MIKE PELLERIN

VICE PRESIDENT

Mike has been a full-time Amelia Island resident since 2019.  He came back to Florida after a 25-year hiatus in the Northern Virginia area.  His early years were spent in South Florida (Dania Beach) and in Boca Raton where he attended Florida Atlantic University.    Mike had a 31-year career with BoatU.S. (Boat Owners Association of the United States) and the GEICO Marine Insurance Company where he held the position of Vice President of Insurance and Underwriting and retired in 2023.  Since retirement he has taken on a part-time underwriting role with a Lloyds of London syndicate for a yacht insurance program.

Mike is also a boat captain where he does charters on the local waters, providing tours and fishing fun for our island visitors.  He is also a certified boat trainer and conducts training for new boaters looking to improve their skills.

As a lifelong cyclist, Mike spends plenty of time on the single-track trails of Fort Clinch and Egans Creek.  While in Northern Virginia he served as a trail liaison for MORE (Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts) and worked closely with park managers to plan, build and maintain local mountain bike trails that were part of the county park system.  

Mike joined FOFC this past year and is looking for an opportunity to become more active in the group and give back to the community and to our beautiful park.

Randall Taft

Treasurer

Randall and his family relocated from the Tampa area to Fernandina Beach in 2023 upon his appointment as Finance Manager of LignoTech Florida. Randall’s accounting and finance career started with International Paper and over his 30 year career has enjoyed leading financial organizations with global organizations in paper, mining, and sustainable products industries.

Randall grew up in Pennsylvania.  Graduated Gannon University in Erie with his accounting degree, earned his MBA at the University of Pittsburgh, and certification in Supply Chain management from Penn State University.  

Randall and his wife Shelly quickly fell in love with Fernandina Beach and have become active within Christwalk Church. Their two sons attended University of Florida with one recently graduating, and the second graduating this coming year.  

Randall when not at work, spends his time at the gym, bowling, fishing; or simply enjoying a relaxing day at the beach. Upon volunteering at the 2024 Fort Clinch Mill Day; Randall with his appreciation of our State Park and his new community was happy to learn of the opportunity to bring his finance experience to serve the Board in the role of Treasurer.

Cindy Warwick

Secretary

Cindy was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga and earned a BS in Economics from the University of Georgia. After graduating from college in Athens, Ga Cindy moved back to Atlanta and was hired by Honeywell in 1982 where she worked in various sales roles including selling Commercial HVAC service contracts, Commercial Fire Alarm Systems, and finally Access Control and video surveillance systems for Commercial, Military, and Industrial clients. Cindy also participated in continuing education training such as Holden VALUEBASE Sales Training and NICET fire alarm code training where she earned certification in designing commercial fire alarm systems. After 19 years with Honeywell Cindy began working for Johnson Controls and furthered her career in security working closely with Key accounts such as the State of Georgia and Robins Air Force Base. 

Cindy and her husband Bob moved to Fernandina Beach in 2018 and Cindy continued to work “part time until December 2019 when she retired. 

Cindy’s most important accomplishment is being married to Bob for 41 years and being the proud mother of two daughters, Chloe Gibel and Taylor Jones who both along with their families reside in Sandy Springs, Ga. Between the 2 girls, Cindy has a grandson and granddaughter with another grandson to arrive in April 2026. 

Cindy is an Active Volunteer for the Nassau Humane Society for 7 years working at the clothing store “The Closet”. She is a Member of the Ameilia Island Boules Club (pétanque organization) and the Newcomers Club. She is also both an avid pickleball and pétanque player. Additional hobbies include arts and crafts such as making cork wreaths, designing and planting succulent dish gardens, working jigsaw puzzles and watercolor painting. 

Deb Kienle

Deb has been a full-time resident of Amelia Island for the last 4 years.  She has been a dedicated spouse and mother to her family as they moved through 15 homes throughout six states and 4 countries.  She volunteered extensively in support of her daughters’ schools through fundraising, grant writing, and teaching.  She also taught English in rural South Korea.  Professionally, Deb worked for 10 years in the auto industry as a manufacturing Quality Engineer. She holds a BS in Material Science Engineering and an MBA in Finance. 

She is an outdoors enthusiast, walking daily on the beach at sunrise, and has now caught the pickle ball “bug”, frequently visiting the courts at Central Park.  Deb enters her 3rd year as a FOFC board member actively supporting and participating in Fort Clinch events. She serves as grant coordinator and pursues community outreach opportunities.

Phil Blackstone

Phil Blackstone is a Navy veteran serving from 1984-1990.  Following his military service, he joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office serving for 29 years. His work included Patrol, K-9 Unit, DUI Unit, and Traffic Homicide. He also worked closely with the State Attorney as a Criminal Investigator.  During his employment with JSO Phil continued his education earning Bachelors and Masters degrees. 

After retiring from JSO in 2016, Phil began work with the Fernandina Beach Police Department. Some of his duties included working within Fort Clinch, offering him an opportunity to gain a great appreciation for the park.  Phil has raised 4 sons and has 6 grandchildren.

Dustin Nemati

Attorney Dustin Nemati is a native of Orange Park, Florida practicing in most of northeast Florida.  He is a graduate of the University of Florida and the Florida Coastal School of Law.  Dustin previously served as an Assistant State Attorney Prosecutor with the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Jacksonville. 

He is active in the community through his participation in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and as a driver for American Cancer Society Road to Recovery. Dustin volunteers at Fort Clinch as a Civil War soldier.  He and his wife are very active members of the Lake Forest Church of Christ.

Dustin has served on the FOFC board since 2019.

David Roeser

David Roeser moved to Fernandina Beach from the Villages, Florida in 2012 and began working in the park in April 2013 as a volunteer doing maintenance and clean-up one to two days a week. After six months in the field, a "volunteer" opening became available to work in the Visitor Center which he did until he was offered a position as an "OPS," working part-time 3 days a week in 2015. He was then offered an OPS position in the fort as an "historical interpreter" working with Frank Ofeldt part-time. He remained in the fort as an OPS until 2020, then went back to being a volunteer-soldier in the fort after Covid closed the fort for a time. Dave now presents himself as a candidate for the Friends of Ft. Clinch Board of Directors.

Ever a student of history, Dave lived in Williamsburg, Va for 9 years and has portrayed a Revolutionary soldier, a Union Civil War soldier, a WWI Doughboy, a WWII Coast Guardsmen. He has also been a docent at the Amelia Island Museum of History and served as secretary on the board for 2 years.

Melanie Waits

Melanie Waits is a Nassau County, Florida native, photographer and writer whose work reflects her deep appreciation for nature and history, often inspired by her runs through Fort Clinch State Park.

In collaboration with her love of running, she took on the role of Assistant Manager and Business Developer at Game Changers Running Company where she also hosts group runs in the community.

Melanie also has a background in emergency medical services and is the founder and director of a patient advocacy program.

In her spare time, she enjoys quality time with her children, listening to music, reading and outdoor activities. . She invites visitors to slow down and experience the serenity and timeless character of Northeast Florida’s natural surroundings and the historic charm of Fort Clinch.