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 The FWC Employee eNewsletter
December 2021
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 The next Commission meeting will take place Dec. 15-16 at The Henderson Beach Resort, 200 Henderson Resort Way, Destin, Florida 32541. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. CT each day and is open to the public.
The full December 15-16 agenda and links to background report are online. Those who cannot attend can follow coverage at Twitter.com/MyFWC (@MyFWC) and sign up for news updates at MyFWC.com. Check the Florida Channel for possible live video coverage at TheFloridaChannel.org.
 Friday, Dec. 10 from noon until 1 p.m. ET
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Please mute the microphone and turn off webcam. Raise ‘hand’ or use chat for Q&A.
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 North Atlantic right whale calving season is upon us – the first mother-calf pair was recently sighted off Charleston, SC. The mother has yet to be identified, so stay tuned!
Each year, pregnant females make their way south along the Atlantic coast to Florida-Georgia to give birth and nurse their young during the winter months. Sadly, right whales are at risk.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the number of right whales slowly increased, reaching a high near 500 individuals in 2010 but the population has been in a steep decline in recent years, dropping from 368 to 336 individuals between 2019 and 2020. These critically endangered whales are a long-lived species and have shown that they can rebound if given the opportunity.
Vessel strikes and entanglement in commercial fishing gear, such as lobster and crab pots, are major threats to right whales. Three calves were killed by vessel strike between 2020-2021 and over 85% of the North Atlantic right whale population has been entangled at least once. Chronic entanglements are thought to be one reason that females are having fewer calves and taking longer to have calves. Adult females face extremely high energetic demands associated with pregnancy and nursing and have a lower survival rate than males. Currently, there are about 70 breeding females in the population.
10 things you should know about North Atlantic right whales.
Learn more: Right whale unusual mortality event.
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 FWRI researchers out on the Chipola River encountered this channel catfish with black blotches on the skin and tail. The dark blotches are referred to as melanosis (or hyperpigmented melanosis). Melanosis in fishes is fairly rare and it's unknown whether it occurs at birth or develops at some point later in the fish’s life. The dark blotches are a skin pigmentation and should not affect the quality of the flesh for human consumption.
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 The FWC is hosting a virtual Gopher Tortoise Research Symposium on Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 12:30 - 3 p.m. to showcase research that can help inform conservation for gopher tortoises and their commensals. The public is welcome to join via Microsoft Teams online (Click here to join the meeting), and there will be time for questions after each presentation. A public conference call option is not available. An agenda will be posted in a subsequent notice closer to the symposium date.
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 Q: Do I have a world-record sized sand dollar?
A: It’s complicated…
This is a question our biologists at the Florida Biodiversity Collection often hear. And the answer is typically complicated because different sand dollar species attain different maximum sizes and, on top of that, the Guinness World Records doesn’t offer a sand dollar record size.
To help answer this question, our collection managers came up with some quantifiable data: the largest (total length) specimens of five sand dollar species held in FWRI’s Florida Biodiversity Collection. While other museums might have larger species and larger specimens, these sizes are a fair guide for “large sand dollars” found in Florida’s waters.
So, do you have a world-record sized sand dollar? If you’ve found one larger than these, you just might!
 Horseshoe crabs mate year-round, but spring and fall is peak mating season! Be a citizen scientist and report horseshoe crab sightings using Survey123: Ttinyurl.com/HSCSurvey123
Beachgoers will likely have the best luck spotting horseshoe crabs around high tide, within three days of a new or full moon. Your report provides FWC biologists with important population distribution information. Although horseshoe crabs have existed for about 450 million years, their numbers have declined due to overfishing and loss of habitat. If you see a horseshoe crab on its back, gently pick it up (holding both sides of the shell) and release it back into the water. Simple actions like this can help conserve this species.
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 Charlie Gardner from FWRI’s Fisheries Dependent Monitoring and Gina Russo from MFM’s Outreach and Education section teamed up for this year’s Great American Teach-In at East Lake Middle School Academy of Engineering to teach students about fisheries and wildlife research, conservation and what they can do to be good stewards of our natural resources. Charlie brought in lots of show-and-tell items and floored the kids with his 80 years of knowledge and cool stories! Gina tied in conservation and importance of protecting our environment. It was a tag-team sensation! Kids were talking about it the rest of the day and even got a take home gift.
