Collaborative Governance; a NRLI Session for the Project Team?

by Jon Dain, NRLI Director

“Collaborative governance involves the government, community and 

private sectors communicating with each other and working together

to achieve more than any one sector could achieve on its own”.

(Ansell and Gash (2008)

Last month Jocelyn Peskin, Wendy-Lin Bartels and I travelled to Charlottesville, Virginia for the annual conference of the University Network for Collaborative Governance (UNCG). Hosted by the University of Virginia’s Institute for Engagement and Negotiation, the event brought together “pracademics” and practitioners from across the country. Among them were the directors of sister NRLI programs in Virginia and (the original NRLI) North Carolina. There were also collaboration-focused institutions from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Washington DC, Indiana, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, California, Washington State and Oregon.  Not quite a meeting of professional facilitators and mediators, but close.

The purpose of our trip was to present on Florida’s NRLI program and to meet and learn from these other groups. In our panel session, Jocelyn provided an overview and analysis of FNRLI’s COVID year, how we kept the program in-person, effective, and safe under conditions of great uncertainty. Wendy-Lin presented on our impact evaluation efforts and results, emphasizing some of the constraints faced by alumni in applying NRLI tools and approaches. I spoke about the NRLI program itself, explaining its mission, structure, and “theory of change” (why NRLI works). It was energizing to see how interested others were in what we do (and how), and to meet other NRLI directors and staff. It was also useful and inspiring to learn about the “collaborative governance” work being carried out by the multiple organizations represented at the conference. Some discussed capacity-building efforts in conflict management, others described facilitating difficult-but-important conversations on topics ranging from sentencing reform in the Washington State legal system to recognition of enslaved laborers in the construction and management of the University of Virginia. Still others presented on the convening of disparate groups to address community health issues, access to markets for small-scale (BIPOC*) farmers and the management of freshwater reservoirs in urban areas. Mixed in among the presentations were well-organized fieldtrips and small group activities that helped us all get to know each other and think critically about the conference topics. The collaborative governance group practices what it preaches. 

Take-aways from the conference included contacts with people doing cutting edge work who we plan to stay in touch with. That the other NRLI programs have similar missions and slightly different structures and approaches. That we can learn from their approaches, and they can learn from ours. And that it is incredibly useful to pause and think critically about what we do well and what we might improve. The feeling I had returning from the event reminded me of what it felt like after a NRLI session when I was Fellow in Class 4. It was an intense 3-day experience with a great group of people that left me with lots to think about and process. A NRLI session for the Project Team.

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*Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color

Fall 2023 Synchronized Alumni Gatherings

For the first time ever, alumni gathered at eight different locations across the state for synchronous fall gatherings. Forty-nine NRLI professionals attended these events on October 19^th (47 alumni & 2 Fellows from Class 23, who slipped in!). Participants represented 17 NRLI class cohorts and 22 different organizations. Some groups were joined by dogs, kids, and a few family members & friends (AKA: NRLI-by-association participants).

Kudos to our alumni “anchors” who selected the venues and created welcoming environments. MJ Carnevale, an anchor for the “NRLI Heartland” group described a game that he facilitated with his co-anchor, Savannah Winstanley. “We played Two Truths and a Lie about Cities you visited in NRLI and the ecological issues you studied. It made for some good laughs.” Other organizers remarked on how they enjoyed reconnecting and building new relationships. Amanda Kahn, who co-anchored the South Florida group with Lisa Krimsky, said, “We reconfirmed that it is a SMALL world. Even if we hadn’t met, everyone was connected somehow natural resource management wise by about 1 degree of separation. 😊” Similarly, Brooke Langston, anchor for the Tampa/St Pete group noted: “It was just nice to instantly connect and relax.”

