Tapestry of Talent

Whittling The Naples 100 down to that number is a true challenge given the robust talent landscape of Collier County. Space limitations leave little room to highlight both young and minority professionals that deserve a place in the spotlight. Meet a small sampling of the bright ones to watch who are adding diversity and vibrancy to the local workforce.

BRYCE ALEXANDER

Executive Artistic Director

The Naples Players at Sugden Community Theatre

Bryce Alexander relocated in 2016 from Colorado—where he was the artistic director of a theater comprised of professional actors with disabilities—to take the helm of The Naples Players, one of the nation’s top community theaters that’s now celebrating its 68th season.

LEEZA ARKHANGELSKAYA Owner East West Fine Art

Leeza Arkhangelskaya opened East West Fine Art in Mercato in 2000 with her mother Olga. In 2013, the mother-daughter duo launched an initiative to establish the RussianAmerican Museum of Art locally. Arkhangelskaya gives presentations on Russian art topics to community groups and is a Leadership Collier Foundation graduate.

LAURA BIDIREANU Director of Education/Scholarships

Community Foundation of Collier County

Laura Bidireanu has a master’s in public administration with a concentration in public leadership and management from Florida Gulf Coast University and is dedicated to the nonprofit sector in Collier

County, where she volunteers at St.

Matthew’s House and Grace Place for Children and Families.

ALEJANDRO CASTANO Vice President, Marketing Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce

A Lely High School graduate, Alejandro Castano earned his Master of Business Administration from Wisconsin School of

Business. He arrived at the Naples Chamber in February 2020 with 15 years of experience in brand management, leadership, development, and marketing. He is an assistant

wrestling coach at Barron Collier High School.

MACKINDY DIEU

Acute Care Administrative Supervisor

David Lawrence Centers (DLC) for Behavioral Health

Mackindy Dieu works with children and adults in crisis in the inpatient crisis stabilization and detoxification units at DLC. He is involved with the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center and The Shelter for Abused

Women & Children.

ALINA DONAHUE Human Trafficking Specialist

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children

Alina Donahue is a certified human trafficking specialist and a co-creator of

The Shelly Stayer Shelter’s 18-month human trafficking residential program. She provides adult survivors of sex trafficking with the intensive therapeutic services needed to heal and regain independence.

RACHID EIDO Chef and Co-owner Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen

Formally trained at the Culinary School of Beirut, Rachid Eido is a third-generation professional Lebanese chef who grew up in Beirut. After growing professionally in Beirut, Saudi Arabia, Dallas, and Baltimore, he pursued his dream of opening Kareem, an Arabic word for “generous.”

ONUR HAYTAC, Founder and CEO Linga

Onur Haytac was a young Turkish-American student at Florida Gulf Coast University when his guidance on a late-night computer fix for a Subway franchisee launched him on a successful career path to redefine restaurant point-of-sale computer applications. He founded the thriving global business Benseron Hospitality in 2004 in Naples. His company is now named for his integrated, cloud-based, point-of-sale system, Linga POS, for the restaurant and hospitality industry, which is among the top three globally.

DANIEL KAO, Owner Porsche Naples

Originally from Taiwan and raised in the States, Daniel Kao joined Porsche Naples after working his way up in the luxury automotive market since 2006. He has been at Porsche Naples since 2019, as the dealership expanded and relocated to Davis Boulevard.

ANDRES PAZ Chief Experience Officer and Partner AdVenture

After 13 years of media marketing experience, Andres Paz joined this full-service marketing agency based in Bonita Springs in 2019; since then, the firm has doubled its client base and tripled revenue. The Naples resident has volunteered with more than 25 organizations during the past seven years.

BROOKE SPENCER Executive Director Wellfit Girls SWFL

Brooke Spencer was recently named to lead this nonprofit program offering leadership, fitness, and empowerment programs to teen girls in Collier and Lee counties. Spencer earned her master’s degree in public administration from Florida Gulf Coast University, and is a certified personal trainer, health and life coach, and Wilderness First Responder, and has completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training.

ASIF R. SYED

Executive Chef, Owner, and

General Manager 21 Spices by Chef Asif

Asif R. Syed is an award-winning Indian-American chef who has appeared on national television shows such as Guy’s Grocery Games and Cutthroat Kitchen on the Food Network. With a degree in hotel management and catering, he worked on three continents before opening 21 Spices in December 2015.

ELLIOT TAYLOR Cofounder and Managing Partner B3 Marketing

Elliot Taylor founded B3 Marketing in January 2015 with his business partner Dimitrios Settos. As the leading graphic and web designer, Taylor oversees all digital and print artwork. The Florida Gulf Coast University graduate gives back to the community by donating professional design work for several organizations, including Naples Women’s

Club, Naples Veg Fest, Humane Society of Naples, and Youth Haven.