The South Florida Water Management District is directed by nine Governing Board members who set policy for the agency. They reside within the agency's 16-county region and represent a cross section of interests, including the environment, agriculture, local government, recreation and business. Governing Board members are unpaid citizen volunteers appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. They serve four-year terms. The South Florida Water Management District encompasses two major watershed basins, the Okeechobee Basin and the Big Cypress Basin. The Big Cypress Basin also has a Basin Board, with appointed members setting policy. One Governing Board member also serves as the chair of the Big Cypress Basin Board. The Governing Board appoints the Executive Director, who directs all South Florida Water Management District activities. The Florida Senate confirms this candidate.
Joe Collins Chair [Term: 7/2009 - 3/2013] (863) 763-3041 jcollins@sfwmd.gov At large from Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry, Highlands, Glades, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola and Polk counties more »
Appointed by: Governor Charlie Crist
Education:
B.S. - University of Florida
Contact Address: 106 SW County Road 721 Okeechobee, FL 34974
Occupation: Vice President, Lykes Bros. Inc
Professional, Business and Service Affiliations:
Former Chair, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), Florida Section
Member, Florida/Highlands County Cattlemen's Association
Member, Florida/Highlands County Farm Bureau
Member, American Water Resources Association
Former Vice Chair, Heartland Agricultural Coalition
Former Member, South Florida Water Management District Water Resources Advisory Commission
Kevin Powers Vice-Chair [Term: 7/2009 - 3/2013] (561) 682-6433 kpowers@sfwmd.gov At-large member for an area that includes St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. more »
"This quote by veteran water manager Bob Ulevich best captures my thoughts on the challenges we face: 'It's not rocket science - it's actually harder. Managing a constructed system in a natural environment is immensely difficult.'"
Appointed by: Governor Charlie Crist
Education:
B.S., Economics - Florida State University
Contact Address: SFWMD Governing Board, 2114 P.O. Box 24680 West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680
FAX: (561) 682-5029
Occupation: Partner, Indiantown Realty Corp.
Professional, Business and Service Affiliations:
Director, Stuart Martin County Chamber of Commerce
Former Director, United Way of Martin County
Former Director, United Way Foundation of Martin County
Former Vice-President and Director, Martin County Taxpayers Association
Member, Indiantown Western Martin County Chamber of Commerce
Former Director, Economic Council of Martin County
Daniel O'Keefe
[Term: 5/2011 - 3/2012] (561) 682-6433 dokeefe@sfwmd.gov
Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola and Polk counties more »
Appointed by: Governor Rick Scott
Contact Address:
SFWMD Governing Board, 2114
P.O. Box 24680
West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680
FAX: (561) 682-5029
Occupation:
Attorney with Shutts and Bowan LLP
Juan M. Portuondo
[Term: 6/2011 - 3/2015] (561) 682-6433 jportuon@sfwmd.gov
Miami-Dade County more »
Appointed by: Governor Rick Scott
Contact Address:
SFWMD Governing Board, 2114
P.O. Box 24680
West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680
Occupation:
President, IP Group Inc.
Timothy Sargent
[Term: 5/2011 - 3/2014]
(561) 682-6433 tsargent@sfwmd.gov
At-large member for an area that includes St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties more »
Appointed by: Governor Rick Scott
Contact Address:
SFWMD Governing Board, 2114
P.O. Box 24680
West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680
FAX: (561) 682-5029
Occupation:
Director of Tax and Operating Company Chief Financial Officer, Huizenga Holdings Inc.
Glenn J. Waldman [Term: 5/2011 - 3/2014] (561) 682-6433 gwaldman@sfwmd.gov Broward County more »
"Because land is integral to the SFWMD's efforts to restore and manage ecosystems from central Florida to the Florida Keys, any opportunity to acquire more should always be seriously considered – particularly land benefitting Everglades restoration."
Appointed by: Governor Rick Scott
Education:
Juris Doctor - University of Florida College of Law
B.A., Economics - University of Florida
Contact Address: SFWMD Governing Board, 2114 P.O. Box 24680 West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680
FAX: (561) 682-5029
Occupation:
Arbitrator and mediator of environmental, land use, real estate and commercial matters