Sanctuary Advisory Council Members
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council members represent boating, conservation and environment, diving, education and outreach, South Florida ecosystem restoration, fishing (commercial and recreational), elected county government, submerged cultural resources, research and monitoring, tourism and the community at large.
The Council is one way for members of the community to get involved with the sanctuary. Vacancies on the council are periodically available for which you can apply. Or, if you want to voice your opinion or ask questions about the sanctuary, contact the current council members who represent your area of interest, as one of the roles of the members is to serve as a liaison between the sanctuary and members of the community.
The council meets six times a year and the public is invited to attend and provide comment during these meetings.
A directory of former Sanctuary Advisory Council members can be found here. Contact information for current Sanctuary Advisory Council Members is listed below.
Officers
Chair: Bruce Popham
Term: 10/17 – 10/20
Marathon Boatyard
2059 Overseas Hwy.
Marathon, FL 33050
305-743-6341
bruce@marathonboatyard.com
Vice-Chair: Clinton Barras
Term: 10/17 – 10/20
FloridaKeys.com
701 Simonton St.
Key West, FL 33040
305-849-9224 (cell)
clinton@floridakeys.com
Non-governmental Members
-
Boating Industry
+Bruce Popham
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
Marathon Boatyard
2059 Overseas Hwy.
Marathon, FL 33050
305-743-6341 bruce@marathonboatyard.comAlternate: Karen Thurman
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
-
Citizen at Large
+Citizen at Large – Lower Keys:
Mimi Stafford
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
305-923-7800
Simi01@bellsouth.netAlternate: David Hawtof
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
Retired
305-292-7818
hawtofd@gmail.comCitizen at Large – Middle Keys:
George Garrett
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
305-395-1850 (cell)
305-395-1850
garrettgeo@hotmail.comAlternate: vacant
Citizen at Large – Upper Keys:
David Makepeace
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
305-393-3218
permit51@comcast.netAlternate: Suzy Roebling
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
P.O. Box 1167
Tavernier, FL 33070
305-393-2136 (cell)
Mullet_mansion@yahoo.com -
Conservation and Environment
+Ken Nedimyer
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
The Coral Restoration Foundation, Inc.
212 Silver Palm Avenue
Tavernier, FL 33070
305-852-4955
sealifefl@bellsouth.netAlternate: Jessica Dockery
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
Marine Resources Development Foundation
51 Shoreland Dr.
Key Largo, FL 33037
305-451-1139
jessica@marinelab.orgChris Bergh
Term: 10/15 – 10/17
The Nature Conservancy
Florida Keys Office
127 Industrial Road, Suite D
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
305-872-7071
cbergh@tnc.orgAlternate: Caroline McLaughlin
Term: 10/14 – 10/18
National Parks Conservation Association
450 N. Park Road, Suite 301
Hollywood, FL 33021
954-401-4592
cmclaughlin@npca.org -
Diving
+Diving – Lower Keys:
Don Kincaid
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
Self employed
P.O. Box 6126
Key West, FL 33040
305-407-0963
donkincaid@earthlink.netAlternate: Bob Smith
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
Advanced Underwater Education, Inc.
1213 17th St.
Key West, FL 33040
305-587-4218
uwsmitty@aol.comDiving – Upper Keys:
Elena Rodriguez
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
904-861-7472 (cell)
elena@scubaboard.com
Alternate: Michael Yasky
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
-
Education and Outreach
+Martin Moe
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
Green Turtle Publications
222 Gulfview Drive
Islamorada, FL 33036
305-517-9085
martin_moe@yahoo.comAlternate: Kasey Fey
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
631-384-0222
fkkeeper@gmail.com -
Fishing
+Fishing – Charter Fishing Flats Guide:
Tad Burke
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
Tavernier, FL 33070
305-451-7354
Michael.tad.burke@gmail.comAlternate: Will Benson
Term: 6/15-10/18
WorldANGLING
305-923-6114
captwillbenson@mac.comFishing – Charter Sports Fishing:
Steven Leopold
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
Self employed
305-393-9955 (cell)
Leofish4@aol.comAlternate: Richard Gomez
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
Fishing – Commercial – Marine/Tropical:
Ben Daughtry
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
Dynasty Marine Associates, Inc.
10602 7th Ave. Gulf
Marathon, FL 33050
305-407-3262
305-407-3262
ben@dynastymarine.netAlternate: Linda Kruszka
Term: 4/13 – 10/17
LK Financial & Management Services Inc.
11400 Overseas Hwy, Suite 206
Marathon, FL 33050
305-289-5862
lindakruszka@comcast.netFishing – Commercial – Shell/Scale:
Justin Bruland
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association
305-481-4081 (cell)
jlb06z@my.fsu.eduAlternate: Jeff Cramer
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen's Association
305-393-4049
Street124@aol.comFishing – Recreational:
