FEHA Board of Directors

Sonia Cruz, Ph.D., C.E.H.P.
Executive Director


Dr. Cruz received a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1970 followed by a Master of Science in Biology in 1977 from the University of Puerto Rico.  In 1991, she received a Doctorate of Philosophy in Marine Sciences also from the University of Puerto Rico.  Dr. Cruz holds certifications in Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal, Food Protection, Contract Management and is a Certified Pool/Spa Operator.  Sonia began her career in Environmental Health as an Environmental Specialist I with the Seminole County Health Department in 1991.  She obtained a position with the Bureau of Onsite Sewage Programs at the Florida Department of Health in 1995 where she remained until she retired as an Environmental Health Program Consultant in 2008.  Upon retirement, Dr. Cruz started her own environmental consulting and training company.  Prior to her career in Environmental Health, Dr. Cruz was an Associate Professor in Biology for the University of Puerto Rico and Ponce Technological University College (1972 - 1990) and was an Adjunct Professor in the Biology Department for Seminole Community College (1991 - 1995).  Sonia has written many articles which have been published in nationally recognized environmental health-related magazines.  Dr. Cruz has been a member of FEHA since 1994 and served as the Secretary for the Board of Directors from 1997 - 2001.



Charles H. Henry
President

Charles Henry has been a member of the Florida Environmental Health Association since 2000 and served as a member of the AEM planning committee before his mid-term appointment to First Vice President to fill a vacancy.  He has 30 years of combined public health experience in military and state public health programs, including service with the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and an Environmental Health Officer. His career start in environmental public health began in 1987 when he was assigned to the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center at Ft. Detrick, MD. While there, he authored intelligence studies focusing on environmental public health issues and conditions in North Africa and the Horn of Africa. Chuck received his B.S. from Southern Illinois University and his M.P.A. in Health Care Administration from Troy State University. He is credentialed as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian and has been a credentialed member of the National Environmental Health Association since 1989. Chuck is also a 2008 graduate of the National Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute and serves as a mentor for current Fellows attending the institute. In 2001, Chuck retired from the Navy and moved to Florida where he continues his environmental public health career. In his current position as Environmental Administrator at the Sarasota County Health Department, he administers a broad multi-disciplined environmental public health program serving the citizens of Sarasota County with a staff of 45. His work interests include; environmental public health workforce development, smart growth, sustainability, and support of healthy communities initiatives.


Shaun May, CEHP
President Elect

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Shaun was born in Peterborough, England and did not live in the US permanently until he was 16 yrs old.  He graduated with a BS in Biology from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC in 2002.  Shaun currently lives in Niceville, FL.

Shaun has been with the FDOH in EH for over 7 years. He started as an ESI in Franklin County and worked there for 1.5 years. He then took a position in Santa Rosa County as an ESI, just in time for Hurricane Ivan.  He survived Ivan and took a supervisor job in Okaloosa County after about 6 months and was in that position for about 5 years.  He is currently the EH Director of the Okaloosa County Health Department.

Shaun is very active in the Emerald Coast FEHA and is serving his second term as the District Chair.  They have a great leadership team and focus over the past two years has been membership expansion, chapter marketing, volunteerism, charity work, and the expansion of CEU opportunities in all EH fields.  He has been a member of FEHA since 2005.  Shaun’s former boss and good friend, Bill Sirmans, got him involved in FEHA.  Little did he know that Bill was actually grooming him to replace Bill as District chair.  Shaun indicated that Bill taught him allot and he is truly thankful to him for encouraging him to get involved with FEHA.

Shaun has indicated; “I am enjoying the joys of home ownership as my hobby, mainly consisting of remodeling.  I am working on my MPH thru UWF so I don't have much free time, but I do enjoy getting out on my boat, trying to take money off my brother and friends in a friendly golf game, and spoiling my dog Max”.


Robert Maglievaz
1st Vice President




Mary Howard
2nd Vice President



Gale Tucker-Disney
Past President

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In 2009, Gale Tucker-Disney was elected as President-Elect.   Gale has over 20 years of service with the Duval County Health Department.  As Environmental Administrator of the Division of Environmental Health, she oversees the day-to-day operations of over 50 trained professionals in many diverse programs which serves a county with one of the largest geographical areas in the nation. 