GATI occurs the third week of November each year in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. It is designed to bring people in from the community to teach classes and talk about their careers, hobbies, organize a fun activity or just to read a book to the kids for an hour. If you think you have a cool job and lots of stories to tell, plan for GATI next year, November 16 & 17, 2022!
 
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 Florida TaxWatch Productivity Awards has been recognizing and rewarding innovative state employees and programs for more than 30 years! Whether it be saving taxpayer money through an innovative process, improving the quality of our interactions with the public or showing initiative tackling problems to help our constituents, any FWC employee or group that has shown a commitment to excellence qualifies.
Last year FWC submitted 12 nominations & received seven recognitions/awards including one winner in the Agency/Large Team category.
If you are or know of an employee or group who have shown a commitment to excellence, we need you to work with the FWC TaxWatch Team to create nominations that recognize and promote FWC achievements or innovation.
The deadline for submitting ideas is December 15, 2021.
The process is simple:
- Go to the FWC TaxWatch SharePoint site to Prepare & Submit a 2021 TaxWatch Award Nomination.
- Choose a category for your nomination idea.
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Agency of the Year - development or implementation of an effort or new program that has improved the quality of life or delivery of service to a significant number of Floridians.
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Technology/Innovation – utilization or creation of new technological or innovative solutions to make the state more responsive to and/or effective for taxpayers.
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Quality of Life – document remarkable steps to make Florida an even more attractive place to live, work and play.
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Service Delivery Improvement - dramatically improved the quality and efficiency of the delivery of service to taxpayers in any area of state government.
- Draft a nomination using a Nomination Prep Sheet.
- Copy and paste information from your Nomination Prep Sheet to a FWC online Nomination.
That’s it!
Contact the FWC TaxWatch Team if you have questions or need help developing your idea.
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  FWC welcomed 41 new officers to the Division of Law Enforcement in a graduation ceremony on Friday, October 29, 2021 at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy outside of Tallahassee.
 Lt. Col. Escanio, Deputy Chief Boyd, Maj. Maza, Maj. Rondeau and numerous officers, family members, friends and staff gathered for the promotional ceremony of Captains Andy Carcasses and Randy Yanez. Congratulations Captains Carcasses and Yanez!
 
  Marine Fisheries Management federal fisheries management section leader, Martha Guyas, recently said her goodbye’s to the agency, as she moves on to a position with the American Sportfishing Association.
Martha has been with the division since 2008 and has been a leader in fisheries management for the agency, presenting issues to the Commission and helping plan the future management of Florida’s federal fisheries. Martha also served as the FWC representative on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, where she was recently elected Vice Chair.
During her time, she led the agency through several groundbreaking changes from rulemaking to make bonefish catch-and-release only to designing a 200+ page marine life identification guide for LE and the industry on the hundreds of aquarium trade species. More recently, as the federal fisheries management lead, she helped in the transition of Gulf recreational red snapper harvest from being a federally-managed fishery to Florida managing the fishery in both state and federal waters, a first for a species of this caliber. She also helped with the creation of the State Reef Fish Survey that has allowed us to successfully manage recreational red snapper in state and federal waters of the Gulf.
We have been more than lucky to have had Martha on our staff and she will be sorely missed. Congratulations Martha.
 Executive Director Eric Sutton, Assistant Executive Director Dr. Thomas Eason and Chief of Staff Jennifer Fitzwater hosted the OED annual awards on Nov. 29. Awards and 30-year Service Recognitions went to:
Collaboration Award: Sarah Funck, HSC
Customer Service Award: Sharon Lyons, Regional Operations
Excellence in Administrative Support Award: Arielle Callender, Regional Operations
Leadership Award: Darlene Barry, Regional Operations
Personal Initiative Award: Terry Blackmon, Regional Operations
Superior Job Performance: Mike Hunter, CRO
Survivor Award: The FWRI IT Team: Justin Hooper, Matthew Lukasavage and Larry Smith, OIT
Team Spirit Award: Kim Branciforte (representing the All-Staff Meeting planning team)
OED Employee of the Year Award: Jordan Taylor, FBO
30-year Service Recognition
Kathy Barnes, OLP -- 31.75 years
Darlene Barry, NC Region -- 32.42 years
Brenda Brand, OLP Director -- 32.5 years
Toni Brannon, NW Region -- 42.42 years
Linda Brown, Chief Financial Office -- 35.67 years
Debbie Campa, Chief Financial Office -- 38.42 years
Joycelyn Dorsey, OLP -- 31.5 years
Linda Henderson, OED -- 50.17 years
Gus Holzer, CRO -- 41.25 years
Todd Holzworth, Chief Financial Office -- 33.08 years
Charlotte Jerrett, Chief Financial Officer -- 31.5 years
Carla Lambert, SW Region, -- 40.25 years
Tim Metcalf, OIT -- 33.33 years
Carol Lyn Parrish, CRO Director -- 30.42 years
Billy Sermons, Northwest Regional Director -- 34.17 years
Cindy Whittington, OLP -- 33.33 years
Greg Workman, Northeast Regional Director -- 32.25 years
 Citizens and FWC customers were so impressed by the following employees, they told us about it through email on the "Praise an Employee" page of MyFWC.com/Contact. When your coworkers receive kudos, help share the good news by contacting Kelly.Broderick@MyFWC.com.
