About Us
Image courtesy of Alan Youngblood
Our Mission
The Great Florida Riverway Trust was established to support America’s next great restoration project – reuniting the Great Florida Riverway, a 217-mile system joining historic Silver Springs and the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers. Reconnecting this 217-mile system by breaching a portion of the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam, would reconnect and restore four ecosystems: the Ocklawaha River, Silver Springs, the lower St. Johns River and the coastal Atlantic Ocean of the southeastern United States.
This nationally significant project, beginning at Lake Apopka near Orlando and ending at the Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville, helps restore 50 springs and three rivers, directly or indirectly benefitting 12 Florida Counties. It is essential to maintain Florida as a leading state in the nation for tourism, to provide long-term water resources for millions of central and northeast Florida residents, and to strengthen the Florida Wildlife Corridor and its $30 billion-dollar outdoor economy.
Breaching the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam to restore this riverway avoids a dam failure with potential loss of life, provides upstream and downstream resiliency, enhances water quality, and reconnects a critical migratory path for fish and manatees and a historic blueway for people. It helps revitalize vital fisheries in the lower St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers. It can provide much-needed warm water winter manatee habitat for 10+ percent of Florida’s suffering manatee population.
As a 501(c)4 organization, the Trust is unique in its ability to urge elected leaders – at every level of government – to breach this more than fifty year log jam and free a vital 217-mile riverway. To accomplish this mission, we will provide the history, science, economics and facts to key local, regional, state and federal leaders for informed decision making on this critical restoration project. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with conservation, outdoor recreation, business and tourism organizations.
It is also our goal to support leaders in developing a vision and strategy for complementary recreation and community infrastructure to ensure this project provides strong economic benefits to local communities for years to come
The History
In the 1900s, a national push for expansion and progress in Florida resulted in the damming, diking and destruction of two of America’s national treasures – America’s Everglades and the Great Florida Riverway. This valuable 217-mile system reaches from its headwaters at the Green Swamp and Lake Apopka in Central Florida along the Ocklawaha River to historic Silver Springs and finally to the St. Johns River ending at the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville. The Great Florida Riverway was severed in 1968 by the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam, part of the unfinished and ill-conceived Cross Florida Barge Canal.
The dam flooded more than 7,500 acres of forested wetlands, 20 springs and 16 miles of the Ocklawaha River. The continued decline of water quality, spring flow, wetland forests, fish, wildlife, and recreation led American Rivers to designate the Ocklawaha River as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2020.
The more than 50-year-old, high-hazard dam also poses a significant threat, specifically to 539 properties located downstream. A dam failure could cause catastrophic flooding resulting in potential loss of life and millions in damages. On the other hand, breaching the dam and partially restoring the free-flowing river would eliminate the risks of a dam failure and provide thousands of acres of natural flood storage.
Today, most Americans agree that the building of the dam was a tragic mistake, significantly impacting the water, wildlife and natural beauty of the Sunshine State.
Linda Myers
President
Linda Myers, President, has a long record of community service in Putnam County. She served as Putnam County Tax Collector from 2013-2024 and County Commissioner from 1998-2006, serving twice as chair. She is also former chair of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, serving as a director (1993-2006) and chair of the Northeast Florida Workforce Development Council. Myers is also past president of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. Myers is a licensed CPA and maintained a public accounting practice 1994-2012 and for thirty years owned a Dunkin Donut/Baskin Robbins franchise in Palatka which was sold in September 2013.
Chip Laibl
Vice President
Chip Laibl, Vice President, is a 4-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard, is a lifelong resident of Putnam County. He is a successful businessman and dedicated community volunteer and leader. From 2006-2018 he served as Putnam County commissioner. He also performed as chairman of the Florida Association of Counties Insurance Trust and the North Florida Planning Council. Laibl has served on many community boards including Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Development Council (chair), Putnam County Recreation, Fair Authority, Downtown Merchants Association (past president), and Police Athletic League. Laibl has been recognized for his advocacy which led to the building of the new Putnam County Animal Services Center.
Jo Salyers Layman
Treasurer
Margaret Hankinson Spontak
Executive Director
Sam Carr
Sam Carr was born and raised in Headland, AL and moved to San Mateo, FL in 1964. He lives on the river one mile downstream from Dunns Creek in the home he helped his father build. He graduated from Palatka South High School in 1970 and Florida Institute of Technology in 1974.
He had a 32-year career with Ford Motor Company becoming a District Manager for Ford Customer Division in their Orlando Regional Office. He was the president of the Bartram Trai Society of Florida and is the past-president and director of the Bartram Trail Conference. Currently he serves on the boards of the Putnam Blueways and Trails Citizen Support Organization, and the Palatka Water Works Environmental Education Center and is the Friends of Dunns Creek State Park CSO. He was a governor’s appointee to the Florida Greenways and Trails Council. He serves as co-chair of the Putnam County Waterways and Trails Committee for the Putnam County Commission.
