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THOMAS SCOTT
Assistant State Geologist
Florida Geological Survey
Panelist/Speaker; Friday & Saturday, Sept. 19 & 20
Thomas M. Scott, Assistant State Geologist for Geological Investigations. BA, University of South Florida (1971); MS, Eastern Kentucky University (1973); PhD, Florida State University (1986). Research interests: Cenozoic lithostratigraphy, geologic history, and hydrogeology. Licensed professional geologist (Florida), Certified Professional Geologist (American Institute of Professional Geologists). Professional memberships: Geological Society of America, Southeastern Geological Society (Past-President, 1978 and 1990-92), Society of Sedimentary Geology (Past President, Southeastern Section, 1996-97), Florida Academy of Sciences, Florida Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (Past-President, 1985-86), Florida Association of Professional Geologists (Vice President and Board Member 1996), Research Associate, University of South Florida. Serving on DBPR Board of Professional Geologists, chairman in 2004. More than 150 publications, maps, abstracts etc. including the 2001 new geological map of Florida. Awards – “Hero of Industry Award from Florida Section of American Institute of Professional Geologists, 1992; Donald C. Haney Outstanding Alumnus Award, 1996; 2001 Florida Geological Survey Employee of the Year 2001; Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of South Florida Geology Alumni Society, March 2002; elected as a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, 2004.
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FAY BAIRD Senior Hydrologist Pandion Systems, Inc. Speaking, Saturday, Sept. 20 Fay has been the coordinator for the Silver Springs Basin Working Group since 2002. She is a hydrologist with a long-standing interest in land use planning and works with Pandion Systems, Inc. in Gainesville. In addition to private environmental consulting she is a former Town Commissioner and Plan Board member in Micanopy, Florida. Fay will be giving a presentation at the Festival on Saturday as hosting two Springs Memories sessions with long-time residents who have lived around the Silver River, as they travel through their memories of the "good ol' hay days".
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ROBERT L. KNIGHT, PH.D. Environmental Scientist Panelist/Speaker, September 19 & 20 Robert L. Knight, Ph.D. is a consulting environmental scientist located in Gainesville, Florida. He is the founder and president of Wetland Solutions, Inc., and specializes in projects related to wetland and aquatic ecology, water quality, wetlands for wastewater and stormwater treatment, nutrient issues in springs, and environmental studies. Dr. Knight began his work in Florida springs in 1979 when he conducted his doctoral research at Silver Springs under the guidance of Dr. Howard T. Odum. Since that time he has continued his spring’s research with the following projects: * Designed and implemented a comprehensive monitoring program in the Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, Juniper Creek, and Alexander Springs Creek to quantify necessary nutrient load reduction goals * Served as lead co-principal investigator on the 50-year Silver Springs Retrospective Study to provide a quantitative comparison between current and historical environmental conditions in the upper Silver River and to project possible future impacts * Developed quantitative methods for assessing minimum flows and levels for Volusia County Blue Spring and Blue Spring Run that would protect ecological resource values from significant harm
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RICHARD DEADMAN
Planner
Florida Department of Community Affairs
Bureau of State Planning
Panelist, Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Richard Deadman works for the Florida Department of Community Affairs as the State Environmental Administrator in the Division of Community Planning. He has lead responsibility in working with local governments and developers to ensure that developmental standards are incorporated in the growth management process to protect the function of natural resources. Prior to joining the Department of Community Affairs in 1997, he worked for the Department of Environmental Protection coordinating the agency’s review of local governments comprehensive growth management plans, environmental impact statements and federal projects. From 1982 to 1988, he served as the State Hazardous Waste Sitting Coordinator, responsible for program planning and implementation to site a hazardous waste treatment facility in Florida.
Mr. Deadman attended Florida State University to obtain his undergraduate and Master in Urban and Regional Planning with a specialty in the Environmental Sciences.
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HARLEY MEANS, P.G.
