This Veterans Day, Barron Collier Companies (BCC) proudly honors the team members who have served, and continue to serve, our nation in uniform. The commitment, discipline and sense of duty they bring from their service reflect the same values that guide our work every day. We are grateful they have chosen to build their careers with us, and their example makes our entire team stronger.
Meet a few of the veterans at BCC and Ave Maria Utility Company (AMUC) and learn about their journeys from military service to Barron Collier Companies.
Jaclyn Canerdy
Air Force – Florida National Guard RED HORSE
Growing up, Veterans Day held a special place in Jaclyn’s family. Her father served as a Green Beret in the Army Special Forces during Vietnam, and the holiday “always carried a deeply personal meaning for us,” she said. “In our household, it wasn’t just a holiday. It was a sacred day of remembrance.”
Jaclyn has carried on that tradition of service. For the past eight years, she has served as a Civil Engineer with the Florida Air National Guard. Her squadron, RED HORSE, deploys ahead of hurricanes and plays a critical role in search and rescue and emergency response. One highlight of her service stands out as a unique honor: being sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal to assist the Secret Service during the Presidential Inauguration.
When it came time to choose her civilian career, Jaclyn weighed offers between a defense contractor and Barron Collier’s Land Development team. “Meeting the team made the choice easy,” she said. “Naples and the Barron Collier office instantly felt like home. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, and the company has been remarkably supportive of my professional growth.”
That support didn’t go unnoticed. In 2025, Jaclyn nominated BCC for the Patriot Award from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program that recognizes employers for their outstanding, consistent support to employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Thanks to her nomination, BCC received the honor.
Fabio Castellanos
United States Air Force
Fabio, an Engineering CAD technician for Peninsula Engineering, served in the U.S. Air Force from 2010 to 2017 as a Staff Sergeant and Structural Craftsman with the 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron’s J-Team. His seven years of service included two campaigns in Afghanistan.
Asked what stays with him most from those years, Fabio keeps it honest. “I remember lots of good people, silly adventures, and questionable decisions,” he says. Beyond the memories, his time in uniform shaped his perspective. He credits the military with teaching him the value of community involvement, performance, and a steady commitment to self-improvement, skills he continues to build on in his career.
That drive carried Fabio to Barron Collier Companies. “Opportunity brought me to BCC,” he explains. “My career here has been a continuous process of learning the skills, culture, and taking on challenges. I’m grateful.”
For Fabio, Veterans Day is a time to look back on the road he has traveled. “It’s a day to reflect on how far I’ve come and recognize how impactful and ever-changing each chapter can be,” he said.
Dennis Ramey
United States Navy
Dennis served in the United States Navy for four years on the USS Enterprise as a Machinist Mate, 3rd Class Petty Officer. He joined the Ave Maria Utility Company (AMUC) in 2015 and is now a Mechanic Specialist after holding several roles including underground utility inspections, locates, meter installs, meter reads and equipment maintenance. “Working in the engine room on the ship helped me in my current career since the ship had a lot of the same type of machinery” Dennis said.
Since joining AMUC he has earned his Drinking Water Treatment Operators C/Water Distribution III Licenses and the Wastewater Collection Certification.
One of Dennis’ greatest memories from his time in the Navy was being stationed on the USS Enterprise while the first Top Gun movie with Tom Cruise was filmed. The ship was used for various exterior shots.
“Veteran’s Day reminds me of how thankful I am for those who have served and paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.”
The stories shared here reflect a community of veterans across all of the Barron Collier Companies, each of whom brings the skills and values built in service to the work they do every day. BCC and its employees are proud to work alongside you, this Veterans Day and every day.
