Steve Young

Steve Young is a dedicated husband and father who loves observing nature and enjoys giving back to the community by volunteering with with CBA, fostering dogs and as a Commissioner for the South Walton Mosquito District. His involvement with the CBA began with water quality monitoring and grew to include oyster gardening, advisory board member and the executive committee as chair. Most days start with a cup of coffee on the dock to watch the sunrise over the Bay. He has a passion for sustainable living and is committed to preserving Choctawhatchee Bay for future generations. He enjoys kayak fishing, cruiser bike riding, investing, and fostering rescue dogs. He has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Colorado State University and retired from a Fortune 500 company as an executive.

Monica Wallis

Monica M. Wallis, P.E., is a native of Destin. Monica is an alumnus of UF with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering as well as Troy University with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. She currently works as the Operations Manager for Destin Water Users, Inc. Monica serves as the President the Northwest Florida Utility Managers Council and as the Chair of the Florida Section AWWA Utility Council. Monica is also the Past Chair of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Advisory Board. In the past decade, Monica has volunteered with the Destin History & Fishing Museum board and local school PTOs & SACs. Monica has been active in the community as a graduate of the inaugural class of Destin Forward (2008), where she was honored with the Destin Forward Leadership Award and a graduate of Leadership Okaloosa (2009). Her hobbies include scrapbooking, taking photos, being out on local waters, and spending time with family.

Julie Terrell

Julie Terrell is the Director of Northwest Florida State College’s DeFuniak Springs location—the Chautauqua Center. In her current role, she is also responsible as the Grant Administrator of the Adult General Education Program. For seven years (2006-2013), she was the Director for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance.

Before working at NWF State College, Julie worked at the University of Florida as a regional coordinator with the Florida LAKEWATCH program. She received her Bachelor of Science in Forest Resources and Conservation and a Master of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida. Ms. Terrell has worked on aquatic resources throughout Florida for over 20 years and has authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals using data collected by both CBA and Florida LAKEWATCH.

Ms. Terrell completed Walton County Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Walton Class in 2010 where she also received the Outstanding Dale Carnegie Project award. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for both the Walton County Area Chamber of Commerce and the Chautauqua Offices of Psychotherapy & Evaluation, Inc. (COPE). She also served two consecutive terms as a Director for the Florida Lake Management Society (FLMS), an organization whose mission is to promote protection, enhancement, conservation, restoration, and management of Florida’s aquatic resources.

Brittany Tate

Brittany Tate grew up in Okaloosa County and currently works at Pryor Middle School as an 8^th grade Science Teacher. After graduating from the University of Alabama, she went on to work for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. There she developed hands-on science curriculum for local schools and managed grant projects. Missing working directly with children, Brittany returned to school and received her Master’s in Instructional Education, went to work for Okaloosa County School District, and moved into the classroom fulltime. In 2022, Brittany was awarded Okaloosa County’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.  That year, she also was named one of United Ways 40 Under 40 and FSU’s MagLab Summer Teacher Residency. Currently, Brittany serves on the Emerald Coast Science Center’s Board of Directors, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Executive Board of Directors and Pryor’s School Advisory Committee. In 2024, Brittany earned another Master’s in Educational Leadership and hopes to move into a principalship role in the coming years. Outside of work, Brittany enjoys running, playing pickleball, listening to live music, painting and sharing memories with friends and family.

Emily Gregory 

Emily, a proud lifelong resident of Fort Walton Beach, has a deep connection to the natural beauty of Northwest Florida. Growing up as a native Floridian, she spent countless hours exploring local rivers, the Gulf of Mexico, and Choctawhatchee Bay—experiences that shaped her passion for environmental stewardship. This passion led her to earn a degree in Environmental Science Policy from the University of West Florida after graduating from Fort Walton Beach High School.

Since 2008, Emily has served as Property Manager and Leasing Director for the commercial division of The Jay Odom Group. In this role, she balances the need for economic growth with the preservation of the area's unique natural resources, ensuring Northwest Florida remains both a beloved tourist destination and a cherished home for its residents.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Emily was a dedicated volunteer in the CBA water quality monitoring program for many years, contributing to efforts that protect the region's waterways. She is also a passionate beekeeper, reflecting her commitment to sustainability and environmental health. When she’s not working or tending her bees, Emily enjoys practicing yoga, raising chickens, and exploring the outdoors.

