About
History
The Northwest Florida Maritime Landscape Alliance for Preservation, Inc. was founded in 2020 as a coalition of organizations and individuals who initially connected through the Florida Panhandle Maritime National Heritage Area feasiblity study meetings. MLAP's bylaws were drafted by the officers and adopted by the board in November 2020. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization with the state of Florida in January 2021, and was officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) by the IRS in July 2021.
Our Board of Directors
Our board of directors represent many different areas within Northwest Florida and come from diverse professional backgrounds. They offer a wide variety of perspectives and expertise from non-profit, business, government, education, tourism, politics, arts, sciences, and research whose interests align with MLAPs mission and purpose.
Dr. Sorna Khakzad-Knight
PresidentDr. Sorna Khakzad is a cultural-natural resources management specialist. Since 2016 she has been leading a study and initiative to designate Northwest Florida as a National Heritage Area. Sorna has two doctoral degrees in engineering and coastal resources management, and two master’s degrees in historic preservation and architecture. Her research focuses on coastal and maritime cultural and natural heritage and interdisciplinary approaches towards the management of coastal and maritime cultural and natural resources for tourism promotion and sustainable community development. Currently she is the Neighborhood Revitalization Manager at Pensacola Habitat for Humanity where she coordinates projects to enhance quality of life in different neighborhoods in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. She has worked on international projects in the Middle East, Europe and the United States and has numerous scientific journal publications and conference presentations.
Jess Cragg, MA
Vice President Jessie Cragg is the Curator of Exhibits at the University of West Florida Historic Trust, located in Pensacola, Florida. Jessie has a MA in History/Public History where she focused on colonial and early republic maritime history. She has a background in archaeology from her undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia, is dive certified, and passionate about maritime history. She has been in the Pensacola region since 2015 where she worked with Gulf Islands National Seashore and the Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum before becoming a curator. She is also an editor of Pensacola History Illustrated, an academic publication of the UWF Historic Trust.
Mike Thomin, MA
Treasurer Mike Thomin is the manager of the Florida Public Archaeology Network’s Destination Archaeology Resource Center and a Faculty Research Associate at the University of West Florida. Mike has a M.A. in history/public history and has spent the past 15 years working as a museum professional in public archaeology. He is a Certified Guide with the National Association for Interpretation, and has worked on a variety of heritage interpretative and heritage tourism projects across the state with local, state, federal, and international agencies. Most recently he is working on a multidisciplinary and collaborative project to designate the Florida Panhandle into a National Heritage Area. He formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Trail of Florida Indian Heritage as President and the Panhandle Historic Preservation Alliance as Secretary. Currently he serves on St. Michael’s Cemetery Foundation of Pensacola Inc. as President, and MLAP as Treasurer. Mike has a passion for maritime history and is a certified computer nitrox/scientific diver. His research interests include public history, maritime history, maritime archaeology, public archaeology, museum studies, and heritage interpretation. His published articles have appeared in Legacy, Interdisciplinary Journal of Maritime Studies, The Museum Review, Journal of the American Revolution,, Journal of Archaeology and Education, and the ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings.
Barbara Clark, MA, RPA
Secretary Barbara Clark is Regional Director for both the Northwest and North Central Regional Centers of the Florida Public Archaeology Network. She earned her B.S. in Anthropology from Florida State University in 2005 and her MA in Archaeology and Heritage from the University of Leicester in 2008. Barbara graduated with a Masters in Public Administration from the University of West Florida in 2019. She has worked for the Florida Public Archaeology Network since 2010, where she started as the Outreach Coordinator for the North Central Regional Center. Prior to that she worked in Cultural Resource Management with a private firm, working primarily in the Southeast. Barbara serves on numerous boards within the archaeological profession and also volunteers her time with several local community nonprofits in Tallahassee. She is a Registered Professional Archaeologist and currently sits on their board. She is also a board member of the Florida Archaeological Council and Chair of the Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation. Her favorite areas of expertise include advocacy at the state and local level, historic cemeteries, and disaster planning.
