JIIC:/DoCWl'''IlIs%20nnd'Y020se~~lWI'4.~~n''n1s1F... Page 23 of 24 affordnble housing projects, such .s Goodlelle Alms aparlments and the subsidired housing in River P.rk. ~ Still, Thomas' rc.1 work was in Immokalee, wh.re such. high percent.ge of the population Jived in substandard housiug, from which there was little opportunity to move out and move up. For Immokalee's poorest residents, the dream of economie stability .nd home ownership were too far off to be vi.ble. Thomas and his stall'm.de it their mission to change that. Today, he measures the success of his time in office by the perccntage of residents of Immokalee's Fannworker's ViUage that have bought existing homes or built new ones. "80 percent of the families that have becn with us for four y..... or more," h. s.y. with pride, "have moved into tI.eir own Ilomes." Life in Fannworker's Village made those moves possible. A brightly painted, neatl)' kept, albeit small house in Farmworker's Village rents for $73 a week. For a typical fann worker family that includes several employed adults, tills low cosl housing enables the family to set aside money for a down payment, build a credil history, and get a bank loan when the time comes for theln to purch.se . home. Alld it m.kes for more what so many people in Immok.lee say is needed there most-eoonomie stabiliIJ', a less tl1lnsient population, and the pride of place th.t goes hand in hand with homc ownership. .-, Thomas' successor at Ihe Collier Counly Housing Authority. Esmerelda Serrata, is another such success story. A resident of Fann,,,,,rker's Village, she st.rted working for Thom.s as a secretary. O,'er the )'ears, he promoted her as high as she conld go. When she finally appro.ched him for another promotion, he wormed her that rewetfully,the job she wm.ted required a college degree. It was Ihon thaI Sorrala infonned him that she had her dewee. Unbeknownst to Thomas, she'd been cammg hcr BA al fnrematio1l81 College on nighls and weekends. "She snnck oul and got a degree on Ille," he says. When nlOmas announced his retirement .nd his replacement was songht, Serr.ta, who has since moved out of Fannworker's Village, edged out marc than 80 c.ndidares from across the couutry. Even Thomas' beloved dog Dutchess is a fanner resident of Farmworker' s Village who moved on to nicer digs. A stray that Thomas took to the pound, hc went back and visited her until she fmally callie homc wilh him. When f asked him to pose for . picture, be insisted it be with his dog (whose picture is on n.omas' desk, as well). He also won't let me out of the house hefore I admire a few of his other passions, inclnding eiga... and fIShing. "I lcamed 10 smoke cigars in Le.dership Florida," hc says, somethillg Leadership Florida might not like to ad,'ertise, but the truth nonetheless. He now kceps his prized ciga... (Chareau Fuente and Sbort Stories are his favorites) in a fancy bumidor, a gift from his staff. And behind a locked closet door in his garage, he reveals an impressive collection of fishing rods, reols .nd tackle. "I've got a tackle box for every different kind of fishing, " he says, "fl)' fIShing, ice fJSl.ing, deep se8." As we take the Thomas tour of Immokalee ("the good the bad. tbe ugly" he calls it), Thomas points out new home constrnctionleft mId rigbt, modest stucco houses lhat are the lIew homes of bis ViUage residents. He also discusses bow thc demographics of Innnokalee hove changed over tile years. .At "!tused to be that Immokolee was bl.ck .nd white," he says. "Blacks lived south of Main Slreet, whilos lived 1I0rth." Several faclors changed those old Ilabits. First, the independent fanners of ImmokaIee, who leased land from major landholders like Barron Collier, le.med how to get three crops a )'Car from the same dirt-"stoop crops" as tbe low-growing, hand-picked fruils and vegetables arc called. This led to an influx of Hisp.nic workers from Texas, Mexico and other p.rts of Hispanic America and the Caribbean. n,cn as lhe big landholders saw the snccess of lhe littler fanners, they too began 10 nse lhe same fanning methods, ill <of3 1219/20082:32 PM III Town Naples file;/IIC;lDocwne1llS%20and"A.20Setti~~,Il/n::nWF... April 14, 2009 Page 24 of 24 many cases not renewing leases on the land. . As Ihose SIIlaUer farmers were edged oul, so wentlhe local bankclll, accountanls and llon-migratol)' staffwllo fonned tbe cOlllmunity's economic base. -TIle Christmas frce2J6 of '89 wiped onllhc last of the independent farmer.." says 11lomas. "Then came NAFTA Now with fresh fruits and vegetables from aU O\'CI' the world available al Pnblix year round, the small farmer can't competo. " The last swcepingcbonge callie in 1991, when Haitians were granted all\llesty in Ibe U.S. "Ovcrnight," sa~'S Thomas, "the Village went from 85 percent Hispanic, 10 percent Black Americon, 5 percenl American White to 62 percent Hisponie, 34 percenl Haitian, 3 percent Black and I percent White." Tbe inflnx of immigrants ovor tho decados led to wbile flight. "Main Street cbanged frolll wbite and black to white and Ian to black and ton," says Thomas. "A 101 of folks decided tlley didn'l wanl to raise their kids here." And thai's part of Ibe reason that Thomas and Cherryle, his wife of 29 )"",ro, are slayh!g hi Innookaloe. They have a beautiful homo off Lake TraITord Drive, and Thomas is still aClive hI community affoir.. As we drove througb tOWl1, hc'd roll down the window to talk to sOllleone here, wavc to someone there. At the Lake TrafToro Marina, Amlie Olitski chided him good naturedly about negleclil1g his flSbhlg buddy, Ski. "My husband hasn't seen yon for 10 doys! t thonght this 'male bonding' was supposed to start afieryon retired. " . Truth is, Thomas may never folly "retire" as steward oflmmokalce's afToroable bousing. It's a role tbat briags bim too much pride and joy, and a mission thai's too huportanl. "You see toys laying in tbe fronl yard of a lawn hi Farnllvorker's Village, even when tbere's no one home." It's a familiar sight in suburbia, but an especially heartwarming one in Immokalee, "We've worked to build structure, acecplanee, predictabilily," he says, "10 give Ihe kids Ibat come oul ofbere tbe same opportunities as everyone else...so tbey don'l miss out due to an accident of birth, II At the beginning of our interview, I asked 11lOl1Ias why he retired in Immokalee. By tbe end of our mon\ing logether~ it became clear. Because TIlOUl8s, WllO'S sometimes referred to as the "Mayor of Immokalee" (tbe incorporated eoml1lunity bas 110 mayor) is as much a parloflmnlOkalee as Immokalee is of Thomas. "I came here and said that I wanled 10 be involved alld Ihe peopte Ilere adopted me and accopted me as part of tbe fabric," he says. "hwnokalee picked me. II But before he call IUlisb thallhotlgbl, Thomas pulls Ibe elU' over to the side of the road, grabs his camera and points it towlU'ds a wild tom lumey strntling his slulf for some iudifferent females. After an, Thomas bas bis eye on tbe noxt prize. And they bcltor save bim a spol ou Ihe wall h, Tallahassee. . .lof3 12/9/20082:32, ,vi