Brian Armstrong, Executive Director, Southwest Florida Water Management District
Brian Armstrong was appointed as the executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District in June 2016.
Armstrong had previously served as the District’s assistant executive director where he provided daily oversight of three Divisions and more than 400 staff. As the assistant executive director, Armstrong introduced Six Sigma principles to the District creating a program to successfully reduce waste and unnecessary processes, saving money and time; introduced SMART goals to the District’s employee evaluation system, establishing quantifiable metrics for employee performance; oversaw the development of the District’s first Business Plan using a balanced score card approach to establish key performance indicators and metrics to define verifiable operating and resource requests, and served as District negotiator for the successful development of the Polk County Regional Water Cooperative, involving Polk County and 17 separate municipalities.
Armstrong has more than 15 years of experience in water resource management. He previously served as the assistant director for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Southwest District. There, he led the restructuring of the DEP District operations by reducing costs and improving internal operating performance, including the creation of a successful compliance management team to reduce redundancy and create greater inspection efficiencies; worked with assistant district directors statewide to develop consistent performance standards, SMART goals and level of service work plans, and established the DEP Southwest District’s first Business Plan by focusing Senior Staff on targeted budget reductions, compliance and permitting goals.
Prior to the FDEP position, Armstrong served as the Water Supply and Resource Development manager for the District where he directed a multidisciplinary staff of engineers, professional geologists, hydrologists, conservation analysts and environmental scientists toward common goals through self-motivation, team building and delegation of responsibilities.
Armstrong is a licensed professional geologist, who earned his Bachelor of Science in Geology and his Master’s Degree in Hydrogeology from the University of South Florida.
Anna Evans, ACA, CWC, PHR
Anna is Vice President and Managing Claims Consultant in the Lykes Insurance Claim Mitigation Solutions Division. She brings unparalleled knowledge of workers compensation claims advocacy, human resource expertise and associated legal issues. She delivers immense value by ensuring that Workers’ Compensation claims are brought to closure efficiently and cost effectively.
Elaine Froese, CSP, CAFA, CHICoach
Elaine Froese is a member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors and the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.
As a certified farm family business coach, Elaine specializes in helping farm families work through the tough issues to take action. She creates a safe place for families to meet, plan for change and be clear about expectations. Faith Today magazine has dubbed her “ Canada’s Farm Whisperer”.
Elaine is an award-winning author of Planting the Seed of Hope, and author of Do the Tough Things Right , and Farming’s In-Law Factor.
She farms with her husband and married son, in southwestern Manitoba on a certified seed farm.
To glean skills from Elaine to empower family, increase profit, and secure legacy, visit www.elainefroese.com
Brad Gould, Shareholder, Dean Mead Law Firm
Brad Gould is a shareholder in the Tax and Estate and Succession Planning Departments at Dean, Mead, Minton & Zwemer in Fort Pierce, Florida and practices in the areas of federal income, estate, and gift tax law, business succession planning, and trust and probate administration and litigation. He is an active member of the Tax Section of the American Bar Association where he currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the S Corporation Committee.
In addition to being a member of the Florida Bar, Mr. Gould is a certified public accountant. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants and served as Chair of the LGBT Task Force in 2013-2014. He has written and spoken extensively in the S corporation, family succession planning, and same-sex planning areas.
Michael Langemeier, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University
Michael Langemeier joined Purdue University in July 2012. Michael’s Extension and research interests include cropping systems, benchmarking, strategic management, cost of production, and technical and economic efficiency. Most of Michael’s research has focused on the efficiency of farms and ranches, and crop and livestock enterprise production costs and efficiency. He has also conducted research related to tillage systems, biomass crops and the tradeoff between crop rotation profitability and water quality.
Prior to arriving at Purdue, Michael spent 22 years in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. In addition to working on Extension and research projects, Michael taught courses in economic theory and farm management and worked closely with the Kansas Farm Management Association. He also conducted workshops for feed mill managers, emphasizing the importance of tracking financial performance, benchmarking and capital budgeting.
In addition to conducting numerous workshops and presenting Extension and research information to numerous audiences in the United States, Michael has conducted workshops and given presentations in Australia, China, Ecuador, Ireland, Germany, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa and Tanzania. He is currently involved in agribenchmark, an international benchmarking group centered in Germany.
