About

Welcome Naples Coastal Collection
Steve grew up in Stillwater, Oklahoma, just six blocks from the campus of Oklahoma State University where he later graduated with a BS in business. His father was a painting contractor and his mother a homemaker/seamstress.
Just before graduating from high school he became the youngest insurance agent in Oklahoma. He held that distinction for some time with insurance sales paying for his college education and fraternity expenses. That led to a successful 38-year career with Connecticut Mutual and MassMutual. During that career he also earned a Master’s Degree in Management from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
Steve belonged to Phil Kappa Tau fraternity. He married in his junior year and served in the 95th Infantry Division of the US Army Reserve for six years. His insurance career moved him from Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Oklahoma City, followed by Beverly Hills, California, Omaha, Nebraska, Dallas, Texas, and Washington, DC where he retired at age 55.
Steve has been named to “Outstanding Young Men of America” and “Who’s Who in American,” and received the “Marquise Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Upon retiring, he and his wife, Donna, moved to Naples, Florida, and established one of the seventeen homes they inhabited during their marriage. Steve “retired” for two plus years, traveling, playing golf, and soon learned that he enjoyed working more than resting. He had always loved looking at real estate and negotiating deals on their many homes, so it was a natural, predictable move when he entered the real estate business in 2002.
Shortly after starting in real estate he met Mike Gehring and they formed a real estate team that had a successful eight years. There were a number of years they worked separately, but in 2024 they recreated the team, Naples Coastal Collection at the #1 SW Florida brokerage, John R. Wood Properties.
Together Steve and Mike have closed over 500 transactions and nearly $300,000,000 of sales. They specialize in white glove service on both listings and sales and strive to give customers the same advice and service they would give to themselves.
Individuals rarely buy or sell real estate more than a few times during their life, so they can benefit from Steve and Mike’s experience of closing over 500 transactions. Don’t let an inexperienced person practice on you. They bring experience and two minds to every transaction.
After 30 years in the Northeast and Southwest, Mike Gehring set his sights on Southwest Florida where he has been a Naples resident since 2001. Mike specializes in beach, boating and golfing communities and has been selling the luxury Naples lifestyle for 25 years.
As a trusted advisor, Mike is passionate about providing personalized service with absolute attention to detail with the utmost discretion and confidentiality. He also has a sterling reputation, and the overwhelming majority of his business comes from repeat customers and word-of-mouth, which speaks volumes.
If you are thinking about making a move and would like to save time, money and stress on your next home sale or purchase, contact Mike today. He is ready to roll up his sleeves and go to work for you!
Naples, FL 34102 Office: 239-434-0101 Mobile: 239-784-0693 ssuddeth@johnrwood.com

What makes us
world class
Agents
850+Offices
22Total Sales Volume
$4B+the unrivaled leader in real estate
leader in Luxury Real EstateeJohn R. Wood Luxury
John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate represents the vanguard of luxury real estate, the ultimate in high-end homes and estates. This exclusive invitation-only network includes the world’s premier luxury brokerage firms and the industry’s most accomplished real estate professionals. Across the globe, discerning luxury buyers and sellers trust Christie’s International Real Estate to deliver tailored service and exceptional results.



