TALLAHASSEE, FL – Audubon Florida recently honored conservation leaders during its annual Assembly, held October 15–17, 2026. For decades, Audubon Florida has brought together staff, members, partners, and other stakeholders to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and look ahead to upcoming priorities. The three-day event was hosted at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach and focused on a theme of Protecting What Connects Us —Water, Wildlife, and Community.
The Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an individual who has a history of exhibiting exemplary dedication to birds and the places they need and who consistently goes above and beyond in their service to conservation. This year’s award went to Eve Waterman. Eve has been volunteering with the Audubon coastal team in the Tampa Bay region for several years, frequently doing a morning shift at Ft. De Soto Park stewarding Wilson’s Plovers, Least Terns, and American Oystercatchers, then an evening shift at Redington stewarding Black Skimmers. She averages 50+ shifts a year, and her hours translate to roughly $2,500/year in donated value to Audubon Florida. She is also Treasurer of the St. Pete Audubon Chapter.
The Teddy Roosevelt Award is given to an individual demonstrating leadership, resolve, and courage on behalf of Florida’s environment. Audubon is pleased to recognize State Senator Jeff Brandes and U.S. Representative Al Lawson, Jr. When Florida’s Legislature voted in a speedy three-day June special session to place Amendment 3 on the November ballot, former State Senator Jeff Brandes and former U.S. Congressman Al Lawson, Jr. knew something had to be done. The changes proposed in Amendment 3 would cripple city and county budgets, forcing cuts to everything from parks and libraries and making it harder for communities to prevent sprawl. And the ballot language was misleading, steeped in political rhetoric and lacking the transparency that voters deserve. These two former elected officials reached across the aisle and jointly filed a legal challenge, standing up for voters, asserting that ballot language is no place for partisan rhetoric: voters deserve clear, impartial language to consider. Despite a vigorous defense by the state Attorney General’s office, Brandes and Lawson’s challenge prevailed, forcing the Attorney General to rewrite the amendment language. Their leadership is an example of the respect for voters and ballot integrity that Floridians expect. And their continued efforts to educate voters about the impacts of this amendment demonstrate that the environment isn’t a partisan issue here. It’s a Florida issue — one that affects our prosperity and quality of life, and one that is worth fighting for.
The Distinguished Philanthropist Award is given to an individual or organization in appreciation of their dedicated philanthropy, advocacy, and for being a driving force for Audubon’s work. This year’s honor went to Collier Community Foundation for serving as an exceptional partner to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Eileen Connolly-Keesler accepted the award on behalf of the Foundation, which provided generous and sustained support to advance critical hydrologic research, strengthen conservation science and land stewardship, and expand Audubon’s capacity to educate and inspire future generations at the Sanctuary. Most notably, their extraordinary $100,000 gift to Audubon’s capital campaign in 2025 was a transformational investment in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s future, facilitating important improvements to the campus to better serve the community as a center for conservation, education, and research. Their partnership demonstrates a profound commitment to protecting the natural resources that sustain Southwest Florida and ensuring that Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary thrives for generations to come.
The Guy Bradley Award recognizes an individual for stewardship in the face of threats to birds and their habitats and a relentless commitment to conserving Florida’s wildlife. Audubon selected recently retired Audubon Everglades Science Coordinator Paul Gray, PhD, to receive this year’s award. Throughout his 31-year career at Audubon, Gray has embodied the hallmarks of Audubon culture: science-based, collaborative, solutions-oriented, and intersectional. While Gray brought strong science to some of Florida’s most difficult water and wildlife issues, this success was also built on relationships. He worked with ranchers, agency staff, scientists, landowners, and conservation partners — often people coming at an issue from very different perspectives — and built the trust and credibility needed to move difficult issues forward.
The Everglades Champion Award is given for bold action on behalf of the Everglades or continuous leadership on behalf of Everglades restoration and the recovery of Lake Okeechobee and its estuaries. This year, Audubon proudly recognizes Chauncey Goss. Since 2019, Goss has served as Chairman of the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board, guiding it through a period when major Everglades restoration projects have advanced into construction and to completion. Under his leadership, the Board invested in water quality, storage, and reducing Lake Okeechobee discharges. Accomplishments during Goss’ tenure include expanded water-quality monitoring in the Northern Everglades and Lake Okeechobee, completion of the EAA Reservoir Stormwater Treatment Area, completion of the Everglades Restoration Strategies construction phase, progress on the Western Everglades Restoration Project, and completion of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project. The South Florida Water Management District also helped secure recent state-federal agreements accelerating the EAA Reservoir and other projects, working across state and federal agencies, tribes, and conservation partners throughout.
The Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award is given to an officer or officers who have demonstrated that protecting wildlife is more than a job, but a moral obligation, and have made significant contributions to protecting Florida’s wildlife either within or above the course of their regular duty. This year’s award went to Sgt. David Estes, Cpl. Robert Kirkland, and Cpl. Jerrod Carver with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit. These individuals are Audubon’s first call when issues such as trespassing, illegal access, potential poaching, or other security concerns arise. Their quick response, professionalism, and familiarity with the Sanctuary allow Audubon staff to address sensitive situations safely and effectively while minimizing impacts to wildlife and visitors. Beyond responding to incidents, the Ag Unit serves as a visible presence that helps deter illegal activity and reinforces the importance of protecting this internationally significant ecosystem. Their consistent reliability, willingness to collaborate with staff, and their ever-present regard for Audubon’s conservation efforts have strengthened our ability to safeguard the Sanctuary’s wildlife, habitats, and visitors.
With a theme of Protecting What Connects Us —Water, Wildlife, and Community, Audubon Florida’s 2026 Assembly demonstrated innovative ways to protect birds and the places they need, today and in the future, through learning sessions, field trips, and presentations. The 2026 event was generously sponsored by Florida Power & Light Company, Ferber Company, Live Wildly Foundation, Lykes Brothers, Inc., RiverGlades Family Offices, Kitson & Partners, and Vortex Optics. Find more information at Audubon.org/Florida/Assembly.
