About

Ramesh joined NFLT in 2021 and serves as the Director of Conservation Acquisitions.

Ramesh has been a full-time real estate professional in the Gainesville area since relocating here with his wife and twins in 2001. He has had a 25-year career in real estate, focused almost entirely on the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands in Florida. He stood up and ran the Alachua County Forever land conservation program for 16 years. Most recently, he was the Real Estate Services Director for the St. Johns River Water Management District. He has completed almost 50,000 acres of property transactions worth over $152 million.

Upon his retirement from the public sector, Ramesh joined NFLT to continue his passion for conservation land deals. His strengths are problem-solving and negotiating deals and enjoys the collaborative approach to transactions. He believes the best solutions are those that make environmental and economic sense.

Ramesh is a Marine Science graduate of the University of Miami, attended Texas A&M for graduate work in Marine Fisheries, was a diver, an open-water yachtsman, and has played a variety of sports before settling on Pickleball. He likes to hike, travel, cook and eat interesting foods, and read spy novels in his spare time. He and his wife currently have two adopted cats, two adopted dogs, and one fish (purchased).

Heather Nagy has joined NFLT in 2020 and serves as the Conservation Acquisitions Coordinator. Nagy works with the director of real estate and community conservation to coordinate land transactions, manage the real estate database and research potential real estate projects.

Nagy comes to NFLT after working for three years at Peninsula Open Space Trust in California where she managed the conservation easement program and helped facilitate acquisition projects. She also worked with Tar River Land Conservancy in North Carolina. There she helped develop a strategic conservation plan for the Upper Tar River Basin.

Nagy earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, her masters of environmental management from Duke University and has received a graduate certificate in geographic information systems (GIS). For her master’s project, Nagy researched lemur habitat in a national park in Madagascar and developed a GIS-based model of forest loss to help guide future conservation projects in the area.

Kimberly (Kim) Hall joined NFLT in 2021 and serves as the Conservation Transactions Manager. Kim began her journey in real estate in 2001, in residential real estate appraisal. Her experience in the appraisal field led to a 15-year career with the St. Johns River Water Management District. During her tenure there, she participated in or facilitated the acquisition of nearly 132,000 acres, at a cost of just over $464.5 million. While at the District, she managed a close partnership with North Florida Land Trust building valuable lasting relationships. This led to several acquisitions in the Camp Blanding Buffer area and Partnership in the O2O.

During her time at the District, she earned her Bachelor’s in Legal Services bolstering her negotiating, research, and contracting skills. While on a 3-year hiatus from Conservation acquisitions, Kim further sharpened her skills in product development, product launch, and vendor management with FPL Energy Services, managing and launching statewide projects. Eager to return to her first passion and armed with her 20 years of real estate and contracts knowledge, she is no stranger to NFLT’s mission as she makes her return to Conservation Acquisition.

Joel joined NFLT in 2024 and serves as Conservation Transactions Manager. Originally from south Florida, Joel lived and worked in and around Lake Okeechobee prior to attending law school at the University of Florida. Upon graduation from the University of Florida he transitioned into the legal sector wherein he worked for a private insurance defense firm and eventually the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Office of General Counsel where he was an attorney for approximately four years, assisting the District’s Real Estate Services, Land Management, and Regulatory Services departments.

Joel’s experience working with and on Florida’s landscapes, in addition to his time spent with the St. Johns River Water Management District, sharpened his focus toward playing a more active role in conservation acquisitions. By applying his practical and legal expertise to NFLT’s mission, Joel will provide useful solutions to landowners, stakeholders, and partners.

Rianna joined NFLT in 2021 and serves as the Director of Land Stewardship. Rianna will oversee the stewardship department and will be responsible for the management, restoration and maintenance of NFLT’s preserves and conservation easements. Her duties include a supervisory role of the stewardship department and the direct implementation of certain program areas. She will also serve on the leadership team and contribute to the nonprofit's organizational development and strategic decision-making.

