Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Michelle Williamson and Ashley Bell Barnett to the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board.

Michelle Williamson

Williamson, of Dover, is the Manager of G&F Farms. She is a past member of the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board and the Florida Farm Bureau State Board of Directors. Williamson has also volunteered her time with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau. She was also appointed Chair of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Florida Farm Service Agency by Secretary Sonny Perdue. Williamson earned her associate’s degree in business administration and management from Hillsborough Community College.

Ashley Bell Barnett

Bell Barnett, of Winter Haven, is a fifth-generation Floridian and former educator and workforce development analyst with Polk County Public Schools. She was recently elected Vice Chair of the Polk State College District Board of Trustees and also volunteers her time with the United Way of Central Florida, Lakeland Regional Hospital Foundation, Talbot House and Polk Academies. The Leadership Florida alumni earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College, her master of public administration from the University of South Florida and a certificate in leadership management from the University of California, Los Angeles.

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

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