CCA Board of Governors
President – Lisa Riordan
Lisa Riordan first visited Captiva more than 40 years ago and has been a Captiva resident since 2012. After vacationing on Captiva for several years, she and her husband David expanded their time here after retirement.
A New York native, Lisa spent many years in the communications industry before beginning her 25-year career in labor representation. She directed and managed the New York staff for a major international labor union and negotiated and administered collective bargaining agreements with large public and private sector employers and municipalities including Verizon, City of New York, and State of New Jersey, as well as dozens of smaller employers and municipalities.
Prior to moving to Captiva, Lisa served as an elected member of the School Board in her community. Since her retirement in 2012, Lisa has spent her free time getting involved in the Captiva community. Beginning in 2013 she joined the Board of her homeowner’s association and has served as President for the last 6 years. In 2015 she was invited to join the Captiva Memorial Library Board of Trustees, serving as President for 4 years. Also in 2015, she was invited to join the Captiva Civic Association Board of Governors and has served as Vice President, President and then as Treasurer. She was appointed to the Captiva Civic Association Foundation Board of Governors, the fund-raising vehicle of the Civic Association, in 2017 and continues to serve there as President.
Lisa has two adult daughters, and seven grandchildren, all of whom reside out-of-state. When she is not busy with her community activities, Lisa enjoys boating, traveling, reading and spending time with friends.
Vice President – Ginny Reiss
Ginny Reiss and her husband Mark have been coming to Captiva since 1999. When they aren’t in residence here, they’re enjoying life in the mountains of Colorado. Ginny is a retired third grade elementary school teacher, and was also a mentor for student teachers in Jefferson County, Colorado. She has also been an active member in the Evergreen Animal Protective League. Presently, she serves on the Captiva Island Historical Society board and enjoys focusing on event planning for the organization.
Captiva is a special place for Ginny and her family. Her son was married on Captiva and her grandchildren have spent every Christmas of their lives on the island. “My family and I have lots of history here and are looking forward to what the future holds for us as well as our wonderful friends and community. I am honored to serve on the CCA’s Board of Governors.”
Treasurer – Mark Frederick
Mark Frederick and his wife Marilyn have their primary residence at Land’s End Village in the South Seas Island Resort. During the summer months, they stay in a log cabin they built themselves on a small island on a lake nestled in the mountains of Vermont.
Prior to retiring, Mark headed a New England-based trust and investment company as CEO and president for many years. He has served on several non-profit boards, some in the capacity of president and treasurer, in addition to managing his sons’ baseball league and coaching their teams.
Both of Mark and Marilyn’s sons served in the Navy; Ben as a flight surgeon with the Silver Eagles VMFA 115 Marine F-18 squadron and Chris as an undersea medical officer at the naval submarine base in New London, Connecticut.
Mark enjoys spending his free time with his two young granddaughters and pursuing his interests in golf, astronomy, and carpentry. He joined the CCA board to help preserve the quality of life, ambiance, and environmental integrity of Captiva as the island community faces significant challenges brought forth by overzealous developers.
Secretary – Wendy Childers
Wendy Childers has been a part-time resident of Captiva since 1998. She lives the other half of the year in Normandy Beach on another barrier island. She is a licensed real estate broker/administrator with Childers Sotheby’s International Realty. She’s also a volunteer with Caregivers of Central Jersey and is an Elder at Pt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church.
In her free time she enjoys cooking, entertaining, yoga, biking, and is enjoying learning pickleball. She also loves hanging with her three grandkids, one who lives in Spain. With her husband Lee, she loves boating, traveling and walking their dog, Tashi, on Captiva beach with all his furry friends.
Rita Ewell
Rita Ewell began her career as a radiographer in Baltimore and upon demonstrating her technical expertise, became an educator and administrator in regional hospitals. This led to private sector opportunities that included managing technical and educational support in the Mammography Division of Thomson-CGR Medical Corporation, a French radiology equipment firm and as a mammography sales specialist for General Electric Medical Systems.
