Steven A. Schaefer, Chairman: Steven has worked as a public defender for 20 years. Steven recently “semi-retired” as Chief Assistant Public Defender in Manatee County, where he supervised all 20 of the other assistant public defenders in the county and continues to consult. During his tenure with the office, he conducted more than 100 jury trials, representing clients charged with petit theft up to cases involving a possible death penalty. Steven graduated from the Oregon School of Law and received a BSc from Columbia University with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. In between teaching math/science at various levels, he has been involved with a number of other pursuits, including electrician, commercial fisherman, boat rigger, carpenter, and ranch hand. Presently, he is remodeling houses, training horses, and doing volunteer work for Sea to Shore Alliance.

Vice Chairman: Currently vacant (due to medical emergency)

Jean Blackburn, Treasurer Ms. Blackburn was born and grew up on Anna Maria Island, Florida. Jean is a painting instructor for the prestigious Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, and at Wildacres, North Carolina. Jean’s work has been shown internationally and in the United States at more than 30 exhibitions. Her art has been commissioned by international corporations, such as Disney Entertainment and Whole Foods, Inc. She received a BA from the University of Florida and an MFA from the University of Oregon. After finishing a graduate fellowship, Jean completed a master’s workshop at the Canadian School of Non-toxic Printmaking in Alberta. Jean has won numerous awards and is profiled frequently in the media. She is a master gardener and a master naturalist certified by the University of Florida, is an expert in Florida’s native plants, and presently serves on Sarasota’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Council and Friends of Myakka.

Dr. Archie Carr, III, better known as Chuck, recently “semi-retired” as a Senior Conservationist with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), where he served for almost 30 years. The majority of Chuck’s career focused on comprehensive conservation programs in Central America. This pivotal work ultimately led to the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC). Chuck was responsible for WCS assuming a major stewardship role with the Belize Barrier Reef that led to multiple marine protected areas and innovative conservation initiatives. His commitment in Belize is now focused on the coral atoll, Glover’s Reef, where WCS maintains an essential marine research station that, through a partnership with the Belize government, helps to ensure the protection of that unique reef system.

Rob Daly has more than 22 years of experience in applied software engineering. In 2003, Rob sold his majority interest in Number Six Software, Inc., a software engineering firm he co-founded in 1994. As Number Six’s president, Rob led and organically grew it into a 50+ person company. While Rob was at Number Six, all growth was through revenue, not capital investment, and Number Six was “in the black” every quarter since its inception. Rob then co-founded and now serves as chairman of 5AM Solutions, which has followed the same growth model—5AM has no external investment and is growing steadily. Rob is also a director of Stelligent, a company dedicated to software delivery automation. His latest endeavor is 430 Mobile Corporation, which plans to serve the mobile market, initially targeting iPhone application development with an mHealth focus. Though now more often engaged in leadership and management roles, Rob is an acknowledged expert in object technology and has contributed to and reviewed acclaimed technology books. He holds a BS in aeronautical engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Colin Devine is a managing director in Citigroup Investment Research and is responsible for providing equity research coverage on North American life insurance companies. Colin has been on the Institutional Investor All-America Research Team for the past 10 years and held the #1 ranking in the Life Insurance Equity Research category for six consecutive years. He also has been consistently ranked among the top analysts in the insurance sector within both the Greenwich survey and the Wall Street Journal’s Best on the Street survey. In the July 2004 edition of Smart Money magazine, Colin was featured as one of the "Last Honest Analysts." Prior to joining Citigroup in March 1997, Colin was a Director in Standard & Poor's Insurance Ratings group, where he covered a variety of life insurers. Preceding that, Colin was a vice president of a major Canadian life insurer, where he was involved in investment and risk management, as well as a number of corporate development initiatives. Colin is a chartered financial analyst and certified management accountant and holds an MBA in finance from York University in Toronto and a BSc in biology from the University of Guelph.

Steven Niemczyk is Managing Director for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he serves as Global Head of Asset Management Investment Banking. From 2001 to 2009, he held similar positions with UBS Ltd. and Morgan Stanley in London and New York. From 1990 to 2001, Steve was a general partner at Lazard Freres & Co. and a member of Lazard’s Supervisory Board, Opinion Committee, and Lazard/Daiwa SBCM Steering Committee. He graduated Harvard Business School with an MBA (1983), The London School of Economics with an MSc (1979), and Yale University with a BA (1976). Steve served on the board of Wildlife Trust from 2001 to 2007, where he participated in the formation of Wildlife Trust’s Alliance and became involved in Buddy Powell’s Aquatic Program.

Brian Skerry is a photojournalist specializing in marine wildlife and underwater environments. Since 1998, he has been an assignment photographer for National Geographic Magazine, covering a wide range of subjects and stories, from the harp seal’s struggle to survive in frozen waters to the alarming decrease in the world’s fisheries, both cover stories. Other features have focused on subjects such as the planet's last remaining pristine coral reefs, the plight of the right whale, sharks of the Bahamas, marine reserves, sea turtles, and squid. He has published 11 stories in National Geographic Magazine and has several new stories upcoming. Brian also has worked on assignment for, or has had images featured in, magazines such as People, Sports Illustrated, US News & World Report, BBC Wildlife, Smithsonian, Playboy, Esquire, Audubon, Outdoor Life, GEO, Maxim, and Men’s Journal and in numerous publications worldwide. He is also the author/photographer of three books. www.brianskerry.com

Craig Taylor is Chief Marketing Officer for M2 Global Ltd., a global financial services technology firm. During his career, he has focused on executive roles in training, organizational development, marketing, and strategic consulting. He has held leadership positions at both American Express and the Walt Disney Company. Craig holds a BA in psychology and MEd and EdS degrees in counseling psychology, all from the University of Florida. Craig is an award-winning columnist, a former features writer, and a frequent conference presenter. Growing up as a surfer on the east coast of Florida, Craig has a deep and painful appreciation for the marine environment--he is an unwilling member of the exclusive “IBS,” aka Individuals Bitten by Sharks, club.