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Audubon Florida Announces New Legislative and Policy Staff

Audubon Investing More Resources in Conservation Advocacy in Florida’s Capital City

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
– February 13, 2019
Contact: Sean Cooley, Communications Director, (850) 999-1030, scooley@audubon.org
Twitter: @AudubonFL

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Audubon Florida announced two new staff in its Tallahassee office. Beth Alvi joins Audubon Florida as the Director of Policy, and Joshua Romero joins Audubon Florida as the Director of Legislative Affairs.

Beth Alvi

“This is great news for Florida’s birds and special places. A consensus-builder and environmental policy expert, we warmly welcome Beth as she joins Audubon Florida as our Director of Policy. Her public sector experience with the protection of springs, wetlands and water quality will be an important addition to Audubon’s work to meet Florida’s water challenges,” said Julie Wraithmell, Executive Director, Audubon Florida. “She has a proven track record of collaborating with diverse stakeholders and a devotion to strong science—two of Audubon’s core values.”

Beth Alvi worked in leadership roles in both the private and public sectors- most recently serving as Director of External Affairs in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Ecosystem Restoration. Alvi oversaw the successful implementation of Senate Bill 552 (2016) - a comprehensive water bill that created the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act and addressed Everglades restoration. She also managed the completion of the Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) for Lake Okeechobee (the state’s largest restoration plan), the St. Lucie Estuary, and the Estuarine Caloosahatchee. Alvi holds an MS in ecology from Pennsylvania State University and a BS in zoology from Kerala University.


Joshua Romero

“We’re excited Joshua Romero is joining our team to advocate for conservation in the state Capitol as Audubon’s Director of Legislative Affairs. Audubon was born from ordinary citizens fighting to end the plume trade and continues to be a strong grassroots organization today,” said Julie Wraithmell, Executive Director, Audubon Florida. “Joshua’s strong relationships and organizing know-how make him an ideal fit to continue this Audubon tradition.”

Joshua Romero is a Florida politico with formidable public policy experience and longstanding political ties throughout the Sunshine State. His worldwide travels during his service in the U.S. Marine Corps cultivated a profound appreciation for Florida’s natural beauty and unique ecosystems. While working as a Legislative Aide in the Florida House of Representatives, Joshua developed a passion for the legislative process and its potential to positively impact Floridians. Joshua has served as a senior political advisor to various statewide advocacy groups and looks forward to using his extensive political and legislative experience to advance Audubon’s conservation efforts.

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