LPCA Board of Directors

Chris Forman – Chair

Chris Forman is a co-founder of the LPCA and our current chairperson. He has been a dedicated Lakewatch volunteer sampling Lake Powell since the late 1990s. He is a Qualified Stormwater Inspector having completed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector Training Program in 2007. In 2008, he received the Florida Lake Management Society’s Scott Driver Award, which is given to environmental advocates who promote the restoration, protection, and/or appreciation of Florida’s aquatic resources. He completed the University of Florida’s Master Naturalist Program in 2010. Chris has served as a board member with the Friends of Camp Helen State Park. He and his wife, Emily, have lived on Lake Powell for over thirty years. “It’s my backyard; I have to take care of it!”

Emily Ellis – Vice Chair

Emily Ellis is a co-founder of the LPCA and is our current vice-chairperson. She began sampling Lake Powell with the Lakewatch program in 1996 and is also certified as a Florida Master Naturalist through the University of Florida. In 2008, she received the Florida Lake Management Society’s Scott Driver Award. And in 2015, she partnered with the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) in their Habitat Rx Program to identify and help eradicate non-native invasive plant species in the community. In 2020, Emily was recognized as ‘Conservationist of the Year’ by the Bay County Audubon Society. She has served as an Advisory Board Member with Safe Water for Walton, Inc., and on the Camp Helen State Park Management Plan. She coordinates a monthly Bird Species Survey for Camp Helen.

Mary Jo Capra – Secretary/Treasurer

Mary Jo Capra has been a member of the LPCA since 2008 and joined its Board of Directors in 2009, serving as Secretary-Treasurer ever since. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to conservation, public engagement, and responsible stewardship of Lake Powell. Beyond administration, she has been a strong voice in regional advocacy, representing Bay County Audubon before Florida’s Acquisition and Restoration Council on management issues at Camp Helen State Park. She completed the University of Florida’s, Master Naturalist Program, and Florida Master Gardener Program. She serves as data keeper for Lake Watch. Capra’s contributions extend into the arts and wellness. A ceramic artist, watercolorist, and yoga instructor, she teaches Yoga for Healthy Aging at Pinnacle Port and Gulf Coast State College. Through her work with the Alliance, Bay County Audubon, and the Florida Master Gardener program, she remains a vital force in protecting Florida’s coastal ecosystems and fostering community awareness.

Chris Crider – Board Member

Chris Crider is a life-long Bay County resident and the newest board member of the LPCA. He has been an active Lakewatch volunteer, water sampling Lake Powell and is a Qualified Stormwater Inspector; having completed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector Training Program in 2025. Growing up, he enjoyed all of the beauty and fun Lake Powell offers, Chris joined the LPCA to do everything he could to ensure future generations would have the same opportunities to experience this extremely rare ecosystem unspoiled.

Vince DiScuillo – Board Member and Boat Captain

Vince DiSciullo has been involved with Lakewatch for nearly eight years, having started when he lived in Inlet Beach. Vince and his wife Joy moved to Lake Powell in March 2019 and have lived on the lake since. Living on Lake Powell made volunteering for Lakewatch not only an easy decision, but a necessity as a resident enjoying its abundant resources. In the mid-2021 Vince assumed the captain’s role for Lakewatch and hasn’t looked back since. In this capacity he is responsible for the monthly coordination in gathering volunteers who assist him in the collection of lake samples at 11 different locations on Lake Powell. He is dedicated to the preservation of this beautiful body of water, known for being the largest coastal dune lake in the world. Vince also belongs to the Optimist Club of the Beaches and participates in Elevate Bay, a mentoring program for school children.