The Board Members

Elections are held at the Annual Meeting in the Spring.
The board member's term expires at the Annual Meeting in the year indicated after each name.

To learn more about our Board members and other Friends leaders, see the short bios below the list of names.
Bios will be added as they become available.

We are always looking for members who are interested in serving on the board or other committees.
​If you are interested in helping out, please contact us at friends@friendsofrefuges.org

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Officers
President: Russ Hall (2018)
President Elect: Bill Dummitt (2018)
Past President: Maria Sgambati (2018)
Treasurer: John McPherson (2018)
Secretary: Ed DeHaan (2019)

Directors
Libby Cagle (2018)
Peg Hall (2018)
Jim Hoy (2019)
Debbie Jordan (2019)
Kit Lane (2019)
Dan Kline (2019)
Doug Maple (2019)
Roger McDaniels (2019)
Debbie Meeks (2018)
Mackenzie Russell (2018)
John Thalacker (2019)
Linda Tyson (2019)
Margy Van Landingham (2018)

Committee Leaders and Initiative Champions
Advocacy: Jay Bushnell
Membership: Debbie Meeks
Festival Booths: Margy VanLandingham
Communications: Peg Hall, Debbie Meeks, Kit Lane, Paul Ramey
Trail Guide Initiatives: Donna Thalacker, Debbie Meeks
Science Initiative: Russ Hall, Maria Sgambati, Linda Tyson
Refuge Restoration Initiative: Roger McDaniels
Dixie County Initiative: Debbie Meeks, Debbie Jordan
River Trail Initiative: John Thalacker

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Short Bios of Board Officers, Directors, and other Leaders

Russ Hall, President
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges -- A biological scientist by avocation, training, and experience, I have found much to entice and engage in the unique and alluring ecosystems of the refuges. I hope my involvement with the Friends will help to support refuge managers in their effective management and protection of refuges to benefit the American people.

About other parts of my life – Since retiring from my position as a biologist and science manager with the US Geological Service in 2006, I have written 8 books and hiked more than 1200 miles on the Camino de Santiago.

Bill Dummitt, President-Elect
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges - Almost 20  years ago, I was driving down highway 19, wandering around Florida on vacation.   It was getting late and I needed to find a place to stay.  I saw Cedar Key on the map and decided to take a  detour to see what it was like, since I hadn’t previously heard of it.  I was hooked by the serene coastal environment. abundant wildlife, and laid-back atmosphere.  In 2012 I bought a house here.  A year later I convinced my boss to offer me early retirement, and then left icy Midwestern winters to live here full-time.  Seeking others who shared my feelings about the Florida outdoors, I joined Friends and was invited to join the board shortly afterwards.  My favorite pastimes in my new retired life are travel, paddling, and nature photography.

Maria Sgambati, Immediate Past President
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges – Growing up in south Florida, I remember spending most of my days and nights outdoors. I always thought I was being punished for being told to come inside at night! After 13 years of living in Washington, DC, I moved back to Florida. I wanted to live in a coastal place where nature was the dominant feature. I remember being moved by the deep tannic waters of the Suwannee River and the denseness of the trees leading down to the river.  I joined the Friends group shortly after moving here and was asked to be part of the Board in 2014.

John McPherson, Treasurer
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges -- I have always felt that it was important to save natural areas for their own sake—it’s an added bonus that I love to spend time in them as well. 

About other parts of my life – I am an attorney practicing local government law and providing general management services to the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District.  I enjoy living in Cedar Key—the perfect place for a nature lover.

Ed DeHaan, Secretary
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges -- After 63 years in the winters of Montana, Minnesota, and Iowa, it is unspeakable joy to spend the winters in gorgeous Cedar Key, Florida hiking in the Lower Suwannee Refuge and kayaking around shorebirds in the tidewaters near the Cedar Key Refuge. My work on this board reflects how much I value what the refuges provide to all of us.

About other parts of my life – My wife, Joyce, and I are contented grandparents who spend summers in St. Paul, Minnesota, often caring for our 3 young grandchildren and otherwise enjoying the culture of a glorious metropolitan area as well as outdoors opportunities.

Jay Bushnell, advocacy committee and former president
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges – As a boy, under the tutelage of my wonderful stepfather, I developed a love of nature and the outdoors.  I love the opportunities the Refuges provide to appreciate and enjoy the wild. I feel a deep responsibility to preserve wildlife and the environment that they depend on the the future.

About other parts of my life – I married my high school sweet heart 50+ years ago. We have two sons and six grandchildren.  We are both retired educators with over 60 years of combined experience.  I love to read (mostly nonfiction) and I have recently acquired an interest in geology especially creating cabochons. 

Libby Cagle, Director
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges -- As a native Floridian and life long resident it pains me to see that so much of this state has been destroyed by the encroachment of humans. These Refuges provide me a respite. I enjoy coming out for leisurely strolls looking for birds, snakes, gators, fungi, and insects and noticing the changes throughout the year. I don’t hike, I stroll, and the benches on the trails allow me to sit mindfully and absorb the sounds, sights, and smells. I participate in an effort to share this beauty and peacefulness.

About other parts of my life -- I retired from the Federal Government after 31 years and concentrated on creating art that represented my attachment to nature and quest to interact with locals from other walks of life. Now much of my time is spent with my husband traveling the country and world visiting parks, historic sites, forests, and refuges in search of wildlife and birds and serenity.

Peg Hall, Director and chair of the communications team
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges -- An admirer of the contributions that the refuges make to the quality of life and economic well-being of the region, I enjoy being involved in building support for them.

