November Luncheon - 9th Annual Salute to Veterans - Hall of Fame Ranger Keni Thomas
2026-11-06 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Naples Hilton, 5111 Tamiami Trail No, Naples, Florida, 34103
Featured Speaker – Keni Thomas – Blackhawk Down
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Decorated U.S. military veteran-turned-country musician Keni Thomas gives a personal account of his heart-wrenching experiences in the chaotic 1993 Battle of Mogadishu to express a unique set of leadership lessons and inspired view of our greater purpose.
“Blackhawk Down” is a well-documented and historically significant battle that has inspired Americans for many years. But what if you could hear the story straight from someone who was there on the streets that day? What would you want to learn and how could it help you? When you discover first-hand what makes soldiers willingly put their lives on the line for each other, then you begin to understand what it takes for you to do the same. If leading by example is something that is important to you, then you will want to hear what Keni Thomas has to say about combat.
Like no speaker you’ve seen before, Keni’s unique ability to tell an engaging story takes you into the moment showing you how the hard lessons learned during the worst of times, can make each of us a better leader, capable of greatness. “When lives are on the line, and so much is at stake, all we really fight for is each other” says Thomas.
Former Army Paratrooper and current Greater Naples Fire Commissioner, Patrick Dearborn, will serve as Master of Ceremonies

SSG Ranger Kenneth Thomas
Ranger Kenneth Thomas was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for his exceptional combat leadership and lifelong dedication to preserving the Ranger legacy.
During the Battle of Mogadishu in October 1993, Ranger Thomas displayed remarkable courage amid one of the fiercest urban battles in U.S. military history. When his squad leader was wounded, Thomas took command, leading his men to secure a downed Black Hawk helicopter.
Outnumbered 10-1, he and his fellow Rangers defended their position for 18 hours under intense enemy fire. His actions, rooted in selfless service and intestinal fortitude, earned him the Bronze Star with Valor and reflected the Ranger’s sacred commitment to never leaving a fallen comrade.
Following Mogadishu, Thomas served with distinction in the Ranger Reconnaissance Detachment, earning his Master Parachutist rating with over 400 military free-fall jumps and graduating from the Special Forces Combat Diver course and Belgian Commando School
After the Army, RGR Thomas continued to champion Ranger values as an Emmy-winning entertainer and best-selling author. He was recognized by Congress and the White House for his dedicated work on behalf of our miliary, volunteering for numerous USO tours to perform for troops deployed throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.
A powerful speaker, RGR Thomas stresses the importance of servant leadership, using Mogadishu’s lessons to inspire audiences nationwide. His Downrange Leadership Academy translates Ranger principles to develop leaders at every level. His work with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and Project One Vet ensures Rangers and their families are never left behind.
Ranger Thomas lives a life which honors the Ranger creed and exemplifies our motto: “Rangers Lead the Way!”

December Holiday Breakfast - Remembering Pearl Harbor
2026-12-04 07:30 - 09:00

February Breakfast
2027-02-05 07:30 - 09:00
Hans A. von Spakovsky
Hans is a leading national expert, author, Pulitzer Prize nominee, and podcaster on legal and constitutional issues including civil rights, elections, and immigration.
His background includes service in the US Department of Justice and as a Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation and, he currently is a Senior Legal Fellow at the conservative Advancing American Freedom think tank.
Among his other work is as a former member of President Trump’s Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.
About Hans
Hans A. von Spakovsky is a leading national expert on a wide range of legal and constitutional issues, including civil rights, elections, the First Amendment, immigration, executive authority, the rule of law, and government reform. He also hosts the Court is Adjourned podcast series. He is the former Senior Legal Fellow and Manager of the Election Law Reform Initiative in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal & Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation where he hosted the Case in Point podcast.
He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Public Interest Legal Foundation and a member of the Board of Advisors of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. von Spakovsky is a former member of President Donald Trump’s Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. From 2006 to 2007, von Spakovsky was a member of the Federal Election Commission. He served as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice from 2002 to 2005.
Prior to entering public service, Hans von Spakovsky worked for 17 years as a government affairs consultant, in a corporate legal department, and in private practice. He is a 1984 graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Law and received a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981, which he attended on a National Merit Scholarship. He is the 2016 winner of the Drs. W. Glenn and Rita Ricardo Campbell Award from the Heritage Foundation and received Meritorious Service Awards from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
von Spakovsky is the coauthor of “Who’s Counting? How Fraudsters and Bureaucrats Put Your Vote at Risk” (Encounter 2012); “Obama’s Enforcer: Eric Holder’s Justice Department” (HarperCollins/Broadside 2014); and “Our Broken Elections: How the Left Changed the Way You Vote” (Encounter 2021). His 2011 series with J. Christian Adams, “Every Single One.” at PJ Media was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and his articles have appeared in Fox News, the Daily Wire, the Washington Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
