Board of Directors and Officers

Scott Kelly, Director and President.  Retired City of West Palm Beach Assistant City Administrator for utility systems, engineering and permitting, and City Liaison to the Conservancy. He is a registered professional engineer, independent consultant, and serves on the boards of water supply organizations. Prior to joining the City he was a utility executive and founder of an international water supply non-profit.

Steven Scherer, Director, and Senior Vice President. Founding Conservancy member and President. Retired professional engineer and utility executive. Was an Adjunct Instructor at Palm Beach State College. Served on the City of West Palm Beach Water Catchment Advisory Committee and City Water Board, and chaired the City Green Task Force and current Mayor’s Transition Environment Committee.

Naomi D’Alessio, PhD., Director and Vice President Education. Past Conservancy Co-President. Retired Associate Dean Arts and Sciences, Director of Math, Science and Technology, and Assistant Professor of Biology, NOVA Southeastern University.

John DeCarion, Director and Treasurer.  Retired accounting manager and Grassy Waters Preserve volunteer.

Ilan Kaufer, Director, Vice President and Secretary. Elected Town of Jupiter council member and Environmental Project Manager at Florida Power and Light. Prior to his current assignment he worked as an attorney at FPL.

Amanda Parks Schlechter, Director, and Vice President.  Founding Conservancy member. Attorney and Shareholder with Palm Beach County law firm Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero, P.A. Patent holding entrepreneur and lifetime area resident.

Richard Stone, Director, and Vice President Photography.  Retired U.S. Weather Service meteorologist and was an Adjunct Instructor Palm Beach State College.

Advisory Members:

Sam Dorfman, City of West Palm Beach Grassy Waters Preserve Nature Center Program Coordinator.

Lisa Gaal, Digital Marketing Consultant.

Poonam Kalkat, PHD, City of West Palm Beach Director of Public Utilities and City Liaison to the Conservancy.

Patrick Painter, City of West Palm Beach Grassy Waters Environmental Resources Manager.

Barry Schein, Photography.  Award winning professional photographer and photography instructor.

Courtney Johnson-Woods, Conservancy Communications Coordinator, Communications & Media faculty, Clarkson University, Potsdam NY.

Honorary Members:

Joseph Peduzzi, City of West Palm Beach City Commissioner District 4.