Conservation Florida’s Sarah Shepard Selected for Leadership Florida Connect Class 16
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 17, 2026) — Conservation Florida is proud to announce that Communications Director Sarah Shepard has been selected to participate in Leadership Florida’s 2026-2027 Connect Class 16.
Leadership Florida Connect is the state’s only leadership program that spans industry boundaries and focuses solely on developing Florida’s existing and emerging leaders. The program brings together a diverse group of professionals from across the state and across industries to explore Florida’s most pressing opportunities and challenges while building meaningful relationships that strengthen communities statewide.
“I'm honored to join Leadership Florida Connect Class 16 alongside such an accomplished group of leaders from across the state,” said Conservation Florida’s Sarah Shepard. “Florida's future depends on collaboration and a shared commitment to protecting what makes our home state special.”
Conservation Florida congratulates Sarah on this selection and celebrates the continued momentum of a new generation of leaders dedicated to securing a vibrant future for the Sunshine State.
For more information about Conservation Florida and its conservation impact, please visit www.conservationflorida.org.
Sarah Shepard is a communications leader and storyteller passionate about connecting people to purpose-driven causes. As Communications Director for Conservation Florida, she leads the organization's statewide communications, marketing, public relations, and community engagement strategies, helping advance the mission of protecting Florida's water, wildlife, and wild places.
During her tenure, Conservation Florida's audience reach, media presence, and digital engagement have grown dramatically, helping translate compelling stories into meaningful conservation impact across the state. Her work has helped raise awareness, inspire support, and drive investment in the protection of wild Florida.
Before joining Conservation Florida, Shepard built a career rooted in service and community impact, including work with Teach For America and K9s For Warriors. She continues to leverage the power of storytelling to inspire action and create lasting change for the people and places that make Florida unique.
About Conservation Florida:
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places — the places that make Florida home. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved roughly 45,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.