Leadership

Kim Bednarek

Kim Bednarek

Executive Director

Kim Bednarek is an entrepreneurial and resourceful leader with the business acumen required to succeed in complex, relationship driven environments. Kim is highly regarded for her capacity to collaborate successfully across diverse constituent groups to sustain programs and processes that guide the vision, core values, and progressive development of any organization.

Kim currently serves in the role of Executive Director with OSP Inc., a 75-year-old non-profit dedicated to showcasing and conserving the wildlife and vast wilderness, Native American civilizations, pioneers and settlers, waterways, and habitats of North America’s largest “blackwater” swamp, the Okefenokee. Kim’s competencies with transformational management are supporting this organization to envision a catalytic role in the region as a resource of inspiration, education and stewardship, and positive economic development.

Kim served as the Head of School for The Discovery School in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, a nationally recognized Montessori – International Baccalaureate academic program from 2007-2020. During Kim’s 13-year tenure, The Discovery School experienced phenomenal growth including doubling the campus size and enrollment through land acquisitions and multiple building projects, while initiating key community partnerships with the Rainforest Alliance and White Oak Conservation Center.

Kim earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, with a Minor in Marine Biology, from the University of New Hampshire and her Master of Business Administration with Honors, Leadership Development from Jacksonville University. She also holds a Montessori Administrator’s credential, is a graduate of Leadership Florida Education, served 2-terms on the Florida Council of Independent Schools board and was a member of the Leadership Development Committee of the American Montessori Society. Kim currently serves on the Board of the St. Marys Riverkeeper and on the steering committee for the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge’ UNESCO inscription process.

Board of Trustees

Okefenokee Swamp Board of Trustees

William Clark, Board Chair

Ophthalmologist, Clark Eye Clinic
Joined Board in 2006

Jim Barber, Vice Chair

Orthopedist, Barber Ortho Clinic
Joined Board in 2016

Jeff McCutcheon, Treasurer

Corporate Board Consultant, Board Advisors
Joined Board in 2015

Wendy Good, Secretary

Educator, Okefenokee RESA
Joined Board in 2018

Chris Allen

Architect, Haskell
Joined Board in 2022

Champ Bailey

Retired, NFL Athlete
Joined Board in 2023

Mark Gibson

Furniture Retail, Gibson-McDonald
Joined Board in 2019

Greg Jacobs

Educator, CEO of Okefenokee RESA
Joined Board in 2018

Clint Lott

Attorney, Private Practice
Joined Board in 2023

Charles McMillan

Architect, Retired
Joined Board in 2023

Joe Montgomery

Advancement Consultant, Joe Montgomery & Associates
Joined Board in 2014

Philip Saussy

Insurance Executive, Marsh and McLennan
Joined Board in 2023

Liza Taylor

Landscape Architect and Regenerative Farmer
Joined Board in 2023

Emeritus

Owen Herrin

Chip Beal

Mike Boggs

Henry Clarke

Tandy Morton