Rianna comes to NFLT with over a decade of experience with the Florida Park Service. As a Park Services Specialist, she focused most of her energy on resource management and prescribed fire. Over time, she achieved her certified prescribed burn manager status as well as other certifications to enable her to better preserve the lands she was charged with restoring and protecting. She has also assisted multiple agencies with prescribed fire through trainings and knowledge exchanges over the years. Prior to her work with Florida Park Service, Rianna spent several years with a non-profit organization working with at-risk youth.

Mark joined NFLT in 2022 and serves as the Land Manager. He joined the Florida Park Service, where he spent 7 years honing his skills in resource management and learning more about the incredible habitats and species that make our home so special. Since 2015 he has had the opportunity to burn most of Florida's pyric ecosystems as well as learning from some of the best prescription burners in the southeast.

Aaryn is a graduate of the University of Tennessee where she earned her degree in wildlife and fisheries management. She most recently worked as an environmental consultant. She has served as a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) where she received safe capture training and worked with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as a wildlife technician. Tarver holds numerous certifications including as a certified prescribed burn manager and a FWC certified gopher tortoise agent.

Chris joined NFLT in 2024 and serves as the Land Management Specialist. Chris is an Air Force veteran and a 17-year aircraft mechanic that got his start in conservation with the Florida Conservation Corps working with invasive plants. He then joined the Florida Park Service as a Park Ranger and then moved on to become a Park Services Specialist where he honed skills such as visitor services, natural resource management and restoration, as well as becoming a certified prescribed fire crew boss. Chris hopes to further expand and refine his skills and do everything he can to help preserve and restore what remains of natural Florida.

Kala joined NFLT in 2024 and serves as the Land Stewardship Liaison. She is a proud graduate of the University of North Florida where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Coastal and Marine Biology.
Before NFLT, Kala worked at Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission conducting black bear population research in Osceola National Forest. She also served as Park Service Specialist at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve for two years. There she honed her skills in land stewardship, including becoming a certified prescribed burner.
In her free time, Kala likes to dive, hike, read, and volunteer. Also, she loves to spend time with her husband and three rescue dogs.

Lee Anderson Louy joined NFLT in 2021 and serves as the Director of Philanthropic Services. Lee helps individuals and organizations develop and achieve their philanthropic goals. Bringing over a decade of nonprofit leadership and donor experience, Lee is passionate about advancing the NFLT mission for Jacksonville and beyond.

Before working for NFLT, Lee worked as the Director of Development with the University of North Florida, focusing on developing and nurturing long-term relationships on behalf of the University. She was with the University for nearly nine years, and prior, Lee served as the Director of the Bennie Furlong Senior Center with the City of Jacksonville. Lee graduated from the University of North Florida with a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, holds a master’s degree in Public Administration, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Leisure Services Administration from Florida State University.

Lee is a Jacksonville native with a deep admiration for the Northeast Florida region and is invested in creating a lasting impact in our community.

Sarah Hande joined NFLT in 2021 and serves as the Communications and Development Officer. In her role Sarah helps NFLT achieve its mission by engaging constituents and community members across the seven counties NFLT serves. Sarah’s career has spanned continents and cultures, from working as a flight attendant with a South African airline right after apartheid ended, to managing three consumer magazine titles and their portfolio of events in London. She brings with her more than twenty years of experience in project management and community engagement. In 2003, she moved to Jacksonville and worked with the City of Jacksonville before transitioning into a community engagement role at Florida Blue in their Corporate Social Responsibility area. Sarah moved into the nonprofit sector in 2015 and has served as the Associate Director of Development at MOCA Jacksonville (a cultural institute of the University of North Florida) and most recently served as the Director of Development at the Cathedral Arts Project. Sarah is passionate about connecting individuals with the NFLT mission and in turn working to preserve North Florida’s natural resources and environment. Sarah grew up near the water in Virginia Beach and enjoys doing anything outside.

