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Board of Directors and Advisors
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shane Duff
President
Shane Duff is the President of Cypress Cove Landkeepers, and also oversees the Wildlife Monitoring program at the Gore Nature Education Center. Shane and his wife relocated to Florida from Upstate New York in December of 2017. They fell in love with the ecosystems and abundant wildlife here in Southwest Florida, and immediately began volunteering with multiple conservation and research groups across the area.
Shane started his first company at 17 years old and has since led and helped build companies in multiple industries, from automotive repair and restoration to natural wellness spas. He currently owns Refined Strategies, a business strategy consulting firm, and is the Director of Market Development for Alair Homes, a first of its kind custom home building and renovation company with over 110 offices across the US and Canada.
Upon learning of Cypress Cove Landkeepers’ mission to conserve and protect the land and wildlife that call it home, while educating the younger generation about the importance of good environmental stewardship, he got actively involved and joined the board.
Current and previous volunteer and advocacy experience:
Shane started his first company at 17 years old and has since led and helped build companies in multiple industries, from automotive repair and restoration to natural wellness spas. He currently owns Refined Strategies, a business strategy consulting firm, and is the Director of Market Development for Alair Homes, a first of its kind custom home building and renovation company with over 110 offices across the US and Canada.
Upon learning of Cypress Cove Landkeepers’ mission to conserve and protect the land and wildlife that call it home, while educating the younger generation about the importance of good environmental stewardship, he got actively involved and joined the board.
Current and previous volunteer and advocacy experience:
- Rookery Bay NERR
- Fisheries Program - Shark Tagging/Monitoring and Trawls (2018-Current)
- Sea Turtle Monitoring (2018-Current)
- Avian Research Team (2018-2019)
- Guardian Ad Litem of Collier County (2018-2019)
- Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (Member/Supporter)
- Friends of Rookery Bay (Member/Supporter)
Jennifer Reid
Vice President
Jennifer Reid joined the board of Cypress Cove Landkeepers after founding and serving for 16 years as co-chair of Lyme Connection, a non-profit organization based in Ridgefield, Connecticut. In this capacity, Jennifer was responsible for community partnerships, education, communications, programs/ events, fundraising/grant writing and research. Prior to founding Lyme Connection, Jennifer held positions as a Senior Account Supervisor for Cox Pippin Communications, PR & Advertising Assistant Director for the Dallas Market Center, and Communications Coordinator for the Health Division of Electronic Data Systems.
Leading an organization focused on preventing Zoonotic Diseases and supporting patients inspired Jennifer to focus her new life in Naples on projects that encourage community health and protect the environment. She was immediately drawn to the “Body, Mind and Spirt” wellness opportunities Cypress Cove envisions for visitors enjoying its Blue Zones Project designated trails, nature education programs and artistic gatherings.
Jennifer holds a B.S. degree in Community Health from Western Connecticut State University and an A.S. degree in Advertising and Communications. She received the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017 for her work in community health.
Previous volunteer experience includes serving as a Girl Scout outdoor- trained troop leader for over 15 years, Girl Scout camp counselor and health educator for the Ridgefield Health Department.
Leading an organization focused on preventing Zoonotic Diseases and supporting patients inspired Jennifer to focus her new life in Naples on projects that encourage community health and protect the environment. She was immediately drawn to the “Body, Mind and Spirt” wellness opportunities Cypress Cove envisions for visitors enjoying its Blue Zones Project designated trails, nature education programs and artistic gatherings.
Jennifer holds a B.S. degree in Community Health from Western Connecticut State University and an A.S. degree in Advertising and Communications. She received the University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017 for her work in community health.
Previous volunteer experience includes serving as a Girl Scout outdoor- trained troop leader for over 15 years, Girl Scout camp counselor and health educator for the Ridgefield Health Department.
Arlene Cluff
Secretary
Arlene Cluff is a retired registered nurse who has advocated preservation and conservation for the past 40 years in her hometown of Mendon, NY. Since 1997, as a part-time resident of Naples, Arlene has supported programs and initiatives to preserve and conserve the beautiful, natural ecosystem of Southwest Florida.
Current and previous volunteer and advocacy experience:
Current and previous volunteer and advocacy experience:
- Served on the Town of Mendon’s Environmental Conservation Board for 15 years including 5 years as board chair. While on the board she participated in developing the booklet “Wetlands of Monroe County”
- Served on the Town of Mendon’s Open Space Planning Committee, which developed 10- year open space plans for the town
- Director of the Mendon Foundation for 20 years. Responsibilities include property management of 100 acres of donated land, LTA accreditation application, grant writing and past co-chair of the Mendon Station Festival for 12 years.
