NRLI News
September 2019
Class XIX Fellows after their first field trip, Fort Lauderdale, August 21-23, 2019.
Director's Corner

Please welcome Jocelyn Peskin!
 
The Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute has a LOT of working parts.  For example, last month's introductory session at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale involved organizing field trips, arranging meals, booking hotel and meeting rooms and managing budgets.  Did we have enough of Allen Scheffer's tupelo honey to provide thank you gifts to our guest speakers?  What about markers and flip chart paper and easels?  The projector for guest speakers?  Waivers for the boat trip?  How about evaluations, name badges, agendas and briefing guides?  Handbooks and NRLI water bottles?   Coordination is key to a smoothly-working program and in NRLI goes well-beyond the visible logistics of our eight core-sessions as described above.  It also encompasses the complex planning, communication, accounting and administration required for the success of
all of our many NRLI activities and partnerships.  
 
With that in mind, we are thrilled to welcome a new full-time Program Coordinator to the NRLI project Team! 

Jocelyn Peskin comes to NRLI with over 15 years' experience in the non-profit and higher education sectors and has "hit the ground running" with the inaugural session of Class XIX.  Prior to NRLI, Jocelyn served as Resource Development Director for the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity and as Assistant Director for Administration at UF's Center for Latin American Studies.  In both these positions she managed large budgets and fundraising; coordinated communication, outreach and planning; supervised educational and partnership programs; wrote grants; and organized multiple complex events.
 
Jocelyn openly confesses that she "loves to organize things" and do the background work which allows programs like NRLI to function efficiently and effectively.  Her path to NRLI has been circuitous,  after majoring in philosophy and biology at Rutgers University, she spent five years living and working in Central America, first as an animal tracker and field assistant at Santa Rosa National Park in Costa Rica, then as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer focused on sea turtle conservation and education in Honduras.  She loved both experiences and upon completing her Peace Corps service, remained in-country for another two years working as a science teacher in the local schools.  Eventually she realized that she would like to pursue graduate school and found the Geography department at the University of Florida where she completed a master's degree focused on natural resource management.  Jocelyn spent the next four years as a program manager for the Wildlife Conservation Society before turning her attention to social services and the Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network where she spent seven years as Director of Outreach and Development.  After administering a Center and working in affordable housing for many years, Jocelyn is excited to be returning to her roots in natural resource management. 
 
Please welcome Jocelyn to the NRLI Project team, we are beyond excited to have found someone with her background and skill set. 

-Jon Dain, NRLI Director
In This Issue
Getting Our Feet Wet
By Tiffany Trent and Kathleen Greenwood, NRLI Class XIX Fellows
 
Congregating in a hotel conference room on the edge of Port Everglades, NRLI class XIX made first introductions to their fellow comrades - some brim with anticipation and excitement at the flood of new faces, while others more reserved and observatory of their new classmates. After sharing brief introductions of their wide spectrum of expertise, backgrounds, and agencies, classmates expressed goals each hoped to achieve through the program. While many varied from better communication skills to understanding the broader scope of environmental issues throughout the state of Florida, all goals shared pieces of a common theme - to become better leaders.

Part of NRLI's leadership training includes exposing students to different and sometimes opposing viewpoints on fragile and precarious environmental issues. The first guest speaker, Samantha Danchuk of Broward County set the stage for our first contentious topic: The expansion of Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale. Giving a brief history on  the construction and function of the port, Samantha made a case for the proposed expansion and the economic benefit it would bring to the Ft. Lauderdale community. Her detailed account followed by students' eager questions laid a good foundation for the following days adventure tour of Port Everglades.  

Piling into the tour vessel captained by a steady hand and accompanied by various directors of the port's operations, the NRLI XIX class set off to receive an up-close and detailed view  of Port Everglades, and a vision of potential future expansion. As we toured the various inlets, our guest hosts explained the complexities a nd details of scheduling and maneuvering the gargantuan cargo ships in and out of the inlets. A myriad of experts are required to ensure successful connections between vessels and the port; captains, pilots, interpreters, and weather forecasters to name a few. Large cranes towered overhead, carefully cradling the ships containers and setting them on trains bound for different areas of the country. Hearing the impressive description and statistics of Port Everglades the previous day was one thing; seeing it in operation first hand was quite another. The tour made even more clear the importance of the port, and the amount of negotiation and coordination is involved in keeping it running and safe.

