New Trustees Add Wealth of Experience

to Naples Children & Education Foundation

The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), today announced the addition of the following Trustees, effective immediately: Rick Kash, Becky and Lewie Card, Nancy and Joe Masterson, Debbi and Bill Cary and honorary Trustees Rosann and Bill Nunnelly.

Collectively, they bring over five decades of business experience and non-profit leadership, along with a tireless dedication to enhancing the lives of children in Collier County.

“It’s an honor to be able to tap into the experience of such reputable leaders to support the children in our community,” said Bob Clifford, Chairman of the Board. “The driving force that energizes and unites NCEF Trustees is their commitment to blending decades of business, social, and civic experience with new and fresh ideas.”

RICK KASH

New trustee Rick Kash brings both social work and business experience to NCEF. A native Chicagoan and alumnus of DePaul University, Mr. Kash is currently Vice Chairman of the Nielsen Company (NYSE) with more than 40,000 employees in 105 countries.

Before that, he founded the strategy consulting firm The Cambridge Group, which was purchased by Nielsen. He is the author of “The New Law of Supply and Demand” and “How Companies Win,” and Co-Founder, along with Harvard University, of Genus Oncology, a cancer research company focusing on MUC1 protein. Recently, the National Cancer Institute named MUC1 as the second most important target in cancer research among a total of 50 targets.

“I am very proud to be asked to be a part of NCEF, a group of patrons joined together for a synergistic outcome of serving at-risk children,” said Mr. Kash. to Naples Children & Education Foundation.

BECKY AND LEWIE CARD

After attending a Vintner Dinner at the NWWF, Becky and Lewie Card selected NCEF to help raise funds for Collier County children’s charities. They have demonstrated their commitment to the Foundation’s mission by attending 13 annual Naples Winter Wine Festivals.

“My wife Becky and I are part-time Naples residents and we were looking for a way to get involved and give back to the local community,” said Mr. Card.

A native of Chattanooga, Mr. Card is a third generation business owner, published author, and chairman of Card-Monroe Corporation (CMC), the world’s leading manufacturer of custom built tufting equipment for the carpet, rug, and artificial turf industries. His family’s firm history dates back to 1937 when two brothers named Cobble began building tufting equipment for chenille bedspreads. Principals Lewis Card Sr. and Roy Card, (nephews of the Cobbles), joined the firm in 1950, drawing from both the wisdom of experience and emerging technologies, and literally changed the way carpet is made. When the original company was sold to Singer Sewing Company in 1981, Mr. Kash founded CMC and today continues to shape the history of the tufting industry with its technological innovations across six continents.

NANCY AND JOE MASTERSON

Nancy and Joe Masterson have been family business owners of a consumer and industrial food products manufacturing company headquartered in Milwaukee, WI since 1980. Today, their two sons spearhead the company as president and head of sales, and their daughter is a member of the board of directors.

Before purchasing the Masterson Company, Mrs. Masterson received her Bachelor of Science from University of Illinois in 1965. Since then, she has been active in many charitable and civic organizations. After the family business was purchased, she was named Vice Chairman of the Board and continues to serve the family business in that role today.

Together, the Mastersons travel around the world, visiting a wide variety of vineyards while developing an extensive wine collection, sharing their time between their homes in Barrington Hills, IL, the Northwoods of Wisconsin, and Naples, FL.

“When we first attended the NWWF seven years ago, we were so impressed and moved by NCEF’s goal to helping at-risk children,” said Mrs. Masterson. “Our eight grandchildren are the most important part of our lives, so we are thrilled to be asked to become a trustee and to help disadvantaged children in our Naples community, working with an outstanding organization like NCEF.”

DEBBI AND BILL CARY

Debbi and Bill Cary first attended the Naples Winter Wine Festival in 2013 and were blown away by the impact the Festival had on thousands of children in need. Since then, they have been active supporters and look forward to joining NCEF as Trustees.

“We are thrilled to be included among such esteemed colleagues supporting the Festival and its founding organization, NCEF,” said Debbi Cary. “As parents of two grown children, we couldn’t sit back knowing that so many children are in need. It’s been heartening to see and witness the impact of this organization on the community.”

Now retired as the President and Chief Operating Officer of GE Capital, the financial services unit of the General Electric Company, Bill currently serves as a director of Synchrony Financial (SYF-NYSE) and Rush Enterprises (RUSHA-NASDAQ) and is a past member of the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Fairfield County and of the Global Board of BuildOn. Debbi is a former community banker and has been active in philanthropy in Northern California, Darien, CT and Naples, FL.

ROSANN AND BILL NUNNELLY

The new honorary NCEF trustees are Naples and Nashville residents Rosann and Bill Nunnelly. They are the owners of three family owned businesses, including the well-known West End Discount Liquors & Wines in Nashville. In fact, the Nunnellys and their staff offer a combined experience of over 150 years in the wine and liquor business, and, concurrently, over 50 years of combined experience in the restaurant business.

“Rosann and I believe that children are our future and they must be provided with services and resources they need to excel,” explains Mr. Nunnelly. “We have been attending and donating wine to the NWWF since its second auction in 2002, so it is a real honor to be asked as an honorary trustee to the festival’s well managed founding organization, NCEF.”

ABOUT THE NAPLES CHILDREN & EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Naples Children & Education Foundation, the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, is committed to improving the educational, emotional and health outcomes of the underprivileged and at-risk children. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted over 40 of the most effective nonprofits in the community, providing around 200,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel. For more information about NCEF, please visit www.napleswinefestival.com.