- Co-chaired Earth Day at the Honeoye Falls Middle School with programs emphasizing conservation, preservation and the importance of celebrating Earth Day
- 17- year volunteer at the Naples Botanical Garden involved in water garden horticulture, private garden tours and special events. Member of the Naples Botanical Garden Collections Committee for several years. Currently serving on the Advisory Council of the Board of Directors.
- Member of the International Water Gardening Society
- 48-year member of the Four Seasons Garden Club, Fairport, NY. Served on the Board of District VII for 25 years
- National Garden Clubs Master Landscape Design Consultant
- 11- year member of the Naples Garden Club. VP for the House and Garden Tour for four years, member of the grants committee and chair for horticulture workshops.
- Member of Audubon Western Everglades and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Dr. Kathy Reno
Treasurer, Development Director
Dr. Kathy Reno joined the Cypress Cove Landkeepers, Inc. board in 2020. Prior to joining the board, she served as Development Committee Chair, Grant Coordinator and Golf Event Organizer. Kathy and her husband first visited the nonprofit’s Gore Nature Education Center in 2018 and fell in love with the property and mission of the organization.
Kathy’s career in healthcare spans 50 years. Her positions range from staff nursing to top administrative roles. She currently works as an international consultant on Safe Healthcare Design for Joint Commission International. Kathy also spent five years in academia developing and providing a Doctorate in Nursing Practice Program for nursing leadership for the University of Illinois-Chicago. She has served on local, state and national boards for nursing, hospitals, hospice, healthcare informatics and healthcare design.
Kathy has a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Change, an MBA and double bachelors in science for nursing and management. She is also a Certified Change Agent and holds a yellow belt in Robust Process Improvement.
Kathy’s career in healthcare spans 50 years. Her positions range from staff nursing to top administrative roles. She currently works as an international consultant on Safe Healthcare Design for Joint Commission International. Kathy also spent five years in academia developing and providing a Doctorate in Nursing Practice Program for nursing leadership for the University of Illinois-Chicago. She has served on local, state and national boards for nursing, hospitals, hospice, healthcare informatics and healthcare design.
Kathy has a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Change, an MBA and double bachelors in science for nursing and management. She is also a Certified Change Agent and holds a yellow belt in Robust Process Improvement.
Vera Jaye
Director
Vera is an accomplished businesswoman, owning and operating Jaye Design, an award winning high-end residential design firm in Naples, Florida. She holds a Masters of Arts degree in the humanities, a certification in Interior Architecture and Interior Design from the University of Berkeley, is nationally certified by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification and is Green AP certified by the Sustainable Furnishings Council.
Vera’s nonprofit experience includes serving as Director of Professional Development for the American Society of Interior Designers, Southern Florida, and as Marketing Manager for The San Francisco Jazz Festival, a 501c3 organization. Vera brings leadership experience in education as a former instructor at the Academy of Art University in California.
Vera sailed and lived on her sailboat in Mexico for a year and is a certified diver. Her travels from Mangrove rivers to the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean taught Vera many important lessons about respecting nature and preserving its delicate balance. With her love for design, concern for sustainability and commitment to preserving the natural beauty of Southwest Florida, it was a natural fit for Vera to join the Cypress Cove Landkeepers team.
Vera’s nonprofit experience includes serving as Director of Professional Development for the American Society of Interior Designers, Southern Florida, and as Marketing Manager for The San Francisco Jazz Festival, a 501c3 organization. Vera brings leadership experience in education as a former instructor at the Academy of Art University in California.
Vera sailed and lived on her sailboat in Mexico for a year and is a certified diver. Her travels from Mangrove rivers to the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean taught Vera many important lessons about respecting nature and preserving its delicate balance. With her love for design, concern for sustainability and commitment to preserving the natural beauty of Southwest Florida, it was a natural fit for Vera to join the Cypress Cove Landkeepers team.
Bobbie Lee Davenport
Director
Bobbie Lee Davenport founded Cypress Cove Landkeepers (formerly known as Cypress Cove Conservancy) and served as president from December 2015 until December 2019. Bobbie Lee is a well-known environmental activist in Southwest Florida with a long history of speaking out about wildlife and wild lands. Bobbie Lee has been a natural health consultant, coach and personal trainer in the health, wellness and fitness industry for over 30 years. She is the owner of Naples Medicine Woman Holistics and a licensed insurance agent with Symmetry Financial Group.
