BOARD & STAFF

In service to a connected, protected, and restored Corridor

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PJ Marinelli

PJ MARINELLI | CHAIRMAN

Paul “PJ” Marinelli was born in Tampa and grew up in Naples. At an early age he found himself enthralled in the outdoors whether playing in the woods behind his house or spending time with his family enjoying the area’s beautiful beaches. PJ went on to spend time camping and exploring natural South Florida and taking weekend dive trips to the Keys.

After heading off to college and several years working in the New York City area, PJ returned to Naples. In an effort to help preserve the wild Florida that he loves he joined the board of Audubon of the Western Everglades (formerly Collier County Audubon) serving as President of the chapter for several years. He also spent many years as a volunteer guide on behalf of the Friends of Fakahatchee Strand and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary leading tours “off the boardwalk” to get visitors into the swamps of Southwest Florida.

During the week, PJ is the Founder and President of RiverGlades Family Offices, a boutique wealth management firm catering to the needs of affluent families. Having spent his working career in various facets of the investment and asset management business both in Florida and New York, he is happy to be back in Naples with his wife and two sons.

Amanda Moore

AMANDA MOORE | VICE CHAIRMAN

Amanda Moore is the Director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Program. Amanda joined NWF in 2009 after years of work on Florida conservation issues. She works with government officials, community leaders, and coastal science experts to raise awareness about coastal land loss and build support to move large-scale, comprehensive restoration projects forward. Amanda was part of the on-the-ground response to the 2010 BP oil disaster and has worked to pass and implement legislation to restore the Gulf in the years since. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Mary Washington and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of South Florida. Amanda resides in St. Petersburg with her two children, and they love exploring the beautiful Gulf Coast!

BLAKE POOLE | TREASURER

Blake Poole is a Vice President in the Tampa office of Bernstein Private Wealth Management. He specializes in providing comprehensive and impactful advice, strategies and solutions for endowments and foundations as well as high net worth individuals and families. Blake holds a BA in political science from Davidson College and a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Blake and his wife, Mary Kathryn, enjoy running, hiking, and fishing throughout Florida with their dog, Roux. As a fifth generation Floridian, he is passionate about maintaining the wilderness and its beauty for future generations to sustainably enjoy.

TIFFANY BUSBY| SECRETARY

Tiffany Busby is a certified group facilitator and has supported committees and meetings related to natural resource-related plans throughout Florida. Prior to starting Wildwood Consulting in 2000, Tiffany was the Director of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program where she directed the creation of the original Charlotte Harbor Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). As the Manager of the Georgia Coastal Management Program in Brunswick, Georgia from 1996-1998, she drafted the state’s Coastal Zone Management Plan. For the past 20 years with Wildwood Consulting, Tiffany has supported numerous planning efforts involving local governments including more than 30 basin management action plans (BMAPs), which implement water quality standards for various Florida watersheds and springsheds.

Tiffany is the past president (2016-2018) of the Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) and the past chair of the FSA Legislative and Agency Relations Committee. She is also an officer of the Pedro Menendez High School International Baccalaureate Programme Boosters. Tiffany has served on the Duke University Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee since 2008. Tiffany has a master’s degree in environmental management from the Duke University–Nicholas School of the Environment and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

CHAD RISCHAR

Chad Allen Rischar serves as an Senior Environmental Scientist for DRMP, Inc in their Gainesville office. He’s a classically trained soil scientist and Professional Wetland Scientist. Chad’s a passionate sportsman and dynamic voice in conservation. He also serves as the Natural Resource Conservation Chair and Treasurer for the Keystone Heights Airport, a 2500-acre property within the Osceola-Ocala Critical Linkage. Chad also serves as Vice-Chair for the Southeast Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, a North American NGO focused on public lands and access issues. Chad received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science minor in Soil and Water Science from the University of Florida and a fellowship from the Natural Resource Leadership Institute from the University of Florida. He resides in Keystone Heights, FL with his wife and three young children. In his discretionary time, you’ll find him chasing outdoor pursuits and land stewardship initiatives.

