Board Members
Jim Thorsen, Chair
Jim joined the US Forest Service in January 1970 and served on several National Forests in the Southern Region. In 1989, he became a District Ranger in the Ocala National Forest. As District Ranger, Jim envisioned that certain State and County roads within the Ocala National Forests qualified for a Scenic designation. Over the years, he has developed a passion for the entire corridor’s surroundings, roads, ecosystems, and wildlife. He was active in the development of FBBSB in 2004 when he was still working for the Forest Service, and in 2005, he became the first chairperson of the group. He has a BS degree in Forest Management and several awards, including the Silver Trout Award from Trout Unlimited, a Ranger of the Year Award in 2005, and a Certificate of Merit for Ecosystem Management from the US Forest Service in 2004. Currently, Jim has been active in forest management for 54 years.
Kristee Booth, Vice-Chair
Kristee is a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). She has an undergraduate degree in Biology from WVU and an MS in Ecology from FIT. She travels the world to learn the culture and history of each place while enjoying outdoor activities, including hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, snorkeling with marine iguanas and sea lions in the Galapagos Islands, and horseback riding around the Great Pyramids. Kristee feels Florida and the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway have as much beauty, history, and adventure to offer as anywhere in the world.
Nikki Thorsen, Secretary
Nikki has an Associate of Science degree in criminology. She was a senior administrative secretary in New Jersey and secretary for special needs students in Lake County Schools. She currently helps with the administrative duties of the byway. Her specialty is public outreach, which involves disseminating information and sharing the byway’s story at various events along the byway.
Treasurer – Open position
We are working to fill this position on the board.
Tom Rose, Board Member
Tom Rose is a freelance journalist specializing in outdoor, adventure, and motorsports stories. His work has appeared in Rider Magazine, Florida Wildlife, Outdoor Adventures, Motorcycle Classics, and many other national, regional, and local publications. Tom has been an active Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway member for 14 years as of 2024 and a regular contributor to and editor of the Byway Newsletter. http://tomrosejournalist.blogspot.com/
Tony Ehrlich, Board Member
Tony has been a member of Byway’s working group in various capacities since before designation. He became involved at the urging of the staff of the Barberville Pioneer Settlement, a partner organization to the FBBSB. Tony helped draft the FBBSB Corridor Management Plan, which led to the designation as a Florida Scenic Byway in 2008 and, subsequently, the application that led to the federal designation as a National Scenic Byway in 2009.
Georgia Turner, Board Member
Georgia sits on the board as a Member at Large. She is the Executive Director of the West Volusia Tourism & Advertising Authority. She brings professional skills from decades in the tourism industry and a deep relationship with the Florida Scenic Highways Program and VISIT FLORIDA to the byway organizations she associates with, including Black Bear’s “sister byway” River of Lakes Heritage Corridor, for which she serves as chair as of 2024. Georgia is the 2023 winner of the prestigious Garry Balogh Inspiring Excellence Award, the highest distinction that a Florida Scenic Highway community member can receive.
Mike Cross, Board Member
Mike Cross is a fourth-generation Floridian whose grandfather built part of the Byway and still lives there. He’s a local historian and volunteer with a background in construction, President of the Friends of the Carr Cabin, and on the Board of the Greater Umatilla Historical Society. He loves the Black Bear Scenic Byway and nature and is a grateful participant in its appreciation.
Janet Lewis, Board Member
I grew up in a family that had respect for animals and nature. I have lived in both the north and south and found both to have beautiful landscapes. Having worked with children for 39 years, I think a central part of their education must be saving our environment. As a museum curator, I feel that our Ocala National Forest and the Scenic Byway acreage is a vital part of our history and should be preserved. I am happy to be part of efforts to protect the wildlife within the byway region, which will impact future generations.
Daniel Olds, Primary Volunteer
Retired Navy (Nuke MM), Retired Systems Engineer Lockheed Martin. Computer Science degree UCF. Enjoy the wildlife in Florida and do what I can to protect it.