Ken Reda
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
MarineMax Yacht Sales & Brokerage
Ocean Reef Office
2 Fishing Village Drive
Key Largo, FL 33037
305-367-3969
Ken.Reda@marinemax.comAlternate: Bruce Frerer
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
Retired
305-923-5444
bmfrerer@icloud.com -
Research and Monitoring
+David Vaughan
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
Mote Marine Laboratory
24244 Overseas Highway
Summerland Key, FL 33042
305-745-2729 x202
DVaughan@Mote.orgAlternate: Shelly Krueger
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
Florida Sea Grant
University of Florida IFAS Extension, Monroe County
1100 Simonton Street, Suite 2-260
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-4502
ShellyKrueger@UFL.edu -
South Florida Ecosystem Restoration
+Peter Frezza
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
Audubon Florida
Everglades Science Center
115 Indian Mound Trail
Tavernier, FL 33070
305-852-5318
pfrezza@audubon.orgAlternate: Jerry Lorenz
Term: 10/14 – 10/17
Audubon Florida
Everglades Science Center
115 Indian Mound Trail
Tavernier, FL 33070
305-852-5318
jlorenz@audubon.org -
Submerged Cultural Resources
+Corey Malcom
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society
200 Greene St.
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-2633 x22
cmalcom@melfisher.orgAlternate:Diane Silvia
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
Historic Florida Keys Foundation
510 Greene St.
Key West, FL 33040
305-304-1453 (cell)
hfkf@bellsouth.net -
Tourism
+Tourism – Lower Keys:
Primary: Clinton Barras
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
FloridaKeys.com
701 Simonton St.
Key West, FL 33040
305-849-9224 (cell)
clinton@floridakeys.comAlternate: Joe Weatherby
Term: 11/16 – 10/19
Artificial Reefs International
2627 Staples Ave., B
Key West, FL 33040
305-797-7077
joewdiver@gmail.comTourism – Upper Keys:
Andy Newman
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
NewmanPR
2140 South Dixie Highway, Suite 203
Miami, FL 33133
305-461-3300
andy@newmanpr.comAlternate: Lisa Mongelia
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
History of Diving Museum
82990 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33037
305-664-9737
director@divingmuseum.org
Governmental Members
-
Local/County Government (voting)
+Monroe County:
Elected County Official: George R. Neugent
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
25 Ships Way
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
305-872-1678
Neugent-George@monroecounty-fl.govAlternate: Heather Carruthers
Term: 10/15 – 10/18
Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
530 Whitehead St., Suite 102
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-3430
carruthers-heather@monroecounty-fl.gov -
Municipal Representatives (non-voting)
+Islamorada, Village of Islands (non-voting)
Hon. Deb Gillis
86800 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036
305-664-6400
deb.gillis@islamorada.fl.usCity of Key Colony Beach (non-voting)
Hon. Jerry Ellis
P.O. Box 510141
Key Colony Beach, FL 33051-0141
305-289-1212
mayor@keycolonybeach.netCity of Key West (non-voting)
Hon. Craig Cates
3126 Flagler Avenue
Key West, FL 33040
305-809-3840
ccates@cityofkeywest-fl.govCity of Layton (non-voting)
Hon. Norman Anderson
68260 Overseas Highway
P.O. Box 778
Long Key, FL 33001
305-664-4667
cityhall@cityoflayton.comCity of Marathon (non-voting)
Hon. Chris Bull
9805 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL 33050
305-743-0033
bullc@ci.marathon.fl.us -
State Government (non-voting)
+Florida Department of Environmental Protection (non-voting):
Joanna Walczak
Coral Reef Conservation Program
1277 NE 79th Street
Miami, FL 33138
305-795-1208
joanna.walczak@dep.state.fl.usAlternate:
Karen Bohnsack
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Coastal Office Southeast Region
3 La Croix Court
Key Largo, FL 33037
Karen.Bohnsack@dep.state.fl.usFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Law Enforcement (non-voting):
Capt. David Dipre
2796 Overseas Hwy., Suite 100
Marathon, FL 33050
305-289-2320 x 107
david.dipre@MyFWC.comAlternate:
Capt. Rob Beaton
2796 Overseas Hwy., Suite 100
Marathon, FL 33050
305-289-2330
Rob.beaton@MyFwc.comFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (non-voting):
Tom Matthews
2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 119
Marathon, FL 33050
305-289-2330
Tom.Matthews@MyFWC.com -
Federal Government (non-voting)
+NOAA Fisheries Service (non-voting):
Heather Blough
263 13th Ave. South
St. Petersburg, FL 33703
727-551-5795
Heather.Blough@noaa.govNOAA Office of General Counsel, Enforcement Section (Southeast) (non-voting):
Karen Raine
263 13th Ave. South, Suite 177
St. Petersburg, FL 33703
727-824-5360
Karen.Raine@noaa.govNOAA Office of Law Enforcement (non-voting):
Kenneth Blackburn
33 East Quay Rd.
Key West, FL 33040
305-809-4700
Ken.Blackburn@noaa.govNational Park Service (non-voting):
Christopher Kavanagh
South Florida Natural Resources Center
950 N. Krome Ave.
Homestead, FL 33030-4443
305-852-0331 x0338
christopher_kavanagh@nps.govU.S. Coast Guard (non-voting):
LT Michelle Comeaux
100 Trumbo Pt. Rd.
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-7515
Michelle.Comeaux@uscg.milAlternate: Phil Goodman
23088 Bluegill Lane
Cudjoe Key, FL 33042
305-745-1544
goodmanpl@aol.comU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (non-voting):
Steven Blackburn
FKNMS Water Quality Protection Program Coordinator
EPA Region 4, Wetlands, Coastal and Ocean Branch
61 Forsyth St., S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303-3104
404-562-9397; fax: (404) 562-9224
Blackburn.Steven@epa.govU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (non-voting):
Daniel Clark
Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex
179 Key Deer Blvd.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
305-872-2239
Daniel_clark@fws.govAlternate: vacant
U.S. Navy (non-voting):
Edward Barham
Naval Air Station, Key West
P.O. Box 9007
Key West, FL 33040
305-293-2911
edward.barham@navy.mil
-
NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Ex-Officio Staff (non-voting)
+Edward Lindelof
Acting Sanctuary Superintendent
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
33 East Quay Rd.
Key West, FL 33040
305-809-4700
Edward.Lindelof@noaa.govBeth Dieveney
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
33 East Quay Rd.
Key West, FL 33040
305-809-4710
Beth.Dieveney@noaa.gov
