Gina Guarino - REALTOR®
Tell us about your business.
As a top REALTOR® serving Northwest Indiana, Chicagoland, and Naples, I bring over 30 years of expertise to the real estate market. I specialize in residential real estate, helping clients find their dream homes, navigate luxury properties, and seamlessly transition between locations.
How does your business connect with or contribute to the Naples community?
My team provides a comprehensive suite of services, from staging and marketing to negotiation and closing, ensuring every client experiences a smooth and successful journey. By expanding to Naples, I aim to blend my Midwest roots with the elegance of Southwest Florida, delivering personalized, high-quality service in every transaction.
What’s one thing you’ve learned from the Naples community that has impacted your business?
One thing I’ve learned from the Naples community is the power of relationships and personalized service. With over 7,000 Realtors in the Naples area, standing out means truly understanding the lifestyle and needs of each client. Naples has taught me the value of blending expertise with a warm, community-focused approach, which has elevated my ability to connect with clients on a deeper level and deliver exceptional results.
Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to leave behind for future generations both within your family and community?
Looking ahead, I hope to leave a legacy of integrity, hard work, and meaningful connections. I’m proud to work alongside my sons, teaching them the value of service and dedication to our clients and community. Within the community, I aspire to be remembered as someone who genuinely cared—helping families find homes where memories are made, giving back to local causes, and fostering opportunities for others to grow.
LeTricia Zogheib
Tell us about your business.
For over 15 years, my luxury interior design practice has been a haven for those who crave spaces that resonate deeply with emotion and beauty. As a full-concierge service, we work with preferred architects, builders, and trades to craft environments from the ground up—from the architectural plans to curating the smallest details, like the perfect dish for a dining experience. Every project is an intimate dance between vision and artistry, where our role is to channel your desires into a space that feels like an extension of your soul. With a lover’s touch for rich textures, vibrant hues, and timeless details, we create unforgettable atmospheres that stir the heart and captivate the senses. Our passion lies in crafting poetic, bespoke designs that honor your story, transforming homes into sanctuaries of emotion and perfection. Together, we’ll create a space that doesn’t just look exquisite—it feels like the truest reflection of you.
How does your business connect with or contribute to the Naples community?
I founded "Design for Peace" in 2016 in Houston, TX as a heartfelt initiative to unite people of all races and religions in the shared goal of furnishing homes for families in need—promoting peace through collaboration and compassion. My dream is to bring this mission to Naples, creating a ripple effect of kindness and transformation within our new community. I believe that everyone deserves a hand up, not a handout, and that providing a safe, welcoming home can profoundly impact a family’s future. By offering children a secure space to learn, play, and grow, we help change the trajectory of their lives. With the support of local shelters and generous donations of new and gently used furniture, accessories, and essentials, we work to turn houses into homes. Design for Peace strives to ignite a movement that inspires others to embrace this vision in their own communities—one family, one home, one act of peace at a time.
Joe Nugent - Joe the Home Pro
Tell us about your business.
Joe The Home Pro is a multi-inspector, full service, award winning home inspection company that services Marco to Punta Gorda. We celebrate our 10 year anniversary this month! We offer everything from general inspections, wind mitigations and 4-pts for insurance, roof certifications, mold and air quality testing, radon and termite.
How does your business connect with or contribute to the Naples community?
Over 70% of the inspections we perform are right here in Naples so we are working with residents daily to help them purchase their home. I volunteer for multiple non-profit organizations and the company sponsors many events throughout the year. I am in an amazing BNI group along with two different GROW Business Network group and the NAPLES Group and have connected and made friends with so many people through local networking!
What local business do you recommend to others in the home services/real estate/building/design fields?
There are so many...we have had a very long relationship with Becker Home Maintenance. We are preferred partners for every major real estate brokerage or team in SWFL. I am so fortunate to work with some of the best local insurance agents that I have ever seen! There are literally too many companies to even name, and I am sure I will accidentally leave someone out, but SWFL has so many fantastic companies to partner with. I have been fortunate, through all of my networking groups, that I have met business owners who have the same ethics, morals and values that I do.
Michael Raymond, President & CEO, Perry Hotel Naples
Tell us about your business.
The Perry Hotel Naples is an independent upscale boutique property that redefines luxury and hospitality in the heart of Naples, Florida. Our property features 160 designed premium guest rooms, two pool areas, a state-of-the-art fitness center, unique dining concepts like Tigress Cantonese Chophouse, Easy Tiger Rooftop Bar, Poolside Bodega and Perry Coffee Shop, and spaces dedicated to celebrating the local arts and culture. Our services cater to both leisure travelers and the local community, offering a welcoming space for group stays, gatherings, and extraordinary experiences.
How does your business connect with or contribute to the Naples community?
At The Perry Hotel Naples, we strive to be more than just a place to stay; we aim to be a cornerstone of the Naples community. Through partnerships with local organizations and collaborations with local vendors, artisans, and nonprofits, we showcase local talent and give back to Naples’ vibrant community and economy. Our commitment to sustainability, such as refillable water bottle stations and eco-conscious amenities, reflects the values of our environmentally aware community.
How do you hope your business will grow or evolve in the next year?
