Who We Are

Meet the people behind the Mission to conserve, promote, and protect the open spaces and green places of ecological, cultural, or scenic significance in the six counties of the Mississippi Coastal Plain.

Staff

Sara Guice
Executive Director

Nick Goyette
Director of Stewardship

Ann Hulett
Grant Manager

Board

Greg Bosarge Chief Financial Officer for the Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort.

Jason Farve was born in New Orleans on April 26, 1982. His parents raised him along with his brother and sister in Bay St. Louis. He attended North Bay on Dunbar Avenue, Bay Middle School on Ulman Avenue and St. Stanislaus College Prep from which he graduated in 2000. After graduation, he went to work at Coast Electric Power Association. During his time at Coast Electric, he was in various roles including Apprentice Lineman, Lineman, Lead Lineman, Serviceman, and Crew Foreman. He left Coast Electric in 2013 to join the Southern Company family, starting his career there at Georgia Power Company where he was fortunate to work in various roles including Methods & Training Specialist, Distribution Supervisor, Construction Supervisor, and Utility Services Construction Manager. He is currently the Area Manager on the Coast for Mississippi Power Company supporting economic development, community affairs and operations. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Southern New Hampshire University. He is married to Ashley (Necaise) Farve and they have four children; Hayden (12), Harlen (9), Hatcher (7), and Hadley (5). They stay very busy chasing their young ones around the baseball fields, karate, dancing, and junior rodeo (roping).  

Albert Hamblin and his wife, Julie have three grown sons with wonderful wives and five grandchildren. They both love the outdoors, and frequently enjoy camping, hiking and water activities. One of Albert’s primary goals is to help preserve nature for future generation, including their grandchildren.

A native of George county, Mississippi Albert Hamblin and his wife moved back home to Lucedale in 2020 after his spending 35 years with Boise Cascade Wood Products in Louisiana, where he retired as Louisiana Region Engineering manager, responsible for capital expansion, process improvement and environmental compliance for two plywood plants and an engineered wood products plant. A 1978 graduate of George County High School, after graduating from MGCCC Perkinston in 1980, Albert went on to graduate with a BS degree in Wood Science and Technology from Mississippi State University in 1982. He served eight combined years in the Mississippi Army National Guard, Active Army and the Army Reserve as a commissioned officer. In 1996 he earned his MBA from Centenary College of Shreveport, LA.

Outside of work, Albert served as an adult volunteer leader in the Boy Scouts of America for over 25 years at the pack, troop and district level, but his most rewarding service was as a Scout Master focusing on character building and leadership skills in the youth of his troop. As Scoutmaster, over 33 of his youth attained the rank of Eagle Scout, including two of his sons.

Jill High is a happily married, proud mom of two grown daughters, and a devout Christian. Her passion is enjoying birds and helping others learn more about them! She obtained a master’s degree in Biological Sciences, with a focus in Ornithology, from the University of Southern Mississippi. Jill discovered birding when taking a random elective; an ornithology class onsite at Dauphin Island Sea Lab as she was finishing her undergraduate degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Frank Moore was gracious enough to allow her to join his research lab at USM to study sleep in migratory birds. Jill and her husband Craig have small consulting business which allows her to work with companies needing environmental or surveying services. She was invited to join the Board of the Land Trust in late 2020 and hopes her love of birds and ecology will be advantageous to this reputable organization.

Art Kennard is the Director of Real Estate Services at Mississippi Department Wildlife Fisheries and Parks.

Mark Mathis was born and raised in McComb, MS. He graduated from McComb High School and went on to earn a business degree from the University of Mississippi. He and his wife, Hillary, have four children. Mark has spent the last thirteen years in the oil and gas industry which has moved them quite a bit. Three years ago, they moved from Midland, Texas, and now reside in Ocean Springs. They love being back in the great state of Mississippi. In his spare time, Mark enjoys being outdoors with his family and watching sports with his boys.

Stephanie Mathis is a native Mississippian with over 25 years of nonprofit management and workforce development experience. She is the Director of Gulf Operations for The Corps Network. The Corps Network is the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps. They support Corps through advocacy, providing access to funding and projects, and offering expertise in Corps operations and crew member professional development. Gulf Operations focuses these efforts within the states that border the Gulf of Mexico.

Prior to working at the Corps Network, Stephanie was the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of a local community development organization (CDC) specializing in human development programs including workforce training for opportunity and at-risk youth. Over the course of her 20-year career, Stephanie has worked with nonprofit organizational management, project development and the implementation of over 135 million dollars of federal funding. Besides the workforce training institute, her project implementation experience has included prevention of child abuse, micro-enterprise, social enterprise, juvenile justice programs, housing and homeless programs, and disaster response/recovery. Stephanie is very involved in her community serving on a variety of local Boards of Directors and committees. She completed Leadership Gulf Coast, Class of 2014 and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program. Stephanie and her husband Bruce, have three children and one granddaughter. Her favorite pastimes are gardening, painting, and being involved with her local church.