Law Enforcement (two commendations)
In my opinion, FWC is the premier law enforcement agency in Florida.
My cousin and I had been hunting at J.W. Corbett and as we hiked out of the woods, we encountered two FWC officers. I’ve gotta say hands down best experience over. Wish I would have gotten both officers’ names. One officer asked for our permits and licenses as the other gave my cousin advice with a magazine issue on his AR. They wished us luck and went on their way. Great job to the FWC!
Jessica Cotton, Regional Operations
Jessica was extremely nice, she was very clear about the rules I was asking about, she cited the law specifically and helped me understand the rules needed. I am a new hunter and want to abide by the law and she gave a real sense of comfort by explaining the rules, regulations and licenses needed to go out and enjoy our state legally. I have been filled with worry over the past few months trying to figure out how to attack hunting as a newcomer. Jessica rid every worry I had. I couldn’t ask for more from my FWC as a whole. Thank you guys for the help and continued push for conserving the wildlife for people of the state to be able to harvest our natural resources and not feel the need of a grocery store. Its invigorating knowing I can get back to our roots as a human to provide for myself. I want to thank Jessica at the Northeast Call Center for helping me pursue my goal.
Alexis Gallant and John Webb (HSC)
Just wanted to give a shout out to John Webb and Alexis Gallant out at TM Goodwin for the great job on the youth hunt. Thye did a great job getting all the youth hunters – all 36 of them – through the lottery and picking great spots to get birds. Lots of happy kids with ducks. Some older savvy kids with limits and several with their first ducks. After the Continental breakfast and spot selection, everyone went out. I got to tag along with my granddaughter and son. She got a couple and I was as excited as she was, maybe more! No
Officer Keaton Hazelwood
I just wanted to thank the first offer who stopped and helped me. I was in Hardee County headed home to Polk County when my car stopped running. I was already having a panic attack and was in tears. He deserves the recognition for his service to this old woman. He saved me that day, along with two Hardee County officers.
Mark Jenkins and Tom Matthews (HSC)
Thank you very much for providing us equipment to maintain the Florida National Scenic Trail and all other trails in the FWC’s WMAs in our area. Our job will be much easier/faster/better because of your help.
Lt. Darrin Riley
Lt. Riley was exemplary. Period. He made your organization pure gold! I would like to reference this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MLAXADqw4Pc Which currently has approximately 780 THOUSAND VIEWS on two separate channels. Riley is the type of officer we can absolutely respect from the bottom of my heart. Riley handled the whole situation with respect, accurate knowledge of the law and he also showed kindness. That is so rare in policing these days. I know I speak for so many others when I say that I would LOVE to buy you a cold beer or a coffee and shake your hand. You, sir, are a true hero. Thank you so much for being HUMAN. That's all we want. Please stay safe out there, to all of you at FWC, thank you.
Officer Specialist Wayne Sapp
We were entering the Intracoastal Waterway from the St. Johns River after a day of fishing. We ran out of gas (faulty gauge). Officer Sapp just happened to be a couple hundred yards from us, issuing a citation. After signaling with my air horn, he came over and offered what I consider to be exceptional service to a stranded boater. Officer Sapp could have simply said call one of the towing companies. But he provided the name of a close marina and took me there to get 10 gallons of gas in loaner cans. He waited while I tried to get the engine primed and even called an FWC mechanic for some info. I struggled to get the prime ball to work. Officer Sapp made sure we would be safe and only left when he knew help was on the way. I eventually got the engine started, cancelled the tow call and returned the cans. What could have been a really bad day was overshadowed by the kindness of Officer Sapp.
