Traci Deen Recognized as 40 Under 40 Honoree by News Service of Florida
Tallahassee, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2026) — Conservation Florida is proud to announce that President & CEO Traci Deen has been named a 2026 40 Under 40 honoree by the News Service of Florida. This prestigious recognition celebrates professionals who are shaping the future of the Sunshine State through leadership, innovation and service.
Each year, the News Service of Florida recognizes 40 rising leaders who are bringing fresh energy and forward-thinking solutions to Florida’s most significant industries. Deen’s selection highlights her transformative impact on land conservation and her steadfast commitment to protecting the state’s water, wildlife and wild places — the places that make Florida home.
Since joining Conservation Florida, Deen has led the permanent protection of tens of thousands of acres across the state, from family farms and ranches to critical wildlife corridors and beloved state parks. Under her leadership, the organization has strengthened public-private partnerships, expanded community engagement through an Emmy-award winning docuseries, and championed for millions of dollars in conservation funding in our state’s Capitol.
“Leading this organization is one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Conservation Florida CEO Traci Deen.
“Every single day, I get to wake up and work to protect the place I love most: Florida, our shared home. From pine flatwoods to ranchlands, from springs to shorelines, this state has shaped me. It is a privilege to help safeguard Florida’s natural beauty: her wildlife, her water, and her heritage.”
Conservation Florida congratulates Traci Deen on this well-deserved honor and celebrates the continued momentum of a new generation of leaders dedicated to securing a vibrant future for the Sunshine State.
A note of gratitude from Traci:
Dear Friends,
I am incredibly grateful for the recognition and for the opportunity to represent the work we do together.
While my name may be attached to the award, it truly belongs to this entire community. It belongs to the rockstar, mission-driven team I have the privilege of leading each day. It belongs to our partners, landowners, advocates, and supporters who believe that protecting Florida’s wild and working lands matters not just for today, but for generations to come.
Leading this organization is one of the greatest honors of my life. Every single day, I get to wake up and work to protect the place I love most: Florida, our shared home. From pine flatwoods to ranchlands, from springs to shorelines, this state has shaped me- and I know it’s shaped you, too. It is a privilege to help safeguard Florida’s natural beauty: her wildlife, her water, and her heritage.
Conservation is hopeful work, albeit tough. It is about permanence in a rapidly changing world. It is about ensuring that children growing up today and those not yet born will still know the feeling of open green space, a clean aquamarine spring, a dark night sky, and the quiet magic of wild Florida. To taste food grown here, to chase fireflies at dusk, to fish off a local pier.
To be entrusted with leading that effort alongside such passionate, talented people and supporters fills me with more than joy, it fills me with pride and purpose.
I am thankful to those who nominated me and to the leaders across our state who continue to champion conservation, stewardship, and our community. Most of all, I am grateful to you. Your support makes this work possible. Your belief in our mission fuels every acre protected and every drop of water safeguarded.
Recognition like this is a reminder that conservation is not a niche cause. It is essential to Florida’s future, to our economy, to our quality of life, and to our Floridian identity. I am proud to stand with you in this work.
Thank you for the trust you place in our team. So much important work ahead of us, and I am so grateful to be on this journey with you.
With gratitude,
Traci
For more information about Conservation Florida and its conservation impact, please visit www.conservationflorida.org.
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.