NFLT is featuring its Board Members and highlighting the great work they are doing within our organization and in the broader community.
Shawna Newman
Ms. Newman is the President of The NDN Companies, Inc. based in Jacksonville, Florida. She has a B.S in Environmental Science from the University of West Florida located in Pensacola, Florida.
Ms. Newman has a personal connection to the importance of preserving tribal lands. She is of Chickasaw and Choctaw descent and has grown up just outside of the Poarch Creek Reservation in Pensacola, Florida. She has participated in Pow Wows and traditional ceremonies throughout Indian Country since she was a child.
Ms. Newman has over 19 years of experience working both as a project manager on environmental and tribal coordination projects and as a governmental employee under the EPA Brownfields Redevelopment Program. She currently is the owner of an environmental consulting firm and manages a wide range of environmental projects for private, tribal, state, and federal entities.
How long you have served on the board?
4 Years
What influenced you to join the NFLT Board?
The Mission of the NFLT coincides with my cultural, personal, and professional beliefs to protect our natural resources for future generations. I am of Chickasaw/Choctaw Native American descent. I was taught by my elders to always live in harmony with mother earth and be respectful of our environment. I have also carried those lessons into my career- I am the Founder and President of a Jacksonville-based environmental consulting firm- The NDN Companies. The NFLT is an organization that I can feel good about supporting!
What excites you most about the direction of NFLT, and how will you contribute to it?
The NFLT has definitely evolved over the years and this evolution is critical during our ever-changing economy. The foresight to know when to change is necessary for the successful growth of an organization. I am excited to see the diverse projects that we are able to successfully execute to help preserve and sustain the beauty of this area. I have enjoyed the recent opportunities provided by NFLT to experience some of these project areas through organized field trips and participate in educational workshops. I am thankful to be involved in the NFLT and advocate for the continued support from the local community. There are so many ways to get involved from monetary donations, land donations, volunteering, and spreading awareness. I will continue to support the organization both personally and professionally.
As you observe our local area, what is an issue affecting North Florida that concerns you? How do you think NFLT can help?
The Jacksonville area has been experiencing rapid exponential growth. Often this type of rapid growth can quickly destroy and/or deplete our natural resources. Growth is inevitable- Smart growth is sustainable. Serving as a Board member for NFLT provides the opportunity to help advocate for the preservation/protection of our natural resources.
What is something NFLT members, staff, and even other Board Members might be surprised to know about you?
I have a 15-acre satsuma farm near Marianna, FL. Hurricane Michael caused significant devastation to my farm and the surrounding communities. We have all slowly been rebuilding over the years and I can now finally enjoy riding around on my tractor, working in my workshop and greenhouse, and restoring my 1960 Thunder Bird.
