Susan N. Hughes, Chairwoman
Ponte Vedra

Ms. Hughes is chief human resources officer for JEA, a Jacksonville-based water, electric and sewer utility, where she has worked for nearly 23 years. She was appointed to a three-year term on the District’s Governing Board on Oct. 9, 2003, to an at-large seat, and was reappointed in March 2006 to a four-year term ending March 1, 2010. She was elected vice chairman of the Board on Nov. 13, 2007, and served until her election as Board chairman on Nov. 11, 2008. Ms. Hughes has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Florida. She also is a registered professional engineer. Ms. Hughes is outgoing vice president of the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) Utility Council. She is a graduate of the 2004 class of Leadership Jacksonville, has served on the Florida Chamber Water Task Force and Jacksonville Mayor’s Growth Management Task Force. Ms. Hughes also serves on the Board of the PACE Center for Girls and previously on the Winston YMCA Board.

Term of Appointment: October 2003–March 2010
E-mail address: shughes@sjrwmd.com

W. Leonard Wood, Vice Chairman
Fernandina Beach

Mr. Wood is president of Jowett and Wood Inc., a forestry consulting firm. He was appointed to the Governing Board in April 2005 to complete the remaining year of a four-year term and was reappointed to a four-year term ending March 2010. He was elected treasurer on Nov. 13, 2007, and served in that capacity until his election as vice chairman on Nov. 11, 2008. He is a resident of Fernandina Beach and represents Area 1 (see map). A native of Macon, Ga., Mr. Wood is a graduate of Florida State University and the University of Florida’s School of Forest Resources and Conservation. He was a research forester and district forester with ITT Rayonier and has been a practicing private consulting forester since 1990. He is a Society of American Foresters (SAF) Certified Forester and a certified general real estate appraiser in Florida and Georgia. Mr. Wood is a member of the SAF, the Florida Forestry Association and the Association of Consulting Foresters of America. He also served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer.

Term of Appointment: April 2005–March 2010
E-mail address: lwood@sjrwmd.com

Hersey “Herky” Huffman, Secretary
Enterprise

Mr. Huffman was appointed to an at-large seat on July 23, 2007. He was elected as the Board’s secretary on Nov. 11, 2008. A graduate of Orlando Junior College, he served in the U.S. Army. He also served with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for water quality and exotics issues, as a member of the Volusia County Planning and Zoning Board for review of drainage and water plans, and on the board of the Volusia Hospital Authority. An original member of the Friends of the St. Johns River group (1972), he served as chairman of the Marine Advisory Council in Volusia County, and served on the Marine Fisheries and fish and wildlife commissions. For his many volunteer efforts, the Volusia County Commission honored him with a resolution for “Herky Huffman Day.”

Term of Appointment: July 2007–March 2011
E-mail address: hhuffman@sjrwmd.com

Hans G. Tanzler III, Treasurer
Jacksonville

Mr. Tanzler, president of Marion Equities Inc., a family holding company, was appointed on April 2, 2008, to a four-year term and represents Area 2 (see map) — the Lower St. Johns River Basin. He was elected the Board’s treasurer on Nov. 11, 2008. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a law degree, and a master of law degree in taxation from the University of Florida. In addition to being a certified public accountant and a member of The Florida Bar, he worked as an assistant U.S. attorney, an Internal Revenue Service attorney, an attorney in private practice, and a senior corporate business executive. He serves on the boards of the University of Florida Foundation and The Conservation Trust of Florida. He has previously served on the board of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the Gulf States Fisheries Commission. He also is former chairman of the tax section of The Florida Bar and is a former chairman of the Jacksonville Zoological Society.

Term of Appointment: April 2008–March 2012
E-mail address: htanzler@sjrwmd.com

Douglas C. Bournique
Vero Beach

Douglas C. Bournique is executive vice president of the Indian River Citrus League, where he has served on committees for both the St. Johns River and South Florida water management districts, including the St. Johns District’s Agriculture Advisory Committee. He was recognized by both districts for commitment and leadership in the protection of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program. He was appointed to the Governing Board for a four-year term on April 2, 2008. The seat represents Area 5 (see map). Previously, Mr. Bournique worked for the 350,000-acre Florida Sugar Cane League. Among his numerous affiliations, he is currently a member of the Florida Agriculture Water Policy Group, Indian River Area Citrus Best Management Practices (BMP) Implementation Committee, South Florida Water Management District Water Resource Advisory Committee, and the St. Lucie River Issues Team. He also was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to the USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Fruits and Vegetables. Mr. Bournique has a bachelor’s degree in geology from Whittier College and attended San Diego State University, Florida Atlantic University, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