 Congratulations to the following employees for reaching 5-year milestones of employment with the FWC.
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35 Years
Bob Glazer, FWRI
Gary Warren, FWRI
30 Years
Rick Spratt, HSC
25 Years
Lisa Gregg, MFM
20 Years
Steve Peak, HSC
Darrell Sims, LE
15 Years
Rhonda Howell, HSC
Caitlyn Kirkland, LE
Cheryl Pinkerton-Sisto, HSC
Jacob Tustison, LE
10 Years
Nicole Basford, LE
Amy Clifton, HSC
Jacob Cocke, LE
Brian Coffin, LE
John Conlin, LE
Jeremy Deweese, LE
Tom Gaylord, LE
Matthew Griffis, LE
Charlotte Jerrett, FBO
Bryan Little, LE
Justin C. Miller, LE
Justin W. Miller, LE
Paige Pestka, LE
David Read, LE
Wayne Sapp, LE
Megan Thomas, LE
Taylor Tison, LE 10
Joshua Troiano, LE
Clint Williams, LE
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5 Years
Michelle Pasawicz, HSC
David Schutt, HSC
Nickie Stricker, LE
3 Years
Darcy Doran-Myers, FWRI
Retired!
Juli Brown, LE – 36 Years
Darlene Barry, NC Region – 32 Years, 8 Months
Ann Forstchen, HSC – 31 Years, 4 Months
Beth Stys, FWRI – 30 Years
James Graham, MFM – 28 Years
Linda Collins, HGM – 20 Years, 7 Months
Lisa Monk, LE – 18 Years, 5 Months
Janice Kerber, OSI – 12 Years, 5 Months
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(The FWC has a great many non-FTE employees, and they deserve recognition for reaching 5-year milestones too. Unfortunately, the system doesn't keep track of such statistics; but we don't want that to stop us. If you know of a non-FTE employee about to reach a 5-year milestone, please notify the Inside Job by email.) |
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FWC employees have some of the most interesting jobs ever! Here are some of our employees doing what they do best. Send your photos of FWC employees in the office and in the field to Kelly.Broderick@MyFWC.com.
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 As part of the Bigs in Blue youth mentoring program, Officers Jesse Whitt, Miguel Despian, Julian Gazzola and Ronald Washington, Investigator Willie Almagro and Lieutenants Jeff Carroll, Chris Simons and Antonio Dominguez spent time with students at the Oleta River State Park and discussed their long-term goals. Great job mentoring future conservation officers!
 Officer James Presser was on water patrol near the Cape Florida Channel where he observed a vessel displaying fishing gear returning from offshore. A vessel stop was initiated to conduct a resource inspection. The resource inspection revealed that the two occupants onboard were in possession of four swordfish. The daily recreational bag limit for swordfish is one per person per day. The owner of the vessel was issued a Notice to Appear for possession of over the bag limit of swordfish.
  Officers Bennett Rodriguez and Austin Hoppe represented the FWC at the Great American Teach-In at Curtis Elementary School in Dunedin. Approximately 400 kids enjoyed learning about the officers' duties, the types of laws they enforce and boating safety. Officers Rodriguez and Hoppe brought a variety of equipment to the event as well as an American alligator.
 
 The Southwest Region’s Offshore Patrol Vessel crew were working a duck hunting detail during the pre-dawn hours in Pinellas County when they heard several gunshots. On the way to the area where the gunshots were heard, Officer Prouty noticed four male individuals picking a gillnet. Officers Alvis, Godfrey and Conrad quickly responded to the location to assist Officer Prouty. The four individuals were arrested and booked into the Pinellas County Jail on felony gillnet charges. Great job, Officers Prouty, Alvis, Godfrey, and Conrad!
  Southwest Region’s Dive team trained with Surface Supply Dive equipment at Lake Denton in Highlands County. Lt. Spoede led the team and officers Grenz, Burks and Gonzales all suited up.
