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Department of Geography Advisory Board

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Field Program Supervisor
St. Johns River Water Management District
cmcanas@gmail.com

Dr. Carlos Canas is a physical geographer with an established career in the study of freshwater environments. He has worked in the Amazon Basin for 20 years as part of Peruvian and international working groups composed of NGOs, museums, and universities. This association of private sector & academia developed basic and applied research that was reflected on scientific papers, guidelines for local fishery management, wetland policy, and educational material for freshwater conservation. Currently, Carlos works

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Program Manager
NASA Ames Research Center
samiah.moustafa@nasa.gov

Dr. Samiah Moustafa is a dedicated researcher, educator, and mentor with over a decade of rich experience in scientific research, specializing in Geographic Information Science, Climate, and Arctic Sciences, to understand the changing dynamics in the Cryosphere. Beyond research, Samiah is deeply passionate about fostering the next generation of scholars and environmental leaders. Samiah has expertise in curriculum development, inclusive teaching pedagogy, and project-based learning to empower numerous undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scholars. In addition

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President
Poehling Capital Management
trpoehling@poehlingcapital.com

Mr. Tom Poehling serves as the President & Chief Investment Officer for Poehling Capital Management. He has over 30 years of experience in the investment industry and co-founded the firm in 2004. Tom earned two undergraduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Madison School of Business - Finance, Investment & Banking and Marketing. He is a strong believer in the teachings of Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham. An advocate of lifelong learning, Tom regularly

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President
Storm L. Richards & Assoc., Inc. DBE
slra@bellsouth.net

Dr. Jeanne Fillman-Richards, a distinguished figure in the field of environmental consulting and assessment, has dedicated an illustrious 35-year career to the preservation and enhancement of our natural world. As the President of Storm L. Richards & Assoc., Inc., she has been a driving force in environmental excellence. Dr. Fillman-Richards embarked on her academic journey at the University of South Carolina, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, Geography, and Psychology in

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Principal Engineer
Storm L. Richards & Assoc., Inc. DBE

Dr. Storm L. Richards is a distinguished figure in the field of environmental planning and consulting, with an impressive 35-year career dedicated to environmental excellence. As the Principal of Storm L. Richards & Associates, Inc., he has been instrumental in shaping the industry. Dr. Richards' academic journey commenced at the University of Florida, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Archaeology with honors in 1973. His passion for the environment and

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Associate Director for Research
Florida Sea Grant College Program
University of Florida
csidman@ufl.edu

Dr. Charles Sidman is an alumnus of the University of Florida’s Geography Department, where he specialized in the application of geospatial technologies to quantify environmental and social impacts related to anchoring and recreational activities in popular southwest Florida boating destinations. He developed and applied this line of research in a decade-long program to characterize the spatial patterns of recreational boating and its impact within Florida’s shallow bays and estuarine environments. These studies were built upon

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Meteorologist
First Coast News
leesouthwickwx@gmail.com

Lee Southwick is a meteorologist at First Coast News in Jacksonville, FL. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Geography in 2018, then acquired her Master of Science in Applied Meteorology from Mississippi State University in 2020. She worked at WSFA in Montgomery, AL, and WDSU in New Orleans, LA, picking up multiple Emmy and Murrow awards before making her way back to Jacksonville. Lee is passionate about meteorology

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Customer Success Manager
Planet
joel.wolfson@planet.com

Joel Wolfson is a technology professional who is passionate about process improvement through geospatial methodologies. He has worked in the defense, engineering and space sectors solving problems for both small businesses and Fortune 500 companies for nearly 10 years. Joel has gotten the chance to travel around the world and touch just about every type of geospatial project allowing him to understand success, identify failure and demonstrate the business value of a GIS. Most operations