A Family of Leaders
Aome Rogers, Marketing & Events Manager
#CollierStrong.
The first time I saw this hashtag on social media, I had just joined PBS in 2017. I was still new to Collier County, and I was inspired by how connected everyone at PBS was to the community. I quickly became familiar with the synergistic words that make up PBS’ Purpose Statement:
“We Build Better Lives for our Team, our Clients, and our Community”.
A couple years into my tenure at PBS, I was graciously accepted into the Associate Leadership Collier (ALC) program, thanks to our Owner and CEO, Russell Budd. Associate Leadership Collier is a program specifically designed for emerging leaders and young professionals in Collier County. Through hands-on experiences and exclusive behind-the-scenes sessions, participants explore local government, education, economic development, the arts, and more. Here, I met younger professionals and executives that were hungry to make a change and stand for #collierstrong. As each session came, I realized that PBS is or was involved in nearly every organization on this year’s program:
- PBS built out the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce in 2005 (Leadership Collier Foundation is facilitated by the Chamber)
- PBS’ Senior Relationship Manager, Mario Valle, is an Auxiliary Deputy for Collier County Sheriff’s Office (Session #2: Law Enforcement)
- PBS’ Project Executive, Bart Zino, sat on the Youth Haven Building Committee from 2016-2017, (Session #3: Human Services)
- PBS has completed dozens of projects for Collier County (Session #4: Government)
- PBS’ sister company, Wall Systems, has completed many projects for Collier County Public Schools (Session #5: Education)
- Our Founder, Russell Budd is the current Chairman of the Board for David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (Session #6: Health Care)
- PBS’ sister company, Wall Systems, was an integral part of building Artis (then known as the Naples Philharmonic) in (Session #7: Arts & Tourism)
It became apparent that, now as an alum of the Associate Leadership Collier program, I needed to continue to serve the community through the auspices of PBS. Being a small part of these completed projects with PBS has given me a wider understanding and appreciation of the impact of our community partnerships:
- The Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center of Southwest Florida: Click here to watch a virtual tour of the Sand-Dollar-Award-Winning museum we completed with Architect David Corban AIA
- Humane Society Naples: Click here to watch a virtual tour of the Sand-Dollar-Award-Winning project we completed for the von Arx Adoption Center
- Matthew’s House: Immokalee Thrift Store
- The Shelter for Abused Women & Children: Transitional Cottages for Families in need
- NAMI Collier County: Lobby Facelift
- Community Foundation of Collier County: Click here to watch a testimonial from CEO, Eileen Connolly-Keesler on her experience with PBS
- Champions for Learning: The Frank and Ellen Daveler Center for Innovation in Learning
I only look forward to the continued community partnerships, many facilitated under the grace of The Leadership Collier Foundation, and the future projects to come as PBS continues to Build Better Lives for Our Community.
PBS Contractors has 10 Leadership Collier/Associate Leadership Collier Alumni:
- Russell Budd, Founder, Leadership Collier Class of 1992
- Mario Valle, Senior Relationship Manager, Leadership Collier Class of 2004
- Bart Zino, Project Executive, Leadership Collier Class of 2007
- Kathy Smart, Chief Marketing Officer, Leadership Collier Class of 2022
- Len Price, Chief People Officer, Leadership Collier Class of 2007
- Andy Reed, Relationship Manager, Leadership Collier Class of 2007
- Aome Keough, Marketing & Events Manager, Associate Leadership Collier Class of 2020
- Wotts Mercy, Administrative and Business Technology Lead, Leadership Collier Class of 2020
- Michael Conroy, Business Development Strategist, Associate Leadership Collier Class of 2021
- Bela Lesende, Marketing Coordinator, Associate Leadership Collier Class of 2023
Russell Budd, Aome Rogers, & Michael Conroy at this year’s Associate Leadership Collier graduation
Banner Photo: Associate Leadership Collier Class of 2020
