Conservation Florida Welcomes New Board Members
As Conservation Florida celebrates its 20th anniversary year, we are excited to welcome four new members to our board of directors — Neil Asma, Adam Strang Bass, Mike Forrester, and Margaret Hankison Spontak.
Neil Asma
Neil is a third generation Floridian from Winter Garden, where his family was once involved in the citrus industry. Neil received a B.A. in English from Washington & Lee University and a master’s degree in business administration from Rollins College. He’s now the vice president of Toole’s Ace Hardware, managing 10 local stores and serving as vice president of the Central Florida Ace Dealer’s organization.
Neil learned to love nature, backpacking, and camping with the Boy Scouts of America, reaching the rank of Eagle Scout. He enjoys hiking and hopes to hike the entire Florida Trail. He spends summers on the waterways of Chassahowitzka and wishes to pass his love of Florida’s nature down to his daughter.
Mike Forrester
Mike was born in Orlando and grew up in Osceola County. His great-grandfather was a steamboat captain on the Kissimmee River in the late 1800's. His grandfather introduced him to the history of Florida, while he and his dad visited many of the natural wonders of the state. Professionally, Mike was hired by Amtrak to work on its Florida service trains, eventually supervising their operation. Mike left Amtrak in 1995 to start a video production company, moving to Atlanta as a contractor and tropical system cameraman for CNN and The Weather Channel for the next decade.
During this time, Mike’s company opened a television studio which provided live shot capabilities, a green screen studio, editing suites and production services for National Geographic, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery and other network and corporate clients. In 2015, Mike sold his Atlanta company so he and his family could return to Florida. In 2017, he opened Orlando Corporate Media.
Returning to Central Florida has allowed Mike the opportunity to reconnect with his roots. He enjoys visiting parks, refuges, and preserves and has become endeared to the Florida Scrub-Jay. His concern for the loss of Florida's wildlife corridors and natural habitats led him to Conservation Florida, which he supports through advocacy and financial contributions. Mike also serves as board vice president of the Central Florida Railway Historical Society, which preserves the history of railroading in the region and volunteers with the Osceola County Historical Society, filming the oral history of longtime residents.
Mike, his wife, Jeanine, and 13-year-old daughter, Siena, reside in Winter Garden.
Margaret Hankinson Spontak
Margaret most recently managed philanthropy for the Duke Energy Foundation. The Foundation awards approximately $3 million in charitable contributions in Florida. Through the Foundation’s volunteer engagement program, employees have restored scrub habitat, removed exotic plants, cleaned Florida’s waterways and enhanced Florida State Parks. Project Park Power volunteer projects this year included Highlands Hammock State Park and Crystal River Preserve State Park.
Her past conservation experience includes director of development for Audubon Florida, director of policy and planning for St. Johns River Water Management District, promotions manager for Silver Springs and Weeki Wachee and co-author of Protecting Paradise. Her environmental communications work includes branding and communication for Marion County “Pennies for Parks,” a $20 million county land referendum, and the Silver River Society, the organization that advocated for purchase of lands now comprising Silver River State Park. She has facilitated numerous river planning projects over the years such as the St. Johns River Summit, American Heritage River designation public meetings, St. Mary's River Management Plan and Palatka Water Works design charrette. She is currently facilitating a coalition of 32 organizations focused on the restoration of the Ocklawaha River.
Margaret has a B.S. in communications from Florida State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern. She is married to Vince Spontak and has a grown son Michael Spontak, who conducted GIS mapping and modeling on panther and bear habitat for the Florida Ecological Greenways Network.
Thanks to the addition of our new members, we are starting the year 2020 with an abundance of enthusiasm on our Board of Directors that will further our mission to protect Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes for future generations. Our organization relies on volunteers, such as these passionate board members, to support our work throughout the state. We invite you to donate, volunteer, or join our efforts to protect more of Florida’s special places. Email info@conserveflorida.org to get involved.