Michael received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His doctorate is from Purdue University. Michael’s family operates farms in eastern Nebraska.
Michael J. Loney, Regional Director, John Hancock Insurance
Michael Loney’s 32 years of experience as a successful regional director, trainer and advanced sales specialist – provides a strong combination of skills and perspectives to his ability to assist clients, financial service organizations and professionals with product, technical and competitive information, as well as, advanced case design for estate, business & charitable planning situations. Prior to joining John Hancock in 2000, Michael spent 11 years as a regional director for Canada Life from 1990–2000. In addition Michael spent and nine years as a regional vice president with American General from 1981–1990. From 1974 thru 1981 Michael was an agent and sales manager with Mutual of New York. Michael attended the University of Minnesota and holds NASD Series 6, life and health insurance licenses. He is an active member of the Minneapolis professional community, NAIFA MN and the Society of Financial Service Professionals.
Michael D. Minton, Shareholder and Chair of Agribusiness Industry Team, Dean Mead Law Firm
Michael Minton is the Chair of Dean Mead’s Agribusiness Industry Team. He represents family businesses with an emphasis on generationally-owned agricultural businesses. He assists with their organizational structure, federal income, estate and gift tax planning and business succession planning. He offers his clients extensive experience focusing on tax issues related to agri-business, as well as water resource issues and new innovative uses of land for value added propositions.
Mr. Minton’s clients receive the benefit of his 30+ years of experience in Florida agri-business and interaction with agencies that regulate the utilization and optimization of their assets and business opportunities. Mr. Minton is a member of the Solutions Committee of the Central Florida Water Initiative and has stayed involved in water related issues across the State of Florida. He’s also a past Vice-Chair of the Governing Board of South Florida Water Management District (1997-2001).
Gregory M. Munson, Shareholder, Gunster
Gregory Munson is a shareholder who joined Gunster in 2013. He twice held senior positions at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). He served as general counsel from 2004 to 2006, and most recently as the deputy secretary for water policy and ecosystem restoration.
In his capacity as deputy secretary, Mr. Munson supervised the Department’s activities related to Everglades restoration, the state’s water management districts, and the state’s coastal and aquatic areas. In between his work at FDEP, he worked as general counsel for WRScompass, a company providing environmental remediation, civil construction and consulting services to commercial, federal and state clients. He now provides strategic advice and counsel on issues related to water policy, water rights and the Everglades.
Paul G. Neiffer, CPA, Principal, AgriBusiness Group, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP
Paul Neiffer is an Agribusiness Certified Public Accountant and business advisor working with farmers and processors providing income tax advice and compliance services; actively consults with farm families on succession planning issues and opportunities; helps farmers understand the proper use of accounting systems to more profitably run their business; and helps structure farm operations to maximize FSA opportunities.
Paul is president of the Farm Financial Standards Council (www.ffsc.org) which is the premier organization promoting the use of accrual basis financial statements for agricultural producers. Paul has written several articles for various farm magazines and media outlets and instructs many CPAs and CPA firms across the US. Paul is the primary author of the blog FarmCPAToday.com which reports several times a week on items specific to the Ag Industry.
Paul grew up on a farm in Walla Walla County, Washington and still enjoys heading home each to summer to operate the combine for his cousins (this is his idea of a vacation). He graduated from the University of Washington with a Business Administration Degree (concentration accounting) in March, 1983 and obtained his CPA certificate in 1984.
Luna Phillips, Shareholder, Gunster
Luna practices exclusively in the area of water and natural resources law before state and federal agencies. Her practice includes assisting large scale developers, agricultural entities, public and private companies, as well as individuals in a wide range of water related issues. Her experience ranges from water quality regulations such as TMDLs, to environmental resource permitting, to water use permitting, to sovereign state land and listed species approvals.
In addition, Luna actively works on Everglades related restoration issues in south Florida involving complex restoration agreements with governmental entities and water quality and supply regulations. Luna provides more than two decades of experience in administrative law and litigation before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), as well as in rulemaking, public records and Sunshine law.
Elizabeth “Beth” Ross, Esq., Of Counsel Shareholder, Gunster
Elizabeth Ross is an of counsel shareholder who joined Gunster in 2015. Beth is board certified in state and federal government and administrative practice. Prior to joining the firm, she served for 30 years as a lead attorney for the South Florida Water Management District.
