The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted to appoint Eric Sutton, assistant executive director, to the position of executive director, effective Dec. 8. Nick Wiley, current executive director, retires later this month.
Commissioners touted Sutton’s extensive experience with challenging conservation issues and his positive relationships with fellow FWC staff.
“We have received many accolades for the agency under the leadership of Chairman Brian Yablonski and Executive Director Nick Wiley. They have been at the tip of the spear, but it’s the whole family who supports the conservation efforts,” said Commissioner Bo Rivard. “As we continue to face changes and new challenges, it is important to have continuity. Eric has been filling roles lately due to Nick’s national leadership positions and has proven himself capable of this important role.”
Sutton has been the FWC assistant executive director since May 2013. He has worked in government and the private sector since the early 1990s in areas including acquisition and management of public lands, land use regulations, listed species policy, invasive species management and coastal management. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degree in zoology from the University of South Florida. The emphasis of his work was on endangered species population biology.
“Eric does a great job. I see that he’s got the confidence of his FWC family members, and how dedicated and concerned he is about the agency and people of Florida,” said Commissioner Robert Spottswood.
“As a sportsman and ecologist, it is a tremendous honor to be able to accept this challenge and represent such a talented and dedicated team managing the tremendous fish and wildlife resources of Florida,” said Eric Sutton.
Sutton’s appointment as executive director will now go to the Florida Senate for confirmation.
Executive Director
University of Florida selects new Executive Director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs
After a thorough national search, the University of Florida announced that Will Atkins has been selected as Executive Director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, effective immediately.
Multicultural and Diversity Affairs supports and empowers underserved communities and leads the Division of Student Affairs’ inclusion efforts to accomplish the University of Florida’s diversity goals, by educating, empowering and mobilizing students, campus stakeholders and community partners towards creating an inclusive, affirming, and just campus community. The Executive Director oversees the department of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, including Black Affairs, Hispanic-Latino Affairs, Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer Affairs, and Intercultural Engagement.
“Out of a robust and competitive applicant and finalist pool, Mr. Atkins has been selected to serve as the Executive Director of MCDA,” said Dr. David Parrott, UF’s vice president for Student Affairs. “He brings experience from several large universities, in addition to six months as the interim leader of MCDA. The University of Florida, the Division of Student Affairs, and our students will benefit from his leadership, compassion, and commitment to excellence. He has a superb core group of full-time staff, graduate assistants, and student employees and volunteers who will serve as the foundation of the new team he will build.”
In his time serving as interim Executive Director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs and past roles at the University of Florida, Miami University, and University of Michigan, Atkins has a proven track record of exemplary professionalism, leadership and relationship building skills. Most recently, he co-lead the Black Student Affairs Task Force, launched an intercultural dialogue series, and organized the Town Hall with President Kent Fuchs.
“Mr. Atkins brings a strong foundation in social justice education, serving underrepresented students and working on campus climate initiatives and assessment,” said Dr. Mary Kay Carodine, assistant vice president for Student Affairs. “His excellent relationships and collaborations with academic colleges and departments, student organizations and alumni combined with the strength of the team, poise MCDA to make a substantial and lasting impact on campus.”
Through the search process, the Division of Student Affairs brought four candidates to Gainesville for on-campus interviews. The finalists were strongly vetted through a review of stakeholder feedback, strengths/weaknesses provided by the search committee, and extensive reference checks with the candidates’ current and former employers and faculty members.
For the role of Executive Director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, UF sought an individual with strategic vision and leadership, strong communication skills, experience with advocacy, and a history of meaningful collaborations, among other attributes.
Daytona State announces Vice President of Advancement/Executive Director, Foundation
Daytona State College announces its new leader for fundraising and grants: Lorene King will become vice president of advancement and executive director of the Daytona State College Foundation, effective March 21.
Presently King serves as executive director of the NASCAR Foundation where she has led growth and expansion in a number of fundraising and awareness initiatives since 2012. She held prior leadership advancement roles at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., as senior director of corporate alliances, senior director of legal, estates and trusts and director of gift-planning programs.
“We look forward to Lorene’s leadership in this critical work to support the mission of Daytona State College,” said Tom LoBasso, DSC president. “She is accomplished in her field with an impressive track record of successful program implementation and strategic planning for major gifts, corporate sponsorships, events and community connections.”
Among her activities at NASCAR, King built an internal executive coalition for the foundation’s largest fundraising event, exceeding a $1 million revenue goal by 67 percent, and implemented a donor identification and cultivation program leading to 45 percent growth in annual giving over a three-year period. At St. Jude, she led a development team for the Thanks and Giving campaign and helped establish a grants-acquisition program initially leading to a $3 million funding stream.
“I am thrilled with the opportunity to advance Daytona State’s support base and strategic outreach,” said King, who has more than 15 years of nonprofit fund-raising experience. “It will be my honor to join such progressive leadership to enrich lives and make education more accessible for our citizens.”
King, a New Smyrna Beach resident, holds an MBA from the University of Memphis, a bachelor of science from the University of South Alabama and an associate of arts from Northwest Florida State College.
Alan Abramowitz Reappointed as Executive Director of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office
Lori Duarte-Roberts, Chairperson of the Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation Board of Directors, announces Alan Abramowitz is reappointed by Governor Rick Scott as the Executive Director of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office.
Over 10,000 Floridians volunteer for the Guardian ad Litem Program, an organization whose mission is to advocate in court for the best interests of abused, abandoned or neglected children. Today, Governor Scott announced the Program will continue to be led by one of its own volunteers, Alan Abramowitz, who has himself served as a guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteer for more than 10 years.
“I am honored to serve Governor Scott, my professional colleagues and especially our 10,000 active volunteers as Florida Guardian ad Litem Office’s Executive Director,” said Abramowitz. “I have the best job in the world because every day there is a chance to make the life of an abused or neglected child better.”
Since Abramowitz’s initial appointment six years ago, the GAL Program has grown from 5,000 to more than 10,000 volunteers now representing the best interests of over 25,500 of Florida’s most vulnerable children. Under his leadership the GAL Program has also championed legislation focused on the best interests of children being adopted, promoted normalcy in the lives of foster children, worked to enable teens in foster care to get driver licenses, and developed training to improve legal advocacy statewide, including specific initiatives on advocacy for children with disabilities.
“He gets it,” said GAL Foundation Chairperson Duarte-Roberts. “Alan has a keen awareness of how advocacy for children can make their lives better, and he brings an unbridled enthusiasm to the job and more energy than you can imagine.” Wansley Walters, Chairperson of Florida’s Children and Youth Cabinet, also gave her endorsement. “Alan represents the best of the best when it comes to working for children. He is the perfect combination of a great mind, strong will, and a gentle heart. The state of Florida is lucky to have Alan continue to head our Guardian ad Litem Program.”
“I am inspired by the dedicated citizens from every walk of life who spend their free time advocating on behalf of children” said Abramowitz. “I’m motivated every day by our talented and committed GAL staff who work to ensure children live in a safe, permanent home. Most of all I am inspired by the children we serve. In what is certainly the darkest hours of their lives, they show resilience, hope and strength.”
To learn how you can advocate as a GAL for an abused or neglected child visit: www.GuardianadLitem.org or call 1-866-341-1GAL [425]
