2008 Men and Women of the Year

Jay and Patty Baker
Jay and Patty baker are proud parents—not just to their two children, Stephen and Stephanie, but to their beloved gold-and-white Shih Tzu, Kizzie. "She’s our obsession, that’s quite obvious," says Patty. The Bakers are also obviously dedicated to making a mark on the community by volunteering their time and donating to numerous organizations.

Their names appear in conjunction with the Naples Museum of Art, of which they are the founders, and the newest patient tower at Naples Community Hospital. They also serve on boards for the Philharmonic Center for the Arts and the Naples Players, and have supported countless other organizations.

Patty and Jay, the former president and co-founder of Kohl’s department stores, count Naples as their primary residence, but their penchant for traveling is no secret. Another of Jay’s great loves is baseball—he recently became owner of a minor league team in Port Charlotte with Cal Ripken that is scheduled to begin playing next year.

Birthplaces: Him—Flushing, N.Y.; Her—Sykesville, Md. People they most admire: Him—I admire my parents for what they did for my sister and me, and also my mentor in business, [the late] Bob Suslow. Her— Tina Turner. When she was at a really low point in her life, she pulled herself up, got out of the messy marriage she was in and started recording again on her own. If they could change one thing about themselves, it would be: Him—I’d like to be 6-foot-4. And sometimes I have a lack of patience. Her—My ability to slow down. Most gratifying experiences: Him— Professionally, [being one of the three founders of] Kohl’s department stores. [Personally, it’s] being married to Patty, having a wonderful family and having the ability to give and to get as much out of giving as the people who receive from us. Her—Seeing the results of giving to the charities that we choose. How they would improve the quality of life here: See the educational system brought up to the level of the country. What they won’t discuss at cocktail parties: Their finances. People would be surprised to know: Her—I’m really shy. [Jay’s would be] how in touch with his feminine side he is. He cries at movies, and I love that about him. Guilty pleasures: Him—Angelina Jolie. I called her for a date, but she keeps turning me down. Brad Pitt gets in the way. Her—Really nice underwear. On their bucket list: More travel.

Scot and Doug Congress
In another universe, Scot and Doug Congress would trade their family empire of diamonds and pearls for cameras and spatulas—or they’d be ridding the world of hurricanes with giant ice bombs. Scot, who studied marketing at the University of Florida, says his alternate career would be a Sports Illustrated photographer. His brother would trade his accounting degree for the culinary skills of a Food Network star.

Luckily for Southwest Floridians in need of fine jewelry, they’re carrying on the Congress Jewelers legacy created on Sanibel Island in 1983 by their parents, Larry and Dee. In addition to a savvy business sense, the brothers inherited their parents’ community spirit, participating in more than 70 charitable events and civic endeavors each year. One such cause is Habitat for Humanity of Lee County, to which the company has donated nearly $900,000 during the past six years—enough to build 18 homes.

Birthplace: Elkhart, Ind. The people they admire most: Their parents. Scot’s most gratifying experience: Chairing the Collier County Heart Ball in 2006 and getting the community together to make history, raising more money than any other heart event that year in Florida. Quality they most admire in others: Scot—passion; Doug—sense of humor. How they’d improve the quality of life here: Scot—invent a way to kill a hurricane; Doug—invent a regional transportation system that uses alternate fuel sources. Doug’s message to his younger self: Carpe diem. Live for the day a little bit more. Take vacations. There’s more to life than work. What people would be surprised to know about them: Scot is an expert jewelry photographer; Doug is a CPA who plays the drums. What’s left on their bucket lists: Scot wants to play golf at every U.S. Open golf course in the country; Doug wants to watch a baseball game at every Major League ballpark.

Pam Cronin
When Pam Cronin and her husband, Tom, bought the 18-acre Shell Factory 11 years ago, the foreclosed attraction was in disrepair. "I grew up a mile from there," she says. "We thought if it doesn’t work out as an attraction, it’s an amazing piece of property. But it gets under your skin. It’s an amazing labor of love."

Cronin played a significant role in breathing new life into the North Fort Myers attraction, which recently celebrated its 70th anniversary. "It’s getting better every year," she says.

Her enthusiasm spills over into the community, where her talents are in constant demand. She participates on nine boards, including the Tourist Development Council, the board of FGCU’s new resort and hospitality school, Uncommon Friends Foundation and the Children’s Advocacy Foundation.

Birthplace: North Tonawanda, N.Y. People she admires most: Barbara Bush for her focus on family, faith and friends; and Madonna for her charisma and skills as a master marketer. … and in Southwest Florida: The Paradies family whose patriarchs "Mr. Jimmy" and "Mr. Dan" led the clan from a small family business, The Paradies Shops in the Southwest Florida International Airport, to a nationally recognized brand. What she would change about herself: I would take a breath before I responded, acted or said, ‘Yes!’ Her most gratifying experience: Landing the big Kahuna: Tom Cronin! Qualities she most admires in others: An extraordinary sense of humor and great wit. She won’t discuss at cocktail parties: Ugly gossip. Please only tell me happy news. A song with special meaning: Young at Heart, the old song that starts out, ‘Fairy tales do come true, it can happen to you …’ People would be surprised to know: That I am basically insecure and fake a lot of my bravado. Her guilty pleasure: Spa treatments. What’s left on her bucket list: Obtain my Ph.D., learn to play the piano and earn an epitaph that says: ‘I am a happier person for having known her.’

Lavern Gaynor
Lavern Gaynor’s family is well-rooted in Naples history as longtime philanthropic contributors. Her parents, Dellora and Lester Norris, helped build the original Naples Community Hospital and are the namesakes of the Norris Community Center and Norris Gardens.

Gaynor is a dedicated humanitarian who has continued her family’s tradition of service through volunteer and donation efforts to a variety of organizations including the YMCA, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Youth Haven, the Naples Philharmonic and the Naples Historical Society, for which she serves as director emeritus. Her latest project is to restore an awareness of Naples’ rich history to its residents, both young and old. "We have a really transient population here, and I feel that if [the community] knew about our history, they might feel more connected to Naples," she says.

Birthplace: St. Charles, Ill. Who she admires most: My parents. … and in the Southwest Florida community: Myra Janco Daniels. Most gratifying personal experience: Raising my family. If she could have an alternate career: I wouldn’t. I’ve had a very interesting life. I lived 20 years overseas in Belgium and Italy and raised my two children there; it was a wonderful experience that I’ve never regretted. Quality she admires most in others: Honesty. What she would change about herself: Be more organized. How she would improve the quality of life here: More cooperation among everyone. Advice she gives her grandchildren: I always tell them to be broad-minded, to look at both sides of a question, and [not to] make too quick of an opinion without knowing the other side as well. People would be surprised to know: This is going back a long time ago, but my brother and I used to race cars.

Mike Reagen
When Mike R eagen was eyeing Naples as a possible retirement spot, he knew he still had important work to do before finishing up his professional life. In 2002, he took the helm at the Naples Chamber and has since pumped up membership to 2,164, added board members and increased county-wide communication efforts through forums, a television program and a magazine. "My role is to lay the foundation to become better for the future," he says. His diverse career has included higher education administration, teaching at the doctorate level, acting as commissioner for human services in Iowa and serving as a cabinet officer for three state governors. A well-earned retirement it will be.