Chase C
ENC2135
2/15/2026

Investigative Essay on the effects of FWC’s leadership backgrounds and decision making on
conservation efforts

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     The State of Florida is known and loved for its wildlife and nature. Many people enjoy the hunting and fishing the state has to offer. Our wildlife is one of the biggest draws of our state, for both ecotourism and those who live here. With that, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is an important part of conservation efforts. The effectiveness of an organization relies on effective leadership on all levels. If the leadership is flawed it will be reflected in the actions of the organization. In Florida, the FWC has had growing controversies which regard the current commissioners. This topic will be addressed by analyzing some of the commissioners' backgrounds and actions, as well as studies on leadership to determine if the FWC’s leadership backgrounds and decision-making within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission impact Florida’s wildlife conservation efforts. This piece is meant to serve in the existing debate on the effects of leadership in conservation efforts.

 

     When researching this topic, the easiest way  to initially analyze is by viewing the FWC’s website. The website has small biographies for the commissioners, presenting information about all seven FWC commissioners. With each individual profile of the commissioners, in their descriptions their careers and connections are present. Looking at their biographies and using simple outside research, these are the careers and connections of every commissioner: Chairman Rodney Barreto- President and CEO of Barreto Group, Inc.,  “Chairman Barreto is the President & CEO of Barreto Group, Inc., a diversified company specializing in corporate and public affairs consulting, real estate investment and development.”-FWC, 2019. Steven Hudson- President and CEO of Hudson Capital Group- involved in private equity and real estate. Preston Farrior- CEO of two car companies and is involved in dealerships. Albert Maury- President and CEO of Leon Medical Centers. Joshua Kellam- President of the Garcia Companies. Sonya Rood- Wife to John Rood, chairman of the Vestcor Companies (real estate). Gary Lester- Vice President of Community Relations for The Villages, and Chairman of The Villages Charter School Board. (massive real estate development) This background info is crucial for analyzing the topic. It is important to know when addressing how there may be upfront and immediate conflicts of interest affecting decision-making. These biases lead to possible conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest discussions can occur at any level. It is important to present their connections before discussing the effects of conflicts of interest. The next article is also a basis to aid in the overall debate, covering how conflicts of interest affect lower-level enforcement.

 

     Continuing further, using a survey and research paper on possible conflicts of interest at the enforcement level can aid in viewing the topic at hand. This academic report was made during a criminal justice program, It analyzes ethical standards and conflicts of interest, focusing within the FWC’s enforcement division. It focuses on the enforcement, rather than the commissioners like the other articles chosen for this research. It discusses how the evolution of law enforcement ethics, and how conflicts of interest affect agencies, such as the issues that may come from accepting gratuities and benefits; including things such as free hunting club memberships, and has some surveys to show the opinions. It also includes some additional findings and has recommendations for improving said ethical standards. Its discussion in the conflict of interest topic in law enforcement can apply to the very top leadership. I believe this source somewhat parallels the arguments against the leadership's careers compared to their role in the FWC. Some of the final thoughts are important to the grand question: “Clearly sworn officers must be very critical in their approach to hunt clubs and their behavior as licensed boat captains. Sworn personnel must always be aware of the fact that they are held to a higher moral and ethical standard than the average citizen is. In addition, agency leadership must provide clear expectations and direction through policy and example.” -Hubert, Jeff, 2019.  The source shows that officers within the FWC are aware of the issues with possible conflicts of interest, and believe they can be a problem. To utilize the topic of this source, it can be reapplied to issues of bias directly to the top of the FWC, such as with chairman Rodney Barreto.

 

     Getting into specific Commissioners, an article has its main focus is on the conflicts of interest of Chairman Rodney Barreto, and his controversial  appointment to chair of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Rodney Barreto has been appointed to the commission 4 times, with the most recent being the most controversial. As a developer and a lobbyist, the article points out that he makes his living in an industry which often clashes with environmental conservation. Heavily focused on in this article is Barreto’s denial of his attempts to build on important wetlands in 2021. It also mentions in the article how the original FWC was composed of individuals with health and wildlife experience; a biologist, a dentist, a cattle rancher, as well as a charter boat captain, an attorney, and a retired sheriff; versus a chair who has gained a position of power through money and influence. Chairman Rodney Barreto attempted to build a wildlife harmful project with his company. It is an issue of leadership not aligning with values of organization. “Take the project Sen. Harrell asked Barreto about. He bought his property in 2016 for $425,000. Two years later, under the name of a company run by Barreto and his wife called Government Lot 1 LLC, he filed an application to build 330 condos, 15 single family homes, 30 boat slips, and a 50-slip marina with a restaurant and community center. To build this would require dumping fill in 12 acres of submerged land and dredging 4 acres of the submerged property. This is a style of destructive development we seldom see in Florida anymore.”-Pittman, Craig, 2025. The source's evidence shows us Barreto’s conflict of interest in action. While serving on the FWC, there is clear evidence of a project which goes against the FWC’s mission and values. With some of the issues with the leadership presented, there is research on the importance of good governance for conservation efforts to be successful. Does the FWC fall in this category?