Paul Maxwell has proudly championed South Mississippi’s quality of life since he was old enough to proclaim himself a “Coast boy.” With Mississippi Gulf Coast family roots dating to the 1800s, he grew up in Long Beach and has been a Gulfport resident for 25 years. A part-time teller as a student, Paul returned to Hancock Whitney in 1998 as the bank’s first corporate communications manager. He is now Vice President and Senior Communications Manager for the $36 billion nationally ranked Gulfport based corporation. Over the past seven years, Paul has spearheaded Hancock Whitney Perseverance Oaks — a CEO initiative to replenish and propagate live oaks and other indigenous trees in regions ravaged by natural disasters, promoted Hancock Whitney’s Land Trust Memorial Tree Program sponsorship, and coordinated Hancock Whitney financial and environmental education for area students in partnership with the Land Trust. A 2019 One Coast Outstanding Community Leader, the Leadership Gulf Coast graduate and past board president also received the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Forever Young Award in 2015. He is past president and former multi-year board member of the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce and was a Coast Chamber board member. In 2006, the Public Relations Association of Mississippi named Paul the Most Outstanding PR Professional in the state. He served 10 years on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Advertising Federation Board of Directors; five years with the Mississippi Association of Partners in Education state board and Governor’s Community Accountability Committee to promote business-school partnerships; and as the Mississippi Bankers Association Communications Council chair. A past member of the Long Beach and Gulfport Kiwanis clubs, he received the Kiwanis International Distinguished Chapter President award. He currently serves on the Extra Table Coast Community Advisory Board. A University of Mississippi Carrier Scholar, Paul earned his Bachelor of Arts and master’s degrees from Ole Miss.

Christina “Mimi” Nanney Born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Christina "Mimi" Nanney is passionate about the area and the environment, believing we live in one of the most beautiful places in the country. Mimi is excited to work with the Land Trust again and hopes her unique financial perspective and experience will benefit the board and the organization; she managed the books, grants, and general office for the Land Trust between 2016 and 2021. She began her accounting career in 2003 and has worked in governmental and nonprofit accounting for various educational and environmental organizations since 2008, currently serving as the Accountant for the Biloxi Housing Authority. Mimi has been married to her husband, Jim, since 2000 and is the proud mother of three adult children, Nicki, Andie, and Finn. In her spare time, Mimi enjoys knitting, crochet, watercolors, and all things Sci-Fi, Marvel, and Dr. Who. She also enjoys kayaking and sitting under the stars.

Janell Nolan serves as the Director of Community Development for Coast Electric Power Association. During her 30+ year tenure at Coast Electric, Janell’s areas of responsibility have included communications, member services, marketing, residential and commercial energy management, public relations and environmental stewardship. Besides her duties at Coast Electric, Janell is active in her community. She is currently on the Board of directors of the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, Hancock County Food Pantry, Land Trust of the MS Coastal Plain, Hancock Chamber and The Arts Hancock County Advisory Board. She also serves on the national Touchstone Energy Business Advisory Council.

Janell is a past president of the Exchange Club of Hancock County, past President of the Rotary Club Central Hancock County, past President of the Diamondhead Business and Professionals Association, a 2006 graduate of Leadership Hancock County and a 2017 graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast. For the past 10 years, she has chaired the Leadership Hancock County program, an initiative of the Hancock Chamber of Commerce. The Hancock Chamber also recognized Janell as one of its “Top 10 Outstanding Citizens.” Janell was recognized as the “National Brand Champion” by Touchstone Energy of the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association. Janell is a graduate of William Carey College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. At the age of 9, Janell’s family moved “home” to the MS Gulf Coast from Iowa. Growing up in Bay St. Louis and now living in Diamondhead, she cannot imagine any other place or community to raise her three (now adult) children. An avid tennis player and community volunteer, she enjoys biking, kayaking, puzzles, travel, theatre and cooking (and eating!).

Jackie Parker, President is originally from England. She has lived and worked across the USA but fell in love with the Gulf Coast in 2012 and became a US citizen so she could stay in Mississippi! She loves being on the water and roaming in the woods. Jackie's background is in business and computer technology and not conservation or land management, but she has always had a passion for being outside in nature. In 2019, Jackie joined the Board and became the Treasurer so she could contribute her time and business skills to the mission of the Land Trust. She lives in Ocean Springs and runs a software business from home. When not pounding on the keyboard, Jackie is outside working on landscaping projects. Jackie has a degree in Computer Science from Brunel University, London, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Henley Management College, Oxfordshire, UK.

Drew Puffer is married and has two adult children. Now retired, he has lived on the Mississippi Gulf coast since 1990. Prior to retirement Mr. Puffer was employed with the US EPA for over 30 years. During his time with EPA, he initially worked in the fields of the Superfund and other hazardous waste programs, specializing in groundwater contamination and site remediation. In 1990 he joined EPA’s Gulf of Mexico Program at Stennis Space Center in coastal Mississippi. The program’s focus is on the health, productivity and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico. During his time with the Gulf Program, Drew was involved in such issue areas as Public Health, Coastal and Shoreline Erosion, Freshwater Inflow and Habitat Loss and Restoration. While involved with habitat loss and restoration, Drew was the Gulf Program’s lead on a Gulfwide Coastal Preserves Program, a state driven program that has protected, restored and preserved thousands of areas of valuable and unique Gulf habitat. Drew is an active volunteer in Canine Search and has certification in several canine search disciplines. Mr. Puffer has also been active in community theater and has served as a coach and assistant coach in youth recreational soccer.