Conservation Florida Announces Newly Elected Board of Directors Leadership

Conservation Florida Board of Directors has elected a new slate to serve its executive committee.

Tallahassee, Fla. (March 23, 2023) - Conservation Florida is excited to welcome in a new executive committee for the 2023 year - Chair, Matt Pearce; Vice Chair, Courtney Barnard; Secretary, Eric Draper, and Treasurer, Justin Beck. These individuals bring a myriad of skills and experiences to our growing team that will help us further our mission. After 6 years of dedicated service, we're sad to say goodbye to Jeff Hardesty as a board member, but look forward to many years of conservation partnership to come.

Passionate supporters and volunteers, including former and current board members, support the organization’s mission-critical work throughout the state. Through having a Board of Directors full of professionals who come from many different backgrounds, Conservation Florida continues to increase not only its statewide presence, but also its pool of resources and expertise. What unites this Board is a shared passion for Florida’s wild spaces and places and a deep desire to conserve its precious native and natural beauty, flora and fauna.

"We are extremely thankful to have a Board of Directors filled with devoted partners who are passionate about protecting Florida's natural and agricultural landscapes," said Traci Deen, President and CEO of Conservation Florida. "I'm thrilled to work alongside our board to shape the future of conservation in Florida."

Learn more about our full, distinguished Board of Directors by clicking here.

MATT PEARCE - CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Matt is a Florida native and 7th generation Florida cattle rancher who is passionate about protecting habitat for ranching and wildlife. He owns and operates Pearce Cattle Company, a family-owned cow/calf operation with locations throughout South Florida and Central Georgia. He has served on the Florida Cattlemen’s Association Board for 10 years and is the immediate past president. His goal is to serve the industry and assist in successfully passing down the ranching lifestyle to the next generation.

COURTNEY BARNARD - SECRETARY OF THE BOARD

Courtney serves as the director of government affairs in Florida for Verizon. Her areas of focus include local government relations and community engagement. Courtney has over a decade of experience working in public policy and grassroots engagement in Florida. Prior to her role with Verizon, Courtney previously worked in housing advocacy with the Florida Realtor Association and Florida Apartment Association. Outside of work, she volunteers locally and is a lifetime member of Leadership Florida.

Courtney received her master’s in political science, international studies track at the University of Central Florida and her bachelor’s in politics and international relations at Scripps College in Claremont, CA. She also holds a certificate in public policy from the University of Washington, Jackson School of International Relations.

Courtney is a native of California, but has lived in Central Florida for a decade. She is passionate about her local community and loves having nature on her doorstep. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, stand up paddle boarding, yoga, baking, and reading.

JUSTIN BECK - TREASURER

Justin lives in Pensacola and is the CEO of Beck Partners, a commercial real estate services firm. He has a BS in Business Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Justin is married to his wonderful wife Kristin, and they have three children together. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. Justin has a deep appreciation for the natural world and loves all things conservation. He’s a former chair of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, current chair of the Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation, and trustee at Episcopal Day School in Pensacola.

ERIC DRAPER - SECRETARY OF THE BOARD

Eric Draper provides strategic advice on environmental finance and policy to businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. He is a passionate road and off-road cyclist and serves on the boards of the Florida Bicycle Association and Capital City Cyclists.

He recently completed service as Director of the Florida Park Service. Before being asked to lead the Florida Park Service, Draper was Executive Director of Audubon Florida. Previously, he was Senior Vice President for Policy at the National Audubon Society, the Florida House of Representatives Majority Office staff director, The Nature Conservancy’s Florida government relations director, and Clean Water Action's national campaigns director.

During his 30-year conservation career, Draper was a leading advocate for water and land conservation and Everglades restoration. Draper’s service has included EPA’s Environmental Finance Advisory Committee, Florida Agriculture Commissioner’s Water Policy Advisory Committee, Working Forest Partnership (co-chair), Water and Land Legacy Campaign executive committee, Sustainable Florida board, Florida Ocean Alliance board, the Clinton-Gore EPA Transition Team, the Florida Soil and Water Conservation Council, the Florida Water Management District Review Commission, Partners for a Better Florida (co-chair), and FSU Political Science Department (adjunct instructor).

As Conservation Florida continues to grow, so does the hope for a future where vital and vibrant Florida land is protected forever. We invite you to donate, volunteer, or join our efforts to protect more of Florida’s special places. Email info@conservationfla.org to get involved.

About Conservation Florida:

Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land conservancy working to conserve Florida’s water, wildlife, wild places, and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Our conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, wildlife corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has prioritized strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat.