Officers:
President
Jim Overton
Duval County Property Appraiser
City of Jacksonville
“We are unimportant to the land, for the land will endure. And so, we preserve nature for our own restorative pleasures and for that of the unborn.”
Jim is an ardent supporter of quality of life issues in Jacksonville. He's made major improvements to the City parks in his district, including Westside Regional Park, Criswell, Boone, Murray Hill and Fishweir parks. Countywide, as chairman of the Jacksonville Lands Trust, he helped acquire Dutton Island in Atlantic Beach, Cedar Point and Half-Moon Island in the Timuquan Preserve, Southwest Regional Park, Blue Cypress Park in Arlington and Ortega Stream Valley Park.
He chaired the St. Johns River Water Quality Commission and co-chaired the River Summit, along with Mayor John Delaney and House Speaker John Thrasher.
As past chairman and board member of the Duval County Tourist Development Council, Jim is an advocate of Jacksonville Tourism. He has strongly supported the Ribault Clubhouse on Fort George Island and the Florida State Parks and National Park Service, such as Little Talbot Island, the Timuquan Preserve, Fort Caroline, and the Kingsley Plantation.
Jim is active in many civic organizations, and has been the recipient of many environmental awards, including:
-Board member of the Housing Partnership of Jacksonville
-Member of the YMCA Central Board
-Member and former member of the Rotary Club of West Jacksonville
-Conservation in Florida Award from The Nature Conservancy
-Award of Appreciation from the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce
-Preservation Award from the Jacksonville Historical Society
-Canopy Award from Greenscape of Jacksonville
-Outstanding Graduate from the University of North Florida
Jim is a fifth-generation Floridian and a native of Jacksonville's westside. He and Connie have been married for 25 years and they have two children. In his free time, Jim enjoys golf, boating, camping, reading history, and playing the piano and guitar and he is an instrument-rated private pilot. He is also an elder in the Riverside Presbyterian Church.
Vice President
Richard G. Skinner III, AIA, LEED AP
Richard Skinner & Associates, Architects
“Every child should have a chance to experience the natural environment of north Florida. It is a part of who we are, who we were, and gives us perspective on how we live. Preservation Project North Florida helps to ensure that opportunity.”
Richard grew up in Jacksonville as part of a family that settled in the area in the late 1800’s. Experiencing the natural land in north Florida was as much a part of his early life as formal education.
He graduated from Emory University and Boston Architectural College and received the Scholastic Award, Certificate of Merit. He has practiced architecture with his firm, Richard Skinner & Associates since 1990. His firm has received numerous awards for craftsmanship and design. Richard has received the John Dyal award for civic involvement from the American Institute of Architects, Jacksonville Chapter.
Richard has served on the Mayor’s Parks Commission Task Force under Mayor John Peyton in 2006, and Chaired the JEDC Downtown Jacksonville Pedestrian and Open spaces task force in 2007. Richard participated in the Historic Designation of Riverside and Avondale and co-chaired the neighborhood development of Boone Park.
Richard has served on the Boards of Greenscape of Jacksonville, Hope Haven Children and Family Clinic, The Trust for Public Land, and currently serves on the Dean’s Leadership Council for the Carpenter Library at UNF.
Secretary
Alexa Graf
England, Thims & Miller
“I do this so my children and people in this area can have the opportunity to experience the beauty of the woods or the marsh and feel happy.”
Alexa is a Jacksonville native with over 15 years’ experience in the environmental engineering field. She graduated from the University of Florida and earned her environmental engineering degree and has her professional engineer license.
She is a project manager for England, Thims & Miller, where she has worked on numerous environmental projects, including Preservation Project Jacksonville. She is also a grant writer and has been instrumental in obtaining over $21 million in environmental grant awards, many of which help fund environmentally-sensitive land acquisitions under Preservation Project Jacksonville.
Alexa is currently on the board of the North Florida Land Trust. Alexa is married and has two children. As a family, they enjoy hiking and canoeing.
Treasurer
David M. Strickland
Vice-Chairman for Community Banking, EverBank
"We create a pastoral park not to preserve the natural beauty for today, but for fifty and one hundred years from today. Remember that Central Park was north of New York City when Olmstead created it."
A native of Daytona Beach, Florida, David has over 35 years of experience in financial services, having held senior leadership positions at Trust Company of GA (SunTrust) in Atlanta, Barnett Banks of Florida, and most recently at EverBank in Jacksonville, FL, where he was the founding President and CEO of EverBank of Florida. He has expertise in retail and commercial banking, as well as investment securities management. He has been a long time member of the Florida Bankers Association and lectured for the American Institute of Banking.
His community activities have involved education, community redevelopment, and conservation serving on boards of various institutions including Stetson University, University of North Florida Coggin School of Business, the Whitney Laboratory of the University of Florida, Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, the Youth Crisis Center Foundation, North Florida Land Trust and St. Johns River Alliance. He has degrees from Emory University, Rutgers University and the Harvard Business School.
