The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) is the governing branch overseeing the direction of Pensacola Beach on Santa Rosa Island. Pensacola Beach is owned by Escambia County and is home to about 2,000 residents. The SRIA was created by the Florida legislature in 1947 under Chapter 24500. The SRIA does not receive tax support from the taxpayers of the county, but instead is fully funded from rental fees collected from beach business and residences.
The Authority is made up of six members, five are named by members of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and whose term is the same as the commissioner who appointed them. The sixth member is elected by the registered voters on Pensacola Beach. The sixth members’ term is two years.
- Dave Pavlock, Chairman
Dave Pavlock, a current member of the SRIA board, will serve as Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Wilson Robertson's appointee. Pavlock previously served as Robertson's SRIA appointee from 1996 to 2000 and welcomes the opportunity to return to the board.
Now retired, Pavlock worked for WCOA/WJLQ radio for 39 years. His job kept him in touch with all community issues. He previously served as an Escambia County Commissioner from 1988 to 1992. Pavlock is a past president of the Pensacola Bay Area Advertising Federation and the Pensacola North Rotary Club. He has served on the Escambia County Planning Board and has been the Voice of Racing at Five Flags Speedway over the past 35 years.
- Vernon Prather, Vice-Chairman
Appointed by Kevin White, Escambia County Commissioner for District 5, Vernon Prather served as General Manager of the South Santa Rosa Utility System from 1996 to present. He served as Lead Plant Operator of the South Santa Rosa Utility System from 1990-1996, Lead Plant Operator City of Gulf Breeze from 1986-1992 and Waste Water Operator I & II for the Santa Rosa Island Authority from 1981-1986.
Mr. Prather graduated from Tate High School and attended Pensacola Junior College and California State University for courses in operating and managing utility systems. In 1991, he received a Certificate of Recognition from the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation for his work in domestic wastewater treatment. In April 2006, he was named Director of Public Works for the City of Gulf Breeze. He has served on the Molino Utilities Board since 2000 and is presently serving his second term as President of the Molino Utilities Board of Directors.
- Thomas Campanella, Secretary/Treasurer
Dr. Thomas A. Campanella was first elected to the Authority Board in November 2002. He is a resident and leaseholder on Pensacola Beach. Dr. Campanella is a dentist currently practicing in Pensacola.
Thomas previously worked for various retail and medical businesses in the Pensacola area and worked as an Adjunct Professor at Pensacola Junior College. He received his DDS degree from Louisiana State University School of Dentistry.
He is currently affiliated with the Pensacola Beach Elementary School PTA, the Gulf Breeze Rotary Club, past president and current member of the Pensacola Beach Residents and Leaseholders Association, Boy Scouts of America and a member of the Gulf Breeze Sports Association.
- Tammy Bohannon, Acting Secretary Treasurer
Born an entrepreneur, Tammy Bohannon is a self-made woman and has had an interest in politics since visiting the legislature as a child during her Uncle’s time as a legislature. Since the inception of ERA Beach Ball Realty she has held the title of top producer. Her highest sales volume for one year to date is 28 million. She is dedicated, driven, focused, and has high energy with a good sense of balance. She is the wife of Lewis Bohannon, entrepreneur, and they have three grown daughters, and two granddaughters who she adores!!! She is an avid tennis player. She recently won her division in the Pink Ribbon Tennis Tournament. She is a member of Gulf Breeze Rotary and numerous organizations. She is Chairwoman of the SRIA. She is a member of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church. She values family, community, and God.
- Fred Gant, Member
Frederick J. Gant, Esquire has served on the SRIA Board of Directors since 2007 and was elected as Chairman of the Board in December 2008. Gant is a graduate of the University of Florida and Howard University School of Law, and is a member of the Florida Bar and Alabama State Bar. While running his own law firm, Frederick J. Gant Attorney at Law, stays active in the community and is a member of many organizations such as 100 Black Men of Pensacola, Inc., St. James Missionary Baptist Church, Pensacola Civitan Club and the Gulf Coast African-American Chamber of Commerce.
Previously, he worked at Allbritton & Gant, Attorneys at Law and is a recipient of the Escambia Santa Rosa Bar Association Community Service Award and the Pensacola News Journal/Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leader of the Year award. He also has been active in several professional organizations and is currently a member of the Escambia Santa Rosa Bar Association and the Charles Wilson Bar Association.
- Elwyn Guernsey, Member
With over 32 years of experience in the financial services industry, Ed Guernsey helps his clients reach their both their financial and personal objectives. His approach to a financial plan is to understand the client's concerns, opportunities and strengths; explore strategies with his client; and help his client implement the best solutions. Attention is given to the accumulation, distribution, conservation and protection of assets - and ultimately the handing down of wealth and family values to subsequent generations.
Mr. Guernsey has a long history of community involvement from PTA president to presiding of the board of Families Count. The list includes the YMCA, Sacred Heart Foundation, Planned Giving Committee and First Baptist Church of Pensacola. He has been chosen as one of the 75 Charitable Planning Specialists for the March of Dimes/US. He has also given countless hours as an adjunct professor at the University of West Florida, teaching the public at large about the basics of retirement planning. He was a finalist for one of the top six awards given by the MDRT Foundation in 2006. As a result, Families Count, a non-profit organization that prevents, diagnoses and treats child abuses and neglect, received a $4,000 grant.
Ed Guernsey's firm, Guernsey & Associates, Inc., was started more than 60 years ago by his father Clinton C. Guernsey and today includes 18 associates committed to their clients' best interests in all their actions.
The current focus of Mr. Guernsey's practice is teaching his clients the value of including charitable giving as a major part of their family estate plan, allowing his clients to created a legacy and placing much needed resources in the hands of competent charities.
