Foundation Staff

Executive Director
Nina Zanella comes to the Deering Estate Foundation with over 25 years in nonprofit management and a strong fund development and communications background. Nina attended the University of Rhode Island Read More

Special Events Coordinator
Michelle Streit originally from Kansas has been with the Foundation for over 8 years now. She is the driving force behind the Deering Estate Foundation’s signature events including Wine on Read More

Board Members
Executive Board

President
Becky Roper Matkov, a preservation consultant and writer, manages RG Heritage, LLC, overseeing land and historic property. For 18 years, she served as CEO of Dade Heritage Trust, Miami’s largest Read More

Vice President
Liede is a graduate from American University with a BA in international business. Originally from Pennsylvania she has made Miami her home for more than 20 years with her husband Read More


Secretary
C. Michael Cornely is a practicing trial attorney in Miami, Florida for Hartman & Cornely, P.A. since 1990. He attended Boston College for his undergraduate degree and received a Law Read More

Past President
Dave is a south Miami-Dade resident for almost 30 years. He received his BA from the University of Connecticut and JD degree from the University of Miami. He is a Read More
Directors



Board Member
Tom Cromer is a native of Miami and was the captain of the Miami Beach High basketball team. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Read More

Board Member
Mr. England is a 30+ year resident of Palmetto Bay, and has been totally involved in the life of his community. Previously, he was elected to two terms on the Read More

Board Member
Evelyn is a biologist and professor at Florida International University. She has been studying the Everglades for over 20 years and is now the Executive Director of FIU’s School of Read More


Board Member
President/CEO Community Health of South Florida, Inc. For more than 30 years, Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. has provided leadership toward the accomplishment of the mission of Community Health of South Read More

Board Member
Barry E. Johnson has been active in leadership in the south Florida community for over 30 years. In addition to the Deering Estate Foundation board, he is a member of Read More






Board Member
Courtney Reeder was born, raised, and is currently a Palmetto Bay resident along with her husband and three children. She graduated from Florida International University in 2004 with a degree Read More

Board Member
Having lived in South Florida for over 45 years, Christine is virtually a native. Her parents honeymooned in Miami Beach and decided then that they would eventually leave Philadelphia, Christine’s Read More

Board Member
JoAnn has been an outdoor lover her entire life. She was born and raised on a tobacco farm in Southeastern Kentucky. She loved playing in the creek bed and the Read More

Board Member
Howard J. Tendrich is a native Miamian and graduated from Miami Senior High in 1958 and the University of Miami in 1962 with BBA in Accounting. He has owned the Read More


Board Member
Jamie L. Thomas is Development Vice President Baptist Health Foundation, Assistant Vice President Baptist Health and administrator of the Founders Society; Baptist Health’s prestigious donor recognition program consisting of grateful Read More

Board Member
Margarita B. Tonkinson is the Executive Director of the Tonkinson Foundation and a Senior Financial Advisor at Tonkinson Financial. Margarita has been a member of the Rotary Club of Miami, Read More

Board Member
Andrew is a practicing attorney in Florida since 1996 with offices in Coral Gables. He is committed to a high quality and very personalized civil litigation and business oriented practice Read More
Trustees


Trustee
Walter has lived in the Palmetto Bay area for almost 50 years. Walter has a strong passion for preserving and enhancing the Deering Estate, and has worked as a volunteer Read More




Trustee
Paul is close to being a Miami native, having moved here from Ohio at the age of six. He was in the first graduating class of Coral Gables High School, Read More






Trustee
Daniel Yglesias is a past president of The Deering Estate Foundation and is Vice President/Dealer Principal of Palmetto Ford Truck Sales, Inc., a second generation family-owned Ford dealership serving South Read More
The Deering Estate Foundation, Inc. is a community-based charitable 501(c) 3 Florida Corporation dedicated to preserving and enhancing the Deering Estate, one of South Florida’s largest and most significant historical, archeological, architectural and environmental treasures.