Current and previous volunteer and advocacy experience:
Current and previous volunteer and advocacy experience:
- Founder and coordinator of the local Planet Earth Festival (formally known as the Earth Day Festival) from 2000-2015
- 13-year board member and current vice chairperson of the Responsible Growth Management Coalition (RGMC)
- 20-year board member and former chairwoman of the Sierra Club’s Calusa Group
- 2 years on the Agency for Bay Management representing the Sierra Club
- Current member and former board member of the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida (ECOSWF), currently representing the RGMC on the ECOSWF board
Susan D. Flowers
Director
Susan Flowers is a retired middle school teacher with a passion for community projects. She was actively involved in her hometown, Richmond, VA for 40 years in the Boxwood Garden Club, of The Garden Club Of VA, the Tuckahoe Woman’s Club, and Junior League of Richmond.
Susan is also a 50- year member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, a National women’s sorority, and former National Officer over the Alumnae of the State of Virginia.
Current and previous volunteer and advocacy experience:
Susan is also a 50- year member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, a National women’s sorority, and former National Officer over the Alumnae of the State of Virginia.
Current and previous volunteer and advocacy experience:
- Administrator of Historic Garden Week for The Garden Club of VA from 1987 to 2007
- Conservancy of SW Florida
- Sunlight Home liaison for Elizabeth Circle at Moorings Presbyterian Church
- Program Chairman of the Naples Alumnae Panhellenic
ADVISORS
David W. Ceilley
David W. Ceilley, M.S., P.W.S. and Certified Senior Ecologist, Ecological Society of America,
has worked in the fields of aquatic and wetlands ecology, Everglades restoration monitoring, and fish and wildlife surveys. He has over 26 years of professional experience in limnology, aquatic and wetland ecology, fish and macroinvertebrate studies, and the assessment of ecosystem disturbances for developing restoration strategies.
From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Ceilley led a multi-agency team in a research project for the US Fish and Wildlife Service related to the recovery of threatened and endangered species in the western Everglades that resulted in two technical reports and oral and poster presentations at the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conferences in 2008. From 2006 to2008, he was the lead investigator for the assessment of aquatic faunal response to hydrologic restoration of the Picayune Strand State Forest (PSRP) a Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project (CERP) that involves restoring pre-development conditions and hydrology to more than 55,000-acres of State land in Collier County, Florida. Since 1989, Mr. Ceilley has been actively involved in evaluating water quality and effects on biotic communities in Southwest Florida including grant-funded research in Estero Bay and its watershed for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the South Florida Water Management District.
has worked in the fields of aquatic and wetlands ecology, Everglades restoration monitoring, and fish and wildlife surveys. He has over 26 years of professional experience in limnology, aquatic and wetland ecology, fish and macroinvertebrate studies, and the assessment of ecosystem disturbances for developing restoration strategies.
From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Ceilley led a multi-agency team in a research project for the US Fish and Wildlife Service related to the recovery of threatened and endangered species in the western Everglades that resulted in two technical reports and oral and poster presentations at the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conferences in 2008. From 2006 to2008, he was the lead investigator for the assessment of aquatic faunal response to hydrologic restoration of the Picayune Strand State Forest (PSRP) a Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project (CERP) that involves restoring pre-development conditions and hydrology to more than 55,000-acres of State land in Collier County, Florida. Since 1989, Mr. Ceilley has been actively involved in evaluating water quality and effects on biotic communities in Southwest Florida including grant-funded research in Estero Bay and its watershed for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the South Florida Water Management District.
Dr. Edwin M. Everham III
Dr. Edwin Everham is a professor in the Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University. Dr. Everham received his Ph.D. in Environmental and Forest Biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 1996. He received his B.S. degree in Biological Science in 1980 from Michigan Technological University.
Dr. Everham’s interests include examining the impacts of disturbance, including exotic invasions and anthropogenic activities, on forest communities and ecosystems. He is presently studying the technological interface between the techniques of simulation modeling and geographical information systems and their applications toward understanding the impact of and recovery from disturbance and land use changes.
Dr. Everham's background is in ecology, and he has a variety of interests within sub-fields in that discipline, including: disturbance ecology, forest ecology, wetland ecology, and exotic species ecology. He also is involved in research related to assessing environmental and science education and is interested in the interface between science and public policy.
Dr. Everham’s interests include examining the impacts of disturbance, including exotic invasions and anthropogenic activities, on forest communities and ecosystems. He is presently studying the technological interface between the techniques of simulation modeling and geographical information systems and their applications toward understanding the impact of and recovery from disturbance and land use changes.
Dr. Everham's background is in ecology, and he has a variety of interests within sub-fields in that discipline, including: disturbance ecology, forest ecology, wetland ecology, and exotic species ecology. He also is involved in research related to assessing environmental and science education and is interested in the interface between science and public policy.