OSCAR ANDERSON

Oscar is a 3rd generation Floridian born into the citrus industry in Polk County. He has a deep understanding of government, serving at the highest capacities in the legislative and executive branches on the local, state, and federal levels. He has served as the chief lobbyist for Orange County Chairman Mel Martinez, managing the Congressional office in Washington DC and later promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff. Oscar specialized in the appropriations process and negotiated the passage of $75 million for the Administration’s American Dream Downpayment Initiative. He returned to Florida in 2003 as Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary at the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) where he directed passage of the landmark Wekiva Parkway and Protection Act legislation and had a key role in the passage of the first overhaul to the state’s growth management laws in 20 years.

For almost a decade, Oscar has represented hundreds of businesses at the local and state level, specializing in government budgets/appropriations, affordable housing, environmental and land use matters as a lobbyist with The Southern Group. He serves on the Orange County Environmental Protection Commission and on the Board of the East Winter Garden Community Transformation Initiative. Oscar lives in Orlando with his wife Carin and their three children.

Kimberly Davis Reyer

KIMBERLY DAVIS REYHER

Kimberly Davis Reyher serves as the Executive Director of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, a nonprofit that drives science-based action to rebuild the Mississippi River Delta. Kim joined CRCL in 2014 after 13 years with the World Wildlife Fund, where she promoted fisheries sustainability through engagement with the seafood industry and fisheries around the world. Kim co-led the development of a $29 million tuna management project with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, led the International Smart Gear Competition and supervised projects in 20+ countries.

Kim also spent 6 years at the Ocean Conservancy, first in Florida, and then in Washington, D.C. A fourth generation Floridian, Kim received a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Dartmouth College, and a master’s degree in Natural Resource Economics and Policy from Duke University. Kim now resides in New Orleans, Louisiana.

maurice pearson

MAURICE PEARSON

Maurice “Mo” Pearson serves as Manager of Ecological and Natural Resources for MSE Group, a company of Montrose Environmental Group. He is a 2nd generation Central Floridian and a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Conservation.  Mo has served on the Orange County Environmental Protection Commission, Urban Design Commission, and the Environmental Streamlining Taskforce. Most recently, he served on the FDEP Acquisition and Restoration Council. Mo, his wife, and daughter reside in Orlando, FL and spend as much of their free time as possible at the beach.

Lynn Cherry

LYNN CHERRY

After a successful career in higher education and with a “seize the day” spirit, Lynn created a small business, Carpe Diem Community Solutions, to continue her quest in helping communities. 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. She creates public engagement and awareness strategies that focus on and garner community approval. 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’s outdoors. In 1995, she led the state acquisition process to acquire and support the development of Camp Helen State Park in Panama City Beach.

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 Conversancy Florida Chapter Grassroots Leader, Bay County Audubon Society Conservationist of the Year, Florida State Parks Citizen Support Organization of the Year, and the Florida State Parks Best in the District awards. Additionally, Lynn has served in a leadership capacity, including president, of the Friends of Camp Helen State Park for 25 years. She presently serves on the Florida State Parks Foundation Board of Directors and has joined the Florida Wildlife Corridor as one of its new board members.

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. 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.

SCOTT NOLAN 

Scott Nolan is a non-profit executive whose fundraising programs have raised more than $70,000,000 in charitable support for worthy causes. He lives near Plant City with his wife, children and a menagerie of animals.

Scott enjoys camping, hiking, backpacking and kayaking and is driven to do what he can to ensure our children and grandchildren live in a world with vibrant wildlife and wild places.

ROBERT D. MCLEAN

Robert was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1986. He attended Washington & Lee University (B.A., cum laude, 1982) and the University of Florida (J.D., with Honors, 1985). He was an editor of the University of Florida Law Review, 1984-1985. He is a past board member of the National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives and a past member of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee. He is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and The Florida Bar. For the past 20 years, Robert has received an AV® Preeminent™ designation, the highest performance rating in Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system. His practice areas include commercial real estate, commercial leasing, commercial finance, commercial loans and real estate development.

OUR FOUNDER

Carlton Ward

CARLTON WARD JR

Carlton Ward Jr is a conservation photographer and National Geographic Explorer whose passion for nature was born from the Florida landscape. His mission is to inspire appreciation and protection of Florida’s original nature and culture – the endangered wildness that is often hidden in plain sight but very much needs our attention to be saved.

