Suzanne Harper- Executive Director

Suzanne was hired by the Board of Directors on August 24, 2006. Her experience in Economic development comes from the experience that she earned while serving Hendry County and the City of Clewiston as the Airport Manager and Airport Service Center (FBO) Owner. She is an accomplished private pilot with 6000 hours of flight time.  

Since 1983 she has served on numerous Economic Development Committees:

• Southwest Florida Regional Planning Board
• Hendry County Citizen Participation Comprehensive Planning
• Hendry County Economic Development Board
• Florida Heartland Rural Economic Initiative
• Glades Economic Development Committee

She was responsible for recommending the Development of the Clewiston, Pahokee and Labelle Airports and served on the following  planning boards.

• Continuing Florida Aviation System Planning-FDOT - Steering Member
• Florida Airport Managers Association - Director

She also served as a director on Governor JEB Bush's "Foundation for Florida's Future"

Prior to moving to Hendry County to fulfill a dream of being self employed with her family. She owned  and operated a data processing service center in Homestead, she was also employed as a Data Processing Supervisor for American Hospital Supply Corporation and she was a vocational business instructor at Robert Morgan Vocational Center in South Miami.

She attended Hialeah High School, Adelphia Preparatory College, Miami Dade Junior College, and Florida International University where she completed courses in data entry and processing, business law, accounting, economics, writing, grammar, Spanish language, EEOC regulations, and planning and statistics. She has continued her education with courses online in real-estate investing and Para-legal certification, she is currently expanding her education with new certifications in Economic Development and fundraising.

She also contributed many hours to serving the community while attending Commission meetings and volunteering. When she felt she could be the solution, she sought public office on three occasions in Hendry County and if asked she will again offer her wisdom .

As a community advocate she  participated in the organization of educational and entertaining events in Homestead, Clewiston and Labelle. 

• Cane Raisin' Fly-In 10 years- Created and Managed
• Swamp Cabbage Fly-In 8yr  - Created and Managed
• Hendry County Fair and Live Stock Show
• Hendry County Living Arts committee
• South Dade Country Fair - Manager 1976-1981
• Sugar Festival
• Old Downtown Festival - Steering Member

She is a member of the Belle Glade ELKS lodge where she served as trustee for 4 years from 1995-1999.

She tried her hand at a passion that she has always loved and that is cooking and catering. In March 2004 she opened a small cafe in Moore Haven which specialized in biscuits and gravy and 26 varieties of stuffed baked potatoes.  It was a big success until hurricane Wilma turned the dream into a nightmare and she closed the cafe in order to continue her work with the Hurricane Recovery business.  

During the past 3 years of Hurricane Disasters she has served as the project manager for Management Support with Boyer Emergency Services, Inc who she has mentored for the past 15 years

Suzanne believes that God put her here to teach others how to help themselves.

Call The EDGE Center, Inc at (561) 993-3343 today!