A team of dedicated volunteers. Here are the current board members. We all have full time lives, families, and businesses to manage. But one thing we all have in common is the love of our community and the passion to serve and improve it. If you have any concerns or questions please feel free to contact one of us directly as it may pertain to our position. Fran Hoy is our Communications Director and can answer most questions quickly. We are always looking for people to join us in serving. If you have any interest in joining the board or simply volunteering on a project please let us know. This community has many caring volunteers that help us to get things done. Without them and our dedicated board we would not be able to achieve all that you see happening today.
Ken Oehler
President
After a 40+ year career in Human Resources and Labor Relations in the automobile, piston and jet aircraft engine industries, and the insurance industry, my wife, Jan Napolitano, and I retired and moved to Palm River (Horse Creek Estates) in 2007 from the Chicago area. We specifically did not want a gated community and love living here. Aside from being on the Palm River Homeowners Civic Association board for the last several years, I previously was on the original HOA board of Horse Creek, when it was turned over to the homeowners by the developer in 2010. I was elected to the Palm River HCA President position in 2017, when the then current president, David Alger, moved from Palm River and resigned from the board. I thoroughly enjoy being an active part of the community with a voice in making it a more beautiful neighborhood. Our goal is to make Palm River Estates the envy of Naples.
Jim Hudson
Chairman of Maintenance & Beautification Committee
Originally from Akron/Canton Ohio, Jim moved to Naples in 1978. Jim later built a new home on the golf course in 1988 and raised 4 children and have loved living here ever since. Jim joined the Palm River board member in 2005 and was nominated to server as the Chairman of Maintenance and Beautification. In his role, Jim oversees all of the electrical and sprinkler systems helping to keep Palm River looking vibrant.
Francis Hoy
Past President and Currently Communication Director
My wife, Louise, and I chose Palm River in 1988 primarily for the home we found on the north side of the village with an open view across a large pond. I love Palm River now for the people who live here and for the relaxed atmosphere. I became a board member in 2004 and proudly severed as President of the board from 2006 to 2012. Being a resident of a pleasant community like Palm River carries with it a duty to try to leave it a little better than you found it. My pleasure as a board member is in seeing people voluntarily supporting the community with pride and with a proper care of their property and their family activities with respect for their neighbors.
Dianna Karakosta
Treasurer
My family and I moved to Palm River in 1996. One of the many reasons were the beautiful big lots and the well maintained public areas. I have been on the board and served as Treasurer for more than 10 years and I am very proud of the projects that the board has accomplished. The new entrance signs, landscaping and the Palm River Park help to make this community continue to be a “diamond in the rough.”
Ed Boeder
Ed Boeder moved to Naples from Minneapolis (for obvious reasons) in 1996 and has resided in the River Oaks section of Palm River since 2000. Ed has been a real estate agent since getting his Florida license in 1997 and obtained his broker’s license 10 years ago. He now has his own real estate practice specializing in commercial property. Ed and his wife have sponsored a neighborhood progressive dinner for residents of their section of River Oaks since 2001.
Mike Adamski
Mike has an MA in Education from Seton Hall University, a 35 year career in Education severing as a High School Principal, Vice Principal, Math & Social Studies teacher. He is also a member of the Bonita Springs-Estero Elks, a Blue and Gold Officer for the US Naval Academy and an Adjunct Professor at FGCU. Mike is married to Joanne Adamski, has two married children and two grandchildren.
Claudia Keeler
Secretary
Claudia Keeler joined the board in 2017 and has been actively making strides to improve our neighborhood. She has appeared before the Metropolitan Planning Organization lobbying for sidewalks on Viking Way and Cypress Way West. She introduced and spearheaded the project to install the Christmas lights at the entrance of Palm River on Palm River Boulevard. Claudia is also a member of the River Oaks HOA board and acts as a liaison between the two associations. She helped procure and design the street signage you see for River Oaks. When she’s not volunteering, Claudia enjoys being an early education guest teacher for Collier County Public Schools.
Dr. Barry Hoy
Dr. Barry Hoy joined the board in 2021. He hails originally from Virginia having moved to Naples in 2019 with his wife Dr. Eleanor Hoy. Barry is a retired U.S. Naval officer and university professor. he holds a Ph.D. in Management. Drs. Hoy were restauranteurs prior to their move to Naples. Now, the Hoys stay active with tutoring of college writers.
Mary Desmarais
Vice President
Mary Desmarais grew up in Naples. After graduating from St. John Neumann, she moved to RI to complete her BS at Providence College. After graduation, she moved to Boston work in healthcare IT. It’s there that she met her husband, fellow board member, Tim Desmarais. Mary and Tim relocated to Naples to be closer to Mary’s family in 2020. Tim and Mary purchased their first family home in Palm River at the end of 2020, attended their first Board meeting in 2021 and haven’t looked back! Mary is the Vice President of Technology at NCH Healthcare System and loves spending time exploring Palm River with her daughter born in 2023.
Timothy Desmarais
A native of New Hampshire, Tim moved to Naples with his wife Mary in the fall of 2020. Together they found a great home in Palm River and after purchasing the home quickly looked for an opportunity to be more involved in their community. After finding that the Palm River Homeowner Civic Association board meetings were open to the residents, they attended a few meetings and the rest is history. Tim is a Quality Assurance Engineer at Arthrex. You can find Tim riding his bike throughout the neighborhood and can’t wait for his daughter to finally be able to join him.
Our Focus
- Improved the Entrance Bridge with stone work and paint.
- Improved the Palm River Bridge with ornamental iron and paint. Painted the Exit Bridge.
- Installed a dozen Royal Palms in the median.
- Created and maintain landscape area at Ibis Way Bridge.
- Successfully kept a back entrance from Imperial CC from happening.
- Installed new Palm River signs at both entrances.
- Designed, raised money and contributed $40,000 to the county who provided the rest of the $300,000 and built the new Palm River Park.
- Created and maintain landscape area around the Palm River Bridge.
- Created a new landscape pocket on the NE Corner of the main entrance.
- Installed a new flagpole at the Palm River Park
Meetings
Meetings are typically held on the first Thursday of each month from 6:30 pm to about 8:30pm. We currently meet at the Hoy Residence located at 587 Cypress Way E. We invite you to join us at any of these meetings as a guest, please e-mail us in advance. There is usually plenty of time to meet and greet each of us afterwards. During the summer we do not meet for the months of July and August.