 
  Southwest Region Officer Specialists Jeremy Birchfield and Mike Morrison represented FWC for Liberty Elementary School’s Family Fun night. Kids were treated to a ride in a swamp buggy, got to meet “Bitty” the alligator and were provided fun FWC promotional items. The event was extremely well attended and parents and kids alike had a great time! Great job Jeremy and Mike!
 Southwest Region’s PIO Adam Brown led an outreach in Charlotte County with over 45 homeschooled children and their family members. They discussed FWC’s role in the community, the importance of regulating Florida’s resources, and nearby fishing and hunting opportunities. This was a great opportunity for these families to network with each other while learning more about FWC in the process. The baby alligator stole the show of course!
 Dylan West, WHM Fish and Wildlife Technician at Dinner Island Ranch WMA, helps weigh drip torches in preparation for the HSC Prescribed Fire Physical Abilities Test.
 WHM biologists Rachel Taylor, Lauren Plussa and WynLyn McBride help put together the sled for the HSC Prescribed Fire Physical Abilities Test.
 WHM Administrative Secretary Summer Locke helps at the mop-up gravel station for the HSC Prescribed Fire Physical Abilities Test.
 WHM Senior Fish and Wildlife Technician Scott Henderson successfully completes the HSC Prescribed Fire Physical Abilities Test.
 WHM District Biologist Dan Mitchell successfully completes the hose pull section of the HSC Prescribed Fire Physical Abilities Test.
 South Region staff rest and chat in between the HSC Physical Abilities Test and Fire Shelter Refresher activities held recently at Dinner Island Ranch WMA.
 Eric Suarez, South Region Conservation Biologist and self-proclaimed PAT world record holder, demonstrates the HSC Prescribed Fire Physical Abilities Test.
 WHM Lead Area Biologist Colleen Closius performs the mop-up task on the HSC Prescribed Fire Physical Abilities Test while WHM Administrative Secretary Summer Locke helps keep her on track.
 WHM District Biologist Rachel Taylor leads fire shelter refresher training.
 South Region prescribed burning staff gather round to prepare for the HSC Prescribed Fire Physical Abilities Test.
 WHM Fish and Wildlife Technician Mackenzie Sconyers deploys an acoustic recording unit on the Hutton Unit of Blackwater WMA for the Florida Long Term Bat Monitoring Project and the North American Bat Monitoring Program.
 WHM Fish and Wildlife Technician Buddy Odom on the Hutton Unit of Blackwater WMA, preparing seed planter for establishing cool-season wildlife agronomic forages (food plots).
 WHM staff participants in part from the Blackwater and Escribano Point WMAs following Annual Fire Shelter Refresher Training and Certification. (L - R: Barbara Almario, Christine Slowiak, Andrew Jernigan, Mackenzie Sconyers, Mark Winland, Buddy Odom, and Zane Joseph.
 WHM Biological Scientist, Matt Smith collecting morphometric data from a juvenile Florida pine snake captured during drift fence surveying and monitoring on Blackwater WMA.
 Randy Cohron, WHM Senior Fish and Wildlife Technician, grading and repairing hunter access road on the Hutton Unit of Blackwater WMA.
 Zane Joseph, WHM Fish and Wildlife Technician, another day completed disking wildlife food plots on the Hutton Unit of Blackwater WMA.
 Officers Cody Pope, Guillermo Cartaya, Ronald Washington, Investigator Willie Almagro, Captain Tom Shipp, Major Maza, Administrative Assistant Kathy Bronzatti, and Lt Colonel Alfredo Escanio participated in the Walk Like MADD 5K at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
 
 The Southwest Region participated in the Florida Highway Patrol’s “Stuff the Charger” food drive. The Fort Myers Office Administrative Assistant, Annette Detzel, and the Tampa Office Staff Assistant, Jenna Venero, organized our participation, and officers and staff donated non-perishable food items. FWC's donation was presented to FHP Lt. Greg Bueno (Troop F, Ft. Myers) by Lt. Stuart Spoede and FHP Lt. Steve Gaskins (Troop C, Tampa) by PIO Bryce Phillippi. What a great example of teamwork while supporting a partner agency and the community! Great job, SW Region!
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Deadline for January issue is Monday, Jan. 3
The Inside Job is a monthly newsletter featuring
the employees and programs of the FWC.
Send your submissions, comments and questions to Kelly.Broderick@MyFWC.com.
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