Sam worked for the establishment of the Bartram National Recreation Trail in Putnam County by chairing the committee that is part of the Putnam County Waterways & Trails Committee. A paddling adventure down the entire St. Johns River started his interest in Bartram’s travels in the area. He is working with the Bartram Trail Conference to establish similar Bartram Trails in seven states and over 2,000 miles across the southeast including Florida.
He enjoys kayaking, golf and fishing and has been married to his wife Lorraine for 40 years. He has two children – Sam and Kelly Carr and two grandchildren.
Todd Rudnianyn
Todd Rudnianyn was born and raised in Ocala, FL, graduated from Vanguard High School in 2000, and subsequently spent several years in Philadelphia, Seoul, Boston, and New York pursuing higher education and gaining professional experience at Lehman Brothers Global Real Estate Group – Large Loan Underwriting and at Alvarez and Marsal in the Revenue Enhancement Group.
In 2014, he returned to Ocala to serve as President of Neighborhood Storage Center Co., a regional commercial property management company. During his tenure, he helped grow the company from 5 to 27 properties with over 1 million square feet of rentable space and recently sold the bulk of the company’s self-storage portfolio to Public Storage.
Todd holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an Executive Masters in Urban Planning from the Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
evan tucker
Evan Tucker is a third generation Jacksonville native. Where he currently resides on the river with his wife Carolyn (fourth generation Jacksonville native) and their two boys.
He is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and currently owns and operates an asset management company. Evan is a licensed pilot, aircraft mechanic, and holds a USCG 100 Ton Master’s Captains license
He is an avid outdoorsman who has spent his life fishing and hunting all over the state of Florida. After recognizing harmful changes to the St. John’s River, Evan decided to engage local sportsman by co-founding Cowford Conservation. Evan has made it his life’s mission to preserve and protect what is left of Old Florida and ensure that he can leave these resources in a better condition than they were left to him for the next generation.
Science Advisors
The Great Florida Riverway Trust is dedicated to delivering scientifically accurate information and viable restoration, recreation and economic development solutions. A diverse and experienced group of consultants with backgrounds in economics, water resources, fisheries, wildlife, springs, manatee habitat conservation, springs protection, and outdoor recreation are utilized to review all communication materials, policy documents and plans.
Jo Salyers Layman
Jo Salyers Layman is a recognized leader in tourism, marketing and hospitality. For the past 18 years, Layman has been with On Top of the World Communities, LLC in positions including corporate director of marketing and general manager of Circle Square Commons. She currently oversees Circle Square Commons and the Circle Square Cultural Center, one of the largest performing arts venues in Marion County.
Formerly director of marketing for Silver Springs attraction, Layman served as founding member of the Tourist Development Council, serving for seven years. In 2005, she was instrumental in passing the Tourist Development Tax which now raises $8.9 million annually to support tourism in Marion County.
Layman was a founding member of the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP), helping with the merger of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce and Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Council. She served on the CEP Board of Directors and Executive Committee for eight years.
Her marketing and leadership talent has been put to work on many community boards, such as the Ocala Culinary Festival and Marion Cultural Alliance.
Sam Carr
Sam Carr was born and raised in Headland, AL and moved to San Mateo, FL in 1964. He lives on the river one mile downstream from Dunns Creek in the home he helped his father build. He graduated from Palatka South High School in 1970 and Florida Institute of Technology in 1974.
He had a 32-year career with Ford Motor Company becoming a District Manager for Ford Customer Division in their Orlando Regional Office. He was the president of the Bartram Trai Society of Florida and is the past-president and director of the Bartram Trail Conference. Currently he serves on the boards of the Putnam Blueways and Trails Citizen Support Organization, and the Palatka Water Works Environmental Education Center and is the Friends of Dunns Creek State Park CSO. He was a governor’s appointee to the Florida Greenways and Trails Council. He serves as co-chair of the Putnam County Waterways and Trails Committee for the Putnam County Commission.
Sam worked for the establishment of the Bartram National Recreation Trail in Putnam County by chairing the committee that is part of the Putnam County Waterways & Trails Committee. A paddling adventure down the entire St. Johns River started his interest in Bartram’s travels in the area. He is working with the Bartram Trail Conference to establish similar Bartram Trails in seven states and over 2,000 miles across the southeast including Florida.
He enjoys kayaking, golf and fishing and has been married to his wife Lorraine for 40 years. He has two children – Sam and Kelly Carr and two grandchildren.
Todd Rudnianyn
Todd Rudnianyn was born and raised in Ocala, FL, graduated from Vanguard High School in 2000, and subsequently spent several years in Philadelphia, Seoul, Boston, and New York pursuing higher education and gaining professional experience at Lehman Brothers Global Real Estate Group – Large Loan Underwriting and at Alvarez and Marsal in the Revenue Enhancement Group.
In 2014, he returned to Ocala to serve as President of Neighborhood Storage Center Co., a regional commercial property management company. During his tenure, he helped grow the company from 5 to 27 properties with over 1 million square feet of rentable space and recently sold the bulk of the company’s self-storage portfolio to Public Storage.