Board Members:
Warren K. Anderson, Jr., Esq.
Anderson, Howell & Ravis, P.A.
"The Preservation Project was the greatest act of local government in my lifetime. The least I can do is to help protect what John Delaney and his visionary colleagues saved for all of us."
Warren graduated from Wake Forest University and attended the University of Florida College of Law. He has practiced civil litigation law at his firm, Anderson, Howell & Ravis P.A., in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, since 1987.
Warren is currently the President of the Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute of Florida, Inc. Public Trust's mission is to enhance and provide legal protection for the lands and waters held in the "public trust." The focus thus far has been on the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and other properties that are part of the Preservation Project of Northeast Florida.
Warren's environmental advocacy background includes:
• Former chairman and board member, Sierra Club of Northeast Florida
• Past chairman of the Tree Protection Task Force under former Jacksonville Mayor Delaney
• Past member of the Growth Management Task Force under Jacksonville Mayor Peyton
• Former member of the Environmental Protection Board under Jacksonville Mayor Peyton
Warren is also a member of the legal committee for the St. Johns Riverkeeper and the statewide legal committee for the Sierra Club of Florida.
Elizabeth (Lyssa) K. Ball
“I want to preserve Old Florida because I want others to be able to experience the peace, joy and spiritual renewal of knowing our amazing natural and cultural resources.”
Lyssa was the former administrator and consultant for the Preservation Project Jacksonville from 2003 to 2006. Prior to coming to Jacksonville, she was the facility and program manager for New York's Central Park Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization which raises funds for New York City’s Central Park.
Lyssa was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to the Florida Forever Acquisition and Restoration Council, which is responsible for the evaluation, selection and ranking of state land acquisition projects on the Florida Forever priority list, as well as the review of management plans and land uses for all state-owned conservation lands. She formerly served on the City of Jacksonville’s Environmental Protection Board.
Anna Bradley
City of Jacksonville
Budget & Accounting Department
“I believe the investments we make in preservation today will give us a great return for many tomorrows.”
Originally from Rapid City, South Dakota, Anna, along with three older brothers and a father who was in the Air Force, lived in several states during her childhood. After high school, a three year Army enlistment continued the moving to new states and eventually to a permanent assignment in Germany.
Although Anna came to Jacksonville in 1982, she has extensive family connections here. Her grandmother is buried here, and her mother and Anna’s youngest son were both born in Jacksonville.
Anna earned her undergraduate degree in accounting and obtained a certification in government finance while working for the City of Jacksonville. In May of 2000, she began working in the Mayor’s Office as a project auditor. One of her projects was the financial recording and reporting for the Preservation Project Jacksonville. In 2004, Anna became the contract administrator for the Loblolly Mitigation Bank.
Now retired from the City with 25 years, Anna works part time on special projects for the Department of Recreation and Community services. She also serves on the NE Florida Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Theodore R. (T.R.) Hainline, Jr., Esq.
Rogers Towers, Attorneys at Law
"Northeast Florida has natural and historical resources which compete, in beauty and importance, with those anywhere in the country. We need to take effective action to preserve these resources."
T.R. graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University earning both his B.A. and J.D. degrees. He moved to Jacksonville after graduating from Duke University and began his legal career at Roger Towers. T.R. is a member of Rogers Towers’ Land Use Practice Group and specializes in the areas of land use law and governmental relations.
T.R. has been deeply involved within the Jacksonville professional and private, non-profit communities. Some of his committees include:
• Chairman, Joint Planning Committee, 2006 – Present
• Chairman, Seamark Ranch, Inc., 2006 – Present
• Member, Mayor’s Parks Task Force, 2004 – 2005
• Member, Mayor's Growth Management Task Force, 1996 – 1997
T.R. is a devoted husband and father, an avid runner, and the Senior Warden at St. Marks Episcopal Church. T.R. has been able to find that balance between life and business, all with a heart for others.
Richard (Rick) A. Mullaney, Retired
General Counsel, City of Jacksonville
Rick grew up in Jacksonville and attended the University of Florida, receiving a George Smathers debate scholarship and graduating Phi Beta Kappa. In law school at Florida, he was Executive Editor of the Law Review, received the Best Oralist Award from the Moot Court Team, and graduated with honors.
He was appointed General Counsel by former Mayor John Delaney in 1997 and 1999 and reappointed by Mayor John Peyton in 2003 and 2007. Upon graduation from law school, he practiced civil litigation with the law firm of Carlton, Fields before joining the State Attorney's Office. He was a prosecutor for ten years. In 1991, he was named Prosecutor of the Year for the State of Florida.