That afternoon we experienced an integral part of NRLI: the Stakeholder Panel. This panel included representatives from a state permitting agency, Broward County, the Miami Waterkeeper, and a local dive boat operator. The stakeholder panel provided valuable insights about the differing and often conflicting viewpoints that natural resource issues present. Fellows were able to observe Wendy-Lin Bartels use various strategies to reduce the tension between the panelists by encouraging them to relax, creating an atmosphere of trust, and ensuring that all panelists were given the opportunity to speak. By the end of the panel session, the fellows understood what the term "turbidity" meant.

The final day of our session was spent discussing the challenges of natural resource issues which are complex, dynamic and put pressure on relationships. Fellows learned more about the NRLI approach to these complex issues and the NRLI view of effective leadership which is facilitative, serving, and collaborative. An effective leader recognizes what needs to be done, empowers others to do their best thinking and working, and to know when to help set up and step up.

By the end of the session, fellows learned various techniques t h at were modeled by the project team members. The importance of flip charts and color markers cannot be overstated for successful leadership! The fellows were shown effective ways to:

  1. Encourage participants to get to know each other
  2. Bring stakeholders together with differing viewpoints and encourage dialogue with each other
  3. Breaking out into small groups for brainstorming
  4. Listen, observe and learn
  5. The importance of being able to count to 5 
By the end of the session,  fellows were much more relaxed and comfortable with each other. It is clear that the seeds of trust have been sown by the effective team leaders. We realized that we are definitely in good hands with Jon, Wendy-Lin, Joy and Jocelyn leading the super post-panamax ship of NRLI. Tiffany and Kathleen are especially looking forward to seeing everyone again in Ft. Walton Beach to understand natural resource conflict through beach renourishment issues.  
Getting to Know Class XIX Fellows

Norma Samuel
Extension Agent IV, 
Florida-Friendly Landscaping & Urban Horticulture,  UF/IFAS Extension
Norma Samuel is the Florida-Friendly Landscaping ™ and Urban Horticulture Extension Agent with UF-IFAS Extension, Sumter County. Both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Plant Protection and Pest Management are from the University of Georgia. She holds a doctoral degree in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida with an emphasis in International Extension and a minor in Non-Profit Organizations. Norma is a native of Antigua and Barbuda where she began her career in the field of agriculture. Norma has over 17 years of Extension experience with Clemson University, SC State University, and UF-IFAS Extension Broward (2 years), Marion (11 years), and Sumter (1 year). Her Extension career has focused on teaching residents how to maintain their lawn, landscapes, and vegetable gardens in an environmentally-friendly manner. Norma has expertise in the areas of pest management, horticulture, volunteer development, international extension, human and organizational capacity building, and risk management.

Norma believes every person should know how to function effectively in an interconnected world and actively pursues opportunities for her peers and clientele to develop intercultural competence while addressing issues of global importance. She has led and or participated in several international Extension projects including in Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Ghana. Norma currently serves as Chair of the Caribbean Agricultural Extension Providers' Network and in October will begin to serve on the General Assembly of the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services. She has delivered many presentations and workshop sessions at district, state, national, and international conferences.

Norma is the recipient of numerous professional awards. These include: Achievement in Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents; Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents; and recognition for her international service by UF-IFAS Global, The Epsilon Sigma Phi National Honorary Extension Fraternity, and the Association of International Agriculture Extension and Education.

Norma is very excited about being a participant in the NRLI program. It is an opportunity for her to learn more about critical natural resource issues across the state; hone her facilitation skills; and network with professionals from various agencies. Participation in this class is timely as the skills gained will help her to effectively facilitate discussions on some of the most vexing horticulture and water-related issues of concern to residents of Sumter County.
 
 
Matt Warren
Environmental Manager, Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Water Policy

I have worked with the Florida Department of Agriculture and the Office of Ag Water Policy for the last 8 years. I am the Environmental Manager for the South West Florida District. My team assists in enrolling producers with the Best Management Practices and assists in cost share reimbursements. I enjoy working with my team members and spending time with the agriculture producers, and listening to their story and how they look at different practices and issues.

