Our Team

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Officers

Matt Caldwell

Matt Caldwell is a 7th generation Florida native whose family came to Micanopy in 1826. In his private life, Matt enjoys the outdoor lifestyle that Florida offers: fishing, golfing, kayaking, hunting, and camping, to name a few. He is a deacon in his local church and spends time focused on his small timber and cattle business.

Matt Caldwell, President

After attending local schools in Lee County, Matt received his Associates Degree from Edison College and his Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida Gulf Coast University. He is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Geomatics from the University of Florida.

While an undergraduate he began his career as a real estate appraiser, ultimately joining the firm of Maxwell, Hendry, Simmons in 2004, where he remains of counsel. He has attained the highest state certification in his field and is qualified as an expert witness in multiple states and federal court.

From 2019-2020, Matt was also a partner at TM Strategic Consulting, focused on political consulting, where he remains of counsel, as well.

Outside of serving in elected office, Matt volunteered for appointment to various governmental committees regarding financial oversight, audits, Everglades restoration, land use and transportation, as well as the constitutional review of the Lee County Charter in 2008, the OPPAGA Local Government Efficiency Task Force in 2021 and is a current board member and past chairman of the FGCU Center for Agribusiness Advisory Committee.

Matt was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2010-2018, serving on and chairing several committees including: tax policy, redistricting, insurance & banking, agriculture & natural resources/public lands, transportation & infrastructure, local, federal, & military affairs, and oversight of government operations, such as pensions & elections. He is proud to have sponsored, and have the Governor sign into law, dozens of bills, including those related to agriculture, natural resources, public safety, cannabis reform, medical care, criminal justice reform, pensions and term limits, among others. He also served on the Board of the Assembly of State Legislatures, a national organization focused on the implications of Article V of the US Constitution. In 2018, Matt was the Republican nominee for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

In 2020, Matt was elected to serve as the Lee County Property Appraiser, the office he currently holds.

Tom Pennekamp, Vice President

Tom Pennekamp serves as Senior Vice President, Government Relations for Truist Financial Corporation. In this role, he is responsible for the enhancement and protection of the bank’s interest in state legislative and regulatory matters.

Tom began his banking career in 1987 after his service as a Field Artillery Officer in the United States Army. He joined SunTrust, now Truist, in November 1996, and currently is Senior Vice President of Government Relations, a position he has held since 2000 and was Market President from October 2007 to October 2020.

Tom serves on the Florida Bankers Association’s Board of Directors, Government Relations Council and Political Action Committee, the Florida Chamber Political Institute Advisory Council and Past President and current board member of the Florida State Parks Foundation. He has served on the Boards of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, United Way of the Big Bend, Communities in Schools of Leon County, Woodland Hall Academy, and the Make a Wish Foundation of South Florida.

Tom graduated from Florida State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. He and his wife Jana have two children and live in Tallahassee.

Don Philpott, Secretary

Don Philpott has over 50 years’ experience as an award-winning writer, journalist, consultant, public relations practitioner and passionate campaigner for conservation and the environment. For 20 years he worked for the Press Association-Reuters, the international wire service traveling the world as a senior correspondent, covering major events and news stories.

In 1988 he founded Mediawise Communications, an international media and PR company, based in London and in 1994 he relocated to the U.S. as President of Mediawise Communication U.S., managing an international client list.

He has written more than 250 books on a wide range of subjects. When not writing Don is a volunteer at the Wekiwa River Basin State Parks. He is a Florida Master Naturalist, Florida Master Gardener, and a Certified Interpretive Guide. He is President of the Wekiva Wilderness Trust, an Emeritus Board Member of the Florida State Parks Foundation and vice chair of the National Association of State Park Foundations.

Jackye Maxey, Treasurer

 Jackye Maxey is the president of Maxey, Inc. The company provides proven leadership and guidance in organization development, finance, budgeting, program management, project management and training. In addition, the company’s executive team has almost 30 years advocating and lobbying at the state and national levels. The team has decades of experience in a variety of areas and they have served in top leadership roles in diverse public and private organizations.

Maxey, Inc. executives have provided guidance for complex agencies and led diverse groups of people toward critical goals in many fields.

We have relationships with leaders of industry and with local, state, and national officials. These relationships serve your needs by giving us access to decision makers at these various levels. 

Jackye Maxey moved from Tallahassee to Lakeland in July of 2013 to help build the state’s 12th public university, Florida Polytechnic University. She retired from Florida Poly as the Director of Special Projects where she served as Project Manager for the successful implementation of Workday Enterprise Software Solution for financial management, payroll, and human resources using Workday’s twelve-months accelerated methodology and served as the Liaison to the Board of Trustees. 

Jackye worked in the public sector for 35 years, retiring in 2017. She served on the staff of appropriations committees in both chambers of the Florida Legislature. Jackye served on the Education Appropriations Committee in the House and the Transportation and Economic Development Ways and Means Committee in the Senate. Jackye also served in the budget offices of two Governors (Graham and Martinez) and the Board of Regents. 

