Stephen Myers, CAM, executive vice president at Elite Jets in Naples, is one of 55 business leaders across Florida to have been named to Leadership Florida’s Cornerstone Class for 2022-23.

The program’s mission is to continually discover and convene committed individuals, enhancing and recharging their leadership skills by introducing them to a powerful community through whom they find knowledge and inspiration. The Cornerstone Class includes leaders aged 40 and older who will participate in a nine-month educational program that consists of a series of two- and three-day sessions held across Florida. Sessions focus on issues critical to Florida, refining leadership skills and reviewing information on Florida's history, demography, diversities, challenges and opportunities.

“I am a lifelong Floridian who was born, raised and educated here, founded more than a half-dozen businesses here and started a family here,” Myers said. “I want to see Florida succeed, and I am excited to collaborate with others in the Leadership Florida program to enhance my leadership skills while helping my peers around the state do the same.”

The Leadership Florida Selection Committee is comprised of Leadership Florida graduates who identify individuals most likely to utilize their leadership abilities for the long-term benefit of Florida and remain committed to making Florida a better place to live and prosper.

Candidates for Leadership Florida must meet these requirements:

• Senior-level leaders with significant career and community achievements
• Sincere concern about Florida’s future and a personal commitment to help shape it
• Demonstrated commitment to the community through past and present activities
• Potential for exercising substantial leadership in the future
• Willingness to commit time and energy into the Leadership Florida experience

Myers is a graduate of Naples High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neurobiology from the University of Florida. Through Kennesaw State University, he earned certification as a Computer Forensics Examiner with specialties in data encryption and security. In 2022, Myers completed the Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) program through the National Business Aviation Association.

Launching his career as an entrepreneur in the tech industry, Myers founded companies that provided IT services, commercial-use drones products and services, developed custom software, trained and instructed drone pilots, computer forensics, e-commerce solutions, intelligent building automation and more.

Myers holds FAA certificates as an airline transport pilot and drone pilot, and regularly pilots charter flights aboard Elite Jets’ Embraer Phenom 300 and Legacy 500 jets. He oversees day-to-day operations at Elite Jets, including flight scheduling, aircraft maintenance, IT, sales, marketing and community relations. Myers also oversees training and safety initiatives, as well as compliance with FAA regulations. Under his leadership, Elite Jets was one of just 50 businesses statewide named as a 2021 “Company to Watch” by GrowFL.