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�ԹϺ��� staff are the lifeblood of the organization, responsible for cutting-edge science, boots-on-the-ground conservation and restoration, inspiring education for kids and adults alike, and so much more. As part of the annual �ԹϺ��� Assembly event held in October, �ԹϺ��� Florida honored seven conservation leaders from around the state and recognized two staff members with Staff of Distinction awards.

Executive Director Julie Wraithmell presented the first 2025 Staff of Distinction award to Allyson Webb, land stewardship manager at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

With 18 years of land management experience at the Sanctuary, Webb was recognized for turning the corner in �ԹϺ���’s stewardship program, particularly with prescribed fire. Under her tenure, training and safety have improved markedly, collaboration with partners has grown (local fire departments, national training center, neighbors, local agencies, and organizations), and �ԹϺ��� is now seen as a regional leader in the application of prescribed fire. She is credited with significantly increasing the number of acres burned each year and has even improved processes for tracking and reporting on the progress made.

Webb’s creative way of building partnerships has improved the protection of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s natural resources, working directly with law enforcement partners to address trespassing and poaching on the property. She also regularly leverages partners to benefit �ԹϺ���’s fight against invasive species on the property, has built relationships with local businesses that have directly benefited our team’s budget, and has even forged connections with donors.

Webb also serves as a model in coaching or mentoring staff. She was recognized by the �ԹϺ��� for utilizing available tools and regularly works with conservation team staff to find professional growth opportunities.

�ԹϺ��� is grateful for all she does for Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the birds that rely on its habitat.

The second Staff of Distinction award for 2025 was presented to Kara Durda, shorebird program manager for Tampa Bay. According to �ԹϺ��� Florida Director of Bird Conservation Audrey DeRose-Wilson, who presented the award, Durda is dedicated to �ԹϺ���’s mission, inclusive leadership, and has a genuine gift for bringing people together.

Durda uplifts and encourages those around her and is often the first to give a shout-out in a meeting, send a note of encouragement, or celebrate someone else’s success. She makes her teammates feel appreciated and seen, and that positivity has helped create a strong, supportive culture for the coastal team.

That same energy carries over to her work with volunteers. This year alone, Durda recruited and trained more than 30 new shorebird volunteers and organized a fun and creative appreciation event. Her care for her community was also evident after the 2024 hurricanes made landfall in the Tampa Bay area. She worked closely with property managers and FWC to balance necessary hurricane recovery efforts with protecting rooftop-nesting birds, doing her best to ensure the birds’ safety while recognizing the impact of the storm on community members.

Durda’s commitment to inclusion goes beyond her day-to-day work. Through the Birdability Conservation Captain Corps, she’s been learning how to make birding more accessible for everyone, and she’s sharing those lessons with her team.

Durda brings warmth, curiosity, and connection to everything she does. Whether mentoring teammates, supporting volunteers, or representing �ԹϺ��� in the field, Durda shows how real impact starts with how we treat one another.

�ԹϺ��� is grateful for all she does for birds and the community that keeps them safe.

For decades, �ԹϺ��� Florida has gathered its staff, members, partners, and other stakeholders under one roof for �ԹϺ��� Assembly, a celebration of the year’s accomplishments and a look ahead at coming priorities. The three-day event was hosted this year at Central Florida’s Mission Resort + Club in Howey-in-the-Hills. With a theme of “Power of Birds, Power of Us: Science and Joy as Catalysts for Conservation,” �ԹϺ��� Florida’s 2025 Assembly demonstrated innovative ways to protect birds and the places they need, today and in the future, through learning sessions, field trips, and presentations. The event was generously sponsored by Publix, Florida Power & Light Company, Rayonier, Ferber Company, Lykes Brothers, Inc., Lake County TDC, Disney, Vortex Optics, and Adventures Unbound.