She held leadership roles in the Department of Labor as Chief of Financial Management and was the Assistant Division Director in the Department of Business & Professional Regulation. At the Department of Labor, she successfully developed and implemented an extraordinarily complex reorganization of the Bureau of Financial management. This bureau was responsible for managing all finance and accounting activities for an agency budget of approximately $2.5 billion of state and federal funds. 

Jackye also worked at other state agencies including the Florida Department of Education, the Department of Banking and Finance, and Florida A&M University. 

While at Florida A&M University Jackye served as the university’s lobbyist, budget director, purchasing director, and auxiliary services director. In her role as the auxiliary services director, she transformed the auxiliary operations at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University by using best practices to improve operations, strengthen internal controls and increase profits. Included under her leadership were dining services (meal plans) Rattler Card services, the University Book Store, parking services, mail room, laundry, vending services, and the copy center. 

Jackye was a regular volunteer in the Tallahassee community and is continuing to donate her time to local community organizations in Lakeland. Jackye is member of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland and a past president of the Club. She is also a past member of the club’s board of directors and its foundation. Jackye also serves as the treasurer for the Bonnet Springs Park Friends Board. Bonnet Springs Park is a $120 million privately owned and financed public park in Lakeland which held its grand opening on October 22, 2022. She is a life member of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association – Polk County Alumni Chapter, and she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Florida A&M University in November 2021. She most recently served on the board of directors for Girls Inc. and has also served as a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in Tallahassee and Lakeland. 

Jackye received her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Florida A&M University. 

Kathleen Brennan, Immediate Past President

Kathleen Brennan has a long history of volunteer work for non-profits in a variety of areas. Currently, she is a member of the Florida Urban Forestry Council Executive Committee. She is also a Founder and immediate Past President of the Oasis Center for Women and Girls in Tallahassee. Kathleen held many leadership positions with the GFWC Tallahassee Junior Woman’s Club culminating in President.

She was elected the President of her Leadership Tallahassee class, and is the former Chair of the LT Board of Governors. Under her leadership, lifetime membership tripled. She served as President of her local American Heart Association, as well as Secretary-Treasurer of the statewide Florida-Puerto Rico American Heart Association, establishing a matching program for their Boggy Creek Camp which resulted in full funding for three years.

Kathleen owned a graphic design company in Tampa before going to Florida State’s College of Law where she was an Associate Editor of Law Review and a Design Editor for the Journal of Progressive Legal Thought, graduating in the top 15% of her class.

Three weeks after taking the Florida Bar, she gave birth to the first of her four children. Her husband of 31 years, Claude Hendon, is a Staff Director at the Florida Senate. They both enjoy playing tennis together. Kathleen serves as the B League Coordinator in the North Florida-Georgia Tennis League, serving on its Executive Committee, as well as the captain of two USTA tennis teams.

Board Members

Derek Bruce

Derek Bruce

Derek Bruce is the Managing Shareholder of the Orlando Office of the Gunster law firm. With over twenty years’ experience in the practice of law, Derek primarily represents clients before state and local governments throughout the state of Florida on land use, procurement and administrative or regulatory issues.

No stranger to community involvement, Derek previously served on the Orange County Board of Zoning Adjustment; Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission; Chairman of the Orange County Redistricting Advisory Committee; and as a member of Gov. Rick Scott’s Task Force on Citizen Safety and Protection.

He has also served on the boards of numerous statewide and local community organizations, including Leadership Florida; Central Florida Foundation; African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida; and the Randy Roberts Foundation. Derek also had the privilege of serving as President of the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida and Chair of Business Force, an independent, nonpartisan organization composed of business and community leaders across Central Florida.

Derek is a graduate of the University of Florida and currently sits on the University of Florida’s Law Center Association.

Lynn Cherry

Lynn has been a small business owner for 20 years. As President of Carpe Diem Community Solutions, Lynn has served as public information officer, trainer, program developer, and leader. Her extensive community-based experience in training, moderating and facilitating group discussion encompasses focus groups, board retreats, strategic long-range planning, visioning, and community forums.

Lynn has a solid track record and the unique ability to plan and implement appropriate public awareness tools and involvement experiences. She creates public engagement and awareness strategies that focus on and garner community approval. Flexible methodologies are adapted to meet the needs of the community and the site. Lynn has received numerous awards from local and state organizations for her leadership in community-based programs. What began as a Girl Scout, Lynn now has a passion for Florida State Parks. In 1995, she led the state acquisition process to acquire and support the development of Camp Helen State Park in Bay County, Florida. These efforts lead to the first in the nation partnership between a state park and a community college. Lynn is the recipient of The Nature Conservancy Florida Chapter Grassroots Leader, Bay County Audubon Society Conservationist of the Year, Florida Parks Citizen Support Organization of the Year, and the Florida Parks Best in the District awards. Additionally, Lynn has served in a leadership capacity, including president, and major donor of the Friends of Camp Helen State Park for over ten years. Lynn recently was awarded the first-ever emeritus award from the Friends of Camp Helen State Park for her 25 years of servant leadership style volunteerism at the park.

