FWC New Release
Contact: Henry Cabbage (850) 528-1755
Photos of FWC Commissioners are available at MyFWC.com/About/commissioners.htm.
Two new Commissioners assumed their posts on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) today.
During the first day of the FWC’s three-day meeting at St. Petersburg, new Commissioners Ron Bergeron of Ft. Lauderdale and Kenneth Wright of Winter Park began their five-year terms on the seven-member commission. They replace former Vice Chairman David K. Meehan and former Commissioner H.A. “Herky” Huffman.
Also, Commissioner Kathy Barco of Jacksonville began her second term as an FWC Commissioner.
Bergeron, an engineering contractor, is president and owner of Bergeron Family of Companies, based in Ft. Lauderdale. He was born on a family vacation in New Orleans Sept. 15, 1943. Even so, he notes with pride that he is a fourth-generation Floridian.
Saving the Everglades and protecting wildlife have been Bergeron’s lifelong passions. He has met with public officials regularly to help steer priorities for Everglades projects to stop irreversible damage to the great wetland. For the past 10 years, Bergeron has worked with the Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District with value engineering and analyzing costs versus benefits of restoration projects.
“I am sincerely honored to have this opportunity to serve as a Commissioner and have such an important role in protecting the resources that have been such a big part of my life,” Bergeron said. “My grandfather was a game warden in Florida, and that opened a wealth of life experiences and the background that drives me to protect our natural resources for future generations.”
Bergeron is a member of the Broward County Airboat Association and the Everglades Coordinating Council. In addition, Bergeron is active in the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, Broward Partnership for the Homeless and Children’s Harbor.
He has six children.
Wright is a partner in the Orlando law firm Shutts & Bowen, where he has worked since 1989. He holds a juris doctorate from Cumberland School of Law, a bachelor’s in political science from the University of South Florida and an associate’s degree from Orlando Junior College.
He was born July 29, 1948 in Charlotte, N.C., but he has lived in Florida since 1962.
Wright is an avid outdoorsman with experience in all types of hunting and fishing in Florida.
“Having lived almost my entire life in Florida, hunting and fishing,” Wright said, “I look forward to working hard to ensure that opportunity to the next generation of Floridians.”
Wright served eight years as chairman of the Environmental Regulation Commission. He said that background, coupled with his sincere motivation to be of service to the FWC, will enable him to bring a new perspective to the agency. Wright also served as chairman of the Sanford Aviation Authority and was a member of the Seminole County Port Authority. Other service includes past president of the Leukemia Society and current board membership in the Winter Park Chamber.
Barco, who has served on the FWC since September 2004, is president of Barco-Duval engineering, Inc. in Jacksonville. She has served as a commissioner on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which manages recreational and commercial marine fishing from Maine to Key West, and the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve’s Management Plan Citizens Board. Barco is also a member of Ducks Unlimited, the Cedar River Club, Safari Club International and the International Game Fish Association.