In 2006, Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards were awarded to four programs under her management for the outstanding accomplishments made as a result of utilizing positive leadership skills to reorganize and motivate staff to become more efficient.   Although her programs have performed exceptionally well, Gale considers development of her staff her greatest achievement.

Most recently, Gale was awarded the 2009 Prudential-Davis Award for Demonstrated Leadership Excellence in Advocacy of Public Health, a much deserved recognition.

Gale served as FEHA President during the 2010-2011 term.

Vacant
Secretary



Kim Duffek
Treasurer




Howard Rosen, R.S.
Registration Board Chairperson



Heather Skowron
Journal Editor




Scott Turner, R.S., M.P.A.
Director  2011-2014

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Scott Turner, R.S., M.P.A., holds a BS in Ecological and Evolutionary Biology from the University of West Florida.  He also earned his Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Florida.  Scott has been a member of FEHA since 1998 and received his RS in 1999.  Scott was instrumental in re-establishing the First Coast District FEHA and has served as the Vice-Chairman of his District since 2004; he spent much of his time developing training opportunities for CEHP’s, RS’s, and qualified contractors in the Northeast Florida area.  In 2007, he was nominated and elected 1st Vice President of FEHA; in this capacity, Scott worked in close cooperation with FEHA President Emily Wilson and FEHA Executive Director Bridget Anderson, to plan and direct the 60th FEHA Annual Education Meeting and Trade Show in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Scott served as FEHA President during the 2009-2010 term. 


Ed Bettinger
Director  2011-2014



Jill Wallace  
Director  2010-2013

Jill Wallace graduated from Florida Southern College with a BS in Biology.  In 1995, she took a job at a local blood center where she became licensed as a medical technologist.  In 1999, Jill went to work for the Polk County Health Department (PCHD) as an Environmental Specialist.  In 2000, She joined FEHA and was awarded the Rookie of the Year.  While at the PCHD, Jill was certified in Food and OSTS through the FDOH, certified as a Lead Risk Assessor through the EPA and earned her REHP through FEHA.  She has worked in nearly all areas of Environmental Health.  When she left, Jill was the Biomedical Waste Coordinator for Highlands, Hardee, and Polk Counties.  In 2005, the blood center asked for her return; they had a Class II Medical Device that requried validation to FDA Quality Regulations.  As part of the validation process, Jill applied HACCP principles to create user manuals and developed an extensive Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (risk analysis,).  In 2008, Jill became ceritfied through the American Society of Quality (ASQ) as a Quality Auditor, began performing blood processing laboratory audits and directed multiple audits by FDA. 

Just for fun, Jill trains dogs for competition, therapy work, and service work; she teaches obedience classes one night a week and is President of a local competition group.  She is a huge proponent of education, believing that learning is a life long process and without it our lives become stagnant.  Jill feels FEHA, as an organization, has the same foundation.  Having been an active member since joining, Jill has served on the finance committee, as Secretary of FEHA Central District, and attended Annual Education Meetings over the past few years, even when assocatied costs come from her own pocket. She is honored to have been nominated and elected as 2nd Vice President and welcomes the opportunity to serve.

Tim Wallace
Director  2010-2013 
 

Tim Wallace has worked the field of Environmental Health since 1990 for the Pinellas, Volusia County Health Departments and the Division of Environmental Health in Tallahassee.  As an Environmental Health Program Consultant, he currently coordinates the indoor air program in the Bureau of Community Environmental Health dealing with issues like corrosive drywall, carbon monoxide, mold and moisture and other building related issues.  He serves is an instructor for the Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners Course, a member of the Region II Environmental Health Strike Team, and a field specialist on the state radiological incident response team.  Tim was awarded the RS credential by the FEHA Registration Board in 1999 and the CEHP credential by the FL DOH in 1995.  He served as the FEHA Halifax District Chairman from 1995 to 1996.  He served as the FEHA AEM breakout session moderator/speaker, “official” photographer and a plenary session speaker, and has assisted two 1st vice presidents in the planning and execution of the FEHA AEM in 2008 and 2009. 

