Featured Speakers

Mallory Dimmitt

Opening General Session | Monday, February 23

Mallory Dimmitt, CEO, Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation

United We Stand: How collaborative conservation is connecting Florida

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, join Mallory Dimmitt, CEO of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, for an inspiring keynote that explores how the Florida Wildlife Corridor defines who we are and where we’re headed. From the Everglades to the Panhandle, Florida’s landscape tells a story of resilience, connection, and hope. Mallory will take audiences on a journey through the 18 million-acre Florida Wildlife Corridor — a living network where wild and working lands meet, and where collaboration is the key to protecting water, wildlife, and ways of life. Drawing from her deep roots as a seventh-generation Floridian, she will share how important a connected wildlife corridor is to Florida and how the Corridor Foundation brings partners together to accelerate the pace of conservation.

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Mallory brings knowledge and experience in landscape-scale and working lands conservation, environmental policy, water allocation, and non-profit management. Mallory is proud to have participated in all seven Florida Wildlife Corridor Expeditions and films 2012 – 2024. She was formerly the VP of Strategic Development for Lykes Bros. Inc., a fifth-generation family-owned agribusiness based in Florida.

Previously, Mallory led The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado Plateau Initiative from Telluride, Colorado. Mallory was also awarded a Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship at Duke University’s Nicholas School of Environment, where she earned a Master of Environmental Management (MEM) in Environmental Economics and Policy. Lastly, Mallory is an alumnus of Class IX of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources and of Cornerstone Class 39 of Leadership Florida.

Sponsored by:

General Session | Tuesday, February 24

Leadership Perspectives Amid Change and Shifting Public Lands Priorities

A panel of public lands executives with more than a century of combined experience leading and partnering with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management will share their perspectives on navigating cultural and political shifts while advancing bold ideas and staying true to mission.

Panelists:

• Michael T. Reynolds, Retired, National Park Service, Deputy Director and Acting NPS Director

• Taldi Harrison, Founder & Principal, Bipartisan Community Strategies

• Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, Former Communications & External Affairs Executive, National Park Service & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Meryl Harrell, Founder and Executive Director, Friends of the Forest Service

Moderator: Amanda Kaplan, Former National Park Service

Sponsored by:

Mike Reynolds

Michael T. Reynolds

Michael T. Reynolds (Mike) retired in 2024 as the Deputy Director of External and Congressional Affairs for the National Park Service (NPS) based in Washington D.C. He spent nearly 40 years as a leader in numerous positions and levels with the NPS, including Yosemite National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, Fire Island National Seashore, Mojave National Preserve, and Black Canyon/Curecanti National Recreation Area with regional office leadership assignments in Denver, Philadelphia and Omaha. Mike has degrees in Environmental Studies, an MBA, a certificate in strategic leadership from Cornell and was a senior executive fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Taldi Harrison

Taldi Harrison

Taldi Harrison is a seasoned public-affairs leader with 20 years of experience bridging business, government, and community partnerships to advance equitable access to public lands, economic vitality, and environmental stewardship. She most recently served as Chief Program Officer for the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, overseeing program strategy, grantmaking, and federal and state government relations. Previously, Taldi led government affairs for REI Co-op, partnering with nonprofits, and coalitions to support outdoor recreation access and infrastructure.

Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles

Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles

Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles brings two decades of expertise in public lands communications and public affairs leadership with the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including as the long-term acting NPS Assistant Director for Communications and as the NPS Chief of Public Affairs & Chief Spokesperson. As a key partner to senior NPS, USFWS, and Interior leadership, Jenny has guided communications and issues management for some of the Interior’s most high-profile and complex matters, from First Amendment demonstrations to wildlife policy, water rights, energy development, and land use conflicts.

Meryl Harrell

Meryl Harrell

Meryl Harrell brings a deep knowledge of the U.S. Forest Service and its partners, along with more than 20 years of natural resource leadership. She served for 12 years in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, most recently as the Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, where she led work on issues including wildfire resilience, Tribal co-stewardship, outdoor recreation, and increasing access to Forest Service lands, programs and resources. She has also worked closely with the Forest Service as a partner, serving as the Executive Director of a workforce development and wilderness stewardship organization, the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS), and as a consultant working with non-federal government, philanthropic, business and non-profit partners to steward America’s lands and waters.

Amanda Kaplan

Amanda Kaplan

Amanda Kaplan is a conservation leader with over 25 years of experience in external affairs, environmental planning, public policy, and strategic communications with the National Park Service. As Chief of Public and Congressional Affairs for the NPS Pacific West Region, she oversaw legislative and government affairs, public affairs and media relations, digital communications, stakeholder engagement, and external partnerships across more than 60 parks spanning eight western states and the Pacific territories. Amanda is recognized for building coalitions, navigating complex policy landscapes, and translating science into public engagement that drives results. She has managed major conservation projects and communications strategies on climate resilience, endangered species recovery, and public lands stewardship. She is now the Vice President, Washington for the National Audubon Society.

Dudley Edmonson

Closing General Session | Wednesday, February 25

Dudley Edmondson

Over the last 35 years, Dudley Edmondson has become an award-winning author, established filmmaker, and internationally recognized photographer. His photography has been featured in galleries in Italy and Australia, as well as in publications around the world. Dudley has spent most of his adult life championing nature and highlighting the amazing Black, Brown, and Indigenous people who he feels can serve as environmental and science career role models for people of color around the nation.

Mr. Edmondson was one of the first to highlight the involvement of African Americans in the public lands system. Unsatisfied with the representation of people of color among those in his outdoor pursuits, he created a set of outdoor role models for the African American community by writing his landmark book, Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places (Adventure Publications, 2006).

While staying busy with various film projects, his newest book People the Planet Needs Now (AdventureKEEN, 2025), which is a Silver Medalist winner in the Nature and Science category from the National Outdoor Book Awards, features 25 BIPOC scientists and activists to help offer inspiration and motivation to affect global climate change.