Geological Investigations Section
Florida Geological Survey
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Panelist/Speaker Friday, Sept. 19, & Satuday, Sept. 20, 2008
A fourth generation Florida native, Guy H. (“Harley”) Means was born and raised in Tallahassee. Harley grew up on Tall Timbers Research Station where his father Bruce, a well known herpetologist, was director. Here he was exposed to natural Florida and spent most of his time outdoors observing, collecting and enjoying Florida’s bountiful natural resources. Means has a degree in geology from Florida State University and is currently seeking advanced degrees in geology from Florida State. He is also a licensed professional geologist. He has been employed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Geological Survey (FGS) in Tallahassee for over ten years. During his tenure at FGS he has acquired professional experience in Florida geology, archeology, zoology, natural history and conservation. He currently is involved with the Florida Springs Initiative, a state funded program designed to study, manage and conserve Florida’s numerous spring resources.
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CONNIE BERSOK Administrator, Florida Springs Initiative Panelist/Speaker, Friday,September 19 & Saturday, 20, 2008
Connie Bersok has been a Florida resident for the vast majority of her life. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida and was a public school science teacher for seven years. She then received a Masters of Science degree from the University, where she studied wetland system ecology and restoration. She has been employed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection since 1987, starting in the wetland “dredge and fill” permitting program. Since then, she has worked on the establishment of a regional wetland mitigation plan program, oversaw the state’s wetland mitigation banking section, and the development of a wetland mitigation assessment method before taking on her current position as administrator of the Florida Springs Initiative program. of Florida State University
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VERONICA CRAW Environmental Section Manager
Resource Management Department
Southwest Florida Water Management District Panelist, Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Veronica Craw works for the Southwest Florida Water Management District as the Environmental Section Manager in the Resource Management Department. She works to develop and implement water quality sampling, modeling, and data analysis programs in support of the District’s surface water resource management goals; evaluate stormwater management techniques; develop and manage projects in the District’s Cooperative Funding Program with other government entities and their consultants; develop and implement wetland restoration plans on District-owned lands; provide senior-level technical guidance on state activities involving the District such as TMDL implementation and the Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council. Currently the section is working on over 100 projects focusing on the Lake Wales Ridge, Springs Coast, Crystal River/Kings Bay, Rainbow River, restoration of District-owned lands and TMDL support. Prior to joining the District in 2005, she worked for the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners, Newark, NJ, coordinating the agency’s ambient water quality monitoring program. Mrs. Craw attended Boston University to obtain her undergraduate degree in Biology with a specialty in Marine Sciences. She then pursued graduate level courses at the University of Connecticut in Oceanography, focusing on benthic ecology. She is currently the Kings Bay Working Group Chairperson and a member of the Estuarine Research Federation and Gulf Estuarine Research Society.
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JIMMY BROOKS Community Affairs Coordinator Southwest Florida Water Management District Panelist/ Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Jimmy Brooks is a Community Affairs Coordinator for Southwest Florida Water Management District and has worked for the District for 32 years. His responsibilities include assisting the local governments and the public in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion and Sumter counties. In addition to coordinating water management projects, programs and other activities between the District, county and city governments, he represents the District as liaison at county and city commission meetings. He assists and informs the public concerning District functions and services, conducts speaking engagements and supervises the administration at the Lecanto Service Office. Jimmy is an active member in the Hernando, Citrus and Marion chambers of commerce and also represents the water-resource-related community organizations. He is the District liaison officer for the State Emergency Center. As well as being an avid equestrian, outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman, Jimmy continues to be very involved in his community.
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SANDRA FRIEND Author and Expert Naturalist Genuine Florida
Speaker, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008 Expert hike guide, Silver Glen Springs, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008
Whether slogging through Florida’s swamps in search of a ghost orchid or bouncing around in a van on the back roads of Patagonia, author Sandra Friend enjoys immersing herself in her work. With 2,500 miles on foot and eight hiking books to her credit, Sandra is Florida’s hiking expert, and has poked around every county while researching and writing hiking and travel guides to Florida. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association, Sandra lives in Ocala and encourages hikers to get out more at www.floridahikes.com
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