Protecting and restoring our unique Red Hills habitat for future generations.
Leadership Update
In December of 2025, our President, Don Braegger, took a leave of absence due to health reasons. In January, the Board voted Anne Hempel into the role of Interim President to ensure the continued momentum of our conservation efforts. Don officially resigned in March 2026. Anne previously served as Vice President and has stepped into this leadership role to build upon Don’s work. We are grateful for Don’s years of visionary leadership and are excited to move forward under Anne’s guidance toward our conservation and restoration goals.
Don Braegger, Board President, Emeritus
Don is a native of Utah and has always enjoyed the beauty that our planet has to offer. He was a Financial Advisor for 30 years and has spent much of his time since retiring living a nomadic life in his 24ft travel trailer and taking in the diversity of environs that this great country has to offer. Don lived in Tallahassee with his late partner, Robby. Robby lived in the Miccosukee Land Co-Op for 40 years, next door to the Hickory Preserve. They shared their love for the forest nearby and were determined to protect it.
Anne Hempel, Interim President
Anne is happiest when surrounded by nature. She is an artist that paints what catches her eye and heart in North Florida-native birds, flowers, trees, fields, and marshlands.
Her heavily wooded, swampy surroundings are a constant source of inspiration that guides her brush.
Previous professions were teaching elementary school and Everglades restoration work for National Audubon Society.
Anne is enthusiastic about preservation and is delighted to be involved with the Hickory Preserve project and protecting the natural beauty of the land.
Cassie Dillman, Board Treasurer & Secretary
Cassie is passionate about preserving wild spaces for community use and is thrilled to be supporting the Hickory Preserve project. With a degree in environmental studies and a background in sustainable agriculture, she previously taught elementary and middle school gardening, educating children about nature, agriculture, and sustainability. Currently, she works with a local non-profit dedicated to community building and bridging political divides.
Neil Jones, Officer
Neil is a Florida native who grew up in central Florida and has deep family roots in the Red Hills region. He loves the woods and rivers here and is dedicated to protecting this piece of natural Florida. Neil has had a very diverse career as a musician, database manager, GIS specialist, natural resource manager, and fire ecology and fire history researcher. He is officially retired but is still very active with music, land management and restoration, and fire history research.
Tom Kelley, Officer
Tom Kelley is a 50-year resident of the Miccosukee Land Co-op. He built his own house and then became a residential contractor for many years. Tom served as a long-time board member of his community’s Pool Co-op and the Financial Planning Committee.
He volunteers in archaeological excavations at Wakulla Springs and underwater excavations in the Aucilla River.
His current obsession is taking macro photographs of insects which has reinforced his understanding of the value of native forests. Having fished and explored the St. Marks watershed for many years, Tom has a strong appreciation for habitat protection.
Making it a reality to protect and preserve the long-term health of the Hickory Preserve forest would be very satisfying for him.
Ken Ross, Officer
Ever since he can remember, Ken has loved the outdoors. Ken is currently 64 years old and still loves kayaking, rock climbing, snowboarding, surfing, and mountain biking. He and his wife have built a house in the woods, which is currently adjacent to this particular piece of property. They would like to see the forested woodlands and wetlands preserved and restored for future generations to enjoy.
Jean Huffman, Land Management and Restoration Coordinator
Jean was a founding board member of Hickory Preserve and has been passionately involved in the effort to protect this land since the project's inception. She is now devoted to safeguarding and restoring the Hickory Preserve land into the future. With over 40 years of experience studying and managing Southeastern pine savannas and woodlands, Jean has dedicated her career to the stewardship of Florida’s natural areas. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Florida and a PhD from Louisiana State University, and is a longtime certified Florida prescribed fire manager. Her career also included serving as the manager of the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve and as the biologist at Myakka River State Park. Currently, Jean conducts research at Tall Timbers, focusing on the history of fire in natural areas through tree-ring analysis. She also actively manages and restores native habitats on private lands in the region. Jean’s vision is to truly take care of the Hickory Preserve land, plants and animals, and to create a model for restoring and managing Red Hills shortleaf pine-oak-hickory habitats.
Kelly McGrath, Board Member Emerita
Kelly McGrath, Esq. Kelly was a founding board member of Hickory Preserve and has been instrumental in the formation and success of this project. She has been a member of the Miccosukee Land Co-op for almost 20 years and environmental stewardship is important to her. Kelly When she’s not volunteering, Kelly is the Senior Director of Program Operations at the Selfless Love Foundation (SLF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that leverages resources, expertise, and proven solutions to improve the child welfare system, creating opportunities for more youth in foster care to find their forever families and thrive in adulthood. SLF leads collaborative initiatives in adoptions, advocacy, and independent living designed to transform the child welfare system for children in foster care today and for generations to come.
kelly@kellymcgrathesq.com