In 1992 Rita formed her own consulting business with a focus on the enhancement of the technical excellence of mammography as a diagnostic tool, while increasing the awareness of the emotional sensitivity of breast related issues. Before her retirement in 2005, Rita was known nationally and abroad for her teaching skills and knowledge. She was a member of the FDA Advisory Committee for Mammography Quality Assurance and named an Honorary Fellow in the Society of Breast Imaging. In retirement Rita continued her work for the betterment of women’s health as the President of the Board of Directors for The Red Devils, a non-profit organization whose mission is to fund support services that improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients and their families. Here on Captiva, Rita is active in the community, serving as President of the Captiva Memorial Library Board, where she and her husband also volunteer. The Ewells also deliver meals for FISH.
Rita and her husband Clay, both born and raised in Baltimore, fell in love with Captiva on their first visit in 1992. They became Florida residents in 2018 and now divide their time between their home on Captiva and a summer getaway on the Delaware coast. In her free time, Rita enjoys Pilates, reading, cooking and being a dog mom.
Fred Goldberg
Fred Goldberg and his wife, Holly Perkins, were first introduced to Captiva by Holly’s parents in 1981. Fred and Holly have owned property on Captiva since 1985. For nearly 40 years, they have enjoyed vacationing with their two children – and now four grandchildren – on this lovely barrier island we call home.
Fred was born and raised in New York City. He relocated to Michigan in 1972, obtaining college and law degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he met and later married Holly in 1981. They subsequently settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and raised a family there. Now retired from the practice of corporate and tax law, Fred is an avid boater and golfer, splitting his time between homes in West Michigan and on Captiva at Bayside Villas in the South Seas Island Resort. Fred and Holly enjoy entertaining and spending time with their many friends on the Island, as well as with their two Balinese cats, Sherlock and Westley.
Civic engagement has always been a priority for Fred. Over the years, he has participated on several local government boards and commissions, first as a planner and then as an elected Trustee. Fred currently serves as a member of the Grand Rapids Public Museum Foundation Board, and is a frequent contributor to the Grand Traverse Land Conservancy. On Captiva, he is Vice President of the Bayside Villas HOA Board, and now welcomes the opportunity to serve on the CCA Board.
Karen Hatter
Karen Hatter began her career as a Labor and Delivery Nurse in Upstate New York where she met her husband. After moving to Virginia she served as the founding member of the Chesapeake Medical Alliance. The family later moved back to The Hudson Valley where their three children were raised. She organized several fundraising activities for the Interact Club of Rotary and school programs as well as serving two terms on the Rhinebeck school board.
The family vacationed on Captiva regularly for over 20 years before purchasing a home in 2018. Karen now serves on the Board of Sunset Captiva. She enjoys running and playing Pickleball. Summers are spent on the Fingerlakes where a long but rewarding renovation of a neglected lake cottage remains in progress.
Richard Sonking
Richard Sonking, along with his partner Julia Grant, divide their time between New Hampshire and Captiva. “We first discovered Captiva in 2011 and fell in love with the small tight-knit community. It is a community of interesting people with roots from all over the world that have settled in Captiva where all appreciate the relaxed and stimulating environment.”
Mr. Sonking was president and founder of the company Rochard, an importer and distributor of fine China and glass as well as collectibles. He traveled throughout Europe working with various factories and studios developing products distributed by the most prestigious retailers throughout the country. For 30 years, Richard and Julia were lucky enough to reside in New York City, enjoying all the city had to offer.
Mary Jane Vinson
Mary Jane Vinson and her husband Bob first came to Captiva and Sanibel in the mid ‘70’s after Bob’s parents introduced them to the islands. Mary Jane and Bob have owned their home in Captiva since 1989 and began coming for the season in 2002 after both retired. Mary Jane’s nursing career began as a labor and delivery nurse in Boston and Michigan, while in Michigan
she became Director of the Gynecology Clinic at the U of M Health Service. She and Bob raised their three children in VT at which time Mary Jane was Director of the Health Service at Trinity College. After a career change to mental health she became a counselor both in
Vermont and Virginia.
Mary Jane was a docent in the educational programs at the Shell Museum in Sanibel for several years. She is presently the secretary for the Sunset Captiva board and the events chair for the Captiva Island Historical Society.
In the past she was the captain for many women’s tennis teams in Sanibel and for the past several years has enjoyed playing pickleball and mahjongg in Captiva.
They have introduced Captiva to their seven grandchildren who have all visited yearly since their births. When not in Captiva and not traveling Mary Jane and Bob live in Virginia Beach , VA where two of their children and four of their grandchildren reside.