Citizens Advisory Committee

Christine Callahan

Christine and her family moved to Anna Maria Island in 1996 from Philadelphia. She owns her own business as a custom software developer. One of her major passions is to educate elementary school children about the importance of conservation. After completing the Master Gardener Program in 2005, Christine devoted volunteer time in support of Anna Maria Elementary School. Her efforts included starting a recycling program for ink cartridges and helping to design and install a Peace Garden featuring plants that attract butterflies. Her next project was Cultivating Kids, an education program focused on protecting Sarasota Bay. The plan included rain gardens to help reduce non-point source pollution and the creation of a path lined with native plants and student-created signage. Cultivating Kids won the Golden Mangrove Award as the most outstanding mini-grant project for the Tampa Bay Estuary Program in 2008.

Dick Clapp

Dick is a former City Commissioner for Sarasota from 2007 to 2011 and he served as mayor in 2009. He moved to Sarasota in 2001 from St. Charles, Illinois with his wife Marti. The couple visited the area many times beginning in the early 1970’s after Marti’s grandparents bought a house in Sarasota in 1952. Dick had a prior career in the paper industry in the areas of manufacturing management, product development, and new business development. He spent many years in Wisconsin (mostly Appleton and Wausau) and is originally from Michigan. Dick has volunteered extensively in neighborhood association and business organizations.

Cris Costello

Cris Costello is a Regional Organizer for the Sierra Club. In her current position she coordinates the Florida Red Tide Campaign to prevent harmful algal outbreaks in both coastal and inland waters by eliminating point and non-point sources of nutrient pollution. Cris has worked with the Sierra Club since 2007. A former community organizer, Cris has also done work in the area of mediation and conflict resolution. Cris lives in Nokomis with her husband and daughter who is rower on the Sarasota Crew team in Osprey. The family enjoys kayaking and other recreation activities.

Wayne Douchkoff

Coming from the business world as a management consultant, Wayne is one of the ‘citizen scientist’ members. His passion is birding. An accomplished and published nature photographer, graduate of the Florida Master Naturalist Program, kayak instructor, nature guide, and Certified Trail Evaluator, he volunteers his time with Florida Scrub Jay reporting, sea grass assessment, removal of invasive species, planting of native species, and more for the Manatee County Natural Resources Department. Several years ago he spent his vacation volunteering at the National Park Service in Zion National Park as a Biologist’ assistant and project photographer.

Steve Foster

Steve is the science department chair at Southeast High School in Bradenton where he teaches biology and marine science. He was born and raised on a small farm in Martinsville, Indiana where he spent a lot of time exploring nature. An avid outdoorsman, Steve grew up enjoying hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting. He got involved with the CAC after hearing Julia Burch speak at a science department meeting. Steve has a sense of pride from influencing a number of students to pursue careers in marine science and environmental studies.

Suzi Fox

Suzi is well known in the region as an active caretaker of nesting turtles and shorebirds on Anna Maria Island (AMI). She is the director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shore Monitoring, a non-profit organization. She oversees a group of volunteers and provides liaison with officials at all levels of government. Suzi has been acknowledged by local, regional, state, and national environmental groups for her efforts to protect turtles and turtle habitat. She moved to AMI from Miami in 1987. For fun, Suzi enjoys photographing wildlife and nature. She was born in Traverse City, Michigan.

Kendra Garrett

Kendra is a native of Baltimore who currently serves as a Marine Scientist for Erickson Consulting Engineers in Sarasota. She received her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology from Florida Atlantic University and her graduate degree in Biology from Indiana-Purdue University. Kendra worked with endangered sea turtles in St. Croix for six years. She worked previously with Mote Marine’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program and continues to volunteer with Mote and the Sarasota Audubon Society. She enjoys scuba diving, hiking, kayaking, and shark teeth hunting

Nicholas Gladding

Nick is an attorney with Adams and Reese LLP focusing on environmental counseling, permitting, enforcement defense, and litigation. He has been involved in major civil cases, criminal investigations, and complex regulatory and dispute resolution proceedings over the past two decades. Nick graduated from Yale University and completed law school at Vanderbilt University Law School. Nick serves as a member of the Florida Energy & Climate Commission. He is the chair of the CAC and a chair or member of various committees supporting the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Florida House Foundation, SCOPE, Mote Marine Laboratory Advisory Council, and the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.

Sarah Hirsch

A native of Virginia, Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Wake Forest University. After graduating, she pursued her passion for the ocean and worked for the U.S. National Park Service at Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland. She is currently a biologist with Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. For 30 years, this program has coordinated conservation efforts for 35 miles of Sarasota County shoreline. Sarah enjoys beach combing, scuba diving, kayaking, and gymnastics.