Todd holds a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an Executive Masters in Urban Planning from the Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.
Evan Tucker
Evan Tucker is a third generation Jacksonville native. Where he currently resides on the river with his wife Carolyn (fourth generation Jacksonville native) and their two boys.
He is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and currently owns and operates an asset management company. Evan is a licensed pilot, aircraft mechanic, and holds a USCG 100 Ton Master’s Captains license
He is an avid outdoorsman who has spent his life fishing and hunting all over the state of Florida. After recognizing harmful changes to the St. John’s River, Evan decided to engage local sportsman by co-founding Cowford Conservation. Evan has made it his life’s mission to preserve and protect what is left of Old Florida and ensure that he can leave these resources in a better condition than they were left to him for the next generation.
Margaret Hankinson Spontak, President
Margaret Spontak has a passion for helping make organizations stronger. Her past career experiences include philanthropy manager for Duke Energy Foundation in Florida, managing five grant cycles annually awarding $3 million in grants to worthy non-profits. At Master the Possibilities at On Top of the World, a not-for-profit lifelong learning center, she grew faculty, volunteers, and students and doubled course revenues in her first year. Margaret also helped transition Audubon Florida to a more donor-centered organization, allowing their team to increase donations by 28.5% over four years – even in the midst of a recession. By developing more customized corporate proposals at UF Leadership Development Institute, she helped drive revenues from $350,000 to $1.32 million in just three years.
In 2019, Margaret retired early to fulfill a promise she made to her brother, John Hankinson, to continue his work to reunite the Silver Springs and the Ocklawaha and St. Johns River for a better economic and environmental future for northeast Florida.
She helped found and chaired Free the Ocklawaha River Coalition, involving more than sixty national, state, and local organizations representing millions of members. Spontak has a long history of protecting land and water resources in north central Florida and beyond. Her conservation career includes director of development for Audubon Florida, director of policy and planning for St. Johns River Water Management District, sales and promotions manager for Silver Springs and Weeki Wachee Springs, and co-author of Protecting Paradise. In the spring of 2023, Spontak left the Coalition to form The Great Florida Riverway Trust.
Linda Myers
Linda Myers was elected Putnam County Tax Collector in 2012 and began serving Putnam County on January 1, 2013.
Linda is a CPA and maintained a public accounting practice 1994-2012 and for thirty years owned a Dunkin Donut/Baskin Robbins franchise in Palatka which was sold in September 2013.
Linda’s record of community service is long and distinguished. She served on the Putnam County Commission from 1998-2006, serving as its chair twice (2002 and 2006). She is also former chair of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, serving as a director (1993-2006) and chair of the Northeast Florida Workforce Development Council. Linda is also past president of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.
At the state level, Linda represented Putnam County at the Florida Association of Counties, Small County Coalition (chairman 2006) and was a trustee and president of the Florida Association of Counties Trust. Linda served the Florida Association of Tax Collectors leadership for the past 6 years, president 2022-2023. Linda represented Rural Florida on the FDOT 2020 State Transportation Plan.
Linda is a 2005 graduate of Leadership Florida and the 2nd Class of the Northeast Florida Regional Academy. She served as a board member of Regional Community Institute of Northeast Florida, a seven county regional visioning organization.
In her community, Linda has served as president and a long-term director of Lee Conlee House, a service provider to domestic abuse victims. She is also a past chair of the Putnam County United Way and served as the March of Dimes Walk chair for 2015.
Linda received her undergraduate and master’s in accounting degrees from the University of Florida and is active in the Florida Institute of CPAs.
She is married to Vernon Myers. They enjoy and are blessed with six children, 8 granddaughters, five grandsons and one great-granddaughter.
Chip Laibl
Chip Laibl, a 12-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard, is a lifelong resident of Putnam County. He is a successful businessman and dedicated community volunteer and leader.
From 2006-2018 he served as Putnam County commissioner. He also performed as chairman of the Florida Association of Counties and North Florida Planning Council.
Chip has contributed his skills and experience to many community boards including Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Development Council (chair), Putnam County Recreation, Fair Authority, Downtown Merchants Association (past president), Police Athletic League, and Insurance Trust. He is a graduate of North Florida Economic Development Academy and North Florida Leadership Academy.
Chip has been recognized for his advocacy which led to the building of the new Putnam County Animal Services Center. He was one of the founders of the Palatka Blue Crab Festival, a highly successful annual downtown event.
Chip and his wife Liz live in Bostwick. They are proud parents of two children, George and Allyson and one grandson.
Science Advisors
The Great Florida Riverway Trust is dedicated to delivering scientifically accurate information and viable restoration, recreation and economic development solutions. A diverse and experienced group of consultants with backgrounds in economics, water resources, fisheries, wildlife, springs, manatee habitat conservation, springs protection, and outdoor recreation are utilized to review all communication materials, policy documents and plans.