Ashantae Green, Chair
Ashantae Green is a graduate of Florida State college at Jacksonville with certificates in Sustainability Management from LSU & Sustainable Agricultural and Urban Land Management from UF. Ashantae is a subject matter expert for the Jacksonville City Council’s Subcommittee on Resiliency, a participant of the Florida Department of Agriculture Ag Innovations Working Group, and an architectural designer and consultant for conservation and environmentally-friendly construction. Her goals are to bring environmental education and solutions to all citizens across the First Coast as well as to protect land, waterways, agriculture and natural resources for generations to come.
Term 2021-2025
Tiffany Bess, Vice Chair
Tiffany Bess has soil in her soul, the St. Johns in her veins, and a servant’s heart. Her love for her community, and planet, is what drives her every step. Growing up in the rural outskirts of Jacksonville, she has been surrounded by farm workers her whole life. And even though she moved to the “big city” as a young adult, she soon found her hands deep in the soil once again when she created Jacksonville’s first food scrap composting business in 2015. After the launch of her business, she helped create the Gastrofest Green Action Committee and then took over the leadership role the following year. She was then invited to join the board for The Elements, the young professionals' group at our beloved cultural institution MOSH. This led to her becoming the President of the Elements and a Board of Trustees member for the museum. She was a founding member of the North Florida Green Chamber of Commerce and consulted with the group on projects including a resource database for hard to recycle items. And her next big adventure will be serving as the Education Director for Compost Jax, our city’s first industrial composting business. But the group that has captured her heart the most is the Duval Soil & Water Conservation District. Prior to her current term, she volunteered as an affiliate member and community liaison for the board for nearly 4 years and is eager to continue her service in helping the District to promote the conservation of the natural resources of Duval County, Florida.
Term 2023-2027
Tiffany Bess has soil in her soul, the St. Johns in her veins, and a servant’s heart. Her love for her community, and planet, is what drives her every step. Growing up in the rural outskirts of Jacksonville, she has been surrounded by farm workers her whole life. And even though she moved to the “big city” as a young adult, she soon found her hands deep in the soil once again when she created Jacksonville’s first food scrap composting business in 2015. After the launch of her business, she helped create the Gastrofest Green Action Committee and then took over the leadership role the following year. She was then invited to join the board for The Elements, the young professionals' group at our beloved cultural institution MOSH. This led to her becoming the President of the Elements and a Board of Trustees member for the museum. She was a founding member of the North Florida Green Chamber of Commerce and consulted with the group on projects including a resource database for hard to recycle items. And her next big adventure will be serving as the Education Director for Compost Jax, our city’s first industrial composting business. But the group that has captured her heart the most is the Duval Soil & Water Conservation District. Prior to her current term, she volunteered as an affiliate member and community liaison for the board for nearly 4 years and is eager to continue her service in helping the District to promote the conservation of the natural resources of Duval County, Florida.
Term 2023-2027
Ray "R.J." Deacon Jr., Treasurer
Ray “R.J.” Deacon was born in Staunton, Virginia. Growing up off a dirt road on his parent’s farm in Augusta County which they raised corn, soybeans, chickens, and cattle. Ray enjoyed helping his mother with her well known "enormous vegetable garden" every season. He graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. in 2001 with Bachelor of Arts in Business. He then moved to Lexington, Kentucky. to pursue a new job and in which he became involved with many numerous community organizations such as the Kentucky River Keepers and as an active volunteer with the PRIDE Spring Cleanup to collecting over 700 bags of trash at Cumberland Falls. He then moved to Jacksonville in 2019 to pursue a life’s dream to live by the beach, with his husband of 20 years, along with their 3 dogs and cat. After moving to Jacksonville, Ray saw a that Jacksonville needed a change in OUR local environment. He made a clear-cut decision to become a candidate to educate and encourage change to protect OUR water, soil, and beaches. Ray understands that clean soil and water is a necessity for our community now and for future generations.
