OUR STAFF

John was born and raised in the seaside community of Atlantic Beach, Fl. After receiving the International Baccalaureate Diploma from Stanton College Prep, he graduated from the University of Florida Magna Cum Laude and then received his JD from UF’s Levin College of Law. In addition to being a zealous advocate for the environment in his role as Executive Director/General Counsel for the Public Trust, he is Board Chairman & General Counsel for COAST Inc. (the Coastal Ocean Association of Science &; Technology) and practices personal injury, nonprofit, real estate, probate, and contract law. John enjoys paddle boarding, playing sports, supporting the Gators and Jaguars, and spending time with his wife and infant son.

Romy has had a passion for all things water and nature-related since childhood. With a degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Marine Biology, and working for organizations such as The Marine Mammal Center, St. Johns Riverkeeper, and environmental firms, Romy has a diverse background that focuses on marine conservation and environmental advocacy. She has a certification in “GIS in Ecology” from Glasgow, UK and is currently working towards achieving her Advanced Florida Master Naturalist certification. She currently serves as the at-large seat for the City of Atlantic Beach Stewardship Committee. In addition to her position as Conservation Director for the Public Trust, Romy is an advocate for animal rescue and has personally fostered and rehomed over 45 dogs. She is an avid free diver, surfer, spearfisher, and enjoys backcountry hiking and camping with her dogs and husband.

Warren, a native of Jacksonville, is a longtime Northeast Florida attorney and environmental advocate. Following his graduation from Wake Forest University, he attended the University of Florida College of Law. Thereafter, Warren served as a Prosecutor at the State Attorney’s Office under Ed Austin for five years. Warren then went into private practice and has been practicing civil litigation at his firm, Anderson &; Miller P.A., in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, since 1987. Warren is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is based on evaluations from other attorneys and is the highest rating possible.
He is the former Chairman and Legal Director of the Sierra Club (Northeast Florida Chapter)and past Chairman of the Tree Protection Task Force under former Jacksonville Mayor Delaney. Warren has also been a member of the Growth Management Task Force and Environmental Protection Board under Jacksonville Mayor Peyton. Warren was awarded Florida Wildlife Federation’s Land Conservationist of the Year for 2009. In 2015, Warren was presented with the 2015 Charles E. Bennett Champion of the Environment Award. Warren regularly advises and represents environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, Timucuan Parks Foundation, and the St. Johns Riverkeeper as well as individual citizens. An avid outdoorsman, Warren enjoys running and kayaking throughout our region.

Throughout her 25-year legal career, Patty has tried more than 70 civil and criminal jury trials to verdict representing all party types. She is General Counsel for K9s For Warriors and as Director of the affiliated entity K9s For Warriors Research Institute, where her responsibilities cover a broad range of legal services to these nonprofits with a national presence and renown for placing service dogs with post 911 military veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI and MST. Patty is dedicated to serving her community by providing pro bono legal counsel to various organizations and individuals, mentoring young attorneys and coordinating fundraising walks and events. She teaches civics to children at the North Florida School of Special Education through the Florida Bar Justice teaching program and has been a court-appointed surrogate parent advocating for children with educational and learning disabilities.

Leslie is a fifth generation Jacksonville native and is an attorney at Terrell Hogan P.A. Leslie earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law. Her legal career began at Legal Services of Greater Miami, preserving safe and affordable housing for the poor and working poor before joining Sheppard, White &; Thomas, P.A., where she handled employment discrimination, civil rights, and education cases in state and federal courts. Leslie serves on the boards of Three Rivers Legal Services, Jacksonville/First Coast League of Women Voters, Christ the King Catholic School Board, LSF Health Systems, and Northeast Florida Community Action Agency. She is the Chairperson of the Jacksonville Black Chamber of Commerce and President of the Christ the School Foundation. She also volunteers as an Attorney Ad Litem and Educational Surrogate for foster children. In her free time, she enjoys attending community events with her husband and daughter.

Jason is a partner with the firm Rudolph, Israel, & Ellis. He attended the University of Florida where he earned his degree in Political Science with Minors in History and Environmental Studies (B.A. 2008, Cum Laude). He then attended Florida State University College of Law (J.D. 2011) earning an Environmental &; Land Use Law Certificate (with Honors). He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2011. After graduating in 2011, Jason accepted a position on the Executive Committee for the Northeast Florida Group of Sierra Club, for which he served a two-year term. Jason is thrilled to have his hands full out of the office thanks to the birth of his second son. If he does have a spare moment of free time, he enjoys cheering on the Gators, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and playing golf, tennis and basketball.

Wayne Hogan, a Jacksonville native, has been with Terrell Hogan Yegelwel, PA since 1977. Educated in Economics and Law at Florida State University, he specializes in personal injury and wrongful death law. Wayne is a board-certified civil trial lawyer and has served on the executive committees of Public Justice, America’s public interest law firm, and the American Association for Justice, and the national board of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He was appointed by Florida’s U.S. Senators to serve on and chair the Conference recommending candidates for U.S. District Judge, U.S. Attorney, and U.S. Marshal. He has been given the Highest Peer Review Rating for professional excellence by Martindale-Hubbell. Wayne supports the FSU College of Law’s Donald J. Weidner Summer for Undergraduates Program that each year provides undergraduate students from Florida and throughout the country with a month-long law school immersion. When time permits, Wayne fly fishes by kayak on the tidal creeks off the Intracoastal Waterway and the St. Johns River. He has served on the St. Johns Riverkeeper’s Legal Advisory Committee since its inception in 2008.