Staff Reports
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson has appointed Gary Clark as deputy secretary of land and recreation. In this role, Clark will supervise the Divisions of State Lands and Recreation and Parks.
“Gary brings a broad range of management experience, leadership skills and investment expertise to this position,” Steverson said in a prepared statement. “He will be a tremendous asset to the state and department.”
Clark most recently was vice president of member services for the West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, where he was responsible for managing all marketing, communication, governmental affairs, public relations, and economic development programs for a 26,000-consumer rural electric cooperative. In addition, he is director and shareholder of Community Bank in Chipley and co-owns several enterprises.
A lifelong resident of Chipley, Clark is the fourth generation to grow up living and working on his family’s 400-acre farm. He also co-owns Hard Labor Creek Shooting Sports Inc., which is located within a 2,600-acre Southern pine planation. He helps oversee the plantation’s land and hunting management operations, including prescribed burning, planting and selective thinning.
Clark is extremely active in his local community, serving as a governing board member of the Northwest Florida Water Management District since 2013 and current member and former chairman of the board of trustees for Chipola College. He’s also been on the Washington County School Board, including two terms as chairman. A founding member of the Opportunity Florida Regional Economic Development Council, Clark has been a member of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 1990.
Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is a certified energy manager and key account executive.
Clark begins in his new position Monday.