Rene Janneman

Rene is an Environmental Specialist with Sarasota County’s Water Resources. The primary outcomes of the program include safe and sustainable water supply, waters suitable for fishing and swimming, and optimal level of flood protection. While serving as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD), Rene was assigned to the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program. Through this exposure he became interested in water related environmental issues and their effect on the marine environment. He received his degree in Environmental Science from the University of South Florida. Rene is an avid waterman and especially enjoys fishing, diving and surfing.

Ronald Johnson

Ron Johnson is a former mayor and vice mayor of the Town of Longboat Key. He served on the Town Commission for eight years and was honored as the 2009 Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Citizen of the Year. He’s also on the Board of Trustees with Mote Marine Laboratory. His association with Mote spans 16 years and includes serving as President of the Mote Volunteer Board. Ron and his wife Jinny moved to Longboat Key from Tampa in 1996. His early career was spent with IBM followed by many years as a professional in the housing industry.

Wanda Kerr

Wanda is a former chair of the CAC, a realtor with RE/MAX Alliance Group and a charter member of the Green Realtor Alliance of Sarasota (GRAS). She has served on the CAC for more than eight years. Wanda moved to Sarasota from Toronto in 1993 with her husband Alan and daughter Deborah. She lives on Little Sarasota Bay, a setting that continually reminds her about the importance of a clean water environment. Wanda enjoys boating, fishing, swimming, bicycling, hiking at state parks, and travel.

Marion Kuster

Always a lover of the natural world, Marion has, for most of her life, been an advocate for protecting the environment. Most recently, she was president of the Green Lake Conservancy Foundation in Wisconsin, which has preserved and protected numerous acres of environmentally-sensitive lands. In addition to protecting and restoring Green Lake, the Foundation helps educate the public about environmental stewardship and sustainable land management. A former educator, she is working on her French to better speak with her grandsons, who now live in Paris. Always a lover of the natural world, especially Florida.

Yvette Little

Yvette earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of South Florida. She owns Simply Green Solutions, a consulting company that helps environmental groups achieve their mission. Yvette helped to expand the Pooches for the Planet program, a pet waste education campaign managed by Tampa Bay Estuary Program and SBEP. Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. It is estimated that more than 26 tons of pet waste (52,000 pounds) is deposited everyday in Sarasota and Manatee County. Yvette has supported many local and regional events.

Jennifer Berges Meyer

Jennifer works with WUSF Public Media as their Associate Development Director. WUSF Public Media is a source for local and national news, in-depth reporting, educational programming, arts, culture, and music. She moved to Sarasota from Tampa where she worked for the Mayor’s Beautification Program and was a volunteer with Tampa Bay Watch. Jennifer graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and received her MBA at USF Sarasota-Manatee. The Tampa native has been scuba diving since she was 13 and loves water activities.

Damon Moore

Damon Moore is a Senior Ranger with the Manatee County Natural Resources Department where he activiely participates in Manatee County’s habitat restoration efforts. Born in Douglasville, Georgia he spent his summer vacations in Bradenton until moving to the area full time in 1989. His hobbies include kayaking, fishing, hiking, and spending time with his wife and daughter. Damon has an affinity for native plants and exotic vegetation generally annoys him.

Melissa Nell

Melissa is at home whether leading flashlight tours through the owl-filled Rye woods or presenting detailed restoration plans before national stakeholders. As the Manager for the Education and Volunteer Division of Manatee County’s Natural Resources Department, she’s led hundreds of educational programs for a diverse range of audiences and worked with thousands of volunteers to improve Manatee County’s natural habitat. The Department provides for the management, restoration and protection of environmentally sensitive lands and protects the natural resources of Manatee County. A Florida native, Melissa is a world traveler who enjoys hiking, performing and teaching Middle Eastern Dance, and collecting antique kimonos.

Lou Newman

Lou has degrees in veterinary medicine from Cornell University and veterinary pathology from Michigan State University. His early years were spent as a large animal cowboy vet and rancher in Montana; his later years as director of veterinary diagnostic and investigational laboratories at the University of Kentucky and The University of Georgia. In addition to teaching on cruise ships following retirement, Lou has served as a volunteer veterinarian at Mote Marine Laboratory, Pelican Man Bird Sanctuary and in Great Britain during the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. Lou is best known locally because of his passion for wildlife and bird photography.