Lynn also pioneered and created the first partnership between the Kettering Foundation and a community college. Subsequently, she served as director of the Kettering Foundation’s Public Policy Institute. Lynn created and directed the Kellogg Foundation’s national award winning Citizen Leadership Institute, a statewide citizen-based leadership training program. Lynn is an accomplished trainer in moderating, leadership, strategic planning, visioning, and community development. She is certified by the National Charrette Institute as a charrette facilitator. Lynn has a Master’s Degree from Florida State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Auburn University.

Jose Felix Diaz

As an attorney, advisor, and four-term elected official, Jose Felix has consistently been recognized as one of the rising stars in government affairs over the past decade.  In 2010, Jose was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where he served for seven years. Jose ascended quickly to the leadership ranks of the legislature, where he chaired the Energy & Utilities, Regulatory Affairs, and Commerce committees.

Known for his fundraising prowess and sharp political instincts, Jose was recruited to serve on the Republican State Leadership Committee’s Future Majority Project Board, to help recruit and retain minority candidates throughout the United States. He also served as Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission.

During his legislative tenure, Jose was elected as chair of the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation, where he led his colleagues during a period of sustained and successful bipartisanship. A Columbia Law School graduate, Jose has significant international, federal, state, and local government affairs experience and legal acumen.  Early in his law career, Jose gained a reputation for being a tenacious advocate for clients in contract procurement, international law, public private partnerships, complex legal, and land use and zoning matters.

Jose has been recognized as one of the “Top 100” Lobbyists in America by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics and as one of the “South Florida Power 100” by City & State Magazine, among other awards.

Jose serves on the Board of Directors of multiple organizations, including the National Recreation and Park Association, the Orange Bowl Committee, the Bakehouse Arts Complex, and the Millennial Action Project. He is also currently the Chairman of the Zoo Miami Foundation.

Audrine Finnerty

Originally from the Washington, DC area, Audrine Piasecki Finnerty moved to Tallahassee from Ohio in 2009 to be closer to her late parents (Ronald and Angret Piasecki). In Ohio, Audrine was on the board of several non-profit organizations, including a grassroots watershed group that evolved into a major Ohio land conservancy.

Audrine’s passion for the environment and state parks began early, first as a young child visiting parks around the country, later as a law clerk for the National Park Service in Washington, DC, and finally as a volunteer in local environmental organizations.

Audrine has been on the board of the Friends of Wakulla Spring since 2011 and served in the position of secretary for four years. Since her arrival in Florida, Audrine has worked managing and monitoring federal grants for the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, and Florida Department of Education. She has traveled extensively throughout the state and enjoys visiting local state parks during her trips.

Audrine is following in her father’s passionate footsteps to protect Florida’s state parks and support the state park Citizen Support Organizations who do so much to protect our unique and special places.

Richard Goldman

Richard Goldman

Richard Goldman is the President & CEO of St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau (VCB), a Destinations International accredited organization, where he is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the area’s success as a popular tourism and meetings destination.

Under his leadership, the Bureau advanced advertising and marketing programs, including a rebranding, which drove significant measurable tourism growth across all lodging metrics and Bed Tax collections.

Prior to joining the VCB in 2009, Richard served as the senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Amelia Island Plantation where he managed a 13- member in-house advertising and marketing operation. A past chairman of VISIT FLORIDA’s Board of Directors and with company executives, Richard facilitated the reorganization of VISIT FLORIDA into a more streamlined marketing company. He continues to serve on VISIT FLORIDA’S Global Media Committee and Council of Tourism Leaders made up of past chairmen of the Florida Commission on Tourism. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Florida State Parks, Northeast Florida Hotel & Lodging Association and Jacksonville SKAL Club (an international tourism organization). He also serves on the board of and is a past chair of Florida’s First Coast of Golf, a regional destination marketing organization.

A graduate of the University of Florida, Richard started his career at Ogilvy & Mather advertising agency in New York and spent 17 years working for Ryder & Schild Advertising in Miami, including 10 years as the firm’s vice president for marketing and research. With a passion for metrics, Goldman brings a focus on accountability to marketing tourism.

Richard is a second-generation native of Florida, his wife Sharon, an artist and author, live in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida with their three daughters. Their eldest daughter is in law school and their twins are students, one at University of Florida the other at Georgia Tech.

Tammy Gustafon

Tammy Gustafson

Gustafson graduated from the Ohio State University and began her career in Marketing and Sales as an account executive for a local FOX affiliate in Columbus, Ohio. After moving to Orlando in 1995, she spent three years in related Marketing and Sales roles as an account executive for a UPN broadcast affiliate and managed major publicity accounts for Gilbert and Manjura Marketing, including St. Johns County, Florida, Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Gustafson is currently an Executive with Universal Parks and Resorts and is responsible for Sales Integration across the global sales divisions and works with International teams located in Latin America and the UK. She joined Universal Orlando in September of 1997 as part of the Universal Studios Marketing team and was responsible for building the Universal Studios Florida brand on a global basis- growing to three theme parks, a night-time entertainment complex and eight onsite resorts.

