Board of Directors

president@stpeteaudubon.org

Beth Forys is a Professor of Environmental Studies and Biology at Eckerd College. She is a Conservation Biologist who is passionate about waterbird conservation and has a strong interest in both the use of technology and citizen scientists to educate and protect. She is one of the co-leaders of the Suncoast Shorebird Partnership of the Florida Shorebird Alliance. Before coming to Eckerd she worked for the Florida Game Commission and received her PhD from the University of Florida and her Masters and undergraduate degrees at the University of Virginia.

peter.plage@stpeteaudubon.org

Peter is retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where he worked for almost 30 years. His last 6 years of work were based in St. Petersburg, where he addressed the impact of federal projects on endangered and threatened species. He has been a birder since his teens and maintains an interest in conservation of the red knot and other migratory shorebirds.

susan.benson@stpeteauduon.org

Susan Benson is a Professor of English for Academic Purposes at St. Petersburg College. She holds a PhD in Second Language Acquisition from the University of Maryland. Susan began volunteering for Audubon Florida as a bird steward in 2019, and she enjoys educating residents and tourists about shorebirds. Her favorite bird is the Black Skimmer.

treasurer@stpeteaudubon.org

Eve’s passion for birds was nurtured by her parents who shared their love for wildlife and the environment with their children, inspiring them to observe and respect nature through their adult lives. Eve loves volunteering as a shorebird nesting steward with Audubon Florida and brings her Accounting and Finance education and practical experience to help the chapter meet its financial goals.

abby.mckay@stpeteaudubon.org

Abby McKay is a shorebird and seabird biologist with Audubon Florida, where she manages rooftop nesting in the Tampa Bay area. A lifelong Floridian, she earned her undergraduate degree from Eckerd College with the goal of building a career dedicated to Florida’s wildlife. Her research there led her to volunteer as a steward at black skimmer colonies and sparked an interest in conservation within urban environments.

juliagallagher@stpeteaudubon.org

Julia is an Eckerd College alumna, where she received her degrees in Biology & Environmental Studies and discovered her interest in avian ecology and conservation. Since graduating, she has gained career experience monitoring listed species including Florida Scrub Jays, Kestrels, Crested Caracaras, Bald Eagles and Ospreys through USFWS, FWC, and environmental consulting. She is now employed with Pinellas County's Parks and Conservation Resources Department. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, nature hikes, and camping. 

john_ficken@stpeteaudubon.org

John Ficken is our new Membership Chair! John has lead field trips for St. Pete Audubon, loves taking photos of birds, and has worked on the restoration of Crescent Lake.

lpackard.edu@stpeteaudubon.org

Laura is a retired Pinellas County educator and a Florida Master Naturalist. She has been on the board since 2015. Laura currently facilitates the Dr. Harold Albers Teacher Ecology Camp. She started birding later in life and along with Florida has birded hotspots in Arizona, Minnesota, and Texas. Laura's passion is creating backyard habitat that welcomes birds. Visitors are always welcome to her yard.

conservation@stpeteaudubon.org

Lisa Reich is St. Pete Beach resident, homeowner, business owner, local artist, and wildlife conservationist. She has lived here for over 40 years. She has patrolled local beaches for the past 13 years. She has enjoyed being a Black Skimmer bird steward over the past several years and has also volunteered as a wildlife rescuer. Her primary mission is to work with the local coastal municipalities in Pinellas County to protect our coastal wildlife and preserve the coastal habitat on which they depend. Her passion for the protection of our coastal wildlife is in response to the growing concerns of the human impacts to our coastal wildlife and their habitat. She is dedicated to coastal wildlife conservation by making a positive impact through advocacy, education and community and municipal engagement.

fieldtrips@stpeteaudubon.org

Francesca is a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Girls and received a B.S. in Architecture from Temple University in 1975. After working in architecture and city planning, she began her federal government career at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development working in community and economic development projects as well as construction projects. She then moved on to FEMA as a planning and management specialist; the Dept. of Health and Human Services, working with the Office of the Inspector General; the Dept. of Commerce, Economic Development Agency, working in community economic development planning; and finally to the Environmental Development Administration, where she managed an extensive international training and capacity building program, working in over 15 countries during her career. After 36 years with the federal government, Francesca and her husband, who was a successful restaurateur in Philadelphia, retired to Redington Beach, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, the birds, and their garden.

Ryan is an at-large Director. He works in the field of environmental consulting. He loves St. Petersburg nature, birds and photography.

We are excited to bring someone on to coordinate our tabling events that are so important for fundraising and education.

wingspan@stpeteaudubon.org

Donna is a St Petersburg pediatrician who, upon retirement, stepped outside and discovered birds in all directions. Her first great loves were the entertaining Royal Terns on Treasure Island Beach. She enjoys being part of the local birding community and Pinellas County organizations that promote conservation and wildlife preservation. She currently edits the St Pete Audubon newsletter.