Dear Community Member,

The Water School and Gulf Scholars at Florida Gulf Coast University invites you to a special screening of the documentary Outlaws of the Everglades, followed by an engaging panel discussion exploring the history, culture, natural resources, and evolving relationship between people and the Everglades.

Event Details

Thursday, November 12, 2026

Margaret Antonier Hall (AB9), Room 138

Florida Gulf Coast University

Schedule

• 5:30 pm Reception
• 6:00 pm Documentary Screening
• 7:30 pm Panel Discussion

Moderator

• Janine Zeitlin, WGCU

Panelists

• Rob Hoovis, Director, Cinematographer, and Editor of Outlaws of the Everglades
• Micheal McComas, Everglades City Council
• Suveshnee Munien, Associate Professor, Land Use
• Forrest Hisey, Assistant Professor, Natural Resource Management

About the Film

Outlaws of the Everglades examines the difficult choices faced by commercial fishing families in southwest Florida as changing regulations and economic realities reshaped their livelihoods. Set in Chokoloskee and Everglades City, the documentary explores local history, conservation, culture, and survival through firsthand accounts from the people who lived it.

Parking Location

Garage 1 (recommended event parking)

1096 FGCU Blvd. N., Fort Myers, FL 33965

📍 Google Maps Directions to Garage 1:

Parking Garage 1 at FGCU

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We Hope You'll Join Us

Whether you're interested in Florida history, the Everglades, environmental policy, community resilience, or documentary filmmaking, this event offers a unique opportunity to engage with experts and community voices on one of the most fascinating stories to emerge from Southwest Florida.

Questions or RSVPs may be directed to Regina Bale at rbale@fgcu.edu.

We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening.

Sincerely,

The Water School at FGCU Florida Gulf Coast University 

Meet the Panelists

Janine Zeitlin, WGCU, Moderator

With more than 60 honors recognizing her print, digital and broadcast journalism, including regional Edward R. Murrow awards and Suncoast Emmy nominations, Janine has reported for major outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR and USA TODAY. Her connection to the Everglades goes back to the beginning of her journalism career, when her first reporting assignment was covering Everglades City.

Most recently, Janine served as senior producer and host of a documentary short for WGCU Public Media as part of its Decoding Ancient Florida series, exploring the history of the Indigenous Calusa people in Southwest Florida. The project also features an interview with FGCU Department of Marine & Earth Sciences Professor Mike Savarese.

Rob Hoovis, Director, Cinematographer, and Editor of the film

Rob Hoovis is a Fort Myers-based filmmaker and photographer whose creative journey began in 1997, when he picked up his first video camera to document skateboarding. Since then, his work has appeared on ESPN, in documentaries and music videos, and even in Tony Hawk's video games. He also produces projects through his own company, Old Sparky Productions.

A self-taught filmmaker with a deep appreciation for nature, Rob draws much of his creative inspiration from the natural world. His short nature film, Daze of Night, was an official selection of the 2020 Fort Myers Film Festival. Now, Outlaws of the Everglades marks his full-length documentary directorial debut, bringing an important chapter of Southwest Florida history to the screen.

Micheal McComas, Everglades City Council

Michael McComas brings decades of leadership, business and maritime experience to the Outlaws of the Everglades panel discussion. Serving on Everglades City Council since 2020, Michael has long been involved in strengthening Southwest Florida communities and supporting regional leadership.

His experience includes co-founding Leadership Collier and serving as chair of its inaugural class, graduating from Leadership Florida Class IX, and chairing the Naples Area Chamber of Commerce in 1990. He also served as the founding chairman of AMI Kids Big Cypress School in 1992. Beyond his community leadership, Michael is a retired regional sales manager with Seaholm Automatic and a retired Merchant Marine and charter boat captain.

Suveshnee Munien, Associate Professor, Land Use

Dr. Munien brings a global perspective to the intersection of environmental science, policy, and community well-being. Her research explores climate change adaptation, resource management, and the relationships between people and their environments. She is also passionate about how documentary filmmaking and storytelling can make complex environmental issues more relatable and human-centered.

Forrest Hisey, Assistant Professor, Natural Resource Management

Dr. Forrest Hisey's research interests include private land conservation, conservation policy, and human dimensions of natural resource management. He is particularly interested in how resource management issues affect local communities and landowners.

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