Elke Ursin
Director  2009-2012

IMG_5963.jpg Elke Ursin is a graduate of The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Mathematical Biology.  She currently is the Research Coordinator for the Bureau of Onsite Sewage Programs.  Some of her job duties include designing research projects on the performance and environmental impacts of onsite sewage systems; managing research contracts; applying for grant funding; analyzing data; and reviewing, writing, and publishing reports on research results.  She also serves as the staff liaison to the Research Review and Advisory Committee for the Onsite Sewage Program.  Previous to her current position she has worked as a field inspector and plan reviewer in the onsite sewage program in Orange and Seminole County Health Departments since 2001.  She also started her own business in 2008, which has given her a solid background in many aspects of successfully running a business.

In mid 2004 Elke Ursin became a member of the Florida Environmental Health Association.  Her interest in the success of this organization has led her to become deeply involved in many different areas.  Currently she is the Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Florida Journal of Environmental Health, Vice-Chair of the Public Relations Committee, member of the Finance Committee, Director for FEHA from 2006-2009, and was  re-elected as Director for the 2009-2012 term.

Elke is extremely dedicated to moving FEHA in a positive direction and is excited to continue to support some of the new advancements FEHA will see in the future.

Bob Vincent, R.S.
Director  2009-2012


Bob is a Florida native, has been a member since '84, an RS since '86, is currently an Environmental Administrator for the DOH Bureau of Water Programs managing the Pool, Healthy Beaches, Limited Use & Safe Drinking Water programs with a BS from UCF and MPA from FSU.  Currently is NEHA's drinking water/water pollution technical chair, serves on EPA's national drinking water advisory council, and the CDC's model aquatic health code steering committee.  Has FEHA 'Life' membership, been on the RS Board over a decade, was FEHA President in 1992, and was honored with the 2006 Charlie Rhodes Award.

Anthony Makielski, R.E.H.P.
Web Site Designer-Editor
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Anthony Makielski, R.E.H.P. received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the Florida State University in April of 2002 and currently works for the Brevard County Health Department’s Environmental Health Services as the Assistant Environmental Manager.  Anthony has worked in the field of environmental health for 9 years and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health from the University of South Florida.  He has been an active member of the Florida Environmental Health Association since 2003 and served as the FEHA Central District Chairperson from 2006-2007 and Director from 2008-2011.

Eberhard Roeder
Big Bend District Chairperson



Mary Howard
Central District Chairperson



Trisha Dall
Emerald Coast District Chairperson



Gale Tucker-Disney
First Coast District Chairperson

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In 2008, Gale Tucker-Disney was elected as First Coast District's Chairperson.   Gale has over 20 years of service with the Duval County Health Department.  As Environmental Administrator of the Division of Environmental Health, she oversees the day-to-day operations of over 50 trained professionals in many diverse programs which serves a county with one of the largest geographical areas in the nation. 

In 2006, Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards were awarded to four programs under her management for the outstanding accomplishments made as a result of utilizing positive leadership skills to reorganize and motivate staff to become more efficient.   Although her programs have performed exceptionally well, Gale considers development of her staff her greatest achievement.

Most recently, Gale was awarded the 2009 Prudential-Davis Award for Demonstrated Leadership Excellence in Advocacy of Public Health, a much deserved recognition. 

Gale served as FEHA President during the 2010-2011 term.

Sunday Adesina
Gold Coast District Chairperson



Jim Love, REHS
Gulf Coast District Chairperson


Jim Love has been employed by the Florida Department of Health since 1994. He is both a Registered Sanitarian with FEHA, and a Registered Environmental Health Specialist with NEHA. He joined FEHA in 1998, and has served as the Gulf Coast District Chairman (continuously) since 1999. He served as the Environmental Health Director for the Hendry and Glades County Health Departments for 6 years before returning to Lee County to his present position there as Environmental Administrator.

Ed Schreck
Halifax District Chairperson



Mark Lander, MS
Suwannee River District Chairperson 



Vacant
Tampa Bay District Chairperson



Lauren Broom
Treasure Coast District Chairperson



Bill Tennant, R.S.
Executive Director Emeritus 


Billy G. Tennant was a founding member of FEHA and started his EH career as a Junior Sanitarian in 1946 and "retired" in 1981 to become FEHA's second Executive Director.  FEHA's most prestigious award, the Billy G. Tennant Award, recognizes accomplishments, which have occurred over a long period of time, of environmental health professionals.

Read A Salute to "Mr. FEHA" and An Interview with Billy G. Tennant, R.S. to learn more about this accomplished individual.

Kurt Jennings
FEHA Historian



 
 


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