Cee Cee Marinelli, 33

Cee Cee Marinelli thought she was headed to law school in 2005, when she took a class in urban economics at Elon University in North Carolina.

That’s when she became fascinated with the work that goes into a development project. She called her father, Paul Marinelli, then president and CEO of Barron Collier Cos., the giant agriculture and development firm managed by the heirs of the county’s founder. “I want to do what you do,” Cee Cee Marinelli told her dad.

Paul Marinelli died three years later — a seismic loss for the Marinelli family, the company and the Naples area business and civic community. Cee Cee Marinelli is now carrying on her father’s legacy, both in work and in building relationships with leaders and officials in Collier County and statewide. “In my role I am fortunate enough to manage many different aspects of our business,” Marinelli says.

She’s been with the firm for a decade, and currently oversees commercial leasing and development of several major business centers the company operates. The younger Marinelli has also worked on planning and development at Ave Maria, a $300 million project in east Collier County that’s now one of the fastest-selling residential communities in Florida. Her role there included creating and implementing a $1.2 million budget.

Says Marinelli: “It has been exceptionally rewarding knowing I have been able to help carry out the vision of my late father.”

One advantage Marinelli has in her young career is that she has already worked through a bust, and now, a recovery. “Getting to see the market come back is exciting,” says Marinelli. “There is a rejuvenation in town, with new ideas and new concepts in projects. That’s very fun and exciting.”

— Mark Gordon

Q&A

Name: Cee Cee Marinelli

Age: 33

City of residence: Naples

Twitter handle: @CeeCeeMarinelli but I have never used it!

Employer: Barron Collier Companies

Title: Director of Commercial Leasing

Birthplace: Tampa, Fla.

Years on the Gulf Coast: All of my life.

Marital status/children: Married, with a 2 year old daughter, Cecilia.

Alma mater: Elon University, FGCU- EMBA

Best place to network: Farm City BBQ

Coolest business experience: Being a part of the team that has spearheaded growth and development in Eastern Collier County.  I have had a unique opportunity to work on the planning and development of Ave Maria, a new town, from the very early stages.   It has been exceptionally rewarding knowing that I have been able to help carry out the vision of my late father.

Messy desk or clean workspace: Covered with neat stacks of paper.

Best business lesson ever learned: Follow through on what you say you are going to do. 

A website that makes your job easier: CoStar/Loopnet

Community group you’re most involved with: Currently, Path2Freedom, a nonprofit organization committed to providing critical services and support for rescued victims of human trafficking here in Southwest Florida.

Favorite off-hours activity: Spending time with my family and friends at the beach or on the boat.

Two people, dead or alive, you’d like to have dinner with: Princess Diana & Reba McEntire

What you would be doing if you could pick another career: It may sound cliché, but I would not trade this opportunity for anything.  In my role I am fortunate enough to manage many different aspects of our business from development to marketing to leasing to property management.  Working with Barron Collier Companies has also given me the opportunity to meet so many influential leaders in our state.    

Top item on your bucket list: Exploring Southeast Asia.

Skill you’d like to learn: I would love to learn to cook.

Who would play you in a movie about your life: Reese Witherspoon

If I had a magic wand I’d: Cure Cancer