Dr. David Schjott

Dr. David Schjott earned his undergraduate degree in Communication Arts and his Master of Arts degree in Sociology from The University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. He earned a Master of Science degree in Counseling and Human Development at Troy State University and completed his Doctorate Degree in Education with a specialization in Adult Education at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is employed full-time at Northwest Florida State College as a Professor of Social Science with primary teaching responsibilities in Sociology. David is also an Adjunct Sociology Professor at Gulf Coast State College in the Department of Social Science. In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, the Focus Center, and the Boys and Girls Club of Okaloosa County. He served on the Board of Directors for C.O.P.E. Center (now Chautauqua Healthcare), a not-for-profit community mental health agency in Walton County, Florida, for more than seventeen years. David currently serves on the Board of Directors for Bridgeway Center, Inc., a community mental health center serving Okaloosa County, Florida. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA).

David has been an active community volunteer for such civic organizations as the United Way, the Crisis Line of Okaloosa County, The Shelter House (Domestic Violence Shelter), and the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. He has researched Domestic Violence and Interpersonal Sexual Assault. Populations for these studies have included Mental Health Providers, Victim Advocates, Law Enforcement, and Victims themselves. His professional career has included working in both retail management and marketing and public relations. He spent many years in public and private psychiatric healthcare as both a consultant and outpatient service director.

In 2000, David was selected by the Faculty Commission of the Florida Association of Community Colleges as the “Professor of the Year” for Instructional Excellence. The Northwest Florida State College Alumni Association has also honored David as the “Instructor of the Year” for 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2007/2008, 2011/2012, 2012/2013, and 2013/2014 – an award selected by student balloting each Spring Semester for the academic year. David has been a passionate advocate for mental health and social services for many years. He continues to be active in the local community. David resides in beautiful Freeport, Florida.

Joe Nacchia

An Emerald Coast “local” since 1973, Joe has been employed in advertising and marketing since graduating from the University of West Florida. Currently, Joe owns Emerald Coast Marketing and Publishing, in addition to managing Homes & Land of the Emerald Coast – a real estate magazine showcasing properties for sale throughout the coast of the Florida panhandle. Joe was introduced to the CBA in 2012 by an advisory member, Tim Norris, and felt compelled to get involved. Now serving on the CBA Advisory Board as Marketing and Events Committee, Joe works closely with CBA’s Marketing Coordinator to spread awareness for the organization that benefits and aids the betterment and conservation of the local waters he had fished, swam, and boated in since childhood. Joe is married and has one daughter who also shares the same love for local waterways.

Dennis Peters

Dennis Peters is Gulf South Research Corporation’s (GSRC) Vice President, responsible for company performance, staff development, environmental business development, and marketing. Dennis also serves in a program and project management role, supporting multiple DOD customers; with a focus on the Navy, Air Force, and US Army Corps of Engineers. Dennis is a seasoned marine and oceanographic scientist, focusing on environmental planning initiatives and natural resource studies of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Atlantic.

With over 41 years of marine, estuarine, and aquaculture R&D experience combined, Dennis has had previous employment with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Florida Wildlife Research Institute (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission [FWC]), Hawaii Seafood Growers, Noraqua, Gulfstream Aquaculture, and the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

Mr. Peters additionally works for his private consulting firm, Gulfstream Aquaculture, LLC, to provide expertise in open ocean mariculture, permitting and federal agency consultations, aquaculture feasibility studies, and offshore oceanographic siting analyses for future farm sites. Dennis is currently engaged in the permitting of two open ocean fish farm sites in Florida; one off Sarasota and another in South Florida.

Dennis served as a past Board Member of the Marine Resource Education Program’s (MREP) Aquaculture Steering Committee, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, past board of directors of the Northwest Florida State College Foundation (NWFSCF), and additionally, serves on the board of trustees of the Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Inc.

Jerimi Nuckolls

Jerimi Nuckolls is Director of Development with Coastal Ridge Real Estate, a full-service real estate investment firm executing on core, core plus, value add, and ground-up development investment strategies in the multifamily real estate asset class across 39 distinct markets. Jerimi is responsible for guiding and driving new development projects from conception through completion. He oversees all aspects of the development process including planning, visioning, acquisitions, entitlements, and comprehensive financial management. Before joining Coastal Ridge, Jerimi served as the Director of Development and Senior Financial Analyst for The St. Joe Company, a resort community and commercial developer in Northwest Florida. He later served as the Vice President of Community Development with the Southern Land Company in Nashville, Tennessee, and as Vice President of Planning and Entitlements for the Howard Group, a mixed-use developer in Miramar Beach, Florida. Before graduate school, Jerimi was a land planner for an Atlanta-based firm providing master planning and project management services for a variety of developments ranging from urban mixed-use projects to resort communities, located in the Southeastern United States and many Latin American countries.