Carlton began his career working with the Smithsonian Institution in Central Africa, leading to his first book, The Edge of Africa, and a photography exhibit with the United Nations. In 2004, he retrained his focus on his native Florida, motivated by eight generations of family heritage and a drive to bring new attention and protection to the state’s under-appreciated wild heart. Carlton published Florida Cowboys in 2009 and founded the Florida Wildlife Corridor project in 2010. With fellow explorers Mallory Dimmitt and Joe Guthrie, he has since trekked more than 2,000 miles through the Corridor, during two National Geographic supported expeditions, which both produced award-winning books, PBS films and widespread outreach for the statewide vision to keep Florida wild.

MEET OUR STAFF

Mallory Dimmitt

MALLORY DIMMITT | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Mallory Dimmitt is the inaugural CEO of the Corridor Foundation and former Vice President of Strategic Development for Lykes Bros. Inc., a fifth-generation family-owned agribusiness based in Florida. Previously, Mallory led The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado Plateau Initiative from Telluride, Colorado, assessing large-scale conservation opportunities in a four-state region of the West, and prior to that directed the Southwest Colorado Project for the Conservancy’s Colorado Chapter. She has served as a member of Telluride’s Town Council and has worked with local, regional, state, and federal agencies and organizations on natural resource issues.

Mallory earned her B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. She was awarded a Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship at Duke University’s Nicholas School of Environment, where she earned a Masters of Environmental Management (MEM) in Environmental Economics and Policy. Mallory is an alumnus of Class IX of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources and a current member of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class 39.

She has been a participant in all Corridor Coalition expeditions 2012 – 2021.

Jason Lauritsen

JASON LAURITSEN | CHIEF CONSERVATION OFFICER

Jason Lauritsen implements the vision and mission of the organization to connect, protect and restore essential conservation habitat statewide. Jason’s expertise includes environmental conservation and restoration, land management science, wetland protection, and Wood Stork recovery in the Western Everglades. He is an experienced speaker, educator, and writer who has authored numerous papers, publications, and presentations throughout his more than 20-year career in conservation and natural resources management.

Lauritsen has served on the Estero Bay Agency for Bay Management, SWFL Watershed Council, Wood Stork Monitoring and Recovery Group and the Lee County Density Reduction/Groundwater Resource Advisory Committee. At the crossroads of science and policy, Jason developed tools and refined regulatory approaches to improve impact assessment and mitigation for wetlands and listed species for State and Federal agencies. He has provided consultation to agencies and private land owners on preserve design and configuration to maximize local and landscape level benefits to wildlife. In 2016, he served as a delegate to China on a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) exchange program to share expertise in wetland restoration and mitigation.

Lauritsen has a Master’s in Science Education from the University of Iowa and a Bachelor’s in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University. He worked as a rainforest guide in Ecuador in 1992. In 2001, he joined Audubon at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary as the Natural Resources Manager and prescribed burn boss. Continuing his career with Audubon he became the Big Cypress Ecosystem Science Coordinator in 2005 before being promoted to Assistant Sanctuary Director in 2007 and Sanctuary Director in 2012 where he led the crown jewel of Audubon’s Sanctuary network until Dec of 2018.

Lauritsen is committed to landscape level conservation and long planning horizons to achieve sustainability. He advocates the pursuit of a deep science-based understanding of our complex and often fragile ecosystem that undergirds the quality of life for both people and wildlife. If future generations are to enjoy the beauty and diversity of a healthy natural world, Jason believes it will require broad stakeholder support and partnerships that are central to effective land stewardship.

MELISSA SPERBER | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & FINANCE

Melissa is a Florida native with eight years of nonprofit leadership experience, specializing in program development, operations, and budget management. She received a BFA in Dance and an MBA from the University of Florida. While dancing professionally earlier in her career, Melissa had the honor to perform at the historic 92nd Street Y, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. In 2012, she moved to Washington DC and joined ClancyWorks Dance Company as the Company Coordinator where she found a passion for the logistics behind the curtain and administration. While in the DC area, Melissa completed an AmeriCorps service term in conjunction with the Maryland Institute College of Art, which enabled her to develop, implement, and teach after-school dance programs to underserved youth. From 2013 until 2020, she served as General Manager for Sarasota Contemporary Dance and most recently worked with Pinellas County Government in the Clerk’s Office as a Finance Operations Supervisor. Melissa is an advisory board member for T-2 Dance Company in Boulder, CO, and a certified Yoga instructor.

