Committees, Committee Chairpersons and Duties

We need your help! Please volunteer today to assist on a committee. Email the committee chairperson of your choice.
For further details of the activities of each committee see FISC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Bylaws

The Bylaws Committee proposes appropriate bylaws amendments and incorporates approved amendments into the bylaws. The bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present at any legally constituted meeting of the FISC. 

Chair:  Brian Lockwood
National Park Service
Brian_Lockwood@nps.gov

 

CISMA (Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area) Grant

The CISMA Grant Committee is responsible for providing funding and soliciting grant proposals from Florida CISMAs who will advance the FISC and the Florida Invasive Species Partnership (FISP) missions through partnership led efforts (e.g. events, workshops, workdays, outreach, etc.), which focus on non-native invasive plants and their impacts on the natural areas and economy of Florida.

Chair: Deb Stone
debitharp@ufl.edu

 

Control and Evaluation

The Control and Evaluation Committee develops field demonstration sites to educate FISC members and the public about the most effective methods for controlling invasive plants.

Chair: Greg MacDonald
UF/IFAS Agronomy Department
Professor of Agronomy and Weed Science
(352) 294-1594
pineacre@ufl.edu

 

Education Grant

The Education Grant Committee reviews proposals submitted to the FISC Kathy Craddock Burks Education and Outreach Grants Program. These grants support education programs aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of invasive plants throughout Florida.

Chair: Sarah Martin Kittredge
South Florida Land Conservation Manager
The Nature Conservancy
Sarah.kittredge@tnc.org
567-744-6668 x 102

 

Finance

The Finance Committee oversees the financial matters of the FISC and develops recommendations regarding finance-related issues for the FISC Board of Directors that represent the best interest and financial well-being of the organization.

Chair: Vacant

 

Legislative

The Legislative Committee keeps the FISC Board and members informed about existing, pending, or needed legislative or regulatory actions and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the course of action to be taken.

Chair: Melissa Smith
USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory
Melissa.smith@ars.usda.gov

 

Membership

The Membership Committee maintains the membership database with information provided by the Treasurer and online membership renewals, provides current mailing lists of the membership to the Board as needed, notifies members when renewals are due, and assists the Board with developing membership strategies/campaigns.

Chair: Allegra Buyer Seminole County Natural Lands
abuyer@seminolecountyfl.gov 850-245-3112

 

Merchandise

The Merchandise Committee makes recommendations to the Board on FISC merchandise to be sold at annual symposium for fund-raising.

Chair: Vacant

 

Nominations

The Nominations Committee makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on future Board members. The Past Chair may serve as Nominations Committee Chair.

Chair: Jim Burney
Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc.
(561) 845-5525
jburney@avcaquatic.com

 

Outreach

The Outreach Committee provides outreach concerning the activities of the FISC.

Chair: Vacant

 

Plant Industry Liaison

The Plant Industry Liaison Committee maintains a dialogue with the nursery industry to identify areas of agreement and cooperation between FISC and the industry, explore resolution of disagreements, and to clarify misperceptions held by either group.

Chair: Chris Marble
Associate Professor
University of Florida, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center
marblesc@ufl.edu

 

Plant List

The Plant List Committee develops and maintains a list of Florida’s most invasive plant species. The list is updated every two years.

Co-Chair: Dennis Giardina
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
dennis.giardina@myfwc.com

Co-Chair: Erick Revuelta
St Johns River Water Management District
erevuelt@sjrwmd.com

 

Research Grant

The Research Grant Committee determines research priorities as requested by the Board of Directors. Reviews research proposals submitted to the FISC Julia Morton Invasive Plant Research Grants Program and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Chair: Carey Minteer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Weed Biological Control
Indian River Research and Education Center
2199 South Rock Road, Ft. Pierce
(772) 577-7379
c.minteerkillian@ufl.edu

 

Social Media

Chair: Veronica Runge
City of Sanibel, Natural Resource Department
veronica.runge@mysanibel.com

 

Strategic Planning

SOP’s being developed

Chair: Vacant

 

Symposium Planning:

Silent Auction

Chair: Vacant

Symposium CEUs

The Symposium CEU Committee makes arrangements for Continuing Education Units at the annual symposium related to the goals and objectives of the FISC.

Chair: Carl “C.J.” Greene
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(407) 349-0551
Carl.Greene@myFWC.com

Symposium Field Trips

The Symposium Field Trips Committee makes arrangements, disseminates information, and handles registration for field trips at the annual symposium.

Chair: Vacant

Symposium Local Arrangements

The Local Arrangements Committee makes arrangements for the annual symposium site and associated physical requirements of the FISC’s annual symposium.

Chair: Carl “C.J.” Greene
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(407) 349-0551
Carl.Greene@myFWC.com

Symposium Program

The Symposium Program Committee develops the objectives and theme for the annual symposium and implements the annual symposium program.

Chair: Taylor Clark
St Johns River Water Management District
tclark@sjrwmd.com

Sponsors

The Sponsors Committee serves as liaison with vendors and manufacturers of herbicides, adjuvants, equipment, and invasive control services to gain financial support for activities that further the goals and mission of the FISC.

Chair: Carey Minteer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Weed Biological Control
Indian River Research and Education Center
2199 South Rock Road, Ft. Pierce
(772) 577-7379
c.minteerkillian@ufl.edu

 

Website

The Website Committee maintains and updates the official FISC website in accordance with the guidelines determined by the Board and facilitated by the Website Liaison.

Chair: Chuck Bargeron
University of Georgia
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
(229) 386-3298
cbargero@uga.edu

 

Website Committee Liaison

Lynn Proenza
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Lynn.Proenza@myFWC.com

 

Task Forces

Each FISC Species Task Force provides an ongoing forum to share information about the biology, distribution and control of the involved species. Each Task Force shall develop a statewide management plan, generate fact sheets, brochures, etc., and maintain a clearinghouse file of information on the involved species. Each Task Force Chair serves as the primary point of contact to the general public, policy makers, and the media on matters related to the involved species.

 

Brazilian Pepper

Chair: Dale A. Halbritter
USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory
Dale.Halbritter@ars.usda.gov

 

Chinese Tallow

Chair: Greg Wheeler
USDA/ARS Invasive Plant Research
(954) 475-6546
Greg.wheeler@ars.usda.gov

 

Dioscorea

Chair: Christopher Kerr
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry
Methods Development and Biological Control
(352) 395-4746
Christopher.Kerr@freshfromflorida.com

 

Grasses

Chair: Greg MacDonald
University of Florida
Department of Agronomy
(352) 294-1594
pineacre@ufl.edu

 

Lygodium

Chair: LeRoy Rodgers III
South Florida Water Management District
(561) 682-2773
lrodgers@sfwmd.gov