Bruce Murray, Chair

Bruce Murray is a retired senior executive from the regulated medical device industry and a retired partner from a management consulting firm. During his long career he volunteered on boards of hospitals, non profit business incubator organizations, and local chapters of non profit organizations as well as serving on the boards of public and private corporations. After retiring to Hutchinson Island, he and his wife developed an interest in boating and cruised Florida and the Gulf, the east coast of the US, the Bahamas and Eleuthera, developing an interest in whales, sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, wetland birds, and manatees along the way. Pursuing this interest brought him to the Manatee Center, where he volunteered for several years in the museum and gift shop before joining the board in 2009. He expects to continue to use his business experience and skills for the benefit of the Manatee Center and Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation.

Eric Winterstein, Vice Chair

Eric Winterstein is currently employed by Ft. Pierce Utilities Authority as a Certified Facility Manager.  He is on the St. Lucie County  Ad Hoc Committee for  a Sustainable St. Lucie County since its inception in August of 2007. He chooses to live in St. Lucie County because of its diverse and pristine environment and believes that education is the way to sustainability. Eric is on the board of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation to promote and foster environmental education through events at the Manatee Observation and Education Center. 

Laney Southerly, Secretary

Laney Sotuherly moved to Fort Pierce in 1967, attending local schools from first grade through his high school graduation. Continuing his education, he received an AA degree from IRSC (previously IRCC) and graduated from University of Central Florida with a degree in Civil Engineering. Laney past work includes salvage diving of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet along the Treasure Coast, and the Atocha and Margarita wreck sites of the 1622 Fleet off Key West. Currently he is an engineer in the water/wastewater industry. In his spare time Laney enjoys being on the water whether fishing, scuba diving, or boating. Joining the board of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation is a perfect way to attain his goal to help educate the public regarding manatees and other marine life, while protecting and promoting the natural beauty of the Treasure Coast.  

Tom Matesic, Treasurer

Tom Matesic is a licensed Business/Real Estate Broker with over 30 years of entrepreneurial experience and is currently a Senior Partner at the firm of Morgan and Westfield where he handles all aspects of business mergers and acquisitions. Tom brings to the Board of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation business development, marketing and management skills he has aquired throughout his extensive career.  He is an instrument rated pilot who enjoys blue water fishing, scuba diving, and international travel. Tom's love of the marine environment compels him to be involved in an organization that provides education to the public about how to make responsible choices while enjoying the natural beauty of the area. 

Patrick Campion

Patrick Campion is a professional musician and has had an extensive and varied career in the entertainment industry including recording, performing, promoting, voiceovers, and acting. You can still catch him playing locally on occasion with one of his bands or acting in community theater. Patrick’s first encounter with a manatee took place at the Manatee Observation & Education Center, and it was that moment that sparked a desire in him to learn more about them and the other magnificent local wildlife and the ecosystem that we share with them. He is active in the community in many capacities, and hopes that his involvement with the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation will allow him to assist in informing, educating, and exciting in all of us the wonder towards the natural world.

Jay Hollenkamp

Jay Hollenkamp is a business insolvency attorney with the downtown Fort Pierce firm Neill, Griffin, Tierney, Neill & Marquis, Chartered. In addition to serving on the board of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation, Jay is on the board of the St. Lucie County Early Learning Coalition and is the founder of Commanding Heights, Inc., a local non-profit that focuses on beautification projects in and around Fort Pierce. Jay currently spends most of his time organizing the Foundation's First Annual 'Wacky Waiter Celebrity Dinner', scheduled in October 2012, while working on other projects aimed at further improving the Manatee Center experience. Jay lives downtown with his two favorite girls, Ava and Cait, and enjoys spending his weekends at the many downtown markets and festivals. 

Tom Juliano

Tom Juliano resides in Vero Beach and is a Business Broker in Indian River County. He is a member of the Vero Beach Marine Commission and a Docent at the National Navy UDT-Seal museum in Fort Pierce. Tom completed the Florida Master Naturalist Program at the Environmental Learning Center in Wabasso, FL and spends his free time boating, fishing, and enjoying the Indian River. He hope that being part of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation will help him to share his enthusiasm and knowledge of our coastal estuary with others.

Peggy Linares

Peggy Linares, daughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Winfield Brown, was born and raised in Fort Pierce. She graduated from John Carroll High School and went on to receive an AA degree from IRSC. Peggy married Art Linares, driver for Southeast Milk and together they have three children. She raised her children to respect the environment and to give back to society. Peggy joined the board of Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation because she is concerned about ecology, environment, and viability of our local resources. Peggy is retired from USPS and currently works at IRSC as office assistant in the Advanced Technology division. In her spare time, Peggy enjoys swimming, kayaking, hiking and birdwatching along the areas many beautiful trails.  

Kate Rotindo, Director

Kate Rotindo is a native of Fort Pierce and really enjoys living in the Sunrise City. She is very passionate about the conservation of our ocean and Indian River Lagoon where she spends time kayaking, fishing, surfing, and snorkeling. She feels that being a part of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation has allowed her to promote education about how to protect our environment while enjoying it. Kate is also an avid runner and enjoys spearheading the annual Manatee Center 5K event.

Donna Weatherington

Donna Weatherington is a native of Fort Pierce and raised her family here. She taught her daughter to respect the environment and hopes to instill the same in her grandson. She has been on the board of Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation for over 7 years and served as Chair for several of those years. Knowing that education is the key to preserving our ecosystem, being part of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation allows her to be actively involved in the education of our ecosystem and its sustainment for the future.

Brad Woodward

Brad Woodward grew up in Fort Lauderdale and moved to the Treasure Coast area in 1972. He and his wife raised children on 9 acres in the country where they had many horses, dogs, cats. Brad retired in 2011 after 50 years in newspaper production; 40 of those years spent with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers. His hobbies are collecting 'old toy trains' and square-dancing with his wife. Brad serves on several planning committees and volunteers for three non-profit organizations. He joined the board of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation because it is important for him to teach the next gernerations to keep the environment and ecology a top priority in their life. We live in paradise on the Treasure Coast and we need to keep it that way for future generations.

Are You Interested in Serving?

The Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation is always interested in applications from those who wish to serve as volunteers at one of our events or on its Board of Directors. This is an opportunity to support a charitable organization whose mission is to support and enhance environmental awareness, education, conservation, and stewardship of endangered species and natural resources and work closely with the Manatee Observation and Education Center. If you are interested in volunteering for one of our upcoming events, please contact us at info@treasurecoastmanateefoundation.org.

The Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation is committed to building and upholding positive, mutually beneficial relationships with the community, fellow environmental agencies, businesses and governmental agencies, contributing to continued economic growth for the area. Protection of our environment and wildlife is central to the continued quality of life in Fort Pierce and the Treasure Coast. if you are interested in a position on the Board, please read the information below and submit an application.

Roles and Responsibilities                         What you Need to Know                        Application