Suwannee River Water Management District Appoints Hugh Thomas New Executive Director
Posted July 12, 2017 04:15 am
LIVE OAK, FL – At their board meeting on July 11, the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board appointed Hugh Thomas as its new executive director effective July 17.
District Governing Board Members (left to
right): Kevin Brown, Bradley Williams,
Charles Keith, Virginia Johns, Don Quincey,
Jr., Executive Director Hugh Thomas,
Alphonas Alexander, Virginia Sanchez, Gary
Jones, Richard Schwab
Mr. Thomas has an extensive 25-year background in agriculture and environmental resource management, including one year as senior project manager in the District’s Agriculture and Environmental Projects Division.
Mr. Thomas experience also includes 14 years as an environmental administrator in the Agriculture and Water Policy Division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and 10 years as an environmental manager for Mactec Environmental, Inc. His appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Governing Board President Don Quincey, Jr. remarked on Thomas’ qualifications for the position, stating the Board looks forward to growing and expanding resource protection efforts over the next decade under Thomas’ leadership.
Accepting the position, Thomas remarked that he shares the Board’s passion for north Florida’s water resources and their vision of expanding resource protection efforts throughout the District.
Mr. Thomas succeeded Noah Valenstein. Darrell Smith, Director of Agriculture and Environmental Projects will continue to serve as interim executive director until July 17.
The mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the needs of the public. The District holds true to the belief of water for nature, water for people. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15 surrounding north-central Florida counties.
You can read more about the District here.
CONTACT: Katherine Haney, Communications Office Suwannee River Water Management District 386.362.1001 or 800.226.1066 SRWMDCommunications@SRWMD.org
