Director of Development, Southwest Florida
Nikkie Dvorchak joins the Everglades Foundation as Director of Development, Southwest Florida where she will manage donor relations, philanthropy, sponsorships and fundraising events for the southwest region. Previously, she served as Vice President of Events & Development at the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, where she is managed all annual and member events including Naples Chamber Classic Golf Tournament, Annual Meeting, Distinguished Public Service Awards, Business After 5, Wake Up Naples, Accelerated Lunch Annual Holiday Party and Professional Education Workshops. Nikkie also launched a development committee in effort to expand their investor & philanthropic support. She worked closely with the Chamber’s Leadership Collier Foundation on fundraising for scholarships, talent development, work-based learning and spearheading the Naples Children’s Business Fair for young entrepreneurs and coordinated the two-day Intercity Visit to Palm Beach County for 25 community leaders in 2019.
Nikkie is a Board Member for the Naples Zoo where is also in her third year as Co-Chair for the annual fundraiser, Zoobilee, Feast with the Beasts. She is on the Board of Directors for Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Collier-Lee Chapter and is a member of their National Philanthropy Day Committee, Annual Symposium Committee and participating in the Masterminds Group. She is a member of the Events & Outings Committee for Leadership Collier Foundation, supports the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center Bootstrap Barn Dance as well as Lighthouse of Collier’s Dining in the Dark event and the All-Star Panel event for Children’s National Foundation. She is a 2017 GAIN (Growing Associates in Naples) Graduate and was recognized as 40 Under 40 Young Professional in 2018 from Gulfshore Business.
Nikkie was previously the Director of Events & Corporate Relations at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida for 6 years. She started with the Conservancy in 2011 when she and her husband Mike relocated to Naples and have since expanded their family, having two sons. Prior to her move, she resided in her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she received her Bachelors of Performing Arts from Point Park University.
Directly after college graduation, Nikkie secured a job with John Robert Powers International Acting & Modeling Company, as the Director of Placement. During her time at JRP, she was able to place over 20 clients into the entertainment industry in New York, Los Angles, and internationally. In her pursuit to advance her career in the events industry, she started with the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South as the Executive Meeting Manager, where she would coordinate all social and corporate rental events.
After two years at the Crowne Plaza, Nikkie was offered the position as Club Marketing Manager with the Pittsburgh Steelers Organization. There she managed the club level during Steelers and Pittsburgh Panthers games overseeing a staff of 80 employees. She also organized and managed over 300 special events a year including weddings, galas, proms, corporate functions, conventions, and much more. In addition, she was selected as a member of the advanced team, to prepare and manage all aspects for both Super Bowl XLIII and Super Bowl XLV for the organization.