Patricia “PJ” Smith, Big Cypress Basin Board Member
SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
PJ Smith is a real estate broker and the owner of Naples Golf to Gulf Real Estate and currently serves as President Elect of the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR).
She has worked as a State Urban Planner for the State of Minnesota, specifically the Capitol Area Architectural Planning Board (CAAPB). This position included work on various construction projects such as the Judicial Building, History Center, and Capitol restoration projects. CAAPB coordinated international design competitions, updated regional comprehensive plans including land use studies and planning, championed local zoning ordinance revisions, and worked with the federal government on interstate highway enhancements.
Smith served as Executive Director for two state regulatory agencies for the State of Minnesota within the healthcare industry for four years before moving into the private healthcare industry. Her advanced education and experience in alternative health care led to ownership in three healthcare businesses and national recognition for an innovative product. This spanned over 25 years which included owning commercial and investment real estate in Minnesota and Florida.
Smith has been licensed in real estate in Florida since December 2016. She currently serves as a Florida Realtors Director (with 225,000 members) and a National Association of Realtors (NAR) Director (with 1.65 million members). She was honored to be selected as one of 95 members of NAR to serve as Vice Chair of the 2024 NAR Land Use, Private Property Rights and Environment Committee after serving as a member of that committee and the subcommittee on water resources since 2019.
Smith is currently serving for a fourth year as a member of the Florida Realtors Land Use, Private Property Rights and Environment Committee (current advocacy issues include funding of Everglades Restoration, septic to sewer conversions, beach projects, springs protection, and resiliency).
Smith is an avid golfer, has caddied on the PGA Tour and plays in PGA Pro-ams as much as possible. She has climbed/hiked Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu, the Patagonia Ice Fields, and the Camino de Santiago as part of Smile Network International medical mission/adventure travel.
Current Term: August 2023 – March 2027
Contact Address:
Big Cypress Basin Service Center
2660 North Horseshoe Drive, Suite 101A
Naples, FL 34104
Phone: (239) 263-7615
Email: pjsmith@sfwmd.gov
Areas Represented: Collier County and portions of Monroe County
Appointed By: Governor Ron DeSantis
Original Appointment: August 4, 2023
Education:
• B.S. – Urban Studies/Economics: University of Minnesota
• M.S. – Integrative Health: Capitol University
• Real Estate Designations/Certifications – GRI, RSPS, CIPS, Green,
ABR, SRS, SRES, AHWD, CPE, CDP, CLHMS Guild, SFR, PSA
Occupation: Broker Owner, Naples Golf to Gulf Real Estate
Professional, Business and Service Affiliations:
• President Elect, 2023 Naples Area Board of Realtors
• 2019-Current, Florida Realtors Board of Directors
• 2019-Current, Florida Realtors, Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee Member
• 2023-2024, National Association of Realtors, Board of Directors
• 2019-Current, National Association of Realtors, Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee Member and Water Resource Subcommittee Member
• Vice Chair 2024, National Association of Realtors, Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee
• Current Member, CREW
• Current Member, Greater Naples Area Chamber of Commerce
Past Affiliations:
• 2022, Graduate of Leadership Collier
• Past Member, City of Naples Design Review Committee
• Past Board Member and Public Policy Chair, Naples Women’s Club