Deno Hicks was recently appointed to the
state-wide Florida Greenways and Trails Council.
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SNRE Alum Helps Shape State Development Policy
By DeLene Beeland
School of Natural Resources graduate Deno Hicks has cast a net of influence over the
state of Florida since receiving his BS in 1998. Governor Jeb Bush recently appointed Hicks to the state-wide Florida Greenways
and Trails Council (FGTC) for a two-year term. The FGTC makes recommendations to the state's Department of Environmental Protection
for land acquisitions.
"During my time with the greenways and trails council, I look forward to offering my
experience in land planning and environmental policy while participating in the continued development of Florida's greenways system,"
Hicks said.
The mission of FGTC is to create a system of trails and greenways through Florida that
offer recreation while conserving environmental lands, water resources, and urban green space. The greenways and trails council works
collaboratively with local communities, developers, and private landowners as well as state and federal agencies; it is also a
component of Florida Forever.
He serves on a variety of additional councils and boards at state and local levels.
In November 2004, Hicks was appointed by Jacksonville's mayor to serve on the city's Planning Commission.
"Members of the commission are in a position to directly impact existing and future
land uses," Hicks said. "This is such a sensitive topic, as decisions are made that directly affect an individual's personal
property. The challenge is in keeping the balance between decisions based on emotion and decisions based on the criteria set forth
in the city's comprehensive plan."
An undergraduate education in SNRE provided many advantages, Hicks said. "I appreciate
the flexibility and broad scope of the interdisciplinary curriculum which allowed me to study science and policy, and ultimately
discover that I prefer the regulatory side of environmental work."
Hicks is maintaining his ties with his alma mater and is the most recent addition to the
SNRE External Advisory Council. The council's mission is to provide a link between the school and its constituency for ideas and research
germane to exploring natural resources and sustainability.
Hicks is also deeply involved in local community groups as well as state-level organizations.
He was elected as the state committeeman for the Republican Party of Duval County and is the party's representative on the state
board. He is a trustee and member of the Military Affairs and Government Affairs task forces with the Jacksonville Chamber of
Commerce, and holds various board positions with the Better Business Bureau, Dreams Come True, Society for Marketing Professional
Services, and National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. He is the former state treasurer for the Florida Association
of Environmental Professionals and formerly served on the City of Jacksonville's Charter Revision Commission.
Hicks is currently the director of business
development and government affairs at England, Thims & Miller, Inc., a
250-person multi-disciplined engineering firm in Jacksonville. The firm
primarily designs and engineers community developments.
When it comes to development, Hicks said his engineering firm thinks outside the
box.
"England-Thims & Miller's approach to land-use planning is to develop a vision that
doesn't simply serve the needs of the individual project or community but the needs of the region as a whole," Hicks said. "With the
various services we provide, ETM is constantly positioned to help design and create a vision for development in north Florida."
The firm offers services such as civil engineering, land development, regulatory
planning, surveying, transportation design, construction engineering inspection, landscape architecture and GIS.
Hicks earned his Bachelor of Science in environmental science and policy through the
College of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Florida.
Contact
Deno Hicks
HicksD@etminc.com
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