Anyone who has ever met Cindy Dreyfuss knows that (almost) everything in her life runs like a well-oiled machine. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation, a minor in Marine Engineering, and a Tanker Specialist Certification, this formally trained Merchant Mariner and U.S. Naval Reserve Lieutenant had a full career sailing crude oil supertankers along the Pacific Coast and in the Caribbean. As a licensed U.S. Coast Guard Third Officer for Unlimited Tonnage on Any Ocean and Any Sea, one would expect that Cindy has the necessary experience to run a family, be a soccer coach, be a board member of the Gulf Coast Little League, and be president of Pine Ridge Middle School PTO. But the first time this spunky and hearty Michigan-raised stay-at-home mom sunk into a chair in my living room nearly 10 years ago, she spoke only of the challenges of raising three young children with the look of exhaustion and exasperation that any mother could relate to.
In the decade since I first met Cindy Dreyfuss, I have volunteered alongside her at our children’s schools and watched her take on each task with enthusiasm and feisty perseverance. The one thing that always impresses me most (besides her education and career accomplishments) is how she makes sure to tell everyone on her team what she admires most about them. Whether on the water or at school, when things are not smooth sailing, Cindy approaches life with an “all hands on deck” attitude.
College? I attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. With military obligations to the country, my education instilled a sense of service to a greater good.
Past careers? I was formally trained as a Merchant Mariner and sailed as a Navigation and Cargo Officer on ocean-going super tankers. I was the Executive Director of the U.S. Sailing Center in Miami, and was part of the leadership team that achieved the designation as an official U.S. Olympic Training Facility. When we moved to Naples, I was a buyer for Shaw Aero Devices, a local aerospace parts and manufacturing company.
Tell us about your husband and how you met. Peter is a mechanical engineer and is currently Director of Engineering for the Shoulder and Upper Extremity Team at Arthrex. We met at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy – now married 21 years, but with nearly 30 years of friendship behind us!
Volunteer positions once you became a stay-at-home mom: Locally, it started when our kids were young helping deliver Meals on Wheels with them each week for a few years. Then, as they grew, the activities were focused on where we were: on the sports fields and in the schools. My favorite saying is, “find a need, fill a need”. I was volunteer treasurer and then president of Gulf Coast Little League for six years. I also volunteered as an Optimist soccer coach. For several years, I taught Catechism at St. Ann Catholic Church. I then became involved in each school my children attended.
What do you love about your roles in PTO? Leading in a formal role was not necessarily my intent. However, I have a pretty strong personality and a firm belief that no complaint should be shared without a willingness to offer and be a part of a solution. My fellow volunteers are AMAZING and make my life a whole lot better for knowing and working with them. I love to see the success that can result from that “little bit of extra support”.
Favorite PTO accomplishment? I think it would be leaving a legacy of giving and encouraging others to give, even if only 2-3 hours for an event once a year, or 1 hour a week to the community in which our children are growing up.
Talk about how you educate Title 1 PTOs on how to raise money. This is an ongoing process. I hope to “teach the schools how to fish,” in a manner of speaking. By sharing good practices that are cost saving and practical based on needs, it starts to encourage more enthusiasm and creativity. It started with a “sister school program” (schools partnering for needed uniform clothing) and expanded to shared volunteer resources and knowledge, sharing excess bounty of uniforms (new and gently used), and adopting causes to support each other.
Compare sailing a ship to being PTO president. It’s a bit of crisis management. When things are going well, there are no worries. Then comes an event (a hurricane or bad weather) and it’s all hands on deck. Getting and motivating the workers or volunteers is about the same – except for the whole “threat of death” thing.
What are your plans when your kids have grown and flown? I would love to go back to work, officially. I still feel that love of learning new things. An opportunity to put my community knowledge to work as a county commissioner would be a future consideration.
How do you balance being a mom with your professional and volunteer obligations? Admittedly, not well. When I do something, I am all in. When they were younger, it was kids 24/7. I have learned that as I age, now approaching 50, I operate best with a restful night of sleep. When they were young, they would tag along to activities. As adolescents, they were expected to manage themselves (make their own lunches, wait for a ride until I was done, and make meals on their own). Haven’t been able to relieve myself of all of the laundry duties yet, but since the washer works through the night, I will let that pass.
What is a typical week night like for your family? We try to eat meals together when all of our schedules allow, whether at home or out. Mornings are up starting at 5:15 a.m. and things never really stop. Most nights have a variety of returning times and since we have pets, it’s all the basics of walking animals, feeding the masses, handling the house cleaning task for the day, maintaining laundry for various sports and school needs, and prepping communications or material for the next day.
What does your family like to do together for fun/weekends? Sports, activities, work, pets, and volunteering dominate our days. Occasionally, we will have a chance to sign out a boat and head to a quiet part of Keewaydin Island or a family favorite of volunteering at the Humane Society of Naples. Good therapy.
Typical date night for you and your husband? What’s that? Occasionally, we will look at a clock and see if any local restaurant is still serving at 10 p.m. when the kids are doing homework or watching a movie. I guess we really need to work on that.
Best and worst part about having teenagers? Best – seeing them as 6-foot-tall humans is still a bit shocking. I am happiest when they show rare moments of affection. Worst – ugh, they are teenagers. Attitude, know-it-alls, independence but with the need for stuff “right now” – and with opinions, boy do they have opinions!
Your proudest personal accomplishment: Aside from my family and our efforts to be responsible people, I think it would be the longstanding friendships that we have. I am proud of my service to country, and my unique career past.
Biggest regret? Professionally, not extending my commission in the Armed Forces beyond my 12 years and not finishing my master’s degree in education so that I could formally teach. Personally, not asking my grandfather for another dance at my wedding (he passed away shortly after) or reconciling a bumpy relationship with my father before he died.
What are your family’s New Year’s resolutions? We don’t make resolutions; rather, we have a “Five Year Plan.” With the kids in high school, I am setting a timeline to finish the memory quilts and photo albums, and enjoying the youthful times with them while I can.