Abby Carden joined NFLT in 2022 and serves as the Membership and Data Coordinator. In her role, Abby provides support to the development team with coordinating our membership program, data analysis and gift entry management.

Before joining the NFLT team, Abby worked at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of East Tennessee for 8 years. She began her journey there as an intern in programs, dabbled in database management, and ultimately developed into the Director of Program Services role. Abby graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Most recently, she taught Kindergarten at a local private school.

Abby moved to Jacksonville from Chattanooga, TN, in 2019. She and her husband have two little humans at home, and the family loves weekend beach trips. They spend lots of time at neighborhood playgrounds and in their backyard looking for frogs and lizards and enjoying the lush FL landscape.

Brenda has more than 20 years of experience in fundraising, including prospect research and subsequent cultivation and solicitation of major gifts, annual giving programs, capital campaign planning and management, event planning and execution, and donor stewardship.
Prior to moving to Florida in 2022, Brenda served as Director of the Dutchess County Medical Society in New York and served as a consultant for Brakeley Briscoe Fundraising Management consultants. Brenda served as Director of Advancement at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum in Poughkeepsie, NY. Prior to her work at Mid-Hudson she served as Director of Development at Kildonan School (Amenia, NY), Indian Mountain School (Lakeville, CT), and Vassar Brothers Medical Center (Poughkeepsie, NY). Prior to those positions she was Chief Development Officer at the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.

At Vassar Brothers she ran the annual fund and was responsible for major gifts in the $25,000 to $100,000 range. At Indian Mountain she managed a four person staff and completed a $7 million capital campaign which included $3.5M for a new STEAM building, $1.5M for new faculty housing and dorm space, and $1M for endowment. At Kildonan she increased the annual fund by 25% in just over 18 months.

Prior to her work in fundraising, Brenda held executive positions for several large corporations in New York City, including Corning, Konica Business Machines, Estee Lauder, and CHANEL.
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Brenda is a graduate of Ithaca College, She now lives in Fernandina Beach and has been coming to North Florida since she was a young girl. She has always been drawn to the landscape and natural beauty of the area. She is fisher, hiker, tennis player and foodie, taking full advantage of all the sunshine and abundance that North Florida has to offer.

Willow joined NFLT in 2024 and serves as the Executive Board Assistant. She moved to Jacksonville in 2000 and has more than a decade of volunteer experience for many North Florida charitable organizations including involvement on several meaningful boards in the area. Willow also worked as a real estate agent in North Florida and has witnessed firsthand the influx of people moving to North Florida and the associated increase in development. Willow graduated with a degree in journalism from New York University, to which she gained admission with a personal essay that recalled her favorite pastime of roller skating on a winter beach. The beaches, the river, and surrounding waterways continue to be places she seeks out with her family (without the skates).

Michelle Smith was invited to join the team at North Florida Land Trust in December of 2023 and serves as the Operations and Grants Manager in support of the President, the Board of Directors, and NFLT Operations. She also supports NFLT’s RCPP grant management.
Michelle’s professional background includes ten years of service with Watson Realty Corp., and Secure Investments Realty Corp., in finance, management, and marketing roles of their property management divisions in Gainesville, FL, and six years with Innovation Hub at UF, Gainesville, FL as an administrative specialist. She worked for six years as the office/business manager in the family’s construction business. And, in the summer of 2020, she joined Heartland Consulting as a contract employee of the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) and later was promoted to the position of Easements Realty Specialist, contracted through The Trust for Tomorrow. At USDA-NRCS, Michelle gained unique skills and knowledge she will put into practice at NFLT.
“Growing up in Florida has been one of my life’s greatest privileges. From a very early age, I grew to love the land and all the treasures it held. My childhood was such a precious time and now working with North Florida Land Trust, I can make a difference so that my family, friends, and community find that same joy of living in rural Florida. We’re bringing together the right partners and communities to care for the most valuable Florida asset... The LAND!”