Term 2023-2027
Ray “R.J.” Deacon was born in Staunton, Virginia. Growing up off a dirt road on his parent’s farm in Augusta County which they raised corn, soybeans, chickens, and cattle. Ray enjoyed helping his mother with her well known "enormous vegetable garden" every season. He graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. in 2001 with Bachelor of Arts in Business. He then moved to Lexington, Kentucky. to pursue a new job and in which he became involved with many numerous community organizations such as the Kentucky River Keepers and as an active volunteer with the PRIDE Spring Cleanup to collecting over 700 bags of trash at Cumberland Falls. He then moved to Jacksonville in 2019 to pursue a life’s dream to live by the beach, with his husband of 20 years, along with their 3 dogs and cat. After moving to Jacksonville, Ray saw a that Jacksonville needed a change in OUR local environment. He made a clear-cut decision to become a candidate to educate and encourage change to protect OUR water, soil, and beaches. Ray understands that clean soil and water is a necessity for our community now and for future generations.
Term 2023-2027
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Kym Wallace Maye, Secretary
Kym Wallace Maye native of Jacksonville, FL mission is to Feed, Lead, Build and Educate. She obtained her AA degree at Florida State College of Jacksonville. Her focus has been Education, whether it's the youth and developmental stages or elderly in the community who want to know more about healthy resources and lifestyle. Kym Wallace Maye has been an advocate of her community for over 20 years servicing those in need. Kym thoroughly understands the importance of nutrition and the lack of proper food options. Her goal is to provide sustainability to food insecure areas in Duval County and surrounding areas. Term 2023-2027 |
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Eugene "Trey" Ford III, Historian
Eugene "Trey" Ford III, is a graduate of Paxon School for Advanced Studies with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agricultural Operations Management with a focus in Construction Planning from the University of Florida. Trey moved back to Jacksonville in August of 2019 and saw massive growth coupled with immeasurable opportunity and immediately put his hands to the plow to improve the city, choosing “story telling” through film as a way to educate, equip, and empower Jacksonville toward a renaissance that would see it eclipse perennial contenders in “best places to live” articles as the most technologically advanced, sustainably run, yet culturally unique and exciting cities in the entire world.
This is the Jacksonville Renaissance! Power to the People! Grow Your Own Food! #FoodSoverignty
Term 2023-2027
Eugene "Trey" Ford III, is a graduate of Paxon School for Advanced Studies with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agricultural Operations Management with a focus in Construction Planning from the University of Florida. Trey moved back to Jacksonville in August of 2019 and saw massive growth coupled with immeasurable opportunity and immediately put his hands to the plow to improve the city, choosing “story telling” through film as a way to educate, equip, and empower Jacksonville toward a renaissance that would see it eclipse perennial contenders in “best places to live” articles as the most technologically advanced, sustainably run, yet culturally unique and exciting cities in the entire world.
This is the Jacksonville Renaissance! Power to the People! Grow Your Own Food! #FoodSoverignty
Term 2023-2027
Affiliate Members
Staff
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Carly Smith, District Aide
Carly Smith is a current sophomore at the University of North Florida with majors in English, Political Science: Public Law, and a minor in Environmental Studies. She is very involved on campus, being a proud member of the Hicks Honors College, treasurer of Swoop Law, the social media coordinator for the Honors Book Club, and a member of Kappa Alpha Omicron (an honors society associated with the Interdisciplinary Environmental Association). Most importantly, she participates in the Environmental Leadership Program coordinated by the Institute of Environmental Research and Education at the University of North Florida. This program is how she came to be connected with the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District, and she is excited to serve the board in any way she can to better Duval County and the surrounding area. Growing up on a farm in Phenix City, AL, she has long since cared about environmental conservation and hopes to go into environmental law or politics one day.
Carly Smith is a current sophomore at the University of North Florida with majors in English, Political Science: Public Law, and a minor in Environmental Studies. She is very involved on campus, being a proud member of the Hicks Honors College, treasurer of Swoop Law, the social media coordinator for the Honors Book Club, and a member of Kappa Alpha Omicron (an honors society associated with the Interdisciplinary Environmental Association). Most importantly, she participates in the Environmental Leadership Program coordinated by the Institute of Environmental Research and Education at the University of North Florida. This program is how she came to be connected with the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District, and she is excited to serve the board in any way she can to better Duval County and the surrounding area. Growing up on a farm in Phenix City, AL, she has long since cared about environmental conservation and hopes to go into environmental law or politics one day.