Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Board members' terms expire at the Annual Meeting in the year indicated after their names.
Board Officers and Directors to be elected at the 2026 meeting:

President
Tara Barney (2026-2027)
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges:  After many years as a Chamber of Commerce executive and a career in economic development, I've settled at the home in Cedar Key that my family has owned since 2014.  I'm enjoying the time for all my favorite pursuits:  kayaking, hiking, bird and critter watching, and learning about our local ecosystems.  Like many, I've visited Wildlife Refuges all over the country and look forward to supporting ours.  My favorite "ah-ha" was learning that the Lower Suwannee/Cedar Key Wildlife Refuge is primarily about protecting the watershed!  What a great way to support our local aquaculture economy and well and the habitat that makes this area so special.
 
About other parts of my life:  Personally, I'm lucky to have lived and worked in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana as well Ohio--my first home, so I'm a veteran on the Inland Waterways as well as loving this part of Florida.  With a son in Denver, a daughter in Archer and grandkids in both places, I make time with them a priority and have fun skiing, hiking and following their adventures.

President-Elect
Rick Anthony  (2026-2027)
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges: Shortly after my wife and I purchased a home in Cedar Key in 2011, we became involved in the community. I was invited to serve on the board of another local environmental nonprofit, where I met many like-minded people and gained a deeper understanding of the region and the vital importance of protecting its pristine natural environment. I came to appreciate how closely the area’s culture, economy, and way of life are woven into the health of its land and waters. When I was later asked to help the Friends group, the decision came easily.
About other parts of my life:  I spent much of my childhood and adolescence as an expatriate, living in Japan, Laos, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, before returning to northeast Ohio to complete high school and attend Kent State University, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace technology. In the mid-1980s, my career brought me to Gainesville, where I later transitioned into information technology at the university. In Gainesville, I grew even more connected to Florida’s natural places, its springs, rivers, and forests, and became an avid cave, open-water and free diver, kayaker, camper, and boater. If it is in, on, or near the water, I probably own the gear. Day trips to Cedar Key became a regular event. Establishing a home there and building a lasting presence on the island felt like a natural next step.

Immediate
Past  President
Ron Kamzelski (2026-2027)
About my involvement with Friends and the Refuges: My wife Ann and I have had a home on Cedar Key for over 16 years. Prior to that we vacationed on the Island for 5 years. During that time, I have been a Friend of the Refuge and have spent countless hours biking, hiking and fishing in the Lower Suwannee Refuge. The Refuge is a special and beautiful part of Florida.  

About other parts of my life: Since I retired from a large multi-national industrial gas company, I spend the summers at our farm in northern PA, but look forward to returning every fall to Cedar Key to enjoy the unique wildlife opportunities the Refuges offer.

Secretary
Pete Tirrell (2026-2027)
About my involvement with the Friends and the Refuges: Ever since my wife and I moved to Cedar Key in 2020, we have spent a good portion of our time exploring the abundance of natural areas nearby, especially the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys Refuges.

About other parts of my life: My educational background is in wildlife ecology and computational biology. After a few years working in the natural resources field I shifted my career to information systems and worked for many years in information technology at Brown University.  While my career shifted, I maintained my interests in wildlife and conservation via my outdoor hobbies and volunteer work for the Nature Conservancy, Audubon, and other nonprofits and environmental groups. I love to travel, hike, bike, and paddle with my wife Heather and sometimes with our dog Sukey.

Director, new
Carol Wilcox (2026-2028)
About my involvement with the Friends and the Refuges:  When Dan and I found Cedar Key about a dozen years ago, we knew we had found a unique natural area we wanted to explore. We decided right away to contribute to and become members of the Friends. The roads and trails through the Refuge give us the opportunities to see wildlife and habitats we do not experience in our western Wisconsin home. In my director position, I hope to help preserve and protect this natural treasure. In the past few years I have helped remove invasive Brazilian Pepper in and around the Refuge.

About other parts of my life:  I have lived most of my life in rural areas so the Nature Coast of Florida feels right to me. Dan and I have placed our Wisconsin property in a conservation easement to preserve it forever from development. I am a pretty avid birdwatcher, a successful gardener and enjoy cooking good food. I also enjoy fishing, reading and traveling. I am currently a Cedar Keys Audubon board member.

Director, new
Dan Wilcox (2026-2028)
About my involvement with the Friends and the Refuges:  Carol and I were exploring Florida by land and canoe a dozen years ago and found Cedar Key.  Fascinated by the remarkably beautiful and productive ecosystems here and by the small but strong community, we returned in winters, became members of the Friends and bought a house in Cedar Key.  We have explored and fished among the islands, tidal creeks and the Suwannee River by boat and have walked many of the trails in the Refuge.  We have removed many invasive Brazilian peppers with the Pepper Busters.

About other parts of my life:  I worked for 38 years as a Fisheries Biologist, Planner and Habitat Restoration Project Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the upper Midwest, mostly on the Upper Mississippi River System. We enjoy summers on our property in northwest Wisconsin with forest, prairie, orchard and garden. We enjoy boating and fishing in Wisconsin, on Lake Superior and in Canada.

Director,
renewing
Denise Feiber (2026-2028)
About my involvement with the Friends and the Refuges: Moving to Cedar Key six years ago, and having boated here for many more years, has reignited my love of the sea and the beautiful surrounding environment. I retired as the director of public information from the FL Dept of Agriculture Division of Plant Industry in 2018. I was a bit “at sea” for a while trying to adjust to having a clean desk. In Cedar Key that doesn’t last long if you’re willing to get involved. I have enjoyed and learned from my involvement with Friends over the last few years and look forward to continuing work to help preserve and protect this incredibly special place.

About other parts of my life: My husband John and I continue to explore our unique community and marvel at the number of wonderful friends we have made, and at the beauty that surrounds our home. Our animals also dominate a good part of our life.

Director,
renewing
Robin Gallup, Director (2026-2028)
About my involvement with the Friends and the Refuges: My husband Rick and I have enjoyed being resident volunteers at Lower Suwannee NWR since 2020 when Covid lockdown happened! We had just left Imperial NWR in Arizona where we volunteered as trail hiking and visitor center volunteers. 

About other parts of my life: My professional experience stateside includes home healthcare agency administrator, certified legal nurse consultant, school nurse and certified health educator. I continue to see home hospice patients near my home in Maine. 

My husband and I lived on St John, US Virgin Islands, for 21 years before retirement where we owned a sail charter business and I started an island home nursing business. 

In the summer we live in the western mountains of Maine where we skied for years. Now I especially enjoy mountain biking, motorcycling, paddle boarding on our wildlife pond, and tennis.
Board Officers and Directors who are not up for election at the 2026 meeting because their terms do not expire until 2027:
  • Ethan Bitner, Treasurer
  • Lukas Desjardins, Director
  • Ken Gray, Director
  • John Thalacker, Director
  • Scott Wright, Director
Members whose terms are expiring in 2026 and who are cycling off the Board:
  • Clair Keating
  • Ginessa Mahar
  • Debbie Meeks
  • Bob Piscura