Appointed by the Governor’s office to the Florida Commission on Tourism, Gustafson served as President of the VISIT FLORIDA Board of Directors from 2014-15 and has been on the board since 2005. She currently serves on the Florida Council of Tourism Leaders. She has also served on the board for the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce/Osceola Resort Area Council and served as a Past President and Treasurer of the Florida State Parks Foundation.

Gustafson brings years of experience and extensive travel industry knowledge to these organizations and has been a part of Leadership Florida, Leadership Orlando, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and the Central Florida Chapter of the American Marketing Association.

“Throughout its history, the Florida Parks greatest strength has been its volunteers. I am honored to be asked to serve in this capacity,” said Tammy Gustafson, Board of Directors. “The best and brightest minds are coming together to help guide and preserve the Real Florida. Its an exciting time for the Foundation as we work toward the Strategic Goals for the coming year.”

Emily Lewis

Emily Lewis

Emily Lewis joined the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners in 2006 and currently works in Administration as the Deputy County Administrator. Emily is a diligent advocate for the interests of Charlotte County.

Prior to joining Charlotte County, Ms. Lewis worked as a Human Resources executive for a Fortune 500 company and as the Director of the Educator Preparation Institute for Edison State College, now Florida Southwestern State College. She received a Sterling Award for her role in developing the college’s first post-baccalaureate program to provide teacher certification programs and working with the Florida Department of Education to ascertain the necessary approvals. It was this work that inspired her love for public service.

Emily holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Public Administration from Hodges University. She has been recognized as one of Gulfshore Business Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 in Southwest Florida. Emily is currently an affiliate member of both the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) and the Florida City County Manager’s Association (FCCMA) and serves on FCCMA’s legislative committee. She is also a graduate of the Emerging Leaders program through ICMA.

Emily is a fourth-generation Floridian and currently lives in Punta Gorda, Florida with her husband and three children. As a native Floridian, many of Emily’s fondest childhood memories include time she spent with family and friends at Blackwater River State Park. She and her husband are committed to passing on their love and appreciation for the outdoors to their children and they enjoy vacationing in many of Florida’s State Parks and Wildlife Management Areas.

Liza McFadden

Liza McFadden

Liza McFadden is an entrepreneurial-minded leader with 20+ years of achievement in designing strategy to achieve vision. Liza’s portfolio of work includes having served as the CEO of four foundations, managing a public relations firm, advising key leaders in government, and serving on a public board.

She is president of Liza and Partners which provides advisory services to philanthropists. Her background includes 20-plus years serving as the chief executive officer of foundations, most recently as the president of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. During her tenure, she transitioned the foundation from a traditional grant-making entity to the single largest provider in the United States of literacy services to low-literate adults.

A former advisor to Governor Jeb Bush, Liza provided counsel on policy and program issues in education, and community and faith-based issues.

A lifelong advocate for education for all, Liza is a board member of K12, a publicly-traded education management organization that provides online education for public school students. She also serves on the national board of Reading Partners and the advisory board of Foundations, Inc.

In her hometown, Liza is recognized as one of the “25 Women You Need to Know” and a “Women Who Mean Business Award/Service” by Tallahassee Woman Magazine.

For her long-time advocacy of families and volunteer efforts, she has received numerous awards including recognition by Florida Veteran’s Affairs, Governor’s Award, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Leadership Award, Take Stock in Children’s Champion of Children’s Award, Adult and Community Education Award Winner, Florida Commission on Community Service’s Apple Award, Department of Education’s Leadership Award, and Tax Watch’s Davis Productivity Distinguished Individual Award Winner.

A longtime advocate for the state parks, Liza previously served on the Friends of Florida State Parks Board. She’s pleased to share that both of her university-aged children are seeking degrees to support the environment.

Avery McKnight

Avery D. McKnight is a shareholder at Allen Norton & Blue’s Tallahassee office. Avery has represented both public and private employers in state and federal court since his return to private practice with the firm in 2016.

A strong advocate for his clients, his practice focuses primarily on representing management in employment litigation and providing preventative advice and counseling to help management avoid fruitless litigation costs. His experience, passion, and loyalty allow him to understand his clients’ business, legal, and reputational concerns and make him a well-trusted counselor and advocate. Avery’s approach to litigation reflects an intentional and deliberate effort to effectively and efficiently turn “lemons into lemonade.” He believes in the strong advocacy of his clients and management rights.

A fifth-generation native of Gainesville, Florida, Avery attended the University of Florida (1983-1985) and graduated from Florida A&M University in 1987. He earned his law degree from the Florida State University College of Law in 1992. Upon graduating from law school, Avery worked in the State Attorney’s Office in Tallahassee and was subsequently hired in the General Counsel’s Office at Florida A&M University. Avery served in the FAMU General Counsel’s Office for more than twenty years including as Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel.