Such an “instant connection” may be born from our shared learning experience. Although each class is unique, many common threads are woven across cohorts. We learn the same tools and skills for facilitating collaborative approaches. We relish those “two-minute introductions” and watching other Fellows take their three life trajectory steps across a map of blue-tape on the floor. We remember the fingernail biting choices in drama by the river, first-time airboat rides or snapper fishing. We realize our biases when we find it impossible to listen to a certain stakeholder. We collectively get through groan zones. We quest for the perfect practicum. We part take in after-hours cooler moments. All these activities glue us into community. And we’ve become an extraordinary network of professional expertise as intimated by Daniel Nelson, who anchored the Orlando group with Zachary Prusak and Graham Williams. Dan noted “It takes a very specific person to make it through NRLI and continue to use those skills in their everyday life. You can tell when you are around those individuals. We all share the same passion and love for natural resources. Yet, we come at Florida’s complex issues from so many different angles and backgrounds. I just really appreciate hearing and learning from other alumni.”

Spring Synchronous Gatherings are on March 14^th – Save-the-date & Plan to attend!

From Power Outages to Powerful Insights: NRLI's Third Session in Madeira Beach

By Dan Lamson & Lindsey Pavao, NRLI Class 23 Fellows

What a ride our third session in Madeira Beach for the 23rd NRLI Class turned out to be! Some last-minute changes may have left a few of us reeling—not literally in this case—because the team had planned for an offshore fishing expedition, but the weather was not on our side. Instead, we enjoyed a tour through the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Sure, catching red grouper was on our minds, but we ended up catching some knowledge instead. We learned more of the behind-the-scenes work that goes on in researching and managing the fishery. The FWRI tour had us bouncing between floors and labs, each dedicated to a different facet of marine life, like seagrass, grouper age and growth, genetics, and harmful algal blooms. The age and growth lab was the most in-depth with three scientists teaching us about their work aging grouper by the rings in their ear bones or ‘otoliths.’ That lab processes around 30,000 otoliths a year from a variety of species. And let's just say Florida's doing some robust research. Hats off to the folks who kickstarted this institute because of red tide concerns!

Just when we thought things were smooth sailing, a surprise power outage struck during our panel prep. We didn’t let that stop us, we pivoted with the best of them and had our panel interviews in the dark (while we were in the dark physically, it almost seemed fitting given the looming lawsuit we avoided pressing the stakeholders on…) We learned even more about the complexities of regulating an in-demand natural resource and as true with all sessions, we managed to snag some valuable lessons. We weren’t exactly sure how the interviews would go since we had been practicing with panels, but were able to work through new skills and found the technique to be effective.

Diving into the skills we worked on, empathic listening was a big focus. Remember those times when you thought you were listening, but really you weren’t focusing on the speaker because you wanted to make sure your point was made? We did too! We tackled the motto of the session: seek first to understand before seeking to be understood. We put that principle into practice with a somewhat awkward exercise that included a listener, a speaker, and an observer taking turns discussing controversial topics. Afterward, the discussion was as enlightening as it was diverse. Each group seemed to take something different away from the activity, but all underscored the importance of truly listening, and how hard it can sometimes be, especially if we disagree on a topic.

Speaking of perspectives, let's talk about "Drama on the River." If ever there were a lesson in how we all have our own viewpoints, assumptions, and biases, this was it. After listening to a dramatic story full of unsavory characters, we had to agree on the worst character. Let’s just say we were as unified as commercial and recreational fishing stakeholders. The variety of opinions and assumptions based on gender, age, and many other factors brought home the point about our assumptions and biases.

This session was a whirlwind, but maybe that's why it felt so impactful. It brought us all closer together as a cohort (we did “speed date” for our practicum ideas after all). We found our collective rhythm—even without the much-anticipated chicken dance. Despite the ups and downs, or maybe because of them, this session will be one we won't soon forget. Here's to overcoming challenges, embracing new perspectives, and moving forward as a unified cohort. We can't wait to see what the next session brings!

Greg Garis

Program Administrator of the Beaches, Inlets, and Ports Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Greg has been with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection since 2013. Greg first worked with the Department as an Environmental Specialist III, managing coastal permitting for the southeast region of Florida. Greg was promoted to Environmental Manager in 2016, then again to Program Administrator of the Beaches, Inlets and Ports Program in 2018. Duties of his position include managing the planning, permitting, compliance, and biological review of coastal construction projects state-wide.