DANNA BRAMLETT | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Danna channels her passion, drive and knowledge for conservation into her role as Director of Development at the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. She values building strong, long-lasting partnerships that lead to success. Danna has been a fundraising professional for 26 years and has enjoyed working with both The Florida Aquarium and ZooTampa at Lowry Park. She is a Board Member and Education Chair for the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals where she helped launch their one-day inaugural educational conference in 2018. She received her BA in Psychology from the University of Arkansas and is CFRE certified.

In her free time, Danna loves spending time with her family and connecting to the outdoors through kayaking, canoeing, camping, hunting and hiking.

MARLY FULLER | STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Marly is an award-winning marketing and communications expert who is passionate about telling stories that shape brands and bring good causes to life. Previously she served as the Executive Director for the Chesterfield Cultural Arts Foundation in Virginia. Operating at the intersection of creative strategy and social change, she has led organizations, such as the American Red Cross, through transformative leadership practices that enhanced donor relationships and employee engagement. After receiving her MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Marly advised strategic communications efforts in ecotourism for the Ambassador of Mayan Cultural Tourism in Guatemala and mobilized volunteers in partnership with Caoba Farms Antigua for remote road clean ups. Upon receiving her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from VCU, she worked in Los Angeles connecting some of the world’s most beloved brands to their audiences through the power of music. Today Marly lives in historic Palmetto with her husband and three boys. They love exploring wild Florida’s forests, parks, and waters and volunteer regularly to keep them clean.

DONAYLE WHITMORE | DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Donayle is responsible for program oversight, including mural exhibits, expeditions, corridor partnerships, and various other events and initiatives supporting corridor protection and growth. She is a St. Louis native who currently resides in Clearwater, Fl. She brings over twenty years of nonprofit leadership, development, and advocacy. Holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from Southern University A&M College. She has served as a catalyst for change in various communities throughout her career. In her most noteworthy moments, she led School Choice Missouri a state-wide initiative which advocated for equitable educational opportunities for students throughout the State of Missouri and beyond. She also founded Ptah Academy of Arts & Sciences, St. Louis’s first Holistic Elementary School. She was Gubernatorially appointed to the St. Louis Board of Elections, Missouri State Board of Education, and Missouri’s Women’s Council. She has also served two consecutive federally appointed terms with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights under Presidents George Bush Jr. and Barack Obama. She is a published author and poet who loves the beach life and is a proud parent of her two daughters and grandson.

Maureen Vicaria

MAUREEN VICARIA | PROGRAM AND PARTNER MANAGER

Maureen is a homegrown Floridian with master’s degrees in anthropology (U of Florida) and public health (U of Miami). Through her extensive work with humanitarian, international health, domestic health, and nonprofit organizations, Maureen gained a passion for advancing purpose driven missions. She brings these experiences to the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to help advance the organization’s core initiatives. Beyond the workplace, Maureen is passionate about wildlife rehabilitation and has served as a volunteer for animal rescue and rehabilitation organizations.

ELIZABETH NAIL | GALLERY OPERATIONS MANAGER

Elizabeth is a native Floridian, born and raised in Clearwater. She grew up spending time with family in North-Central Florida, which sparked her love for wild spaces, and feels a deep connection to both the land and sea. She received a BFA in Visual Arts from the University of Florida, with a minor in Education, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Sustainable Management through the University of Wisconsin. Active in her community, Elizabeth is a member of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program’s Community Advisory Committee and volunteers for causes that protect the environment and empower all people. When not spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, or gardening, Elizabeth enjoys creating watercolor paintings.

ADRIENNE LEWIS | DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Adrienne grew up in North Carolina and settled in Florida in 2019. She received a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina and a MA in Environmental Law and Policy and a JD from Vermont Law School. Her passion for environmental conservation stems from her time trail running and hiking around North Carolina, Vermont and Montana. She is eager to explore more of wild Florida. In her free time Adrienne enjoys running and spending time outside with her husband and their dogs.

ALEX FREEZE | CORRIDOR COLLABORATION TEAMS FACILITATOR

Alex is a 6th generation Floridian and purpose-driven science professional with almost a decade of experience as an environmental educator, conservation advocate, and science communicator. Her work centers on collaborative conservation missions, immersive environmental education experiences, interdisciplinary student engagement, and multi-media production.