Foremost, he is happily married to Chiquita and is the proud father of Elliott, Alexia, Sydney and Danielle.

Andrew J. Power

Andrew J. Power is a partner at the firm of Smith, Thompson, Shaw, Colon and Power, where he specializes in estate law and probate.

A Michigan native who relocated to Florida in 2005, Andrew also serves on the board of directors and is the facility chair at Christ Classical Academy in Tallahassee. He and his wife, Katie, reside in Tallahassee with their two daughters.

José C Romano

José C. Romano

Mr. Romano is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Medical Center at Ocean Reef (MCOR). As such, Jose’s role is to provide leadership in the development, implementation, and oversight of standards, systems, policies, and procedures in alignment with the organizations strategic initiatives.

As COO, Jose is responsible for all departments of the Medical Center including Front Desk Registration, Physical Therapy, Primary Care, nursing, lab, diagnostics and visiting specialists. As COO, he is also actively involved in the strategic analysis of service line expansion and financial planning.

Prior to his role as COO, Jose served as AVP of Business & Government/Community Relations. Jose was responsible for over 250 of Baptist Health South Florida’s community partnerships. He also worked closely with the Corporate VP of Government Relations advocating on behalf of BHSF at the local and state level. Under his leadership, BHSF Corporate Relations launched the Healthcare at Work on-site clinic solution along with the Pineapple Rewards affinity program that rewards participation in corporate and employee wellness.

Jose is an experienced executive with a successful track record in developing go-to-market strategies for companies in a wide range of industries. He has experience in general management roles as well as functional expertise in marketing, market and financial analysis, corporate communications, business development, fundraising and strategic planning.

Prior to joining Baptist, Jose was the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Digital Signergy, a company that provides turnkey solutions for digital signage networks in targeted environments throughout the US and Latin America. Jose has also served as the Sales & Marketing Director at Sharp Electronics Latin America Group. Prior to Sharp, José held a number of marketing and sales positions at Miami-based companies, including GDA, S.A., The Miami Herald and Ryder System, Inc.

Jose has his MBA in Marketing from the University of Texas and an International Finance degree from Georgetown University. Jose serves on various community Boards, including The Zoo Miami Foundation as Chairman and the Orange Bowl Committee as President and Chairman and will preside over the 2019-2020 Festival. He is a Trustee Member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and is Chairman of the Sports Committee. In addition, he was named to the CNC Board of Advisors and future Chair of the American Heart Association for Miami-Dade and Broward. Jose is happily married to Joanna and they have three children ranging from 13 to 3 years old. Jose spends his free time with family and friends enjoying the outdoors; mostly fishing, mountain biking, camping and playing sports.

Wendy Spencer

Wendy Spencer

Wendy Spencer serves as the President and CEO of Leadership Florida assuming her duties on March 1, 2017. Leadership Florida is celebrating its 37th year of convening Florida’s top leaders to enhance and recharge their leadership skills, and to educate and inspire them to work towards a better Florida.

She recently completed a five year term as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). This federal agency role was a nomination by President Obama and confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. CNCS is a $1.1 billion agency which invests an additional $1.26 billion in matching local support to annually engage 345,000 Americans in service through AmeriCorps, VISTA, Senior Corps in local service to communities. The agency also supports community organizations through their Social Innovation Fund. The agency’s investments are made locally in all 50 states, D.C. and the U.S. territories.

Wendy has a proven track record of 36 years in administration, volunteer management, fundraising, disaster response and recovery work, marketing, legislative, and environmental work. She has worked in or closely with these sectors: corporate, industry, small business, nonprofit, faith organizations, and local, state and federal government. She has given over 1,800 speeches, presentations, and trainings throughout her career.

From 2003-2012, Wendy served Governors Rick Scott, Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush as the CEO of the Florida Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism, commonly known as Volunteer Florida. As the leader of this bipartisan, governor-appointed commission, Wendy managed between $18 million and $23 million in federal, state, and local grants each year. During the state’s record-breaking 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, the agency coordinated donations worth more than $85 million and more than 252,000 volunteers, the largest mobilization of volunteers in the history of U.S. natural disasters at that time. Wendy received the prestigious 2005 Governor’s Award from Gov. Jeb Bush for her leadership of this effort.

Wendy has been recognized nationwide for her leadership in the volunteer sector. In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Wendy to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. She was recognized in 2013 as the NonProfit Times Top 50 Leader, and in 2016 received nationwide recognition as Influencer in Aging by Public Broadcasting Service’s Next Avenue program. And in 2010, she was elected by her peers to chair the American Association of State Service Commissions, the nonprofit association that advocates for 54 state service commissions promoting national and community service across the United States.

