FFGC 2023-2025 Officers                                                                               

President: Tina Tuttle

     Theme:  'Celebrating 100 Years'

Tina grew up in Pensacola and received an AA degree from Pensacola Junior College, a BS from Florida State University in Vocational Home Economics Education and taught high school Home Economics for 4 years before joining the Navy on a dare.

She retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1996, after having served in several capacities to include: Barracks Officer, Ordinance Officer, Nuclear Weapons Courier in Norfolk VA, DOD Coordinator for Mardi Gras and Operations Officer in New Orleans, Administrative Schools Officer in Meridian MS, NROTC Curriculum Manager and Midshipmen Summer Training Officer for the Chief of Naval Education and Training in Pensacola. She received a master's degree in education from the University of West Florida (1987). In 2015, also from UWF, she earned an Education Specialist (EdS) degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

Tina is a 5-Star member having attained Master level in NGC Gardening, Landscape Design, and Environmental Consultant and Flower Show Judge. She also served as an NGC Horticulture Instructor 2003-2017 and continues as a Flower Show Procedure and Symposium instructor. She was a Master Gardener and certified Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Advisor for 12 years (retired in 2011) and has served as Florida’s Horticulture Chairman and the FFGC State Endangered Plant Advisory Council representative  by the Commissioner of Agriculture. She has served as the President for the Florida Flower Show Judges 2011-2013 and as an FFGC District Director (District I 2013-2015).  She has served for 9 years as the Chairman for Short Course North and is the Author, editor and creator of “Digging It!”, Florida’s Horticulture Study Series.

First Vice President: Christy Linke

   Christy and her husband Larry moved from New Jersey in 2007 to Plant City, FL. after retiring from the police  world.  Her first encounter with FFGC was at Camp Wekiva 10 years ago where she does the 7th grade primitive tent program. Camp Wekiva and all it stands for had me hooked from that moment and I’ve gone back every year since. She has been a member of the Plant City Garden Club for 11 years where she was President 2012-2014 and 2016 - 2017 as well as Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary.

   She served as FFGC District Director VIII 2017-2019 representing 23 clubs. Her first FFGC board chairmanship was  Bees Birds, and Butterflies starting September 2011 until September 2015 she became FFGC Bees State Chairman. She travels to educate the public about the importance of native bees as well as honey bees. She will also serve as Secretary of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, Ways and Means and Chairman for Convention 2020. Her other passion is when she became a Flower Show Judge. She has served on the FFSJ elected board for two different terms as Recording Secretary. Christy spends her spare time traveling to TN where she and her husband Larry have 2 sons, Jason and Mark, 5 wonderful grandchildren, 3 of which are 3 year old triplets. And one cannot forget Chase our Quaker Parrot.

Second Vice President:  Mary Ann Whisler 

Mary Ann Whisler grew up in Tampa and is a Florida native.  She attended the University of South Florida.  In 1976 she and her husband left Florida for a career opportunity.  Over the next 20 years she and her family moved all over the country.   She worked for IBM Corporation as a communications specialist, project manager and technical sales specialist.  Her hobbies include gardening, golf, scrapbooking and kayaking.

After retiring she returned to her beloved Florida and joined the Crystal River Garden Club where she was Secretary, Vice President and President (2015-2017), District V Secretary (2015-2017), District Director (2017-2019), SEEK Registrar (2016), SEEK Chairman (2017-2021), Convention Chairman (2018), Vice President Tri-Council (2019-2021), H&E Committee and Co-Chairman of the 2022 Convention.  She has completed all four NGC Schools and is a Flower Show Student Judge.  She has been a volunteer for Wekiva as a nature volunteer for eleven years.   Mary has received FFGC Life Member award, Hall of Fame, Pillar of Pride and this year she received the Blanche Capel Covington Leadership award.  She is honored to become the 3^rd Vice President of FFGC and looking forward to serving on the Executive Board.

Third Vice President:  Leticia Gunn

Treasurer: Jana Walling

Jana Purvis Walling has been a member of Tallahassee Garden Club for 30+ years. She has been Chairman of the Jasmine Circle during several terms and Circle Treasurer for numerous years. Jana served as President of Tallahassee Garden Club 2009-2011, and served as its Treasurer for three years preceding her term as President. She has been on the FFGC Board since 2011, serving as SEEK Finance until 2015, and then serving as Scholarship Endowment Chair until 2015. She is currently serving on the FFGC Finance Committee and has been since the beginning of the 2015-2017 term. She serves as Treasurer of the District III Flower Show Judges and served as FFGC Recording Secretary during the 2017-2019 term.

Jana has served as a member of the Board of Goodwood Museum and Gardens, Inc., a Tallahassee house museum and gardens. She served as Chair of the Board during 2013-2015. Jana has also served as a member and Treasurer of the Friends of Maclay Gardens, a support group for the Alfred B. Maclay State Park. She assists University Lutheran Church and Student Center with their payroll and tax filing.Jana is a graduate of Florida State University and was a Florida Certified Public Accountant for over 30 years. She retired from State of Florida government after 32 years of service. She and her husband Ken have two grown sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and two adorable grandsons.

Parliamentarian: Carolyn Lowry-Nation

 Carolyn began her affiliation with Florida Federation of Garden Clubs in 2012. She founded Gardeners Out   East Garden Club in Lakewood Ranch in 2014 with the required ten members. It was her desire to   experience what her mother had experienced for 50 years belonging to a garden club based on friendship.   GOE has flourished and has created a true sense of pride for Carolyn along with creating long-lasting   relationships. Carolyn is presently the NGC Environmental School Accredited Chairman for South Central and Central Atlantic areas and also serves on the board of FFGC District VIII.

 FFGC ranks at the top of Carolyn's priority list. She has served in the capacity of President of FFGC Tri-Council as well as Earth Steward Chair. In 2018, Carolyn completed the five units of study within the allotted   time, to become a Registered Parliamentarian and currently is in the process to complete her Professional   Registered Parliamentarian status. Carolyn served as FFGC Parliamentarian from 2019-2021 and now again from 2021-2023.

Recording Secretary:  Jennifer Barber

Corresponding Secretary:  Linda Feifarek-Johnson

Linda was born and raised in West Palm Beach and enjoyed a career with AT&T and Southern Bell as an Electronics Technician. She was always interested in gardening, so after retiring and moving to Steinhatchee in 2000, she sought to learn about the North Florida garden. Shortly after joining the Steinhatchee Garden Club, she became First Vice President, then President. She has served on most of the committees and held every officers position in her club at least once. She has taken the Master Gardeners course and had the first yard in Taylor County certified as a Florida Friendly Yard. After her husband passed away in 2016, she was asked to become District Director. She readily agreed and has fallen more in love with FFGC.

Linda had been secretary of HOG (Harley Owners Group) for 3 years in West Palm Beach and also served as secretary of the Steinhatchee Community Projects Board for 10 years.  She will also be serving as Amazon liaison, because, as she says “as one of their best customers, I feel qualified for the position”. 

As well as getting her hands dirty in the garden, she enjoys working with the local PAWS (Pets Are Worth Spaying) where she has been a member for the past 9 years. Linda has been adopted by 5 kitty fur babies who have showed up on her doorstep over the years. Occasionally, she finds enough free time to ride her Harley.