16 NAPLES ILLUSTRATED
FROM THE EDITOR
The engines were so quiet and the lift so smooth that I didn’t realize we’d tak-
en off. “It’s like feathers instead of turbines,” I said to Daniel Bachmann, commu-
nications manager for Embraer Executive Jets, who was sitting across from me
on a Legacy 500. It was my first time flying on a private jet this large—the plane
has a 6-foot-high cabin and seats up to 12 passengers—and I knew, from that day
forward, that I’d view commercial aircraft with weary resignation.
While onboard, Bachmann and I began discussing how, if I had about $20 mil-
lion lying around, I’d customize a Legacy 500 of my own. I mentioned graduating
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (so I like Carolina blue) and
other personal details, and he pointed out areas of the plane where designers
could put signature touches. That chat evolved into an invitation to Embraer’s
manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Florida, where I learned how the private jet
industry creates bespoke interiors that best reflect a buyer’s taste. For the story,
turn to page 76.
Taking flight doesn’t require a jet—private or otherwise—and starting on page
56, we salute five young professionals who are ascending in Naples’ business
and nonprofit communities. These Rising Stars, which range from a wealth advi-
sor to a music therapist, exemplify the blend of expertise and compassion that
defines the Paradise Coast. Please join us in congratulating Soren Christensen,
Claudia Dal Lago, Natalie Gonzalez, Rachel Kaduk, and Vladimir Trivunovic on
not only their accomplishments but also their vision for Southwest Florida.
We also invite you to relish the elevated style of Oscar de la Renta, Dior, Louis
Vuitton and more, whose creativity soars in designs from their Fall 2019 collec-
tions. Graphic patterns, bold colors, and rich fabrics resonate against the stunning
backdrop of the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, beginning on page 66. For more on
art and philanthropy in Naples—as well as some nontraditional ways to bounce back after a long
week (trampoline, anyone?)—see our Insider section, which starts on page 23.
We hope this issue inspires you to pursue lofty goals of all persuasions, whether it’s custom-
izing a private jet, participating in a new pastime, or contributing to your favorite cause.Above and Beyond
MEGAN^ DIPIEROLoretta Grantham
[email protected]JUST PLANE FUN
ABOUT TO BOARD AN
EMBRAER LEGACY 500
AT NAPLES AIRPORT,
WHICH IS CELEBRATING
ITS FIFTIETH ANNIVER-
SARY THIS YEAR.