At the Florida National Parks Association (FNPA), our dedicated team is passionate about preserving and enhancing Florida’s natural treasures. Each member brings unique skills and a shared commitment to protecting our parks for future generations. Get to know the people behind FNPA who work tirelessly to support our mission.
Meet Our Staff
Jessica Pierce
Executive Director
The Florida National Parks Association traces its roots to the Everglades Natural History Association, formed at Everglades National Park in 1951. In 1985, our scope of work was significantly expanded to include additional National Park Services responsibilities at Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, and Dry Tortugas National Park.
Bob Joe
Naturalist
The Florida National Parks Association traces its roots to the Everglades Natural History Association, formed at Everglades National Park in 1951. In 1985, our scope of work was significantly expanded to include additional National Park Services responsibilities at Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, and Dry Tortugas National Park.
Naturalist & Other Team Members
Heather Haines
Naturalist
I have recently started at the Florida National Parks Association as a naturalist a few months ago and applying here felt like a calling. Having bounced across the country throughout my adult life, looking for a place where I feel like I could make the biggest difference, while still fulfilling the human desire to have that feeling of home, I realized that South Florida was the perfect place to settle down. Though originally born in Alabama, I grew up in the coastal wetlands of Mississippi, roughly forty minutes outside of New Orleans, Louisiana. South Florida, though more rich in the Hispanic Culture than the Cajun French culture that I grew so accustomed to growing up, the similarities between the two cultures helped me feel right at home. (Well, it was either that or the feeling of humidity and proximity to the swamp that reminded me heavily of home.)
My background is centered around Marine Biology, having a Bachelor’s in Marine Biology and Chemistry and a Master’s in Marine Science. Up until the pandemic, I have sailed along the Pacific Ocean, lived on the Bering Sea, and even cruised through the Agulhas Current in search of what I could do to help the state of the natural world and throughout my travels I realized that the one thing that many people have in common is that though they are interested in the ocean and the surrounding environment, they often do not want to major in it, making it difficult to know vital information necessary to lesson their individual impact on the world around them. Therefore, at the age of 26, I pivoted in my previous career path and decided to teach to educate the next generation in the state of the world. However, after three years, I wanted to see other ways I could educate people from all over the world, across many age groups and cultural backgrounds, on the fragile ecosystems found within the Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park to shed light on anthropogenic impact on both Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay.
What I look forward to most is volunteering on restoration projects going on in the parks so that I can feel active in my pursuit to make even a small change in the natural world for the better. In doing so, I am also excited to relay anything I learn during these volunteer opportunities to guests in hopes of getting people excited about why we bother to restore the water flow of the Everglades and the seagrasses of Biscayne Bay in the first place.
Bob Joe
Naturalist
The Florida National Parks Association traces its roots to the Everglades Natural History Association, formed at Everglades National Park in 1951. In 1985, our scope of work was significantly expanded to include additional National Park Services responsibilities at Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, and Dry Tortugas National Park.
