Fast Company has written a flattering article about Rob Curley, who was for a short time my counterpart to the South when he took over the Naples Daily News site. As much as I’m tired of hearing about Curley, the article reminds us all why he’s successful. Can’t argue with doubling profits, right? And not many can boast page view growth like this from his stint in Lawrence, Kansas:

“Three years after Curley took over, monthly page views soared from around 500,000 to a peak of around 13 million. Not bad for a town with 82,000 residents.”

The Naples site enjoyed a salient resurgence of energy during the takeover. The self-proclaimed “Internet punk” successfully transported his trademark sense of humor and innovation to a place with one of the oldest populations in the country.

Oh, the memories. As Hurricane Wilma approached in 2005 and residents took shelter from a storm that could have killed them, Curley thought it would be cool to affix a Wilma Flintstone icon to the header. They’re both named Wilma. Get it?

Curley is his own sort of hurricane, though, and having shook things up in Naples is already moving onto a new project. What else do you expect from a guy whose boss calls him a “disruptive missile” and is notorious for drinking gallons of Mountain Dew and Red Bull?

Curley, it was a hoot having you in the state. Best of luck in your latest gig at washingtonpost.com.