 

     As with any organization; Conservation Organizations require effective leadership for success, and it starts at the top of the organization. Good governance leads to public trust, and public trust provides the best environment for making changes for conservation. “...trustees require insights from beneficiaries about what they believe constitute desirable benefits from wildlife. In public wildlife management, beneficiaries therefore have a significant role in defining the benefits expected and in decision making about program objectives and actions that are designed to yield such benefits…” -Pomeranz, Emily F., 2019. This academic article’s purpose is in arguing how important decision-making is to wildlife agencies. This article is broader than the FWC; its value is in its focus on the importance of governance and how there needs to be public trust of the leadership. This applies to the debate on the FWC. The authors argue that effective conservation isn't just about ecology and biology, it's about how wildlife agencies must have a solid governance to back planning and execution. The paper tells us the possible results of strong and well supported conservation government, and the importance of public trust. With the topic of the FWC’s commissioners, it may be that lack of public trust due to the commissioner's careers in real estate and business is why the FWC is not having public success as a conservation organization. In relation to the public opinion, the next article covers the FWC struggles with public opinion,and attempts to scrub criticism online.

 

     Current public opinion of the FWC is negative as a result of the current leadership of the FWC. The FWC deleted comments on one of their posts which was criticism, citing their broad social media policy. “Instagram and Facebook users say their comments have disappeared from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) posts…Some say FWC Chair Rodney Barreto, a Miami developer and political insider who’s faced criticism for alleged ethical issues and mismanagement of past agency controversies, blocked them online before taking his Instagram account private.” -Scheckner, Jesse, 2025. Both of these statements from the article show how it is not a positive look for the FWC to hide away from criticism, and this further harms their public trust. It is a debate of the violation of free speech, and an aversion of public discussion on the issues with the FWC. This article also questions Rodney Barreto’s career in real estate and how this conflicts with his role as an environmental conservationist. According to the FWC’s comment policy, “it may remove content that’s vulgar, off-topic, hateful, or abusive”. The article suggests that it is too broad and subjective, and is used to silence criticism. This source provides further evidence pointing towards the FWC’s leadership having a negative impact on conservation efforts. The public opinion of the FWC has led to petitions for FWC reform.

 

     The FWC’s leadership has a growing negative image in Florida, and with that, petitions for reform are growing. This article covers some of the other biases of the FWC commissioners. It points out the lack of respect for the public opinion, such as in one decision case hearing: ““During the last meeting, when they were going to make the final decision as to whether or not it was okay for that toll road to destroy all that habitat. There were 40, I think 42 people that showed up and spoke at the meeting, and one of them was for the toll road. Every single other person was against it, and they said, OK, thank you for your time. And unanimously passed it,” Fannin recalled.”-Velez, Grace, 2025. This piece demonstrates that the FWC is aware of the public concern, but seems to only be focused on pushing their personal goals. It also discusses a growing petition for FWC reform amongst rising issues with the FWC leadership, such as transparency, accountability, and actions. The Petition calls for qualified commissioners, who are  free of conflicts of interests; unlike commissioners in the FWC like Gary Lester and Rodney Baretto, previously mentioned in the other articles. They also seek more transparent appointments. The text argues that the commissioners should “...at least a handful or a few of them, to have a scientific, educational or professional background or have an extensive hunting or fishing…”.It is hoped that the FWC leadership should be more akin to the original commissioners when the FWC was founded. 

 

     With the evidence presented, it seems that the leadership backgrounds and decision-making in the FWC are very influential in the public’s trust of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in their conservation efforts. All the Commissioners have professional histories rooted in real estate and corporate roles. This contrasts with the FWC’s ecological focus and mission. These conflicts are valid concerns against the leadership in power. It is evident that it influences their conservation decisions. It is reflected through their actions, such as Baretto’s attempted construction project and the scrubbing of social media comments. The people who comprise the FWC board today are far from the original fitting leaders; being originally composed of people who held some experience in the field. There are the academic arguments studied which demonstrate that conflicts of interest and lack of transparency harm conservation efforts. Research shows that conflicts of interest harm credibility, and it applies to the FWC leadership. Without reform of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, issues like what has been covered in this research will continue to harm Florida’s wildlife conservation efforts. The FWC commissioners should have experiences fitting the position, and strive to provide integrity and trust in the organization. The contrast between the original commissioners versus today's lineup demonstrates there is a further issue in the people who allow the appointments to these positions, and speaks more on not only the leadership of the FWC but also the Florida government’s priorities. Overall It can be concluded that the current leadership is harmful to conservation efforts in the State of Florida.

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