Daniel Gore
Dan Gore is the second and youngest son of Dr. Robert H Gore III and a native Floridian who currently lives in Brevard County. He received a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering and a Master of Science in Systems Management from the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. Mr. Gore has worked as a software engineer in the aerospace industry for the last 31 years.
Mr. Gore helped his father open up some of the original trails at the sanctuary, now the site of the Gore Nature Education Center, back in the late 1980’s. In the ensuing years, he shared in many of the events that shaped both the sanctuary and his father.
Mr. Gore helped his father open up some of the original trails at the sanctuary, now the site of the Gore Nature Education Center, back in the late 1980’s. In the ensuing years, he shared in many of the events that shaped both the sanctuary and his father.
Brooke Hollander
Brooke Hollander is a native and current resident of Naples, mother of two, avid organic gardener, certified diver and environmental education enthusiast. She completed her studies at Indian River Community College where she obtained her Associate of Arts degree.
Following attendance at Florida Atlantic University, with a study emphasis in the field of biotechnology, Ms. Hollander began her employment as Biologist/Consultant with Tropical Environmental Consultants, LLC. She now owns the company and serves as 'Lead Environmental Biologist/Consultant', assisting local residents and developers with their natural resource and permitting needs.
Following attendance at Florida Atlantic University, with a study emphasis in the field of biotechnology, Ms. Hollander began her employment as Biologist/Consultant with Tropical Environmental Consultants, LLC. She now owns the company and serves as 'Lead Environmental Biologist/Consultant', assisting local residents and developers with their natural resource and permitting needs.
Ian Orlikoff
Ian Orlikoff is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist #FL-1037A. He holds the ISA-Tree Risk Assessment qualification and Certified Treecare Safety Professional certification from the Tree Care Industry Association. Mr. Orlikoff is the owner and lead arborist of Signature Tree Care in Naples, Florida which he founded in 2002. Signature Tree Care has been a nationally accredited tree service via the Tree Care Industry Association since 2016.
Mr. Orlikoff is also a member of the Collier County Horticulture Advisory Board, a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Green Industries-Best Management Practices guest instructor and an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional. His expertise combines more than 25 years of hands-on tree care and landscaping experience.
Mr. Orlikoff is also a member of the Collier County Horticulture Advisory Board, a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Green Industries-Best Management Practices guest instructor and an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional. His expertise combines more than 25 years of hands-on tree care and landscaping experience.
Linda Weinland
Linda Weinland earned her B.S. in Biology from Bucknell University and her M.S. in Biology from Wright State University. She taught Biology and Environmental Science at the Naples Campus of Edison College (now Florida SouthWestern State College) for 29 years. During that time, she was an active participant in the BioQuest Curriculum Consortium and the LifeLines Online project, which focused on investigative case-based learning. While at Edison, she received awards for excellence in teaching, for offering innovative solutions on campus and for her life-long commitment to the environment.
Upon retiring, Ms. Weinland worked as a consultant with the Learning in Florida’s Environment (LIFE) initiative, funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Education. The LIFE grant enabled students from underserved middle schools to conduct scientific investigations in parks and preserves in Collier County.
Ms. Weinland has been interested in the connection between the arts and sciences for many years. She attended a Wildbranch Workshop on Environmental Writing in Vermont and has written poetry inspired by the cypress/mixed hardwood forest in which she resides. Recently, she experimented with nature journaling, sketching and painting with watercolors. Learning to play the mountain dulcimer at the Gore Nature Education Center (then called the Naithloriendun Wildlife Sanctuary) is one of her fondest memories.
Ms. Weinland has been an active member of the Florida Native Plant Society and helped organize the Friends of Rookery Bay when that National Estuarine Research Reserve was established. She is passionate about preserving local ecosystems and sharing her knowledge about the amazing plants, animals and other life forms found in Southwest Florida.
Upon retiring, Ms. Weinland worked as a consultant with the Learning in Florida’s Environment (LIFE) initiative, funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Education. The LIFE grant enabled students from underserved middle schools to conduct scientific investigations in parks and preserves in Collier County.
Ms. Weinland has been interested in the connection between the arts and sciences for many years. She attended a Wildbranch Workshop on Environmental Writing in Vermont and has written poetry inspired by the cypress/mixed hardwood forest in which she resides. Recently, she experimented with nature journaling, sketching and painting with watercolors. Learning to play the mountain dulcimer at the Gore Nature Education Center (then called the Naithloriendun Wildlife Sanctuary) is one of her fondest memories.
Ms. Weinland has been an active member of the Florida Native Plant Society and helped organize the Friends of Rookery Bay when that National Estuarine Research Reserve was established. She is passionate about preserving local ecosystems and sharing her knowledge about the amazing plants, animals and other life forms found in Southwest Florida.