I am originally from Zolfo Springs, Florida where I was born and raised. After high school, I attended Ft Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas competing collegiately in Livestock Judging. After waking up 3 mornings and breaking ice out of the toilet I knew it was time to move back south. I finished up at LSU with a degree in Ag- Business. I then moved to Gainesville to coach the livestock judging team for University of Florida. I spent the next 10 years in Chiefland, Florida as Cattle Manager for Usher Land and Timber. I loved this community but mostly the family I worked for. We finally returned home to Hardee County and this is when I started working for the Florida Department of Ag. My spare time I will be either fishing or going to a cattle show.
Class XIX Fellows

Chris Cason
Equipment Operations/Engineering Tech/Law Enforcement Officer, U.S. Forest Service
 
Matthew Chopp
Regional Public Hunting Areas Biologist, Wild Hog Issues Specialist, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
 
Ben Christ
Researcher, UF - SPARC USDA
 
Katelyn Cucinotta                
Environmental Analyst, Office of Resilience, Palm Beach County
 
Ben Glass               
Community Affairs Manager, Suwannee River Water Management District
 
Kathleen Greenwood        
Environmental Consultant, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
 
Elizabeth Guthrie
Stewardship Director, North Florida Land Trust
 
Cacee Hilliard       
CARES Coordinator, Florida Farm Bureau
 
Marjorie Karter  
Program Consultant, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
 
Mark Lotz             
Biological Scientist III, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
 
Katrina Moseley
Owner/Operator, family cattle & hay farm
Mulit-family Housing & Loan Specialist, USDA Rural Development
 
Melissa Nasuti    
Biologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Planning Division
 
Sara Owen
Deputy City Manager, City of Lake Butler
 
Scott Pearce             
Law Enforcement Captain, Marine Law Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
 
Frank Powell
Assistant Deputy Secretary of Ecosystems Restoration, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
 
Zachary Prusak
Central Florida Program Manager/Florida Fire Manager, The Nature Conservancy
 
Andrew Rappe     
Assistant Director, Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, UF/IFAS
 
Rachael Reichenbach         
Independent Community Food System Consultant
 
Norma Samuel
Extension Agent IV, Florida-Friendly Landscaping & Urban Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension
 
Tiffany Trent       
Environmental Scientist IV, St Johns River Water Management District
 
Matt Warren       
Environmental Manager, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Water Policy
 
Ana Zangroniz     
Extension Agent, UF/IFAS Sea Grant

     
   Class XVIII Schedule
  
Dates
Topic Location
August 21-23, 2019 Impacts of Port Expansion Fort Lauderdale
September 25-27, 2019 Beach Renourishment Niceville
October 23-25, 2019 Water Quality & Estuary Health Fort Myers
November 20-22, 2019 Wildlife Management: Florida Black Bear Ocala
January 22-24, 2020 Agriculture & Water Quality Okeechobee
February 19-21, 2020 Lake Istokpoga Management Sebring
March 18-20, 2020 Forestry Marianna area
April 10-12, 2019
Graduation & Practicum Presentations Gainesville
                      
Alumni in Action
An Intergenerational Discussion About the Climate Crisis - Featuring NRLI Alumnus Rev. Houston Cypress

By Wendy-Lin Bartels, Research Scientist & NRLI Project Team Member

Rev. Houston Cypress, NRLI aumnus of Class XVI and co-founder of Love the Everglades Movement, visited Gainesville on Thursday, August 8 for an An Intergenerational Discussion about the Climate Crisis.One hundred and forty-one participants registered for the event, hosted by the Alachua County Branch NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee in partnership with NRLI and UF's Imagining Climate Change program. 

Houston, one of four featured speakers, discussed the impact of a changing climate on the Everglades. He presented opportunities for addressing this complex and urgent issue while respecting diverse spiritual and imaginative traditions. NRL I Project Team member Wendy-Lin Bartels facilitated the event and utilized many "NRLI tools and approaches" - including brainstorming with post it notes and flipcharts. The word cloud below emerged from an activity in which Wendy-Lin asked participants to write down words they associated with "climate crisis." 
 
Later that evening, Houston spent two hours offering deeper insights on sovereignty, restoration and climate to a different group at the Working Food Community Center. Five NRLI alumni attended the event as well as Jocelyn Peskin, the new NRLI coordinator. We were delighted to celebrate NRLI alumni so close to NRLI World Headquarters! 



Alumni Shout Outs

NRLI alumni play a critical role in session planning & implementation, so here's a huge
**THANK YOU**
to everyone for their help in making Session 1 for Class XIX a success!