Board of Directors

Ember Harker

President

Ember Harker serves as President of the Bocilla Islands Conservancy and brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience in membership development, program growth, and strategic communications. Prior to relocating full time to Palm Island, she served as President of a 500+ member 501(c)(3) organization in San Francisco, where she increased membership by 30% during her tenure while strengthening programs, fundraising efforts, and long term member engagement.

Linda Cotherman

Vice President / Florida Master Naturalist

Linda Cotherman is a Florida Master Naturalist whose long standing commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship has shaped her work on Don Pedro Island, where she has lived full time since 1979 after first discovering the island in 1974. She serves as Vice President and one of the core founders of the Bocilla Islands Conservancy and co leads the Clean Islands Initiative alongside Jude Smith, coordinating island wide cleanup and restoration efforts that support healthy coastal habitats, preservation, community stewardship, and environmental education.

Melissa Goodhead

Recording Secretary

Melissa Goodhead is the Recording Secretary for the Bocilla Islands Conservancy and a full-time resident of Palm Island who is deeply committed to supporting the Conservancy’s mission to protect the natural habitats of the Bocilla Islands Chain.
As a member of the Conservancy’s executive team, Melissa plays an active role in advancing community engagement and strengthening support for conservation initiatives across the island. She is especially passionate about creating welcoming, fun, and meaningful fundraising opportunities that bring residents together while helping protect wildlife habitat and preserve the island’s remaining green space.

Lisa Haney

Treasurer

Lisa grew up in Indian Head, a rural Southern Maryland town. She is the eldest of three children and is married to her high school sweetheart.
Her career focus has been in Human Resources, Recruiting and Employee Benefits management, having managed these for schools and small businesses in Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, and Florida.
She became a “re-born Floridian” in 1993 when she and husband, Mike, moved from Maryland to Florida. She fell in love with Florida’s flora and fauna. Though it took them a few years, they found this beautiful Barrier Islands chain and just knew it had to be their home. They moved to the Island in the spring of 2014.

Gisela Ziegler-Allen

Director

Gisela was born in Germany and lived there until age 6 when she moved to the US where she lived in Illinois and Wisconsin. She attended the University of Hawaii. Gisela worked at the U.S. Postal Service and retired as Postmaster at the Placida, FL 33946 post office.
She and husband Duane moved to the islands in 1998. She became involved in the Conservancy because she believes in their mission “to protect our natural environment by ensuring habitat for flora and fauna”. She has served as Publicity Chair for the organization.

Jude Smith

Director / Florida Master Naturalist

Jude Smith is a Florida Master Naturalist and a full-time resident who works to expand wildlife habitat, shoreline resilience, and clean water initiatives. She has been coming to the area since 1992, when her family began vacationing on Boca Grande, and built her home on Don Pedro Island in 2021. She is especially committed to protecting remaining natural green space through conservation land acquisition and community supported stewardship that strengthens the long term ecological health of the islands.

Kim Kitchen

Director

Kim grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating from Loyola University in New Orleans with a dental hygiene degree, she practiced for 5 years before deciding to go to dental school and graduated from Loyola Dental School in Chicago. She recently retired from a 40-year dental career in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Her Florida roots were always with her and she says she feels blessed to have built her dream house on Palm Island 16 years ago. She is now a full-time resident.

Kelly Lube

Director / Florida Master Naturalist

Kelly is a Florida Master Naturalist who is deeply committed to advancing the Conservancy’s mission of protecting and acquiring green space across the islands. She believes education is a gateway to stewardship and is especially passionate about strengthening native habitat through restoration and community engagement.

Barbara DeYulio

Director

Barbara was born and raised in New Hampshire. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, she moved south to Connecticut, where she taught 8th grade English for 30 years. Upon retirement, she moved further south to sunny Florida.

Cheryl Klaus

Director

Cheryl grew up in St. Paul, MN and Peoria, IL. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a major in Spanish and US History. She attended graduate classes at East Stroudsburg University in East Stroudsburg, PA and also at Southern Illinois University.

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Bocilla Islands Conservancy Overview
Bocilla Islands Conservancy is a public, nonprofit, non-political organization working in partnership with the residents of the Bocilla Islands chain, including Don Pedro Island, Knight Island, Little Gasparilla Island, and Thornton Key. Our mission is to preserve the natural habitat of the Bocilla Islands Chain while fostering community engagement and environmental education to ensure a balanced coexistence between the ecosystem and local residents. The Conservancy can customize conservation easements through land acquisition, ensuring sensitive habitats are preserved and protected to maintain the ecological balance of the islands.

Disclaimer:
The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and reflects the views and opinions of Bocilla Islands Conservancy members. It is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. Bocilla Islands Conservancy assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or the accuracy of the information provided. Visitors are encouraged to consult qualified professionals regarding any concerns or decisions. By using this site, you agree that Bocilla Islands Conservancy and its contributors shall not be held liable for any actions taken based on the information presented here.