Board Members
Our Board Members
Kim McVey
President
Kim was born and raised in Cortez and is a member of the Taylor family. Kim has been an active participant in F.I.S.H. since the 1990’s. Kim is also a board member representative of the Commercial Fishing Industry and is the office manager for one of Cortez’s largest fish houses “Cortez Bait and Seafood”.
David Cadmus
Vice President
David’s family has been a part of Cortez for over 70 years. He grew up around the Village and still owns a home here. David currently lives in east Bradenton where he owns a lawn and landscape business. He has been very active with F.I.S.H. especially with the Festival over the last eight years.
Jane von Hahmann
Treasurer
Jane and her husband have lived in the village for 47 years where they have owned their own business for the last 37 years. Jane has served as a Manatee County Commissioner for 8 years (2001 -2008) and she has served on the F.I.S.H. board since 2009. Jane believes in the mission of F.I.S.H. and is pleased with the organization’s accomplishments over the years.
Steve Baker
Steve’s respect for nature can be tracked back to the time he spent every Saturday helping out on my grandfather’s farm in Illinois. He was a longtime member of Reef Relief and the Sunshine Rotary Club. He was also a founding member of “Our Santa Fe River”. Steve came to Cortez in 1976 before moving to Key West where he spent 26 years as a hospital pharmacy director. Steve moved back to Cortez in 2017.
Karen Bell
Karen has been an active participant in F.I.S.H. since its inception in 1992. She also has been a strong advocate for Florida’s commercial fisheries by working in the regulatory and political processes. In addition, Karen markets seafood on the wholesale, retail, and restaurant levels.
Tim Canniff
Tim moved to Bradenton at the age of 9. He graduated from Manatee High and holds a college degree in business administration and accounting. Tim has fished out of Cortez for over 30 years. He was a founding member of F.I.S.H. and served early on as a board member.
Alex Garner
Alex’s family has a long history with Cortez, they used to own and operate Starfish Company. He is a member of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club and for the last 3 years, has been spearheading community service projects held out at the FISH Preserve. His father, Allen Garner, is a founding member of FISH and has drawn up many of the master plans for the Preserve. Alex wants to continue the progress of FISH, the Preserve and to help anyway he can.
Nathan Meschelle
Nathan is 31 and is a full-time commercial fisherman, father, and husband. Nathan is also presently serving as a board member of Organized Fisherman of Florida (OFF) Cortez Chapter. He enjoys being involved in the community, especially when it comes to the local waters and its environment.
Lance Plowman
Lance Plowman is a Florida native and a full-time Charter Captain. He owns Florida Fishing Fleet in the Cortez village and he also fishes commercially. His passion for the environment and fisheries in Cortez is unmatched. Lance’s love for Cortez inspired him to become a board member of F.I.S.H. in 2021. He wanted to be a part of an amazing organization in hopes to make a difference in the community and our local waters.
Pat Potts
Pat has lived in Cortez since 1980. She was active in O.F.F (Organized Fishermen of Florida) and has been a member of F.I.S.H. since its inception in 1992. Pat loves Cortez and couldn’t see herself living anywhere else.
Cindy Rodgers
Cindy’s great-grandparents were Capt. Billy and Sallie Fulford, among the original settlers of Cortez. She and her husband live in the house Capt. Billy built, where her grandmother and mother were born. Cindy recently retired from a 40-year career in public health. As president of the Cortez Village Historical Society and now a FISH board member she hopes to give back to the community she dearly loves.
Angela Collins
Secretary (Non-Voting)
Florida Sea Grant Advisor
Angela is an Extension Scientist for Florida Sea Grant and the University of Florida. Angela is passionate about supporting working waterfronts and working with stakeholders to conserve Florida’s commercial and recreational fisheries. Healthy fisheries, coastal habitats and water quality are critical aspects of Florida’s economy and culture.