Before joining Volunteer Florida, Wendy served as the director of the Florida Park Service, where she oversaw natural resource and recreational management for 158 state parks spanning 600,000 acres. Wendy’s career includes a decade of service at the United Way of Big Bend in north Florida, and she credits her time there with teaching her the principles of recruitment, recognition, and retention of volunteers.

Wendy holds a B.A. in Fine Arts and Speech Communications from Valdosta State University. She and her husband Ron have four sons, three daughters-in-law, two granddaughters and a chocolate lab. She enjoys golf, snow skiing, travel, playing croquet, and watching all sports, especially Florida State University!

Allison Tant

Representative Allison Tant currently serves as the Representative of District 9 in the Florida House of Representatives which includes Leon, Jefferson and Madison Counties. Tant is the ranking member of the House Post-Secondary Education & Workforce Committee, the ranking member of the Commerce Committee, and a member of the Ways and Means Rules, Health Care Regulation and Insurance and Banking Committees. Allison has worked across the aisle as a member of the Rules Committee and the Select Committee on Hurricane Recovery and Resiliency.

Along with being a State Representative, Allison is the Founder of Independence Landing, an innovative and affordable housing option for adults with a range of Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities and is the Founding Chair Emeritus for KEYS (Keys to Exceptional Youth Success), a scholarship program for students with disabilities. During her tenure with KEYS, she worked to establish several programs for Big Bend residents including the TCC Eagle Connections program, the SOAR job certification program at Lively Technical College and a state-recognized ACE Summer Institute teaching life, social, independence and job skills, all for students with disabilities. She also serves as an Advisory Board member of the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities.

Tant has been proud to serve on the ESC Council and District Advisory Council for Leon County Schools and developed a summer program for job training and workforce placements for students with disabilities.

Tant is an active member of the Tallahassee Rotary Club, Capital Women’s Network, Tiger Bay, the Board of Directors of the Challenger Learning Center and the Advisory Board for the Adult and Community Education program for Leon County Schools and is the regional representative for the Anti-Defamation League of Florida. In 2013, she was inducted into the Tallahassee Democrat’s 25 Women You Need to Know. She has previously served as president, treasurer and advocacy chair of the Children’s Home Society in Tallahassee, secretary of the Tallahassee Community College Foundation, chair of Holland & Knight’s “Opening Doors for Children” program, board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters and Leon County Schools Exceptional Student Education Advisory Committee and District Advisory Committee. She was also a Big Sister in the Big Brother Big Sister program from 1995 to 1998. Allison has been married to Barry Richard for over 25 years and has three children: Jonathan and Jeremy (23) and Danielle (19), two bonus children: Brooke (and her husband Dave), Todd and two adorable grandchildren: Sophie & Jonah.

Greg Wilson

Greg Wilson has had a life-long appreciation for the environment, beginning in Ohio while growing up near Lake Erie. That led him to attaining a PhD in Ecology with a specialization in Aquatic Ecosystems Management, as well as an MBA in Management. He is currently Co-founder, Board Director and Chief Scientific Officer of Riverside Conservancy, a Florida-based conservation organization focused on living shoreline restoration and land conservation.

Dr. Wilson also serves as Board Director and President of the Friends of Gamble Rogers State Park in Flagler Beach. Earlier professional experience included executive management roles in corporate, university and nonprofit settings.

Greg began his corporate career with Abbott Laboratories, with a specialty of working at the interface of science and business. He held leadership roles in research-related positions in Abbott divisions including Diagnostics, Hospital Products, Pharmaceuticals and Nutritional Products. He then moved to the university environment, with Associate Vice President roles in Research, Economic Development and Strategic Partnerships for Kent State University. Dr. Wilson then oversaw Business Development in Life Sciences for the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, before moving to a similar position for AdventHealth in Orlando.

Professional affiliations have included serving on the U.S. EPA National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology, Indian River Lagoon Council Management Board and Finance Subcommittee and U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz Environmental and Water Quality Advisory Committee. Greg has volunteered for numerous environmental organizations including University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, GTM National Estuarine Research Reserve and Marine Discovery Center, and is a certified Florida Master Naturalist.

Greg is passionate about better understanding the environment and working for its preservation, and helping others to do so. For this reason he believes strongly in the Florida State Parks system and is pleased to be able to help support their success through Foundation involvement. He also enjoys church activities, kayaking, hiking and other outdoor pursuits. He and his wife Annette live in Ormond Beach, and are fortunate to have two grown daughters and grandchildren who also reside in Florida.

Gil Ziffer

Gil Ziffer

Gil has been a Tallahassee resident since 1983, and owned Ziffer Stansberry Communications, a marketing/public relations company, until his retirement in 2023.

After many years in the private sector, he joined the Tallahassee City Commission in 2009 and served for 9 years. Gil has a solid history of assuming an active leadership role with a diverse range of issues and projects throughout Florida.

