The statewide work of Sierra Club Florida is directed by an executive committee of seven members, who are elected for two-year terms in the fall. The Sierra Club Florida Executive Committee (ExCom) meets quarterly along with leaders from the local groups to discuss and make decisions on issues of importance across the state.
Executive Committee Members
James Scott (Chair) is based in Tampa Bay and is a former Chair of the Suncoast Group. He remains on the Suncoast ExCom as an expert in sustainability, resiliency, climate adaptation, urban growth, and clean energy. James was part of St. Petersburg's successful Ready for 100 clean energy campaign. He is a solid champion of diversity, inclusion, and environmental justice issues. Contact: james.scott@florida.sierraclub.org
Erica Hall is the Executive Committee Vice Chair and a former Co-Chair and member of the Florida Chapter's Equity, Inclusion and Justice Committee. She also represents the Florida Chapter as Delegate and Executive Committee Member of the national Sierra Council of Club Leaders (CCL). She also sits on the Suncoast Sierra Group Executive Committee. Contact: ericah@suncoastsierra.org
Debbie Matthews of the Miami Group has a long history of leadership on both the Florida ExCom and as Miami Group chair and vice chair. She is a founding member of the Group Advisory Council (GAC), now known as the Group Empowerment Team (GET). Contact: debbie.matthews@florida.sierraclub.org
Kristine Cunningham of the Volusia-Flagler Group has been an active Sierra Club member for almost 20 years, and has held many leadership positions throughout Nevada, North Carolina, and Florida. She has served as Group Chair, Chapter Vice-Chair, Chapter Treasurer, and Chair of the Conservation and Political Committees, as well as on staff Hiring Committees and Chapter Executive Committees for 10 years. Campaign accomplishments include Ready for 100, anti-nuclear advocacy, and challenging dirty coal in North Carolina. Contact: krissysjake@gmail.com
Lyman Welch lives in Sanibel and is a former Vice Chair of Florida’s Conservation Committee. He recently moved to Florida from Chicago, where he worked at the Alliance for the Great Lakes protecting water quality. Lyman is a retired attorney and a long-standing member of Sierra Club. He also sits on the Executive Committee of Sierra Club Florida’s Calusa group. Contact: lymanwelch@protonmail.com
Cliff Thaell, a member of the Big Bend Group, serves on the Endorsement Committee, and lives with Georjean in the Miccosukee Land Cooperative, a 50-year-old “intentional community” of 100 families on 420 rural acres outside of Tallahassee. Cliff served four terms on the Leon County Commission (1994-2010) and was widely seen as the “green commissioner” fighting urban sprawl for lake protection and water quality. He was recognized for his land conservation initiatives preserving thousands of acres of endangered lands, and elected as president of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) in 2004-05. In addition to the ExCom, Cliff sits on the Chapter’s Legislative Advisory Board, Nominations Committee, and Finance Team. Contact: cthaell@gmail.com
Michelle Rutledge
Bio coming soon
Additional Officers
Treasurer Tom Larson, tom.larson@florida.sierraclub.org
Vice Treasurer Alyssa Cadwalader, alyssa.cadwalader@gmail.com
Secretary Deborah Longman-Marien, turtlecoastsc@gmail.com
2024 Florida Chapter Quarterly Leadership Meetings
Meetings are held both in person and virtually on Zoom and are open to all current members. To obtain location of meeting, agenda and access code, contact Javier.Estevez@sierraclub.org.
- December 7 (Eatonville, FL) - RSVP here