About other parts of my life – My other interests include hiking and writing. I am co-author of Second Wind: A Novel on the Way of St. James (2013) and The Summer of a Thousand Cheeses (2010). I am a member of the board of directors of American Pilgrims on the Camino and a retired university administrator and professor.

Jim Hoy, Director
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges -- It is an honor to have been asked to serve on the Board of Directors.  I look forward to finding a way to contribute to the work of Friends. The peace and tranquility of our Refuges become more important with each passing year.
 
About other parts of my life – My training in science and years of experience in search of non-toxic methods of controlling insect pests and demonstrating the impact of pesticides on non-target species relate to the value of Refuges.

Debbie Jordan, Director

Dan Kline, Director
About my involvement with Friends and the  Refuges -- I have always had an interest in wetlands ecology and have been given the privilege to conduct research in the Lower Suwannee Refuge for the past few decades. 

About other parts of my life -- I have been interested in science nearly my whole life.  I am a trained medical & veterinary entomologist who specializes in conducting research on the biology, behavior, ecology and population management of mosquitoes and other biting flies.

Kit Lane, Director
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges -- I knew as soon as I got to Cedar Key that being involved with nature and the environment would be important to me.  I joined the Friends and was delighted when I was asked to join the Board.  Volunteer groups such as the Friends are so vital to supporting the work being done to save the environment and the wildlife it supports.  I love hiking and kayaking in the Refuges and I want to help insure that they will be there for future generations to enjoy.

About other parts of my life -- I am a retired RN, Massage Therapist, Yoga teacher.  I love the GPS guided treasure hunt called geocaching as it takes me to wonderful places I might otherwise not find; especially those places with great hiking.  I spend a few months of the year in VT to be with my family and do some mountain hiking.

Doug Maple, Director
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges --  I have been infatuated with all aspects of nature for as long as I can remember. I have a special passion for birds. So, Cedar Key was a natural fit for me. While operating Tidewater Tours I logged well over 10,000 hours on the water in and around the refuge islands, the coastal marsh and the Suwannee River. I joined Friends soon after moving here and served previously on the Friends board. I strongly support the Refuge and look forward to serving in any way I can.
 
About other parts of my life -- I became a full time resident of Cedar Key about 18 years ago after retiring from 26 years service with the Dekalb County Police Department Atlanta Ga. I have been married to my wife Barbara for 43 years.I have 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren. My daughter and three granddaughters live here in Cedar Key. Barbara and I are active members of Cedar Key First Baptist Church. I owned and operated Captain Doug's Tidewater Tours for approximately 10 years.

Roger McDaniels, Director and chair of the invasive species project
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges – I believe the refuges are essential to our way of life in America and need to be protected. I focus much of my “refuge” work time on invasive species containment and “play” time on hiking and birding.

About other parts of my life –I am a Master Gardener with the Levy County Extension Office, a retired space systems engineer and college professor.

Debbie Meeks, Director, chair of the Dixie County initiative and of database management
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges – As a kid in Texas I spent most of my time outdoors. I go to the refuges to bike, hike, photograph and kayak. My time spent exploring our amazing refuges feels like an adventure. 

About other parts of my life – I owned a small custom woodworking business in NYC for 12 years. Then one impossibly snowy winter I packed my car and headed south with nothing but a $2000 nest egg and hope. I landed in Gainesville where I met my husband, David, put the construction industry behind me and worked as a self-taught computer programmer. David and I enjoy retirement- fishing, traveling, building wooden boats, volunteering and organizing cleanups.

Mackenzie Russell, Director and summer-Secretary
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges – After being hired by the University of Florida, I moved to Cedar Key to help build a new Marine Mammal Stranding Network in Levy, Dixie, and Taylor counties. The LSNWR has become my home away from home since I was given an office space at the Refuge Headquarters for the new marine mammal project. The Lower Suwannee Refuge is an integral part of the Nature Coast and I am looking forward to investing my time to take care of this wonderful piece of history.
 
About other parts of my life – On the weekends, you can find me out in my garden, reading in my hammock, or taking my cat, Lewa, for walks around the yard.

John Thalacker, Director and chair of the River Trail committee
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges – I knew almost nothing about the birds or fauna of the Refuge until 10 years ago when I retired. The  River Trail development (tree and plant identification and pathway and signage) has become my focus since virtually nothing was there before to help visitors know what they are looking at in that beautiful area.

About other parts of my life – I am a retired warden emeritus from Iowa.

Linda Tyson, Director
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges -- As a 5th generation Floridian growing up in habitats very much like those in the Refuge I have been lucky enough to share that  Florida on a very personal level with a few decades of college students. I hope to lend my experiences and enthusiasm for enhancing the outdoor experience to the board of directors, Friends members and citizens at large.  The connectedness of wetlands, uplands and marine systems found in the Refuge is more and more difficult to find and more and more important to save. I hope I can be a part of the effort to conserve this place where my past and future students can come to see the REAL Florida.

About other parts of my life -- This old photo goes back to my ecological beginnings: control burning Myakka River State Park while a student at New College, working for the National Park Service at Everglades  in invasive species research and management, program managing for the Florida Institute of Oceanography and Mote Marine Lab…but my passion is teaching people to notice and experience Florida, the good, the bad, the beautiful and the current trend.

Margy VanLandingham, Director and chair of festival involvement
About my involvement with the Friends and the Refuges - As a child, I would beg my mother to let me take my nap in the big oak tree behind our house, my three sisters chiming in with their approval and support.  We thought that was as close to heaven as we could get.  Well, that and picking berries in the wild woods near us.  My lifetime love of nature found its forever home in Cedar Key, with the nearby Refuges acting to maintain the sanity of a largely nutty world.  I do what I can to help out the Friends' group.

About the other parts of my life -  I am a retired college professor and administrator.