Thomas D. McCann, Class IX, received the 2018 Distinguished Leadership Award at the Celebration Luncheon on March 22, 2018.
Before moving to Naples, Tom was very involved during his professional career with service to the communities where he lived in New York and Massachusetts. Being a member of Greater Naples Leadership offered him the opportunity to continue to serve and to use his skills to better the community as the GNL Mission Statement challenges its members. After Tom’s graduation from Class IX, he was elected to the GNL Board of Directors and served as Vice President for Membership and also served on the Governance Committee and Parke Wright Distinguished Leadership Committee.
During his six years on the Board of the Community Foundation of Collier County Board, he was Chair of the Board and subsequently chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. During Tom’s tenure as Chair, he led the Board in its strategic planning initiative strengthening how the Foundation serves the community and ensuring funds granted by the Foundation have the most impact with nonprofit organizations in Collier County. In addition, Tom was a leader on the Search Committee recruiting candidates for the Chief Executive Officer position. Tom continues to serve the Community Foundation as co-chair of the Trustees Emeriti Committee.
Another nonprofit organization that has benefited from Tom’s leadership and service is the Naples Botanical Garden where he served on the Board 12 years including Chair of the Board of Directors and chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. As with the Community Foundation, Tom used his leadership skills with the strategic planning process for the Garden. During Tom’s leadership at the Garden, he, once again, oversaw the search for a new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Garden.
In addition to the nonprofit world, Collier County has benefited from Tom’s involvement in the civic arena of our county. He serves on the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee, the Naples Planning Advisory Board and the Collier Citizen Council. Tom offers his skills and insights in his service on these committees to make our community the best in the state. Tom’s commitment to the civic arena ensures citizen input into those matters that affect our daily lives in order to improve the quality of life for all.
Community leaders have commented that Tom is a responsive board member and committee member, who knows what is needed and how to get things accomplished and goes beyond what is expected. It has been noted that Tom is a person who evokes fellowship because he injects character, integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, and moral courage into all discussions for mature and balanced deliberations to advance our community. Others have commented that Tom is truly fair and balanced and a selfless man of great talent.