Heather Mazurkiewicz called Patti Schnell her mentor and friend, the person who led her through her early days in Cape Coral.
Mazurkiewicz now fills Schnell’s former position as the executive director of the Cape Coral Construction Industry Association, tasked with honoring her legacy while moving the association forward in a still tough economy.
“I cut my Cape Coral teeth through Patti. She introduced me to people, she got me inolved, she was an incredible mentor of mine,” Mazurkiewicz said. “That’s one of the things I hope to carry on. I hope to be able to do for others what Patti did for me.”
CCCIA President David Mulicka of HONC Marine said the board chose Mazurkiewicz because of her natural leadership skills and her connections on city and county levels.
He said the selection of Mazurkiewicz will also help the CCCIA transition through the difficulty of Schnell’s passing.
“It’s been a difficult time period for the organization … the board thought the sooner we could keep the organization stabilized and moving forward, the quicker the healing would begin,” Mulicka said, adding. “She (Mazurkiewicz) can hit the ground running … she knows the issues, is an excellent communicator and is very resourceful.”
Mazurkiewicz said she plans to resign from her current post as administrative director of the Cape Coral Council for Progress on Friday.
A resident of Southwest Florida since 1999, she also served with the Lee County Alliance of Chambers, was the government affairs consultant for the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce and was the past chairman for Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce.
Mazurkiewicz also said she is stepping down from her position as vice president of BJM Consulting, a family business.
“My involvement with BJM Consulting is on hold for an indefinite period of time so I can attend to the association’s needs,” she said.
Also, CCCIA’s Crystal Crothers has been promoted to the position of administrative director/chief operating officer. Crothers has been with the CCCIA since 2008 and has been involved in many of their most successful programs, according to a press release.