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.
Scott Stryker – Board Member At Large
Scott hails from the great state of New Jersey and came to SWFL to attend FGCU in 2002. Along with his wife Rachel, Scott lived in Washington D.C. for a few years before coming back to the area in 2015 to raise their family. In addition to his experiences biking in many states and countries, Scott serves on the Lee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinating Committee on behalf of the Village of Estero and the Florida Greenways and Trails Council as a gubernatorial appointee. When not advocating for better cycling infrastructure in SWFL, Scott is also involved with his community’s HOA and his own non-profit organization that supports the caregivers of children with pediatric cancer.
Albert Arguelles – Board Member At Large
Albert Arguelles is an entrepreneur with a proven track record of building successful businesses. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Nuesana Health and Wellness, a health and longevity company, he leads a movement to redefine healthcare by delivering personalized, convenient, and results-driven care to the Bonita Springs community.
With more than 25 years of experience in sales and marketing and service in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper, Albert has developed a unique set of leadership skills that he credits for his success as an entrepreneur and healthcare innovator.
An avid runner, Albert embraces the lifestyle he promotes, prioritizing performance, resilience, and long-term wellness in his own life. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is deeply committed to his faith, family, and country, actively supporting local veterans and seeking ways to make a positive impact on the community and the lives of those around him.
Nathalie White – Board Member At Large
