Richard Stern
The Heritage Foundation
Richard Stern is Director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at the Heritage Foundation. Prior to joining Heritage, Stern was a Congressional staffer for over seven years. During that time, he served as a policy staffer for the Republican Study Committee, where he was the staff lead for their Budget and Spending task force and spearheaded their work to create their FY 2020 and FY 2022 federal budgets.
He also served as Legislative Director for Representative Tom McClintok of California and was a Legislative Assistant for former Representative Steve King of Iowa.
Stern is a graduate of Emory University and holds a bachelor of arts in Economics.
Syd Kitson
Kitson and Partners
Syd Kitson is the Chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, a Florida-based real estate company known for developing sustainable, resilient, and innovative communities that are thoughtfully designed to live in harmony with nature. A graduate of Wake Forest University with a degree in Economics, Syd had a notable career in the National Football League, playing offensive guard for both the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys. Upon his retirement from professional football in 1985, Syd launched his real estate career, overseeing residential communities and commercial properties throughout the Northeast region of the country. In 1999 he founded Kitson & Partners, establishing the firm’s headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Syd is perhaps best known for leading the visionary acquisition of Babcock Ranch in 2006, encompassing more than 92,000 acres in Southwest Florida – an area five times the size of the island of Manhattan. In what became the largest single land preservation agreement in Florida’s history, more than 80% of the property – 73,000 acres – was set aside for permanent preservation. The remaining land became Babcock Ranch, the first solar-powered town in the United States and a nationally recognized model for smart, sustainable, resilient development. Beyond his work in real estate, Syd has been an active leader in civic and business circles. He’s served as Chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Council of 100, and the State University System of Florida Board of Governors, as well as becoming a lifetime member of Leadership Florida. His leadership and vision have been widely recognized – most recently by Time magazine, which named him “Dreamer of the Year” in 2023, the Florida Council of 100’s “Governor’s Business Leader Award” in 2024, and Wake Forest University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2025.
Tyler Kitson
Kitson and Partners
Tyler is Senior Vice President of Communities at Kitson & Partners bringing more than 12 years of professional experience in private real estate development. Tyler manages all operations across the firm’s portfolio, while also overseeing the company’s Talis Park and Babcock Ranch development projects. A former professional golfer, Kitson received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rollins College and a master’s degree in real estate development from Nova Southeastern University. Tyler is committed to giving back to the Southwest Florida community through his support of numerous nonprofits, professional and civic organizations, including the SWFL Inc. Chamber, Regional Advisory Committee on Trauma, Babcock Ranch Foundation, he chaired the American Heart Association Heart Ball 2023, and is involved with United Way, ULI, ICSC and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Tyler is a 2024-2025 graduate of Leadership Florida, Connect Class 14. Married with four children, Tyler is proud to call North Naples his home and is passionate about his family’s continued support and involvement in the community.
Denise Carlin
The School District of Lee County
Dr. Carlin is a lifelong educator, having served the School District of Lee County for 32 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district leader. Dr. Carlin was elected on November 5, 2024, as Superintendent of Schools, for a four-year term. She is proud to serve as the first elected Superintendent in Lee County in over fifty years. Dr. Carlin is honored to have the opportunity to serve the students, families, and team members who make Lee County so exceptional. Dr. Carlin believes in public education and knows that the children of Lee County are our future. She recognizes that, while the School District of Lee County has made some strides, there is so much more that can be done to provide a high-quality education for every student. As such, our school district will ensure safe and secure schools, increase student achievement, expand technical education opportunities, increase teacher retention and recruitment, ensure fiscal responsibility, and empower parents as our partners in education. Dr. Carlin was raised in Cape Coral and has lived in Lee County for 55 years. She has been married to her husband for 34 years and they have two sons.
Tiffany Esposito
SWFL Inc.
Tiffany Esposito, MBA, CCE, IOM, APR and President & CEO of SWFL Inc. promises she is done earning letter designations to add after her name. A 13-year veteran of the Chamber industry, SWFL native and strong believer in Taco Tuesdays, Tiffany actively participates in national and regional conversations to improve the quality of life for businesses and their teams.