Born and raised in Tampa, Alex got her start in conservation back in 2015 with The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. After graduating with her master’s in environmental education, Alex participated in the Glades to Gulf Expedition as a photography assistant and expedition intern, in turn becoming a production assistant for the film, “The Forgotten Coast”. Alex returned to the Foundation as the logistics coordinator for the 2018 Heartland to Headwaters Expedition and worked as an assistant producer on the resulting “Last Green Thread” film. Most recently, Alex joined the 2021 Spring to Shore Expedition as an environmental educator, logistics coordinator, and associate producer of the film, “Home Waters”. Her production credits now extend to National Geographic and Disney with her work as a field producer on the new “Path of the Panther” documentary by Grizzly Creek Films and Wildpath.

Alex rejoins the Foundation as the Corridor Collaboration Teams Facilitator, working to maintain positive relationships with and provide support to Corridor Collaboration Team members and stakeholders to support the effort to connect, protect, and restore the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Alex currently lives in Virginia and works primarily as the Assistant Director of the Center for Animal Human Relationships (CENTAUR) at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine where she specializes in anthrozoology research, veterinary and graduate student educational support, interdisciplinary partner collaboration, and media production.

AVERY PALMER | CONTENT COORDINATOR

Avery Palmer has a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies from Eckerd College. Avery is a Florida native who cultivated her love of wild Florida exploring the beaches and state parks around her childhood home, Atlantic Beach. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing yoga, aerial arts, camping, and visiting springs around the state of Florida.

TERESA CHALKLEY | EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CEO & CHIEF CONSERVATION OFFICER

Teresa was born and raised in Florida and is pleased to support the mission of conservation. She brings years of administration, finance, and facilitation experience in both government and private sector to her role at the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. She earned her MA in Adult Education and Leadership Development from the University of South Florida.

Teresa lives in St Petersburg where she has deep roots as a previous retail business owner for 16 years and as supporter of the arts community. She currently owns a local coffee shop with an emphasis on being eco-friendly. Teresa, with her husband and daughters, loves to explore the springs, trails, beaches, and rivers of Florida.

JOE WHALEN | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Joe Whalen is an avid environmentalist who leverages his skills as a multimedia designer to amplify the work of the FWCF. Originally from Long Island, NY, Joe attended Eckerd College in St. Pete, FL and has been supporting the work of multiple local environmental groups ever since. Apart from this work, Joe has traveled the country as a videographer and event manager with international companies and frequently works within the local art and music scene as a freelance art director. Outside of work, Joe serves as a member of Pathfinder Outdoor Education’s Board of Directors, enjoys traveling with friends, and plays in a local alternative rock band.

MEET OUR INTERNS

AVERY JOENS | STORYTELLING INTERN

Avery Joens is a senior in college at the University of Central Florida studying journalism. Her passion for storytelling and environmental reporting is what led her to the Florida Wildlife Corridor. She recently won a Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists award for environmental reporting on a story she did about the Indian River Lagoon. Avery is a Florida native whose love for her state grew through spending time at the beaches, springs, and FL Keys. She enjoys hiking, concerts, and traveling to new places in her free time.

KAILYN LAWSON | CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INTERN

Kailyn is a graduate student at USF studying Global Sustainability with a concentration in Climate Mitigation & Adaptation. She has six years of professional experience in community engagement, and nearly three years of dedicated experience in nonprofit development and outreach. With passions rooted in conservation, she is thrilled to share time and efforts with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, she finds joy in paddleboarding, rock climbing, pottery, bird watching, and hiking.

ETHAN COYLE | PHOTOGRAPHY INTERN

Ethan is a senior at the University of South Florida studying Advertising and Environmental Science. Born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, he has spent most of his time outdoors leading him to develop a passion for nature photography. Most recently, he spent his spring break exploring the Everglades after being inspired by the “Path of the Panther” documentary. He is a true lover of old Florida and hopes to use his visual creativity to spark interest in preserving our state’s beautiful landscapes.

KAT DUVAL | GALLERY DOCENT INTERN

Kat is a junior at Eckerd College studying sociology and history. Growing up in Dutchess County, NY, Kat always knew she wanted to move to Florida. Not only has she had multiple years of experience volunteering for environmental organizations, Kat has worked alongside art consultants as well as interior designers to expand her perspective on aesthetics and visual storytelling. Kat is most interested in sustainability through the lens of the humanities and arts. In her free time, you can find her at the beach, reading outside, or writing poetry and fiction. Kat is excited to be working with the Foundation in a position that combines her interests and supports such an essential mission.