March 20, 2024

North Florida Land Trust has been protecting and preserving land for 25 years. Started in 1999 by Bill McQuilkin, the nonprofit land conservation organization has saved nearly 37,000 acres of Florida’s natural spaces. NFLT has retained approximately 16,000 of those preserved lands managed by the stewardship team, the remainder of the protected land was passed along to partners in conservation. NFLT recently celebrated 25 years of success at the Annual Meeting and awarded Founder Bill McQuilkin and former President Jim McCarthy with NFLT’s Legacy Award. Bill’s vision to save natural spaces was a great one and throughout the last 25 years, NFLT’s employees have been successful but there is still work to be done.

Leading the charge is president and CEO, Allison DeFoor. Allison first joined NFLT as a board member in 2018 after working for many years on environmental efforts in the state of Florida. He was Everglades Czar under Governor Jeb Bush on one of the state’s largest environmental restoration projects and co-chaired Amendment 1, Florida’s Water and Land Conservation Initiative, with former Governor and Senator Bob Graham. The initiative passed with 74% of the vote in Florida and is the most significant land protection effort in history. Allison’s resume includes a little bit of everything. He is an Episcopal priest, holds degrees in law, criminology, geography, and theology, and was a law professor, prosecutor, public defender, judge, and sheriff of Monroe County. Allison is also a seventh-generation Floridian and has a passion for keeping Florida natural so that generations to come can enjoy what he did as a child.

In 2022, Allison became interim president of NFLT and in 2023, he took on the role permanently. Under his leadership, the nonprofit’s asset portfolio has grown, they have exceeded fundraising goals, and he has built a top-notch team to protect and manage Florida’s natural spaces.

We sat down with Allison to talk about all that he does to protect Old Florida.

Since becoming president in 2022, what are you most proud of?

I have the best team in land conservation in the number one state for land conservation in the country. I am proud of the work that we have done and continue to do.

Why did you decide to make the move from board member to president and CEO?

I love Florida to my core and want to see it stay the Florida that I know and love. I realize it is now or never. Development pressures redoubled during the Covid period, and I want to do my part to preserve all that we can.

Can you tell us what your duties and responsibilities are as president and CEO?

As president and CEO, I think my primary responsibility is to keep hope alive. For me, that means creating and inspiring a shared vision. I make sure the team is well resourced and then I stay out of their way. As an organization, we have created goals for our work. My team executes the steps necessary to meet those shared goals. Of course, I stay in touch with how they are meeting those goals in measurable ways, and I work alongside them when needed to make sure we are doing all we can to preserve natural spaces because it is now or never.

What does your typical week look like?

We are in the eye of the hurricane. There is really not a typical week in land conservation. We have so much going on at so many different levels. It is kind of like playing three-dimensional chess. There are a lot of moves. I meet with a lot of people including regulators, landowners, potential and current donors, legislators, local elected officials, and local appointed officials. And the most fun part is it is across a wide spectrum from old Florida crackers to Gullah heritage folks to transplanted Yankees and that could all be in one afternoon.

What accomplishments would you highlight for 2023 and what are your goals for 2024?

We have retained and added to the best group of people in the industry. Our staff is top notch and working together we have been able to get the resources we need to do our job to the highest level. Our goal collectively for 2024 is to buy more land!

Do you have any special moments since joining NFLT either as a board member or president that you would like to share?

I have three. First, securing $400 million for land purchases in the O2O (Ocala to Osceola) Corridor from the legislature. That was a big seal of approval for what we do. The second special moment was the announcement of a $1 million gift from Delores Barr Weaver which is a wonderful honor and a local seal of approval. The third was our 25th anniversary luncheon which was a celebration of our past and our future. There is a lot to be proud of there and I look forward to what we can accomplish.

What do you like most about being president of NFLT?

I can’t believe I get paid to do something that is this much fun. Is this a great country or what?!

What would you like people to know about you?

I am a member of the Explorers Club. A flag from the Explorers Club was the first to ever be raised at Mt. Everest. There are also Explorers Club flags at the North Pole, South Pole, and the Moon.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Jacksonville has been very good to me. I met and married a wonderful woman and got three bonus kids out of the deal. And I also have a job to die for.