Beth specializes in Florida water law including consumptive use permitting, water supply planning, legislation, rule-making, alternative water supply development, reuse of reclaimed water, minimum flows and levels, and water reservations. Her experience also includes wetland mitigation, the Central Florida Water Initiative, Everglades restoration, and federal regulations concerning the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project.
She represents clients before all five water management districts, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and various federal agencies.
Cari L. Roth, Shareholder, Dean Mead Law Firm
Cari Roth has 30 years of public and private sector legal and legislative experience and is a recognized leader in government relations and environmental and land use law. Her broad knowledge of state government and the people in it, combined with her attention to detail and bottom line approach to solving client problems makes her an effective advocate in the halls of government. Her legal and legislative practice focuses on state and local government issues, including land use, water and environmental law, growth management and infrastructure issues, and intergovernmental relations. She also has significant experience in special district law.
Prior to going into private practice, Ms. Roth worked for four years as General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Florida Department of Community Affairs in Tallahassee where she played a lead role in negotiating major growth management legislation. As General Counsel, she was involved in many inter-agency efforts, particularly those with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Department of Transportation and all the regional Water Management Districts.
Robin Safley, Executive Director of the Florida Association of Food Banks (FAFB)
In her role as Executive Director, she oversees the lead organization in the fight against hunger in Florida with a statewide network of 14 member food banks and over 2,500 partner agencies that feed every community every day. Safley works to raise awareness of hunger, acquire food and financial donations, as well as work with state policymakers to garner additional support to find solutions to end hunger.
Previously the Director for the Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness under Commissioner Adam Putnam, Safley integrated Child Nutrition Programs from the Florida Department of Education and The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. As a result, the Food Distribution merged into a new Division dedicated to enhance the National School Lunch Program, the Summer Food Program and the Florida food system.
As a graduate of Florida State University, Safley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications as well as a Juris Doctor degree from the FSU College of Law.
Robert Saik, Founder of The Agri-Trend® Group of Companies
Robert Saik, Founder of The Agri-Trend® Group of Companies (now part of Trimble Navigation) is a Professional Agrologist and a Certified Agricultural Consultant. In his capacity as Founder and now Global Business Development for Agri-Trend, Robert has been involved in the development of many new business processes and spearheaded several advancements in technology integration in agriculture including the development of The Agri-Data® Solution which was a winner of Alberta’s 2002 E-business of the Year for on-line farm data management as well as 2015 Ag Innovation of the Year Award by Agri-Trade Show. In addition to being a keen entrepreneur, Rob’s technical strengths lie in soil chemistry, plant physiology and crop nutrition. Agri-Trend was recognized as a 2012 & 2014 Western Regional Canada Top 50 Best Managed Company and was recognized by Venture Magazine as one of Alberta’s 2013 top 25 Most Innovative Organizations.
He is the creator of The Agri-Prize contest series, a skills based incentive competition for agriculture and launched The Canola 100 Agri-Prize in July 2015 which is a collaboration with Agri-Trend, John Deere and Glacier FarmMedia. Robert was awarded the 2014 Canadian Agri-Marketer of the Year by the Canadian Association of Agricultural Marketers. Robert is also the author of an Amazon 2014 Best of Books, “The Agriculture Manifesto” – 10 Key Drivers That Will Shape Agriculture in the next Decade. His is also the publisher of The AgADVANCE Journal, 2014 Western Trade Journal of the Year.
He is a passionate keynote speaker addressing audiences on the importance of modern agriculture, His 2014 TEDx talk, entitled “Will Agriculture be ALLOWED to feed 9 Billion People” is a popular on-line reference and has been viewed over 90,000 times. He is the Executive Producer of KNOW GMO the MOVIE a full feature movie project looking at the advancements of technology use in agriculture. This global, film festival quality documentary will be “an uplifting discussion about food” and is currently being filmed with planned release for the spring of 2016. He has travelled extensively through North America, South America, the EU, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East as well as Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan working on technology integration and agriculture advancements.
Rob serves on several boards and is a member of many professional associations. In 2006 he was recognized as Distinguished Agrologist of the Year by the Alberta Institute of Agrology. He is passionate about pursuing business opportunities in the Agricultural Sector.
