Friends of BERT Board Members
Deb Orton is a proven leader and a passionate volunteer, working to bring beautiful and safe places to walk, run, ride, roll in Southwest Florida. Now retired from senior leadership in Analytical Software Marketing, Deb co-founded and is President of Friends of Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT). Friends of BERT was established in Sept. of 2022 and has grown to more than 3800 ‘Friends’. Our vision is safe trails away from traffic throughout Southwest Florida. The current focus project is the 15 mile unused Railway that runs from Bonita Beach Road to Alico Road.
Steve Gunther – Treasurer / Fundraising Leader
Steve is retired engineering, quality and productivity executive at IBM and Seagate Technology and a current board secretary of the Pelican Landing Community Association, treasurer of The Friends of Bonita Estero Rail Trail and president of the Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association. He is a past board president of the Minnesota Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and others. Steve served as the event director of the annual Trek Bike Ride to Benefit BERT, the annual Pelican Landing Fun Run to Benefit The Bridge Fund and the Chanhassen Lions Club Golf Scramble. Steve is currently president of the Camp Gunther Multisport Club and has completed over 100 triathlons at the national and world level. Biking has been a hobby for Steve since he was a kid and safe biking has been a passion since the death of several friends of mine on Southwest Florida roads.
Beth Castro – Vice President / Engagement Leader
Beth Castro has recently retired to Estero FL after spending her career in Business Development and Strategy most recently as an executive at AT&T. Over her career she was located in Northern Virginia, Texas, and Paris France and was always looking for safe trails to run/walk in these cities. Upon moving to SWFL 2 years ago she sought out a similar trail where she discovered the Bonita Estero Rail Trail initiative and was determined to become involved. Beth previously participated on the Board of Directors for a variety of non-profits including Girls in STEM, Rachel’s House, March of Dimes, and the AT&T Giving Campaign. Currently Beth also serves on the Board of Directors for Lighthouse Bay Charitable Foundation.