Term of Appointment: April 2008–March 2012
E-mail address: dbournique@sjrwmd.com

Michael Ertel
Oviedo

Mr. Ertel is the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections (since 2005). He was appointed to the Board July 23, 2007, for a four-year term, ending March 1, 2011. He represents Area 4 (see map) — the Middle and Upper St. Johns River basins. He previously served as the director of public relations for a 185-location bank, the director of community information for Seminole County, as public information manager for Orange County, and was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to the board of the Seminole County Housing Authority. He served eight years in the U.S. Army and the Florida National Guard. Mr. Ertel received the 2007 Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District Friend of Conservation award and is a former member of Republicans for Environmental Protection. He is past-president of the Public Relations Society of America (Greater Orlando Chapter) and is currently on the legislative committee of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections. He was selected by Governor Crist as the Department of State Citizen Review Group team lead for the Governor’s transition effort.

Term of Appointment: July 2007–March 2011
E-mail address: mertel@sjrwmd.com

Maryam H. Ghyabi
Ormond Beach

Ms. Ghyabi was appointed to a four-year term in an at-large seat on the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board on May 19, 2009. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Ms. Ghyabi holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in transportation engineering. She is the CEO and President of Ghyabi & Associates, Inc., with offices in Jacksonville, Lake Mary and Ormond Beach, Florida. Ms. Ghyabi is active in the industry’s professional associations and is a tireless advocate for economic growth, having led many key transportation efforts: leading the ISB Coalition, spearheaded the I-4 St. Johns River Bridge Coalition, was appointed to the Transportation Outreach Program (TOP) Advisory Board, served as chair of the Volusia County Area Responsible Development (VCARD), and Central Florida Transportation Commission Task Force. She is also involved in many community charity and leadership organizations: she served as the chairwoman for the Women’s Center at Daytona State College and as the chairwoman for the Floridians for Better Transportation (FBT). Her career and community activities have been recognized with awards, including the Floridians for Better Transportation 2008 Chairman Award, a proclamation from Daytona State College Women’s Center designating Nov. 7, 2008, as “Maryam Ghyabi Day,” many awards for initiatives to fund and accelerate the I-4 St. Johns River Bridge, a proclamation from the County of Volusia designating May 31, 2001, as “Maryam Hosseini Ghyabi Day,” Volusia County Metropolitan Planning Organization recognition for contributions to the Technical Coordinating Committee as chair in 1998, and the Florida Legislature has recognized her and her leadership role in the Florida Transportation Outreach Program (TOP) Advisory Board.

Term of Appointment: May 2009–March 2013
E-mail address: mghyabi@sjrwmd.com

Richard G. Hamann
Gainesville

Mr. Richard G. Hamann was appointed to a four-year term in an at-large seat on the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board on May 19, 2009. Mr. Hamann is an attorney on the staff of the Center for Governmental Responsibility at the University of Florida’s (UF’s) Levin College of Law. He conducts research and teaches classes on water, wetlands, wildlife, watersheds and coastal law and policy. He is also a member of the Faculty Advisory Committee to UF’s Water Institute. Mr. Hamann has previously served the District as chairman of the Orange Creek Basin Advisory Council and as a member of the Ocklawaha Basin Board. He has been chairman of the Environmental and Land Use Law Section of The Florida Bar, president of Florida Defenders of the Environment and a member of the Bluebelt Commission and the Land and Water Planning Task Force. He currently serves as the president of Three Rivers FNPC, a public charity that supports protection of the Ichetucknee River, and as a member of the boards of the Florida Wildlife Federation, Florida Defenders of the Environment, the Everglades Law Center and Alachua Conservation Trust.

Term of Appointment: May 2009–March 2013
E-mail address: rhamann@sjrwmd.com

Arlen N. Jumper
Ft. McCoy

Mr. Jumper is manager of Jones Turf Grass Farm in Marion County. He was appointed July 23, 2007, to a four-year term, ending March 1, 2011. He represents Area 3 (see map) — the Ocklawaha River and Florida Ridge basins. Mr. Jumper once served in the U.S. Navy and has been involved in citrus, timber, cattle, real estate and turf grass businesses for many years. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida. A former member of the Florida Department of Citrus, he was named to the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2002. He holds memberships in Florida Farm Bureau (state director in 1968), Florida Citrus Commission (1972-1981, chairman, 1979-80), Florida Turf Grass Association (board member, 1998), and the Florida Sod Grower Cooperative (director 2002-2006).

Term of Appointment: July 2007–March 2011
E-mail address: ajumper@sjrwmd.com