Closest to his heart is the work he does for those in need. Much of his focus has been to develop and implement solutions for the Tallahassee area homeless, increased efforts for early childhood learning, housing for those with limited cognitive or physical disabilities and a greater awareness of the needs for those who have dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Gil is a Past President of the Florida League of Cities and served on the National League of Cities Board of Directors in his capacity as the Chair of the National League of Cities, Human Development Federal Advocacy Committee.

Born February 12, 1957, he is one of five children and grew up in Winter Park, Florida. He graduated in 1975 from Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs and from the University of Florida in 2023. He and his wife, Gail Stansberry-Ziffer, married since 1990, have two sons and seven grandchildren.

Board Members Emeritus

Sally Hess

Sally Hess has been volunteering for Florida State Parks since she first moved to Florida 20 years ago. She helped establish Friends of the Island Parks CSO at Honeymoon and Caladesi Island State Parks and acted as first president and fund-raising lead for the Honeymoon Island Nature Center.

Sally’s work experience stretches from large corporate environments to non-profits to entrepreneurship. Since 2007, she has volunteered for a variety of organizations including holding the position of both president and secretary of Friends of Florida State Parks board.

Sally is in love with the diversity of Florida State Parks. Their current ability and future potential for teaching us about the incredible value of our natural environment and how to protect, sustain and improve that environment is unmatched.

Marylou Klein

Born in Connecticut Marylou Sullivan Klein has a B.A. from the University of Connecticut where she was member of Phi Beta Kappa, and an M.L.S from Long Island University. She retired from her position as a department head from a large suburban public library in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, and has lived in Dunnellon, Florida since 1996.

She became a volunteer at Rainbow Springs State Park in 1998, and has been active there since. As a member of the Friends of Rainbow Springs she has served as Vice President, chair of several large events, and is currently Secretary. As a volunteer, she was invited to attend four Florida Park Service’ Ranger Academies as a volunteer assistant. Then the Director of Florida State Parks asked her to represent all of the Citizen Support Organizations (CSOs) and volunteer as ‘CSO and Volunteer Ambassador’, where she traveled and became familiar with and worked with volunteers around the state. She served in this capacity for three years. During this period, she was an ex-officio member of the Friends of Florida State Parks, working on the Awards Committee. She was elected as voting member and then became Chair of the Awards Committee, where she still serves, and serves as the Secretary for Friends of Florida State Parks. In 2005, Marylou was awarded Florida Park Service’s Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, received the Director’s Special Service Award in 2011, in addition to the Irene DeLaby Award for volunteering 10,000 hours to the Florida State Parks.

She has been a Florida Master Gardener since 2000, and received a communications award from the University of Florida-IFAS, and Florida Friendly Landscaping (FFL) Volunteer of the Year in 2013, and currently serves as volunteer Committee Chair of the FFL Committee.

Amy Rodriguez

With over 22 years of experience in the U.S. Hispanic market and Latin America, Amy is a consummate Hispanic marketing professional skilled at analyzing client needs and providing insightful, highly researched strategic solutions that are culturally relevant to Hispanic consumers.

Amy has come full circle at The Rodriguez Group: She began her career managing national and international efforts for American Airlines in the Caribbean, Latin America and U.S. Hispanic markets. Amy was then was tapped as vice-president, strategic planning for Accentmarketing, guiding such large regional accounts as Physician Healthcare Plans, and launching Chevrolet's first major effort in the U.S. Hispanic market. Amy returned to V&A in 1994 - later named The Rodriguez Group - and was named partner in 1998 when they were named agency of record for Visit Florida for both the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets.

Amy completed her Bachelors in Business from Marymount University in 1984 and her MBA in International Business from George Washington University in Washington in 1989.

Florida State Parks Director

Chuck Hatcher

Chuck Hatcher, Florida State Parks Director

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton announced Chuck Hatcher as the new director for the agency’s Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP) on July 8, 2022.

In this role, Hatcher oversees the management of the award-winning Florida State Parks system. Hatcher had twice served as acting director and has held leadership positions in DRP since 2016.

“Chuck has been an integral member of the DEP team and we are thrilled to welcome him as the new director of Florida State Parks,” Hamilton said. “Our state parks are already the best in the nation, and his leadership will take them to even greater heights.”

Hatcher joined DEP in 2016 as the assistant director of field operations for Florida State Parks.  

Since then, Florida State Parks has become the nation’s first four-time winner of the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management and has reached milestones in attendance, revenue and resource management. 

Upon taking over as acting director in November 2021, Hatcher immediately guided Florida State Parks in opening two new properties in the Florida Panhandle – William J. “Billy Joe” Rish Recreation Area and the Bluffs of St. Teresa. 

As a native of Marianna, Florida, who has seen the devastation of storm impacts on his beloved community, Chuck has continued to champion major progress on hurricanes Michael and Irma recovery projects, including:  

  • Reopening of phase 1 and 2 camping at St. Andrews State Park, while overseeing the completion of phase 3. 
  • Reopening of camping at Bahia Honda State Park. 
  • Continuous monitoring of the rehabilitation of T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. 

