Staff
Staff
Stanley Boynton, Executive Vice President
A native of Naples, Fla., Stanley Boynton has extensive professional experience in the non-profit world -- including fundraising and leadership -- both in the United States and Latin America. Boynton has lived and worked in Colombia, Puerto Rico, Panama and Guatemala. In the United States, he has worked for extensive periods of time for the Navajo Tribe in Ariz., Tuskegee University and the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee in Immokalee, Fla. A life-long environmentalist, he has served on the boards of the Panama Audubon Society and the Collier County Audubon Society. He studied at Eckerd College and the New School University. He speaks English and Spanish fluently. Boynton is a resident of South Miami.
Gloria Calle, Development Assistant
Gloria Calle joins the Foundation as the development assistant. Prior to her position with the Everglades Foundation, she worked at Excalibur Electronics, Inc., an international electronics product company. The long-time Miami resident was formerly employed with the multi-national oil and gas company, Cooper Energy Services. She is a graduate of Grace Institute Business School in New York City.
Stephen E. Davis III, Ph.D., Wetland Ecologist
Davis, a native of Ohio, graduated from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky., with a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science. In addition, he attended Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky., and received a master’s degree in biological and environmental science. He attained his doctorate of philosophy in Miami, Fla., from Florida International University. In his role as wetland ecologist with the Foundation, Davis continues his extensive body of wetland research that dates back more than a decade -- most recently at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas -- where he served as an assistant professor then associate professor for the past eight years. Davis leads Everglades research projects on mangrove wetland biogeochemistry and carbon dynamics.
Susan B. Ervin, Vice President of Development
Susan B. Ervin is an accomplished development and external relations professional with 20 years' experience in comprehensive fundraising programs with nationally recognized health, education and arts institutions. Most recently, Ervin was the executive director of major gifts for the Hussman Institute for Human Genomics at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. In previous professional capacities, Ervin served as the development director for several Miami organizations including the University of Miami's School of Business Administration and the Miami Art Museum. Ervin is a board member of Locust Projects in Miami and a member of the Rotary Club of Miami. She graduated from St. Mary's University San Antonio, Texas, with both a bachelor's and master's degree in English-Communications.
Kirk Fordham, Chief Executive Officer
Kirk Fordham is a veteran political operative, having worked on numerous House and Senate campaigns. He currently serves as chief executive officer of the Everglades Foundation. Previously, Fordham worked as head of Rock Creek Strategies, his own public affairs and government relations firm. For 14 years, he served as a chief of staff and senior legislative staffer on Capitol Hill for three Members of Congress. In 2004, he was the architect of the successful fundraising effort for then-HUD Secretary Mel Martinez's winning Senate campaign. A graduate of the University of Maryland-College Park, Fordham is a native of Rochester, New York, and now lives in Miami.
Jerry Karnas, Director of Communications
(Bio coming soon)
Nancy Hill,Executive Assistant to the CEO
Nancy Hill is the executive assistant to the chief executive officer of the Everglades Foundation. Hill joins the Foundation following her employment in a variety of high-level legal, executive and accounting administrative positions. Before joining the Everglades Foundation, she worked at several companies providing administrative support, executive assistance and office coordination to top executives in the Miami area. Originally from Buffalo, NY, she attended Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. She also attended and graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe. Hill has been a resident of Miami for more than 30 years.
Vivian Miller,Everglades Education and Outreach Director
Vivian Miller is the Foundation's Everglades education and outreach director. In her role, Miller will be coordinating Everglades tours and educational briefings for lawmakers and supporters to educate them about the benefits of restoration. Prior to her position with the Everglades Foundation, Miller was director of community relations at the University of Miami. She also worked at Florida International University as the community and alumni coordinator for the College of Architecture and the Arts. She graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s in anthropology and obtained her masters at the University of Miami.
G. Melodie Naja, Ph. D., Water Quality Scientist
G. Melodie Naja is the Foundation's water quality scientist. Prior to joining the Everglades Foundation, Naja—a former resident of Montreal, Canada, and graduate of University Henry Poincaré in Nancy, France--was a research officer at the National Research Council of Canada and visiting professor at McGill University in Montreal. She holds a bachelor’s degree in physical chemistry, a master’s degree in molecular and physical chemistry and her doctorate in environmental physical chemistry and chemical engineering, all from the University Henry Poincaré. Naja has conducted research as a consultant for government institutions, non-governmental organizations and the corporate sector.Naja has a penchant for delighting the Foundation staff with offerings of the Middle Eastern pistachio and honey-laden dessert known as bird nest.
Tom Van Lent, Ph.D., Senior Scientist
Runner, swimmer, bike rider, aficionado of Icelandic poetry, soccer referee...Thomas Van Lent is a 21st-century Renaissance man. In addition to aforementioned pursuits, Van Lent is currently the senior scientist at the Everglades Foundation, where he works on providing scientific and technical support to non-governmental environmental organizations supported by the Foundation. His responsibilities include presenting expert analysis of hydrologic, engineering, and ecological information to assist in development of Everglades restoration alternatives and meeting Everglades restoration and protection objectives. Van Lent has a distinguished career as a scientist and engineer. He graduated from South Dakota State University before attending the University of Minnesota and Stanford University where he received master’s and doctorate’s degrees respectively. He has also worked at the South Florida Water Management District, Everglades National Park and as an assistant professor at South Dakota State University. Van Lent is a resident of the Florida Keys and received the George M. Barley Conservationist of the Year Award for his ability to convey highly technical information in understandable terms to decision-makers on Everglades restoration.
