Diane Caton

February 1 , 2007

Diane is the Executive Assistant to Jane Harper at Family Resources.  FR is a private, not for profit organization dedicated to serving troubled children and youth and their families in Pinellas County since 1970.  Their vision is that every child should be safe, that every troubled teen deserves help, and that every family torn apart in crisis be given the opportunity to mend.

How I got to this point in my life: Born in New Zealand with six brothers and sisters, I left high school at 15, wanting to attend the Elam School of Arts.  My father decided, in his wisdom, that it was not a proper place for young ladies and so he enrolled me in business college.   I was determined to pursue my love of art and enrolled in night school in pottery classes.  My father saw I wanted desperately to do pottery so he built me my first wheel and I have continued with pottery on a part time basis ever since. Got my pilots license at 18 and started parachuting at 20.  Decided to see a little of the world and lived in Australia for a while, then went overland from Katmandu to London, thru Pakistan, India, Iran – got left at the border of Iran and Iraq due to visa problems and found my way to Istanbul on the back of a truck – that’s another story.  Finally arrived in England where I bought a van with an Australian friend and we wondered around Europe.  Went back to London and worked for about a year.  Ran out of money – headed home after about a year – then I turned 25!
Worked a few years in New Zealand – met my husband Mark on a blind date in New Zealand and we were married in Florida.  Ended up the next 18 years in Kansas working in a bank – the owner just needed me to fly his grandson back and forth to Colorado and down to Oklahoma now and again.  Raised a son in Kansas, threw a fit one day and said we either move to New Zealand or Florida where this child will know some relatives.  So, eight ½ years ago we packed the U-haul and drove to Florida.  I worked the last 8 years as Director of Special Events at the Chamber – and moved on to Family Resources last September.   

I am the Chair elect of the Women’s Council at the Chamber. 

Greatest accomplishment – breast cancer survivor.

Words of Wisdom – Play more!

Something you may not know about me – Have put in my application to become a US Citizen. 

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