TRACI DEEN, ESQ.

President + CEO

A 6th generation Floridian born in Homestead, Florida, Traci is passionate about protecting Florida’s wild and working lands for the generations of Floridians to come. She leads our team as CEO, overseeing statewide land conservation efforts. Her work with Conservation Florida includes fostering strategic partnerships, engaging the community and community leaders, and facilitating large-scale land transactions. She currently serves as the President of the Alliance of Florida Land Trusts, as the Florida Representative on the Board of Directors of the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, and was recently appointed by the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives to serve on the Florida Greenways and Trails Council. Traci is an environmental lawyer and an active member of the legal community. She has been appointed twice to the Florida Bar’s Governmental and Public Policy Advocacy Committee by the Florida Bar President, served as Legislative Director for the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and three terms as a Board Member for the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers. In the community, Traci is an active volunteer. She has served as the State Chair of the Junior Leagues of Florida State Public Affairs Committee, representing over 11,000 women. Traci enjoys a good book, horseback riding, exploring trails, and spending time near Florida’s beautiful waters.

ADAM STRANG BASS

Vice President, Conservation

Adam is a multigenerational Floridian with experience in real estate, agriculture, and art. Before joining Conservation Florida, Adam managed a 2000-acre farm and cattle operation, and founded a successful wildlife photography business. Adam also served as a Corporal in the Marine Corps with two tours in Iraq. Adam leads our statewide efforts to protect Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes for future generations.

JESSICA MODRISKEY

Operations Manager

Jessica is a graduate of Florida State University where she double majored in Environmental Studies and Geography as well as minored in Urban and Regional Planning. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Nonprofit Management at the University of Central Florida. Before joining Conservation Florida, she spent a year interning with the Florida Fish and Wildlife’s Bear Management Program. During this time, Jessica found a love for conservation and wildlife management through data work, field work, and outreach. She also spent time working at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where she advocated for Disney’s Conservation Fund. Growing up a military child, away from her family’s home state of Florida, Jessica has an acute appreciation for Florida’s natural beauty and unique wildlife. She enjoys hiking, spending time outdoors, and a good book. 

Chelsea Wisner

Land Protection Manager

Chelsea dreamed of being a conservationist before she knew what to call it. Hailing from New York City, she grew up surrounded by concrete with her head buried in encyclopedias of the world’s lush ecosystems and diverse wildlife, cultivating a deep desire to experience and protect them. She pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Behavior, Ecology & Conservation at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, where she graduated magna cum laude. Upon graduating, Chelsea worked her way across the country exploring different avenues of conservation, from environmental education and animal husbandry to research and endangered species management.

Florida’s outstanding uniqueness beckoned her back to permanently put down roots along the Peace River in 2018. She has been privileged to work in some of Florida’s most inimitable ecosystems: from the remnant morsels of dry prairie, to the exceptionally biodiverse Lake Wales Ridge all the way to the strand swamps and sawgrass seas of the Everglades. In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys kayaking, native gardening, doting on her dogs, and arguing about the latest and best land management practices with her husband, who is also a professional conservationist.

MarK Rizzo

Land Steward

Mark has lived in Florida for more than 20 years and has a master’s degree in Environmental Studies. He has 11 years of experience as a land manager/ecologist in the Land Acquisition and Management departments of county government and has also worked in state government and private environmental consulting. Mark enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, playing basketball, cooking, and traveling as much as possible.

Erin Corry

Land Protection Administrator

Erin is a first-generation Floridian with a strong passion for conserving Florida's unique natural environment. She graduated from Florida State University in 2014 with degrees in History and Social Sciences, and she was born and raised in Central Florida. Her interests include traveling, hiking, and gardening.

Jen Andreini

Executive Administrator

Jen grew up visiting Florida every summer from New Jersey and developed a love for the “real Florida”. After graduating from Rider University in 2016 with degrees in Education and Dance, she moved to Florida to work at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where her love of conservation grew. Following her time at Disney, Jen implemented her knowledge and passion for conservation into her classroom as an elementary education teacher. Jen is excited to join Conservation Florida to foster her appreciation for wild Florida and protect the places she grew up loving. In her spare time Jen loves to read, visit the beach, dance, travel, and play with her dog, Penny.

Cyndi Fernandez

Grants Coordinator

Florida is Cyndi's home state, and she loves its wild lands and waterways. Cyndi has worked in land protection for over 12 years and has assisted in the protection of thousands of acres of natural habitat and agricultural landscapes in Washington and Florida. She has broad experience in nonprofit leadership, outreach, fundraising, and strategic planning. She is also a proud Natural Resources Leadership Institute alum and graduate of the University of South Florida. A few of her favorite pastimes include exploring remote places, relaxing with a good book, and figuring out how to protect more land.

Kaylyn glenn

Land Protection Manager

In the unique landscape of Southwest Florida, Kaylyn, a 10th generation Floridian, was raised near the Western Everglades. Her childhood, spent barefoot in oak hammocks and cypress tree domes, resounds with tales of her pioneering ancestors who settled in the region. Witnessing the loss of these crucial areas fueled a passion for environmental advocacy, shaping her career.

With over a decade of experience in regenerative agriculture and land management across the Southern United States, Kaylyn is a proactive advocate and practitioner for land conservation. Armed with an undergraduate degree in natural resource management and pursuit of a master's at the University of Florida in forest resource conservation, she brings critical knowledge and experience to her role.

Her expertise in the private sector provides an understanding of agricultural products markets and their role in supporting the protection of working lands. Having worked closely with landowners in the past, she comprehends their obstacles and concerns, fostering a comprehensive approach to conservation and land protection.

With a boots-on-the-ground approach and unwavering passion for preserving Florida's natural resources and unique way of life, Kaylyn envisions a future where the Florida Corridor and Florida’s existing wildlands are fully protected for generations to come.

In her free time, Kaylyn finds joy in backpacking, traveling, python hunting with her son and family in the Everglades, and trail riding with her hound dogs.

allison chandler

Special Events Coordinator

Allison is a multigenerational Floridian with over fifteen years of experience in philanthropy and event planning. She attended the historic Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL before returning home to pursue her non-profit career. Allison has worked with multiple national organizations and has planned hundreds of events throughout her career. She is passionate about storytelling through events and connecting communities together.

Raised in Okeechobee, FL, Allison grew up tubing on Lake Placid, fishing in her grandmother’s canal in the backyard, and attending every rodeo that came to town.

She is passionate about all things Florida and is excited to further spread the mission of Conservation Florida through special events.

In her free time, Allison enjoys playing in the dirt with her son, going to the library, and doing arts and crafts.