Heather Lopez
Board Member Heather Lopez is a 2007 graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Communications with a minor in Psychology. Heather has been with the Washington County Tourist Development Council for the past 11 years with 7 of those as its Director.
She has served on the Board of Explore Northwest Florida since 2010 serving in several officer positions including Treasurer, Vice President and President. Mrs. Lopez completed Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College in August 2015gaining her certification as a Tourism Marketing Professional and an Event Planner Specialist. She also served as a CHRN (Cultural, Heritage, Rural & Nature) committee member for Visit Florida, the state’s official state tourism agency from July 2011 to 2017.
Mrs. Lopez is the President of the Christmas Fest of Chipley, Inc. which holds the city’s annual Chipley Christmas Fest and Parade in downtown. She and her business partner formed the organization in 2013. Lopez has served on the Chipley Redevelopment Agency since May of 2016. She completed her area Chamber of Commerce’s leadership class, LEAD Washington County, in June of 2019.
Tarra Wixom Destin
Board Member Tarra Wixom Destin is a graduate of Fort Lewis College with a degree in Anthropology, and is currently finishing her MA in Anthropology at the University of West Florida with a focus on natural resource management policy and commercial fishermen. Tarra has worked as a federal and contract archaeologist in the Southwest and Southeastern United States. She is the owner and creator of Pink Coyote Dessert Co. in Destin, Florida making and selling artisanal ice cream and desserts.
She has a passion for history, community, and natural resource management. Tarra is the current president of the Destin History and Fishing Museum board of directors in Destin, FL. She also serves on the governing board of Destin Harvest, a Northwest Florida non-profit that bridges the gap between food surplus and local hunger through food redistribution.
Dale Cox
Board Member Dale Cox is an award-winning author and historian who grew up in the “suburbs” of the quaint little community of Two Egg, Florida.
He writes extensively about the history of the Creek War of 1813-1814, the First Seminole War of 1817-1818, the War of 1812 on the Gulf Coast, and the Civil War in Florida and Arkansas. His the author of 19 books and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles.
His book, The Battle of Marianna, Florida, was named Best in Category by Civil War Books and Authors. His 2013 volume, Milly Francis: The Life & Times of the Creek Pocahontas, played an important role in the 2019 induction of Milly Francis to the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame alongside Harper Lee.
Dale’s latest book, The Fort at Prospect Bluff, is a deep re-examination of the history of the British Post at Prospect Bluff on the lower Apalachicola River during and following the War of 1812. It uses previously unpublished documents from archives around the world to open the door to the history and tragedy of this critically important establishment and its destruction by U.S. forces in 1816.
Mr. Cox holds degrees in history and anthropology. He is a descendent of the Yuchi Indian Milly Barnard and the Lower Creek warrior Efau Emathla. His ancestors were among the Red Stick warriors who came to Prospect Bluff to join the British in the summer of 1814.
He is the father of two grown sons and a brilliant 101-pound Husky named Dodger D. Dogg. He divides his time between Alabama and Northwest Florida.
Gerald Smith
Board MemberGerald Smith earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of West Florida and is a graduate of safety and health management certification programs from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He served as an Eastern Airline Customer Service Agent with 20 years of experience in all aspects of over and under wing airport operations, international ground handling and Atlanta Special Service Team (Red Coat). Mr. Smith was a twenty-two-year employee of SITA, an airline and airport multinational information technology company, working globally in more than 80 countries as a Business Analyst, Quality Service Facilitator, Training Instructor, Executive Customer Care, Product Manager, Manager of Ground Handing Solution and Senior Solution Designer. He is former President and Managing Director-Global AirPort Insight Solutions LLC, promoting aviation safety management system implementation and business analysis. Gerald was a founding organization member and Board member Chipley Georgia Historical Society and History Center, Past Board Member Gulf Breeze Area Historical Society, and founding member of the Northwest Florida Maritime Landscape Alliance for Preservation.
We Appreciate the Service of All Our Former Board Members
Anita Grove, Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve
Parker Destin, Owner and operator of Dewey Destin Enterprises and member of Florida Historical Commission
Betty Webb, Project Manager of Explore Northwest Florida
Lillian Clark, Executive Director LMC Impressions