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Dr. Edmond J. Seifried, Executive Director of the Sheshunoff Affiliation Program
Over the years, Dr. Ed Seifried has touched the hearts and minds of almost every director and CEO of community banks across the nation. While recognized for his keynote speeches, Dr. Ed is a valued educator for community bank directors, CEOs, senior management, and up and coming community bankers.
Carrying on his tenure as Professor Emeritus of Economics and Business at Lafayette College, Dr. Ed has led the educational programs as Dean for the West Virginia Banking School and the Virginia School of Banking. He has been on the faculty of many banking schools, including Stonier and the Graduate School of Banking at LSU.
Most recently, Dr. Ed is the Executive Director of the Sheshunoff Affiliation Program. This highly acclaimed program provides high performance education and idea exchanges for community bank CEOs, Lenders, and Technology/Operations Officers.
Having served as a community bank director, Dr. Ed believes that one has to experience the dynamics of being a community bank director to fully understand their needs to create the bank’s strategic plan, assess risk, set risk parameters, monitor risk, and to be thoroughly educated.
Ann B. Shortelle, Ph.D., Executive Director, St. Johns River Water Management District
Dr. Ann Shortelle is executive director of the St. Johns River Water Management District, where she began work June 1, 2015. She has more than 25 years of professional experience in lake, riverine and reservoir management for water quantity and quality, which includes surface water/wetlands restoration, surface water modeling, permitting and environmental assessments. Her prior positions include three years as executive director for the Suwannee River Water Management District, director of the Office of Water Policy for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and work as a consultant in the private sector. She holds a doctorate degree in limnology from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor of science degree in biology from Mercer University.
Jeff Sumner, Vice President, Engineering Services, Federico & Associates (FAA)
In May 2016, Jeff Sumner joined Federico & Associates (FAA) as Vice President of the firm, where his practice focuses on engineering and water policy consulting primarily in the agricultural sector. Prior to joining FAA, Jeff served as head of State and Agricultural Policy for the South Florida Water Management District, having previously served as their Director of Agricultural Policy since 2013. In his time there, Jeff served as primary point-of-contact for agricultural interests in the 16 counties served by the District. In addition, he oversaw the Northern Everglades Program, Dispersed Water Management Program and Permit Acquisition and Compliance Section.
Prior to joining the District, Jeff spent 18 years as an engineering consultant and manager in the private sector. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Florida and an MBA from Florida Atlantic University. Jeff resides in Okeechobee with his wife, Robbi and daughter, Shelby. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and a seventh-generation Floridian.
Dr. Kathy Taylor, Senior Risk Management Specialist, USDA Risk Management Agency, Valdosta, GA
Dr. Taylor joined the Valdosta staff in 2009 after completing her career as a university professor and state extension specialist with the University of Arizona and the University of Georgia Department with research and extension efforts focused on stone fruit and citrus physiology and cultural management. Dr. Taylor is a graduate of the University of Florida, Horticultural Sciences Dept.
Noah Valenstein, Executive Director, Suwannee River Water Management
Noah Valenstein has been the Executive Director of the Suwannee River Water Management District since September 2015.
Mr. Valenstein served as the Environmental Policy Coordinator for Governor Rick Scott. He came to the District with thirteen years of public service experience with governmental agencies. Mr. Valenstein also brings an abundance of experience with public private partnerships.
He was born in Gainesville, Florida and graduated with honors from the University of Florida’s School of Natural Resources and Environment. He also has a law degree from Florida State University.
Blake Willis, Partner and Chief Consulting Officer
Blake is a partner in July Business Services and is JULY’s Chief Consulting Officer. In this role, he is responsible for leading and managing the JULY Sales Team. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and meetings across the US and he maintains many key-partner relationships for JULY. In prior roles at JULY dating back to 1996, he led the allocation and compliance team where he developed a deep understanding of the complex rules related to retirement plans. With 20 years of industry experience, he has become an expert on technical matters and he is involved in the research and resolution of sometimes complex and technical operational issues. He also leads clients through IRS audits and DOL investigations.
Blake has a master’s degree in accountancy from Baylor University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from, and was selected as the Outstanding Spring 2000 Graduate of, Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. He also was selected for the spring 2000 Accounting Education Foundation Excellence Award. He has served as an adjunct professor at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business and is a member of ASPPA, the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries.
He enjoys spending time with his wife and two young boys, attending Baylor sporting events, hiking and playing sports, and is a deacon and active member of Highland Baptist Church.