Mr. Nuckolls received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture and a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in finance and real estate from the University of Georgia. A licensed Professional Landscape Architect and, an active member of the Urban Land Institute’s Florida Community Housing and Development Product Council. Jerimi and his wife Kelly are proud to call Northwest Florida home and play active roles in shaping and supporting their community. They have two young boys, a dog Alys, and reside in Watersound, Florida.

Mark Shaeffer

Mark Shaeffer is a professional engineer currently serving as the Utilities Director for the City of Panama City Beach.  As a long-term resident of both Okaloosa and Walton counties, Mark has spent countless hours on the Choctawhatchee Bay and Gulf fishing. Choctawhatchee Bay has and continues to add to Mark’s life in so many ways, he wishes to help preserve it to benefit the quality of life of others.

Mitch Shank

Mitch Shank retired from the Naval Oceanographic Office at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi with over 40 years of federal government service, 25 of which were as a senior manager in all aspects of Naval Oceanography and Meteorology. Mitch has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Meteorology and has served on national and international oceanographic committees, including serving as a US Delegate to the Intergovernmental Ocean Committee in Paris, France, and the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mitch has served on the CBA Advisory Committee since December 2006, performing multiple terms as Secretary and Vice-Chairman. He held several workshops to identify CBA’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as part of a strategic planning effort. He has assisted in preparing short-term plans and guided the need to establish metrics to better determine CBA’s progress. Mitch attended several meetings in Walton County to develop the Coastal Dune Lakes Management Plan and participated in the first three Mattie Kelly Environmental Symposiums and several CBA Workshops.
Mitch has resided in Destin at Sandpiper Cove and in Sandestin at One Beach Club since 2005. He served on the Board of Trustees at Sandpiper Cove from 2008 until 2019.

James Ward

James Ward is retired after being an Okaloosa County businessman for the last 50+ years. Educated at Florida State and Southern Polytechnical State University in Marietta, Georgia, he received his degree in Architectural Engineering Technology in 1965. Some of his past activities include membership in the Florida House of Representatives (1976-1986), Chairman of the Correction Probation Parole Committee (1980-1984), Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee (1984-1986), Vice-Chairman of the Northwest Florida Water Management District Board (1972- 1976), Chairman of the Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council (1986-1989), and a Member of the Southern Growth Policy Board (then Chaired by Governor Bill Clinton) (1985-1986). He is currently involved in the Boy Scouts of America.

Tim Norris

Tim Norris, son of an Air Force father, grew up in Fort Walton Beach, surfing, fishing, and water skiing throughout the Choctawhatchee Bay estuary. After graduating from Choctawhatchee High School, Tim went on to study at Okaloosa – Walton Community College and then transferred to Florida State University where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. In 1986, Tim became a licensed real estate agent and began his career at Sandestin Resort in Destin, FL. Now with almost 30 years of experience in the local real estate market, Tim is an agent for Pelican Real Estate and Development, focusing on residential and commercial properties.

From 2007-2011, Tim served on the board for the Northwest Florida Water Management District, where he was first introduced to CBA. During that time, Tim became a big fan of the organization and wanted to get involved, specifically to source funding for the continuance and growth of CBA’s mission in the Choctawhatchee watershed. Once elected to CBA’s Advisory Board, Tim was determined to secure the organization’s future and played a critical role in establishing CBA’s stakeholders. In a recent proposal to acquire funding from the BP oil spill settlement, Tim was instrumental in forming a partnership between CBA and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to establish an aqua plant nursery and fishery in Walton County. In addition to being the past Chairman of CBA’s Advisory Board, Tim served on the Walton County Design Review Board, the South Walton TDC, and as Commissioner for the South Walton Mosquito Control District.

As past Chairman of CBA, husband, and father of three girls, and local water-enthusiast, Tim wants the Choctawhatchee Bay estuary to remain as beautiful as he remembers it from childhood. He hopes that through the mission of CBA, future generations will enjoy and appreciate the pristine water resources as he and his family do today.