Meet the Marco Leadership Class of 2026: Part 1

The Leadership Marco program began its 23rd class year late last month, hosting a series of workshops that run through November to teach local leaders and business owners about Marco Island and its community.

Run by the Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce, this year’s 12-person class will participate in a series of full-day workshops hosted by local businesses, media outlets, teachers, first responders, and more. The aim of the program is to inform participants about the area and foster strong community leadership.

The program has run continuously since 2001, with class sizes ranging from 10-14 people. Those interested in future classes are encouraged to contact Marco Island Area Chamber Program and Event Manager Donna Niemczyk at 239-250-3381 or at donna@marcoislandchamber.org.

Below are some of the members participating in the Class of 2026, with the remaining biographies to be published in the upcoming edition of the Coastal Breeze.

Tyler Canady is a certified financial planner and financial advisor with the Atlantic Coastal Group at Morgan Stanley. Having grown up on the island, Canady said he developed a great respect for the island’s history and its sense of community, which he said was one of his favorite things about living on Marco Island.

Canady said he took an interest in the Leadership Marco program to learn more about the island, meet like-minded professionals, and learn how to become an effective leader. Canady said that, to him, being an effective leader means leaving a positive impact on the community, which he hopes to do by participating in Leadership Marco.

Barbara Ann Heegan serves as the Director of Business Development at The Arlington of Naples, a premier Life Plan Community owned and operated by LCS, the nation's third-largest senior living provider. In her role, she’s advocated for advancement in senior living service models and for Alzheimer’s awareness. She’s also previously served as the president and CEO of chambers of commerce in three different states.

“My interest in attending Leadership Marco was inspired by a conversation at a Marco Island Chamber of Commerce Chamber After 5 event with Marco Island City Councilor Deb Henry, who spoke so highly of her experience in the program. She shared how Leadership Marco deepened her understanding of the community’s history, its leaders, and the many opportunities to serve,” Heegan said of her interest in participating in Leadership Marco. “Deb’s passion for giving back and her dedication to strengthening the Marco Island community have been an inspiration to me … As a newer member of the community, I am eager to continue learning about the great people, organizations, and history that make Marco Island such a special place while finding meaningful ways to contribute.”

One thing that Heegan said she wished the community to know about her is her dedication to service, coming from a family of law enforcement officers and firefighters. In the spirit of that service, Heegan has gotten involved in the Marco Island Noontime Rotary Club, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, supporting VFW Post 7721 as an Auxiliary member, and attending San Marco Catholic Church.

“Leadership, to me, is the responsibility to serve others, inspire collaboration, and create meaningful impact. I believe true leaders do not lead from a position of authority, but from a place of purpose, humility, and commitment to the people and communities they serve,” said Heegan. “Leadership is not measured only by accomplishments, but by the positive difference we make in the lives of others. It is about showing up, lending a helping hand, and leaving a community stronger than we found it.”

She added that, since coming to Marco Island, one of her favorite things about it is the Marco Island Historical Society and its museum, believing that it serves an important role in preserving and presenting the island’s 6,000-year history.

Claire Richards is a public events assistant for For the Love of Cats, a nonprofit dedicated to humanely tackling cat overpopulation in Collier County. She coordinates weekly outreach at Veterans’ Park, manages volunteers, and supports the organization’s mission countywide.

With her son now attending Florida Gulf Coast University, Richards said she’s looking to expand her involvement around Marco Island, which is what compelled her to sign up for the program.

Richards said that she was born as an Army brat in Texas, growing up in a military family and gaining exposure to diverse communities. That experience has made her dedicated to fostering a respectful, responsive, and supportive environment for all residents.

“Leadership means steering the ship sometimes, but also stepping back and supporting others when it’s their time to steer,” Richards said of her leadership style.

Her favorite thing about Marco Island, she added, was the calm that descends on the island outside of the usual tourist season, which is a welcome reprieve from the constant bustle before gearing up for another holiday season.

Kelly Richards is a licensed mental health counselor and the owner of Unity Counseling of SWFL. She’s earned her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and has a background in community mental health, intensive outpatient, and private practice.

Richards said she was drawn to the Leadership Marco program to learn from people with diverse perspectives and identify meaningful ways to get more involved. She said the depth of experience within the community was one of her favorite things about the island.

“People bring diverse backgrounds and accomplishments, yet so many choose to invest their time and talents to strengthen the community,” Richards said.

According to Richards, her vision of leadership is listening to every perspective and having the strength to guide others to success. “True leadership is grounded in humility, integrity, and a genuine commitment to helping others grow,” she added.

Andrew Smith is the Acting Lieutenant of Operations for the Marco Island Police Department. Smith is part of a family that’s lived in the area for four generations, able to watch the island change and develop over time. Before he served the MIPD, he spent 33 years as a Collier County sheriff, where he worked in corrections, patrol, and investigations. He also served in the Army, which Smith says instilled him with discipline, resilience, and a commitment to service that’s guided him throughout his life.

“I wanted to participate in the Leadership Marco program because I believe strong leaders never stop learning. After decades in law enforcement and public service, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to understand the community you serve, build relationships, and stay connected with the people and organizations that shape our city. This program offers an opportunity to broaden my perspective,” said Smith.

“I see it as a way to continue growing both personally and professionally while contributing positively to the community I care deeply about.

Smith added that, to him, leadership is a shared commitment to the community one serves, which means listening to others first and setting an example through integrity and accountability. In the context of Leadership Marco, he said, it also means learning from young professionals and strengthening relationships across the island, and gaining a broader understanding of the organizations and the challenges the island faces.

He added that he wishes people to know that he is grateful for the opportunity to work for the community and wishes to approach the role with respect for the people who call Marco home.

“My goal is simply to do my part—supporting others, listening, and helping wherever I can,” Smith said. “Being part of Leadership Marco is another way for me to learn, connect, and do my part to help keep Marco Island strong.”

Robyn Johnson serves as Executive Director of The Watermark, Marco Island’s first assisted living and memory care community. Johnson has an extensive career in healthcare and dementia care, leading award-winning senior communities in both Florida and Minnesota, and also serving on the board of the Kin & Glen Campbell Foundation, which supports work to advance music as a therapeutic intervention for people with dementia.

“I first visited in 1974 as a small child, so my relationship with old Florida island life began long before I had any idea I would one day be fortunate enough to serve its healthy-aging adults. Marco and I have both changed a little since then—although I believe the island has aged more gracefully,” Johnson said.

She said that Leadership Marco has given her the opportunity to understand the community more deeply and the values that sustain it, praising the leadership from the Marco Island Area Chamber for supporting a program she considers a remarkable resource for growing community leaders.

To Johnson, she said that leadership means service, and in her line of work with senior living, that also requires courage, tenderness, and a willingness to innovate.

She said that, at her time with The Watermark, she’s come to appreciate the larger circle of care they’re able to maintain with the help of emergency responders and city organizations, along with Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, the Marco Island Center for the Arts, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Marco Island Historical Museum, which she said helped preserve the character of the island, which Johnson said was one of the things she appreciated most about Marco Island.

“I especially love Marco’s commitment to art, social connection, history, and preserving a strong sense of place. There is something deeply meaningful about living in a community that appreciates both its natural environment and the people whose stories shaped it.”