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Florida SEE Board of Directors
Florida SEE is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors, which advises, governs, oversees policy and direction, and assists with the leadership and general promotion of the Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism to support the organization's mission and needs.
If you are interested in joining the Florida SEE Board of Directors, please review the job description below and email info@floridasee.org to receive an application.
Pete Corradino, Board Chair
Certification Committee Chair
Pete was born and raised northwest of the Everglades in Venice, Florida. He grew up at the Florida Monkey Sanctuary, a 10-acre, private non-profit organization owned and operated by his parents from 1968 to 1988. His experience at the sanctuary involved not only working with hundreds of primates of various species but also providing the opportunity to become immersed in the natural history of the area, where the sanctuary alone was home to Sandhill Cranes, Wood Storks, Indigo Snakes, River Otters and abundance of other native wildlife. Leaving the subtropics for colder climates, Pete attended the University of Vermont and graduated with a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology. He returned to southwestern Florida and guided for the Everglades Day Safari from 1998-2000 before trading sandals for snowshoes in Vermont, where he worked for six years as a Park Ranger at Lowell Lake State Park in Londonderry, VT. Pete later worked his way up to become the Director of the environmental education organization, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Manchester, VT, teaching natural history and encouraging ecological conservation to students of all ages. He returned to his native state of Florida in 2007 to become the Director of Operations of Everglades Day Safari. Later that year, he joined the board of Florida SEE and, in 2009, began co-developing the Florida SEE certification program. In 2016, Pete became the owner of Everglades Day Safari.
Dr. Taylor V. Stein
Education Committee
Taylor V. Stein, Associate Professor, joined the University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation in 1998 with teaching and research responsibilities in ecotourism. His research efforts focus on the economic and non-economic benefits of natural or near-natural landscapes with an emphasis on the social sciences. Before joining the School, he served as a Research Fellow at the University of Minnesota’s College of Natural Resources. In addition to teaching and research responsibilities, Dr. Stein is the lead SFRC faculty in the USDA Forest Service/Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University cooperative degree program.
Carolyn Kovacs
Education Committee
Carolyn Kovacs is the Florida Sea Grant Agent with UF/IFAS Extension in Volusia and Flagler Counties. As such, she provides community education programs and environmental literacy materials focused on healthy oceans and coasts. Carolyn holds a Master of Science in marine sciences from Savannah State University in Georgia and previously taught marine science courses for university study abroad programs in Panama and worldwide on a sailboat. While in Panama, she also helped create an environmental educational training program for local boat drivers and tour guides. She now enjoys teaching marine ecology and conservation to Florida residents through the Florida Master Naturalist Program and developing new educational curricula for youth and adults. In her free time, Carolyn enjoys longboard surfing and exploring Florida’s waterways via stand-up paddleboard.
Nancy MacPhee
Treasurer/Marketing Committee
Nancy has been a member of Florida SEE for almost 25 years. She is the Tourism Development Manager for the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureauin Fort Myers. Previously, she worked as a parks & recreation professional developing and managing outdoor recreation programs and facilities in Lee County, FL, and Monmouth County, NJ. She has a degree in Parks & Recreation Resource Management, is a certified Outdoor Leader by the Wilderness Education Association, a Florida Master Naturalist, and an AHLEI Guest Service Professional. She also serves on the board of directors for the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association and Barrier Island Parks Society/Friends of Cayo Costa State Park. His experience at the sanctuary involved not only working with hundreds of primates of various species but also providing the opportunity to become immersed in the natural history of the area, where the sanctuary alone was home to Sandhill Cranes, Wood Storks, Indigo Snakes, River Otters and abundance of other native wildlife. Leaving the subtropics for colder climates, Pete attended the University of Vermont and graduated with a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology. He returned to southwestern Florida and guided for the Everglades Day Safari from 1998-2000 before trading sandals for snowshoes in Vermont, where he worked for six years as a Park Ranger at Lowell Lake State Park in Londonderry, VT.
Dr. Carolin Lusby
Marketing Committee
Dr. Carolin Lusby is an Assistant Professor at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate-level courses in tourism, research methods, and leadership. She received her doctoral degree in Tourism and Recreation and Sport Management from the University of Florida in 2007. Furthermore, Dr. Lusbyholds a master’s degree in Tourism and the Environment from the World Leisure Center of Excellence at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
Emily Dark
Certification Committee
Emily Dark is the Environmental Resource and Ecotourism Coordinator for Martin County and leads the Explore Natural Martin program. Emily has worked for Martin County for two and a half years, before which she worked for the State of Florida’s Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Office for seven years.
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Mike Sipos
Education Committee
Mike Sipos is a Marine Extension Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Collier County. He holds a M.S. degree in fisheries and aquatic sciences and a B.S. in zoology from the University of Florida. As a native Southwest Floridian, he developed a great interest in the marine environment from an early age through frequent exploration of coastal environments as a young angler and observing biological processes up close in his home aquaria. Mike’s previous professional experience includes working as a university biologist gathering data on barotrauma in grouper and environmental issues that may affect area fisheries. His interest in aquatic husbandry led him to further his education in aquaculture, and he spent a short time in the industry before becoming the Florida Sea Grant Agent. Mike focuses his educational programming on sustainable fisheries, invasive species, and environmental literacy/stewardship. In his free time, Michael enjoys kayaking, fishing, scuba diving, spearfishing, and maintaining his aquariums.