Rick is chairman-elect of the St. Vincent's Healthcare Foundation and serves on the board of directors of St. Vincent's Healthcare Medical Center; Gateway Community Services; the ALS Regional Council. He is a member of Leadership Jacksonville (1988), and Leadership Florida (2001). Rick is married and lives in Jacksonville with his wife, Lynn, and their three children, Taylor, Richie, and Katie.
Michael R. Munz
Executive Vice President/Partner
Director Public Relations
The Dalton Agency
“Our lands, as we know them today, and as they have long been enjoyed by generations before, have to be protected and preserved for the generations to come. We will someday be graded by what we have protected and what we have preserved and how we did both. The balance that is struck by the preservation project – protecting both the land as well as the private property rights of the land owner, is what has inspired me to devote time and energy to the project.”
Michael brings more than 20 years of experience representing a diverse group of local, regional and national clients in media relations, government affairs and corporate communications. Michael also counsels with a variety of clients developing programs that focus on internal and external communications and traditional public relations and crisis communications management.
Michael’s political experience includes managing and consulting with candidates on the local, state and federal level. From creating strategic campaign plans to serving as finance committee leadership and a general consultant he has been actively involved helping elect some of Florida and the nations best and brightest. Michael has also been active in a number of civic, political organizations, and corporate boards, including:
• The Jacksonville Children’s Commission, immediate past board chair
• The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, board of directors
• Leadership Jacksonville Class of ’97
• The Public Relations Society of America
• Downtown Vision, Inc., board of directors
• Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, past board chair
John M. Welch Jr., Retired
Foley & Lardner LLP
"To me, the protection of our natural environment and the preservation of the best elements of our built environment are essential to a truly livable community."
John is a partner with the national law firm Foley & Lardner LLP. As a member of the firm's Finance and Real Estate Practice Groups, he practices in the areas of corporate finance, banking, public finance, commercial real estate and economic development.
John received his law degree from the University of Florida (J.D., with honors), where he served as editor-in-chief and comments editor of the Florida Law Review. He received a master's degree from the University of Florida (M.A.), and prior to serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy, he received a bachelor's degree from Stetson University (A.B., with honors).
John is chairman of the North Florida District Council, Urban Land Institute, an officer and director of Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville (HabiJax), a member of the board of directors of Downtown Vision, Inc., the Jacksonville Historical Society and, most recently, the Preservation Project North Florida. He is also a member of the Northeast Florida Advisory Council of The Trust for Public Land.
He is past chair of the boards of the Jacksonville Museum of Science and History and JaxPride and has served on the boards of a number of other cultural and civic organizations. He is a Trustee, and served as general counsel and an executive committee member, of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and is an alumnus of Leadership Jacksonville. In 2004, John was given the Thomas Klechak Award by the Jacksonville Downtown Development Authority for his contributions to downtown revitalization. He is also the recipient of his firm’s Lynford Lardner Award for distinguished community service.
Susan (Susie) S. Wiles
Political Consultant
"The Preservation Project has enabled Jacksonville to retain some of our character and has preserved important natural settings that otherwise would have gone the way of development. This is part of what distinguishes us from other cities and is the reason to support the Preservation Project and the important work
it does to keep our community special."
Susie is a seasoned political, communications, and special initiatives professional with more than 20 years of management and public affairs experience in government and the private sector. An expert strategist and communicator, she is a proven change agent with a record of success in messaging, coalition building, leading large complex initiatives and leveraging partnerships between diverse interest groups.
Susie served on Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s transition team reviewing the Department of Children and Families. She has served as a senior appointee in the administrations of the two most recent mayors of Jacksonville, Florida. She was chief of staff for former mayor John Delaney and Chief of Communications & Special Initiatives for current mayor John Peyton for five years. In both administrations, Susie handled media relations while helping lead the strategic development and implementation of significant mayoral initiatives in the areas of environmental conservation, infrastructure, early literacy and crime reduction.
Susie has always been active in land conservation programs. She is a member of Republicans for Environmental Protection. She serves on the executive board of Preservation Project North Florida, FreshMinistries and Mission House, as well as the Women’s Network. She is married to political consultant Lanny Wiles, and the couple’s two daughters reside in the Washington, D.C. area.
Park Partners Advisory Board:
Barbara Goodman, Superintendent
The National Park Service
Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
Robert Joseph, Park Manager
Talbot Islands State Parks
Florida Division of Recreation & Parks
Kelley Boree, Deputy Director
Recreation and Community Services
City of Jacksonville
Tera Meeks, Division Chief
Waterfront Management and Programming
City of Jacksonville
Advisory Board:
John Delaney, President, University of North Florida
Nat Glover, President, Edwards Waters College
Pamela Paul, former board Secretary
Zim Boulus, Greenscape board member
Mark Middlebrook, The Middlebrook Company
Executive Director:
Maria D. Mark