“To serve as the director of Florida State Parks is the honor of a lifetime,” Hatcher said. “Florida’s state parks, trails and historic sites are made up of amazing natural and cultural resources, as well as amazing people. I am grateful to Secretary Hamilton for trusting me to lead this team.” 

Before joining DEP, Hatcher served for several years as the director of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. He received the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Leadership Award in 2009 and was recognized as the county’s Conservationist Farmer of the Year in 2017. 

Staff

Julia Gill Woodward, Chief Executive Officer

Julia Gill Woodward is a ninth-generation Floridian whose love for our state and our award-winning park system runs deep. She is honored to serve as the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer as we seek to help protect, preserve and sustain our state’s natural treasures for generations to come.

As CEO, Julia has helped secure millions in external funding for Florida State Parks, informed legislators about the value of state parks, helped establish the first ever Florida State Parks specialty license plate, and launched multiple initiatives to enhance resource management and visitor experiences.

Julia also played a major role in the reconstruction of the historic 1738 Fort Mose at Fort Mose Historic State Park in St. Augustine. In the 1700s, Fort Mose was home to the first legally sanctioned free African community in what is now the United States. The reconstructed fort, which opened in May 2025, now stands as a beacon of hope, freedom and resilience while sharing the incredible story of Fort Mose with the world.

Before joining the Foundation, Julia worked for more than 10 years in electoral campaigns and on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. During this time, she managed multiple campaigns, served as Representative Gwen Graham's Chief of Staff in Washington and managed Graham’s 2018 Florida gubernatorial bid.

Julia is a graduate of Florida State University and lives in Tallahassee with her husband, Paul, and two sons. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Park Foundations, is a member of the Community Leadership Council at Sabal Palm Elementary School and is on the Governing Board of her church. Julia loves all 176 Florida State Parks, but considers Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park her home park.

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Tim Linafelt, Director of Communications

In a 15-year career as a media professional, Tim has served as a writer, editor, designer, podcast host, and communications manager. Prior to joining the Florida State Parks Foundation in the fall of 2022, he spent two years as the communications manager for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Recreation and Parks.

A Florida resident since 1988, Tim grew up in Tallahassee and worked as a sports reporter from 2007-2020. His work has appeared in the Tallahassee Democrat, Orlando Sentinel, Miami Herald and others.

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Elizabeth Harris, Director of Services

Elizabeth was born and raised in Florida, and grew up experiencing all that our state parks have to offer. She loves nature, and has a strong passion for the preservation of Florida's wildlife and beautiful natural environment.

Elizabeth has a Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida, and prior to joining the Florida State Parks Foundation, she worked for five years at The Florida Bar as a legal secretary, assisting attorneys in the Lawyer Regulation department. Since moving to Tallahassee from the Central Florida area in April of 2022, Elizabeth has enjoyed hiking and biking the many trails around our capital. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

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Tyler Van Buren, Director of Development

Originally from Downers Grove, Illinois, Tyler has lived in Florida for over a decade. She has been visiting Florida since she was a small child and has many happy memories of the Bahia Honda State Park beaches. Since moving to Florida in 2012, she has lived in Tampa, Ft. Myers, Sanibel, Marathon, Orlando, and Melbourne.

After graduating with her Master’s degree from the University of Central Florida in 2019, she was introduced to grant writing while managing an AmeriCorps Seniors grant at a small Central Florida non-profit. Since then, Tyler has written grants for numerous central and south Florida non-profit organizations.

In her free time, Tyler enjoys attending local events, practicing yoga, traveling to botanical gardens and state parks, and spending time with family and friends.

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Paula Russo, Grants and Programs Administrator

Paula's family moved to Florida from Long Island, New York in 1956. "Before the age of air-conditioning and when it wasn't uncommon for a moccasin or rattlesnake to cross your path -- a much different Florida than most people know today,” she says. While she is not a native Floridian by birth she thinks of herself as one by choice and believes there is no better place to live, then, or now.

Most of her working life was spent employed by a growing veterinary practice in South Florida where she began as a ‘night attendant’ cleaning cages and mopping floors eventually becoming hospital administrator for her employer’s chain of five practices.

In 1989, Paula next went to work for the Center for Independent Living of Palm Beach County as Director of Advocacy and Community Education. She rallied local support for the successful passage of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Then, conducted numerous presentations, training's, and surveys for local businesses and government entities to help them understand and comply with the new law.

Moving to Broward County in 2001 her most recent employment was with Broward County Parks and Recreation at the Anne Kolb Nature Center. She conducted environmental education programs for children and adults to teach the value of mangrove estuaries.

Paula has been involved with the Florida State Parks Foundation almost since its inception in 1993 and served many terms on the board of directors. "I am passionate about protecting the environment. No matter where you live or travel in Florida there is a Florida State Park nearby. Lands set aside and managed for preservation and for the benefit and enjoyment of Florida's citizens and its many visitors. We must work to make sure this is always so."

Email Paula Russo