Katherine Rose
Education Committee
Katherine Kate Rose has served as the UF/IFAS Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent for Charlotte County since January 2022. Although she grew up in New Jersey, Kate has been connected to Florida all her life. Kate completed her first open water dive in Key Largo and is a double gator, earning both her bachelor’s and her master’s in Fisheries and Aquatic Science from the University of Florida. She has experience with sponge restoration, disease ecology, finfish aquaculture, and crustacean fisheries, but her present role focuses on seagrass ecology, water quality, and citizen science.
Anna-Grace Agnini
Marketing Committee
Anna-Grace Agnini joined the Martin County Office of Tourism and Marketing in January 2023, where she serves as the Environmental Resource and Ecotourism Program Manager. In this position, she works to develop and promote ecotourism experiences through the award-winning Explore Natural Martin program. From leading guided hikes to fostering sustainable tourism partnerships, Anna-Grace aims to inspire others to both explore and protect the nature around them.
Amy Lukasik
Board Member
For over 30 years, Amy Lukasik has been a dedicated leader and advocate for the Florida tourism and hospitality industry. Lukasik has been involved in the industry in various capacities, from a flight attendant to management for Walt Disney World’s retail division. She currently serves as the Executive Director for Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches, the official tourism organization for Flagler County. Lukasik joined the organization in 2012 as Marketing Manager and earned her Travel Marketing Professional certification in 2015, before assuming her current role in 2019. Most recently, Amy has received the industry’s highest achievement as a Certified Destination Management Executive Credential. As both a Flagler County resident and executive director, Lukasik understands the critical role tourism plays in Flagler County and is committed to the organization’s mission “to elevate Flagler County as a viable and sustainable place to live, work, and visit.” Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her two children and taking advantage of everything Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches has to offer.
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Nicholas Sanzone
Board Member
Nicholas Sanzone is a conservation entrepreneur, ecotourism advocate, and environmental storyteller with over a decade of experience leading sustainability, shoreline restoration, and community engagement efforts across Florida’s coastal ecosystems. With a background in science and a passion for regenerative tourism, Nicholas blends policy, ecology, and creative communication to connect people to place and foster environmental responsibility. He currently serves as Tourism Director for the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce, where he leads strategic marketing and brand development for one of Florida’s most ecologically significant regions: the Indian River Lagoon. Through cross-sector partnerships, grant acquisition, and place-based campaigns, he promotes ethical tourism that uplifts local culture, honors biodiversity, and supports the region’s long-term ecological and economic vitality. Nicholas is also the founder of LagoonLife.org, an environmental advocacy and shoreline restoration consulting service dedicated to connecting businesses, residents, and municipalities with practical, science-based solutions to protect the lands and waters on which all life depends. His work empowers communities to adopt living shorelines and sustainable practices that enhance both habitat and quality of life. Previously, Nicholas served as Environmental Programs Coordinator for the City of Satellite Beach, where he implemented award-winning sustainability initiatives and led restoration projects focused on oysters, clams, and seagrasses. He has secured and managed over $300,000 in environmental grants, and currently writes and administers $280,000 annually in tourism development funding. Earlier roles with the Marine Resources Council and the National Park Service sharpened his expertise in mangrove propagation, invasive species management, and citizen science engagement. Nicholas is also a skilled educator and public speaker, known for producing educational videos, leading workshops, and guiding immersive nature experiences. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Soil and Water Science from the University of Florida, Nicholas brings to SEE a vision rooted in science, stewardship, and story. He is committed to advancing tourism that is ethical, educational, and ecologically restorative—believing that everyone and everything matters, and together we create the story of the world.
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Mandy J. Erich
Board Member
Mandy J. Eyrich is a conservation scientist, strategist, and cross-sector consultant with over 15 years of professional experience driving business transformation across industries—including technology product development, program management, marketing and advertising. She is also a dedicated nonprofit leader, with more than 12 years of service advancing community-driven initiatives, advocacy campaigns, and education programs that bridge people, purpose, and planet. With a BA in Advertising, a BA in Studio Arts, and a MS in Wildlife Conservation & Forensic Science including hands-on field research experience across Southern Africa, Mandy brings a multidisciplinary lens to her work—integrating investigative science, creative storytelling, and systems thinking to create lasting, mission-aligned impact and behavioral change. Her career has focused on helping organizations of all sizes innovate ethically and sustainably, while centering the voices of communities and ecosystems alike. A passionate traveler and lifelong learner, Mandy believes that immersive, responsible travel has the power to transform how we relate to the natural world and to one another. As a board member of Florida SEE, she is committed to protecting Florida’s unique ecosystems by championing ethical ecotourism practices, deepening community connections, and fostering collaboration across the state to build a more sustainable future for all.
Kirk Fusco
Board Member
Kirk Fusco has worked for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves office for 9 years, specializing in estuarine conservation, marine invertebrate biology, and shoreline restoration. His additional experience includes working and living over 150 days at sea, coordinating threatened species response, pelagic species documentation, and tagging focal species including horseshoe crabs, birds, and smalltooth sawfish. Kirk has an academic background in Marine Biology, and his passion focuses on ocean and coastal conservation for future generations.