Over the next year, we hope to further establish The Perry Hotel Naples as a hub for both locals and visitors. We plan to expand our partnerships with local businesses, create more curated experiences that highlight Naples' culture and natural beauty, and elevate our exceptional dining offerings. Our goal is to make The Perry Hotel a landmark destination where the community gathers and guests return time and again.
What are trends you are seeing that indicate the future of your industry?
The hospitality industry is moving away from simply comfortable overnight stays and towards experiential travel, with guests seeking authentic, personalized experiences that go beyond traditional hotel visits. Sustainability is also a significant trend, with travelers prioritizing eco-conscious properties.
Allie Kliegerman - Mortgage Broker
Tell us about your business.
I’ve been a residential mortgage banker for 25 years. Providing financing for primary, secondary, and investment properties of all levels to single-family homes, condos, co-ops, and new developments.
How does your business connect with or contribute to the Naples community?
We provide financing and refinancing to people looking to own a home in Naples and surrounding areas.
What’s one thing you’ve learned from the Naples community that has impacted your business?
It’s an incredibly supportive community where we all help each other to succeed personally and professionally.
Ann Marie Park - Residential Mortgages
Tell us about your business.
Mortgage business. I’ve been in for the past 20 years. I provide residential mortgages.
How does your business connect with or contribute to the Naples community?
Supporting local families, refinancing, sponsoring local causes, job creation.
How do you hope your business will grow or evolve in the next year?
Hoping to expand in stronger community connections, leveraging technology, enhancing client education, and marketing and branding.
What are trends you are seeing that indicate the future of your industry?
Focus on financial wellness and education, alternative lending and Non-QM Loans, Interest rate and refinancing.
Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to leave behind for future generations both within your family and community?
A strong family foundation, work ethic, creating a culture of trust and integrity
What local business do you recommend to others in the home services/real estate/building/design fields?
John R. Wood Properties, Keller Williams, and Compass.
Blake Becker — Becker Custom Builders
Tell us about your business.
I am a general contractor.
How does your business connect with or contribute to the Naples community?
We are active in local events, charities, podcast and our social media platforms.
What’s one thing you’ve learned from the Naples community that has impacted your business?
We’ve learned that taking care of your community, and supporting local businesses goes hand in hand with the growth of our company and personal success.
How do you hope your business will grow or evolve in the next year?
Our goals for 2025 are to continue on with high-end luxury models, and home building as well as community development.
What are trends you are seeing that indicate the future of your industry?
I definitely think we’re going see AI come into a bigger part of Design and technology will continue to expand the possibilities of standard home design
Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to leave behind for future generations both within your family and community?
The legacy of passion for what we do, the love of our community, and reputation for quality and professionalism.
What local business do you recommend to others in the home services/real estate/building/design fields?
Designers, real estate agents, tradesmen, attorneys, home inspectors, and much more!
Britt Steele — The House of Drop
Tell us about your business.
The House of Drop is a contemporary transformative art experience founded by my husband, Fabrizio Venuta, & me at the beginning of COVID. We pour thousands of layers of paint onto an infinite spectrum of mediums, from canvases to chandeliers, surfboards to handbags, ultimately forming our signature drops at the base of each piece. We work on commissioned pieces as well as have a beautiful selection of work in our gallery + studio in the Naples Art District.
How does your business connect with or contribute to the Naples community?
Philanthropy has always been a huge part of our personal & professional lives. Having the ability to participate in local causes we believe in through donating special pieces to fundraising auctions is a great luxury & privilege, helping us to maintain a constant stream of support to truly important institutions in the Naples area.
What’s one thing you’ve learned from the Naples community that has impacted your business?
We’ve been overwhelmed with how supportive Naples is of the arts. This has been especially a welcomed surprise since moving here almost three years ago considering art is such a subjective experience and our aesthetic is quite specific yet the encouragement and support has been a tremendous component to our evolution as a company/brand.
What are trends you are seeing that indicate the future of your industry?
‘Less is more’- we’ve noticed an increase in interest in beginning or enhancing art collections in general but planning for the evolution of an individual’s tastes & overall aesthetic has been at the forefront of the decision making of each. Rather than react towards an impulsive purchase that catches their eye at any particular moment, so many are educating themselves on art in general & its attractiveness as an investment. Collectors are looking for art that grows with them so there is much more room to collaborate and advise.
Matthew Strunk - General Manager, The Perry Hotel Naples
How does your business connect with or contribute to the Naples community?
The Perry Hotel Naples serves as both a hospitality destination and a community partner. We celebrate local art, music, and cuisine, we bring together residents and visitors to experience the unique culture of Naples. Additionally, we prioritize working with local businesses, from artisans to service providers, ensuring that our success supports the broader community. We’re proud to contribute to the vibrancy of Naples while offering a welcoming space for all.
What’s one thing you’ve learned from the Naples community that has impacted your business?
From Naples, we’ve learned the importance of embracing a balance between tradition and innovation. The community values its deep roots and heritage while also welcoming fresh, new ideas. This duality has inspired us to craft an experience that respects Naples’ storied charm while introducing modern touches that align with today’s traveler’s expectations.
How do you hope your business will grow or evolve in the next year?
In the year ahead, we envision The Perry Hotel Naples becoming an integral part of the community. By creating spaces and experiences that resonate with both locals and visitors, we aim to foster connections and create