Since its inception in 1999, North Florida Land Trust has saved nearly 37,000 acres of natural Florida. The nonprofit started as an idea by founder Bill McQuilkin and has turned into a force for conservation in the State of Florida. It has grown over the last 25 years with the addition of more conserved lands, more partners in conservation and frankly, more work to make sure the natural landscapes throughout the State, and specifically in North Florida, are not lost. As the organization grew, so did the need for more highly skilled staff to achieve the mission – preserving and enhancing quality of life by protecting North Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment.
NFLT now has 18 staff positions, several consultants, and an organizational budget of more than $8.2 million. In 2022, NFLT added the position of chief operating officer to its executive team as the organization needed a guiding force to assist in its continued growth and the effective delivery of its conservation mission. Filling that role is Roney Gutierrez, a consummate professional with an impressive background and a passion for conservation. Roney is second in line to the president and makes sure the operations, conservation acquisitions, land stewardship and philanthropic services departments have what they need and are ready to go when an opportunity arises to save a piece of natural Florida. He also oversees the management of outside agencies that assist in the business and communication aspects of the conservation mission.
We wanted to give you a closer look at the man behind the plan who makes sure NFLT is prepared for success in conserving and preserving natural landscapes that we all hold dear.
What is your background and what brought you to NFLT?
My mother and I immigrated from El Salvador to the United States in 1970 when I was seven. I grew up in NYC’s Spanish Harlem, and after wandering through my early 20’s I committed to the study of agronomy (the science of soil management and crop production) in 1985, to the combined amusement and respect of my friends. In 1992, I attained my agronomy master’s degree and began my career with USDA as a conservationist. In 2022, I decided to retire a bit early from USDA to come to NFLT when my friend Ramesh Buch (NFLT director of conservation acquisitions) made me aware of NFLT’s need for a chief operating officer.
As chief operations officer, what are your duties and responsibilities?
You could visualize my job as that of a traffic officer in the middle of a multi-lane intersection, with the additional responsibility of creating new lanes and defining rules for drivers to follow in real time. In practice, as COO, I oversee the organization’s business operations to ensure effective delivery and sustainable growth of NFLT’s conservation mission. My duties include managing the organization’s finances and supporting day-to-day functions and activities of staff. I also support NFLT’s conservation partnerships, assisting with grant management and preparing funding proposals. In addition, I ensure that NFLT meets the expectations of the board of directors and facilitates NFLT’s Strategic Long-Term Plan and Annual Plans.
What does your typical week look like?
Most weeks begin with Monday madness. An intense day full of staff meetings and planning sessions. It is also the one day of the week when most staff, if not all, are in the office, so it is very important for networking and experiencing the human factor of teamwork. Like many organizations post-pandemic, NFLT staff works remotely for much of the rest of the week. This includes me, so much of my time is behind a computer reading/writing email, having Teams/Zoom sessions and preparing/reviewing Word and Excel documents. All this is to understand the interactions among team members and develop principles and approaches that optimize individual and team performance.
What role do you play in the acquisition of conservation lands?
I have a diverse role with acquisitions. I support the preparation and negotiation of new contracts and agreements, and I manage the administration of existing contracts and agreements. This includes preparing budgets, developing staffing plans and submitting invoices. In addition, I make recommendations on acquisition strategies, methods, and procedures, and support their staffing needs. I also take the lead on preparing grant proposals to USDA and oversee the administration of current USDA funded projects.
What is your role in the stewardship of NFLT’s holding portfolio?
Because the stewardship department’s work is focused on managing NFLT conservation land, I primarily provide administrative support to their activities and initiatives. I meet regularly with the stewardship director to discuss strategies and procedures, and review staffing needs. In addition, I support the administration of existing contracts and agreements.
What is your role in philanthropic services?
The work of the philanthropic services team was the least familiar to me when I joined NFLT. Although I had given tours of project activities to donors when I worked with CARE International in Central America, I was not involved with the fundraising component. Now I have a much greater appreciation for philanthropic services and the significant contributions they generate, which are fundamental to NFLT’s ability to accomplish its mission. On the other hand, I did have experience in previous organizations in working with communications staff (social media and publications) which are part of the duties that fall under this department.
What are you most proud of since joining NFLT?
After arriving at NFLT I realized the need to focus on strategic planning, financial management, and staff functions. This need was magnified by the belief that NFLT was soon to encounter significant opportunities, but it had to be ready to take advantage of them and after grasping these opportunities it had to be capable of successfully delivering on the resulting conservation that would be expected. I am proud to have been a facilitator of an NFLT that today works based on annual performance plans, has an operating budget that has doubled, and has 50% more staff than in 2022.
What are your goals for the nonprofit?
As I mentioned previously, when I arrived my immediate goal was to optimize team dynamics and overall performance. My long-term goal is the same as with every other organization I have worked for: That NFLT becomes a stable, thriving organization where anyone with the proper skills, knowledge and ability can take my place or any other team member’s position and continue the good work of land conservation in North Florida.
What is your favorite thing or things about the job?
Working for NFLT has allowed me to discover the activity that stimulates me more than any other: facilitating the empowerment of people. Moreover, helping people individually and collectively gains a sense of satisfaction from working together effectively and realizing their potential.
How often do you get to visit the NFLT properties? Do you have a favorite?
Due to the nature of my job, I do not visit NFLT conservation properties often. Nevertheless, when I started my position one of my top priorities was visiting the stewardship headquarters and nearby conserved land to better understand their needs because I know that all the money and all the effort invested by the organization is of limited benefit if land becomes abandoned and covered with invasives.
Do you have any stories you would like to share?
More than stories, I have moments. Every moment that I sense harmony is a special moment for me. I value these moments because I know harmony is not ubiquitous in the workplace. Maybe because I grew up in what felt to me like a cold, cruel, concrete, and steel cut-throat jungle, I long every day for harmony. This is what I think of, promote and protect every day. A harmonious day in the workplace is my favorite story.
Is there anything that you would like people to know about you that is not in your bio?
That my Christian faith is central to how I lead my life, despite my inconsistencies.