Ken Pierce

Ken is a resident in both Sarasota and Rye Town, New York. He’s active with the San Remo Homeowners Association and Friends of Roberts Bay. He retired following a career as a consultant for the publishing industry. He worked several years as a consulting editor for National and International Wildlife Magazines published by the National Wildlife Federation. He also served as a consulting publisher for other magazines focused on finance, mutual funds and cruise resort travel. Ken earned a MA Degree in General Studies in the Humanities and a BA Degree in Tutorial Studies from the University of Chicago.

Thomas Price

Thomas and his wife moved to Sarasota from Cleveland in 1972 after serving in the Army in Vietnam and Korea. As a barber by profession, he’s had many opportunities to listen to the concerns of the community. His interest has always been in the quality of life, so he joined the environmental groups; the Audubon Society, Control Growth Now and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program as a CAC member. The mission of the Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats.

Cyndi Seamon

Cyndi joined the CAC in 2008 at the request of the Town of Longboat Key. She moved here from Minnesota in 2002. Cyndi grew up in Iowa and Wisconsin where she enjoyed fun times on various lakes and rivers. She moved to Minneapolis after graduating from UW-Eau Claire. Her hobbies include sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. She also does volunteer work for Mote Marine Laboratory. Cyndi earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award in April for contributing 4,000 volunteer hours.

Brad Tanner

Brad is the expert guide for SBEP’s Bay Wise Kayak Tour Program. He’s also the school programs coordinator for Mote Marine Laboratory. Brad was born in New Jersey and lived in North Carolina prior to moving to Sarasota in 2004. He has led hundreds of kayak tours to expand awareness of coastal Habitats and marine life. His interests include scuba diving, hiking, boating, skiing, jogging, and traveling. He has completed two marathons, four half marathons and a handful of triathlons.

Erin Tom “Tommy” Vaughan-Birch

A native Floridian, Tommy was born and raised in Florida and graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in advertising. She is a Florida Master Naturalist and has been a Mote Marine Laboratory volunteer since 1990 working as an aquarium docent, with the Sea Turtle Research & Conservation Program, and is a Past President of the Volunteers of Mote Marine Laboratory. Her interests include teaching aqua aerobics, kayaking, tennis, and travel. Tommy is the secretary of the CAC.

Chris Warn

Chris grew up in Sarasota and served in the U.S. Navy after high school. After receiving his degree in Earth System Science and Policy from California State University Monterey Bay, Chris became an environmental consultant. He works for Weston Solutions, Inc., a national environmental services company as a member of their Natural Resource Management team. His hobbies include surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and boating. Chris serves as the vice-chair for the CAC.

Stu Wilson

Stu is a retired consulting engineer with expertise in water resources engineering. He worked as an engineer for 18 years including a decade working for HDR Engineering in Austin, Texas. He also owned a small adventure travel company for six years. An avid birder since 2000, Stu is an amateur ornithologist and a member of Sarasota Audubon, the National Wildlife Federation and the American Bird Conservancy. Stu earned a MS Degree in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Kansas and a BS Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Lori Zaworski

A native of Illinois, Lori Zaworski lived in South Carolina and California before settling on Anna Maria Island. She works as a marine chemist at Mote Marine Laboratory and is working toward her masters degree in Coastal Zone Management. Lori has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and the World, visiting 22 countries on 6 of the 7 continents, almost all 50 states, and more than 25 National Parks. Her other interests include reading, playing the piano, hiking, biking, kayaking, boating, scuba diving, soccer, yoga, meditation, and environmental stewardship.

Honorary CAC Members

Charles Edwards

Charles moved to Sarasota in 1993 after a long career of teaching, research and administration in biology. His long interest in the environment led to his joining the CAC in 1994. His daughter’s interest in sustainable development has helped him in thinking about some of our problems. He has lived in Maryland, Utah, Minnesota, New York, worked and traveled abroad, and now resides in Plymouth Harbor with a lovely Bay view. SBEP recently named Charles as a recipient of its 2012 Blue Dolphin Award honoring individuals and organizations that are champions of Sarasota Bay and the SBEP mission.

Virginia Sanders

Virginia is an artist, photographer and avid environmentalist who has lived in the area for more than 33 years. Her contributions to the community include participation in many groups and projects. She helped organize the Longboat Key Turtle Watch Program and writes a monthly column for the Longboat Observer about sea turtle conservation during nesting season. Virginia was a three-term president of the Longboat Key Garden Club and she also served as a volunteer at Mote Marine Laboratory for more than 25 years. She was a three term president of the Sun Coast Camera Club in Bradenton. Virginia helped to organize the Sister Keys Conservancy which contributed to this land being protected as a community resource. This dedicated citizen raised her family in the Chicago area before relocating to Florida.