Prior to coming to the Department, Greg worked with the National Park Service at Biscayne National Park as a Biological Technician in resource management from 2007 to 2013. Prior to employment, Greg served as an intern with the National Park Service through the AmeriCorps program.

Greg has dual Bachelor of Science degrees from Florida State University (2007) and a Master of Science degree from Florida International University (2011). He loves spending time with his family and friends, as well as enjoying the many outdoor activities Florida’s unique environment offers. 

Callie Register

Regional Water Supply Planning Coordinator, St. Johns River Water Management District.

Callie is the Regional Water Supply Planning Coordinator for the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) area of the St Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). She recently moved into this role after over 14 years in water use permitting with the SJRWMD. Callie is a licensed professional engineer with over 20 years of experience in water resources in California and Florida.

In her new role, Callie facilitates regional cooperation to address the water resource constraints in the CFWI. She is currently working on the 2025 update to the CFWI Regional Water Supply Plan, as well as developing collaborative regional projects for minimum flows and levels prevention and recovery strategies. Callie is thrilled to be learning the skills, tools, and perspectives that NRLI provides to help her better fulfill the challenges of her new role and to contribute to the protection and enhancement of water resources in Florida.

When not working or trying to keep up with her two teenagers, Callie enjoys spending time with family and friends outdoors. 

Laura Reynolds

Assistant Professor, Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida

Laura Reynolds is an assistant professor in the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department at the University of Florida. She is engaged in education, research, and extension. She leads a group of 12 graduate students, postdocs, and scientists who conduct research that focuses on biodiversity and stability of aquatic ecosystems. The aquatic systems are incredibly valuable to societies because of the ecosystem services that they provide—food from fisheries, protection from coastal storms, and nutrient regulation. These systems are particularly valuable in the state of Florida because of the large amount of coastline in the state. Biodiversity is a metric of aquatic systems that impacts stability—for example, resistance to human degradation—and is also positively associated with a higher degree of ecosystem services. Laura’s research program focuses on (1) understanding trajectories of biodiversity in local ecosystems (e.g. freshwater lakes and seagrass meadows), (2) understanding the theoretical links between biodiversity and function, and (3) demonstrating how we can use this understanding to better manage and restore aquatic systems. The team’s extension work ensures that this research gets effectively communicated and used by those folks managing and restoring aquatic ecosystems.

Andrea Albertin Regional Specialized Agent in Water Resources, UF/IFAS Extension

Stephanie Armstrong Environmental Scientist IV, Suwannee River Water Mgmt District 

Steven Beck Biologist IV, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission 

Ben Butler Partner & Vice President, Butler Oaks Farm, Inc.

Allegra Buyer Natural Resources Program Coordinator, Seminole County Lands Program 

Robby Creech Captain, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Michele Curts Leadership Programs Coordinator, Florida Farm Bureau Federation

Chris Denmark Environmental Administrator, Florida Dept of Ag & Consumer Services 

Rianna Elliott Director of Land Stewardship, North Florida Land Trust, Inc. 

Samuel Erikson Natural Resources Specialist, Highlands County 

Jessica Ferris Government Consultant; Carr, Riggs, and Ingram, LLC

Gregory Garis Program Administrator, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Erica Hall Volunteer Executive Committee Vice Chair, Sierra Club Chapter

Daniel Lamson Executive Director, Indian River Neighborhood Association 

Lindsey Pavao Senior Environmental Specialist, Alachua County Env Protection Dept

Callie Register Senior Hydrologist, St Johns River Water Management District

Laura Reynolds Assistant Professor, University of Florida

Rachel Rhode Manager, Climate Resilient Coasts & Watersheds, Environmental Defense Fund 

Jeffrey Smith Senior Environmental Specialist, Florida Power & Light Company

Tarana Solaiman Lead Project Manager, South Florida Water Management District

Stephanie Verhulst Biologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers