North Florida Land Trust has welcomed four new members to its board of directors. Retired Brigadier General Paul “Trey” Chauncey, Megan Coughlin, retired Navy Captain Rick Hoffman and Pastor Carlton Jones began their service to the nonprofit land conservation organization in January. Each will serve a term of three years.
General Chauncey served 38 years of combined service to the U.S. Army and Florida National Guard before his retirement in 2021. He was Assistant Adjutant General for the Florida Army National Guard where his duties included the strategic direction and oversight for Camp Blanding Joint Training Center and State and Federal Cooperative Agreement programs including the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program and the Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program. General Chauncey earned a master of science in strategy from the U.S. Army War College, a post-graduate certificate in advanced logistics and technology from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and an executive certificate in public leadership from Harvard University. He currently owns and operates a land, timber and cattle business on his family’s homestead in Suwannee County.
Megan Coughlin is an attorney in Jackson Lewis P.C.’s Jacksonville office where her practice focuses on representing employers in workplace law matters including litigation and preventive advice and counseling. She is admitted to practice law in Florida and the District of Columbia. Coughlin earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and was named a “Florida Rising Star” by Super Lawyers.
Retired Navy Captain Rick Hoffman is the founder and CEO of Orion Solutions, LLC. Captain Hoffman established the company after retiring from the U.S. Navy in 2003 after 28 years of service. He commanded the USS De Wert and the USS Hue City, both homeported in Mayport. Captain Hoffman graduated from The Citadel with a bachelor’s degree in biology, earned a master’s in oceanography from The Naval Post Graduate School and attended the National War College. Captain Hoffman serves as executive director of the Jacksonville Area Ship Repair Association, is a lifetime member of the Surface Navy Association, is past president of the First Coast Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association and serves as president of the Student Affairs Community Council at the University of North Florida.
Pastor Carlton Jones is chair of the Renaissance Group and is the pastor and co-founder of the Gateway to Heaven Christian Church. Jones has more than 46 years of experience in public and private development. He is a licensed general contractor and real estate salesperson. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in city and regional planning and architectural design from the University of the District of Columbia and has a master’s in theology from ZOE University. He also has two honorary doctoral degrees in divinity and sacred literature. Jones currently serves as president of the Friends of American Beach, Inc. He is on the board of the Urban Land Institute, Clara White Mission and the American Beach Museum, and is a past regional president for Trust for Public Land and past member of the Urban League Foundation.
The inclusion of General Chauncey, Coughlin, Captain Hoffman and Pastor Jones to the board brings the total number of board members to 18. The board also recently made some officer changes. John Delaney will continue his position as chair, Matt Rapp has taken over as vice-chair, former vice-chair David Barton was named secretary and Patrick Carney will continue his role as treasurer.
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing quality of life by protecting North Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through the donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations.
