Kerry C. Dustin

Founder & Chariman, Falls River Group, Naples

Dustin founded and serves as chairman of this 32-year-old financing advisory firm. The company, which is in partnership with IMAP, a global merger-and-acquisition business, has completed more tahn 500 middle-market transactions. Over the past two years, Dustin has been chairman of the Naples Airport Authority as it conducted a comprehensive multiyear noise study and managed significant increases in flight traffic.

EDUCATION: Ohio State University (BS), Case Western School of Law (JD)

IF I WERE GOVERNOR: I would advocate for school choice initiatives such as vouchers and charter schools, empowering parents to choose the best educational options for their children.

READING: A Leader’s Gift, by Barry Banther

INSPIRING FLORIDIAN: Myran Janco Daniels. She had a vision for arts in Naples and had the strength and power to execute it, which we now benefit greatly from.

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA: Lead, follow, or get out of the way.