PRESS
RELEASE: July 29, 2015
ROOKERY BAY RESERVE WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR
~Keith Laakkonen steps into the role with extensive experience and knowledge~
Keith Laakkonen
NAPLES, Fla. – The
Florida Department of Environmental Protection has announced Keith Laakkonen as
the new southwest regional administrator for the Florida Coastal Office and
director at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Laakkonen’s duties include managing
the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, as well as the 12 aquatic
preserves within the Florida Coastal Office’s southwest region. He will also coordinate with
local, state and federal agencies on coastal management, listed species
conservation, watershed management and environmental education and outreach.
“Keith comes to us with a good
working knowledge of our programs, strong management skills and ability to
further all the great ongoing work in the Southwest Region and across the
Florida Coastal Office,’’ said Kevin Claridge, director of the Florida Coastal
Office.
Laakkonen, a former DEP employee, returns to the department
after seven years with the town of Fort Myers Beach where he served as
environmental sciences coordinator with responsibility for implementing the
town’s natural resource management goals, which included hydrologic restoration
and management of prescribed fires, exotic plants, animals and public
access.
“I am excited and humbled by the
opportunity to come back to Rookery Bay Reserve and work with some of the most
amazing employees in the state," said Keith Laakkonen. "The
Florida Coastal Office is dedicated to research and monitoring, education and
protecting our natural resources. It feels great to come home.”
A native Floridian, Laakkonen
worked previously for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the
Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas for eight years. During his tenure
he served as a land management coordinator at Charlotte Harbor State Buffer
Preserve from 2000-03; as the preserve manager from 2004 to 2005 for St.
Martin’s Marsh Aquatic and Buffer Preserve and Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic
Preserve; and as the stewardship coordinator from 2005 to 2007 at Rookery Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Laakkonen began his career as an
intern conducting research on American alligators with the Florida Fish &
Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit in Gainesville after graduating with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida
in 1998.
Laakkonen replaces
Gary Lytton who retired after 30 years of service with the department.
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