Richard Garner
The Bonita Springs Utilities Inc. board of directors selected Richard Garner to fill the vacant director seat left by the passing of Frank Liles Jr., who served on the board since 1986. Garner will serve as director until the 2021 annual election, the first election following the vacancy.
A Bonita Springs resident for 30 years, Garner is a retired banking executive and real estate professional. He was president and CEO of First National Bank of Bonita Springs, now First National Bank of Florida; founding chairman and CEO of CNL Bank of Southwest Florida, now Valley National Bank; and founding chairman & CEO of Southern Community Bank of Southwest Florida, now Fifth Third Bank. Garner has served as chairman of the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce, now SWFL Inc., as well as president and treasurer of the chamber’s foundation. A dedicated community volunteer, he has held leadership positions with numerous local organizations, including The Speakers Assembly of Southwest Florida; Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Firefighter Pension Fund; The SKY Family YMCA Bonita Springs, YMCA Naples; and the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs.
Other BSU board members are Paul Attwood, Robert Bachman, Brian Farrar, Larry Kosilla, Mike Malloy, Vincent Marchesani, James Murphy and Ben Nelson Jr. The board of directors holds public meetings at 5 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Each board member also serves on various committees and work groups.
Bonita Springs Utilities Inc. is a not-for-profit water and wastewater utility cooperative founded by local citizens in 1970. The member-owned utility provides service in the City of Bonita Springs, the Village of Estero and unincorporated South Lee County. The utility is recognized as an industry leader with awards from the American Water Works Association, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Water Environment Association.
For more information, visit www.BSU.us.
