Alumni Spotlight: Melissa Meeker, Environmental Resource Management
Melissa Meeker graduated Florida Tech in 1995 with a master’s of science in environmental resource management. Today, she is the Executive Director at South Florida Water Management District.
Describe yourself in three words: Focused, energetic, collaborative
Describe your work: The South Florida Water Management District oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state, covering 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys. The agency provides flood control for 7.7 million residents and is partnering with the federal government to restore the Everglades—the largest environmental restoration project in the nation’s history. It’s complex, challenging, never dull and never done.
Favorite Florida Tech memory: Studying with fellow alums Stacy Ranieri and Brian Proctor, who I met at FIT and have remained two of my closest friends.
Little known fact: My first job out of the undergrad was “picking plankton” (identifying ichtyoplankton) and paid $7.40/hour.
Notable achievement: Career and personal achievements that have exceeded my dreams.
Hobbies: Reading, hiking, fishing, planning our cabin in Colorado
