Carl J. Kuehner received the Greater Naples Leadership service award at the organization’s annual meeting and celebration luncheon on April 8. The Parke Wright III Distinguished Leadership Award is given annually to a GNL member who best exemplifies the organization’s mission of volunteering to improve the Collier County community.
“Since Carl’s move to Naples 20 years ago, he has been involved in a broad range of community, philanthropic, educational and civic organizations, providing both leadership and financial support in many areas,” said Ben Tiley, president of GNL.
“Most significant of Carl’s many Collier County charitable and civic undertakings is his service to the vast needs of the poor in the Immokalee community,” said GNL board member Tom McCann, who presented the award.
Mr. Kuehner led the creation of Immokalee Non-Profit Housing Inc., now Immokalee Housing and Family Services, which has built many housing units for farm workers. He led the successful effort to obtain grants to build a community center for these families, and has initiated the development of Esperance, a project that will provide shelter for 176 families when completed.
In addition to the Immokalee projects and programs, Mr. Kuehner helped create the city’s Design Review Board, serving as its first chair. He was vice chair of the city’s Planning Advisory Board and has served on the Collier County Affordable Housing Commission and the Homeless Advisory Committee. He is also a past-president of the 500-member Forum Club of Southwest Florida.
Mr. Kuehner, a member of the Leadership Collier Masters Class III, was one of the founders of Greater Naples Leadership. GNL provides proven leaders the unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the issues and needs in Collier County and encourages the use of their skills in bettering the community.
With its 2010-2011 Masters Class, GNL enters its 15th year. The organization has more than 300 alumni active in many hundreds of volunteer positions with nonprofit agencies and civic organizations in Collier County. For more information, visit www.gnlwebsite.org.