BOARD MEMBERS
Our all-volunteer club is led by board members who meet regularly to plan events, review finances, and ensure a fully compliant non-profit organization. ALL club members are welcome to attend the board meetings, held the Mondays before our monthly meetings, and participate in the planning and discussion of issues. Meetings are held in a small clubhouse in North Naples, in a collegial and positive atmosphere, and dinner is served. Ask any Board member for information about joining us and sharing your ideas and expertise.
Elaine Gates
President
Elaine Gates says she grows orchids “to have beautiful blooming plants in my house at all times!” Over decades she has learned how to be successful in growing, mounting, and showing all kinds of orchids; and she loves sharing her expertise with others. Her love of growing orchids and of orchid-themed display has led to several AOS exhibit and flower awards. She enjoys sharing how she grows in a small screened lanai area, and how she incorporates unusual containers and display items with beautiful bloomers and artistic style to create her award-winning displays. Having lived all over the world, Elaine has called Naples home for decades. She has been a Park Ranger with the National Park Service, a Peace Corps Volunteer, a small business owner, and a Librarian and Teacher. Currently, Elaine has a small business caring for orchids for clients and friends, importing orchids, creating displays for businesses and homeowners; and learning everything she can about orchids, from their rich history, complex environmental and botanical concerns, and their Incredible beauty.
Diane Ervin
First vice-President
Diane has been growing orchids here in Naples since the early ‘80s. She and her husband John have a large orchid collection of incredible varieties, colors, and sizes! Diane grew up in Wyoming, and moved to Naples after she and John met when he was in the Air Force, stationed nearby. Diane became interested in orchids here, as John’s mother was owner of RUM Orchids in Naples in the 80s, 90s and 00s, growing and supplying orchid displays and large blooming orchids to the legendary Naples Beach Club and other exclusive hotels and venues. When asked, Diane will say she loves Vandas the best, but her minis and Bulbophyllums are treasured also! John will say his favorite orchid is Myrmecophelas (formerly Shomburgkias) with their long, long inflorescences and multiple colorful flowers.
Marie Harris
Immediate Past President
Marie Harris’s love of orchids began in the mid-80s upon moving to Naples from Connecticut where she was a group pension underwriter. She was drawn to the beautiful flowers that lasted a long time (Phals) and the bonus of the plants rewarding your efforts by blooming again. Her collection remained small for many years due to the demands of her successful real estate career with John R. Wood Christies International Real Estate. During the pandemic, her collection began to expand and she made time for both her career and orchids. Neighbors refer to her house as “the one with all the orchids in the trees.” She has helped many neighbors to mount their own orchids in trees or teach them how to get started and care for orchids. “I love GCOA because I learn something new at each meeting. It’s great to be able to help others, too.”
Rae Jean Walker
Secretary
Rae Jean Walker lived and worked in Joliet, Illinois, all of her life until 2013 when she and her husband moved full time to Naples. They had been coming to Naples part-time since 2004. Rae Jean has been married to her wonderful husband, Perry, since 1985. During that time, she served as the Office Manager for their 15-store retail tire and auto business from 1985 until her 2013 retirement. Perry gave Rae Jean her first orchid (a cattleya) from Hausermanns Orchids in 1982 and she still has that plant! Since that time, she has been in love with orchids and enjoys her collection and mounting orchids in her gated community.
Laurie Mullett
Treasurer
Laurie Mullett lived exclusively in the Washington, DC, area until moving to Naples in September 2024 with her husband and 8 cats. She and her family have vacationed in Southwest Florida and always hoped to move to the area after retirement. She has always loved orchids and was excited to move to a location where they would be happy outside on the lanai and in trees. She currently has about 40 orchids and loves learning about all of the different types and how to care for them. She is a retired CPA and is looking forward to contributing to the group.
Robin DeMattia
Director of Communications
Drawing from her career in communications, Robin enjoys spreading the word about the wonderful events and people associated with GCOA. Her orchid collection is filled with vibrant colors, amazing scents, adorable shapes, and more orchids than she ever expected to own!
John Finer
Director of Education
John Finer is an Emeritus Professor at The Ohio State University and a Courtesy Faculty at Florida Gulf Coast University. Although he spent his professional career working on biotechnology of crop plants, his passion has always been growing tropical plants and especially orchids. After retiring and moving to Naples in 2021, John has been expanding his orchid collection and making new hybrids, focusing on Cattleyas. He has registered 46 new orchid hybrids as of early 2026 and is the organizer for an orchid breeding club within GCOA called “BOING” (Breeding Orchids by Intelligent but Naive Growers). John also runs the GCOA YouTube channel and is known throughout the world through his own YouTube channel, where he is “The Plant Propagator”.
Amanda OLEY
Director of Membership
Amanda’s love for orchids began with her father, whose passion for growing orchids filled their home with colorful blooms. That early experience sparked a lasting appreciation that continues today. While Amanda doesn’t have many orchids of her own, one of her favorite parts of being part of GCOA is getting to see and enjoy all the beautiful blooms shared by others.
Paxon Roan
Director of Education
Hello, GCOA. Loving orchids is part of who I am. This love was fostered by my mom, who collected orchids, too. After I moved out of the house, she gave me a few orchids. Those 2-3 turned into about 50 very quickly. Now I have hundreds. She and I would go shopping for orchids together, and each time I would visit her she would say “let’s go out and see what’s in bloom.” What wonderful memories! Unfortunately, in her later years she suffered from Parkinson’s and lost interest in her collection, but my connection with orchids and my mom is still a VERY strong. I even have orchids from her collection still living in mine! Some over 40+ years old! Growing orchids is a wonderful hobby, and I hope serving on the GCOA board can help others gain the joy in their life I have.