Lecture: “Then and Now: Florida’s History and Future of Conserving Land”

Florida Forever was our nation’s leading land conservation program. What happened to it and what is its future? Why does it Matter?

Presented by Christine Johnson, President of the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, dedicated to protecting Florida’s wild places for water, wildlife and people.

Event followed by reception and refreshments in the Woman’s Club Room.

Free and open to all. Donations appreciated.

About Christine P. Johnson

Christine P. Johnson is a fifth generation Floridian who shares the Foundation’s vision of protecting wild places forever, for water, wildlife and people. After earning a BS in Business Administration from the College of Charleston and an MBA from the University of Florida, Christine worked in management and consulted with Fortune 500 companies in fields ranging from manufacturing to media. Her Florida roots run deep though and this Manatee County native couldn’t stay away for long.
Since 2003, Christine has worked in this region’s nonprofit sector. She successfully completed the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s $7M capital campaign to build a regional headquarters and then served as Director of Development for Ringling College of Art and Design overseeing their largest fundraising campaign, leading a team of five to raise over $100M. In October of 2011, she was named President of Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast where she works to save land and ensure public access to natural places. To date, Conservation Foundation has preserved almost 10,000 acres across 39 properties along the Gulf Coast of Florida.

She is a board member of the Science and Environment Council, vice-chair of Visit Sarasota County, board member of Crowley Museum & Nature Center, chair of the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation and on the Land Trust Alliance Leadership Council.

Nature is where Christine’s family spends their time together. Her husband, Bill, and their teen-aged children, Grace and Tom, enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking, and being anywhere there is water to swim, fish, sail, or scuba.

About Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast saves land forever, protecting those special natural lands that make this region extraordinary. Working with landowners, businesses, and government, Conservation Foundation protects the character, natural integrity, and biodiversity of the bays, beaches, barrier islands and their watersheds on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The Foundation purchases natural areas, holds land conservation agreements and educates for responsible land and water stewardship, and has protected forever more than 11,000 acres in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties. Learn more at www.conservationfoundation.com.

Sponsored by Hazeltine Nurseries.