SFNPT Welcomes New Executive Director, Juan Cueto

September 2019 – Juan M. Cueto has been selected as the new Executive Director of the South Florida National Parks Trust (SFNPT). Mr. Cueto brings extensive fundraising and leadership experience to the organization with more than 27-years of professional work in the not-for-profit industry. He joined the SFNPT in September of 2019 and succeeds Don Finefrock who has led the organization for 15 years.

Prior to joining the SFNPT, Mr. Cueto was the Senior Associate Vice President of Advancement Operations and Administration at Florida International University where he led the areas of Donor Relations and Stewardship, Research and Prospect Management, Information Systems, Gift Services and Data Management, Human Resources, Foundation Board Relations and Budget.

Most recently he was with the University of Central Florida Foundation. His extensive 27-years of leadership, management experience, and expertise also span Ohio University, the American Red Cross and the Zoo Miami. He is a Miami Native and is a two-time FIU graduate with a Bachelors in Sociology and Anthropology and his Executive MBA from FIU’s Chapman Graduate School.

  “South Florida’s national parks are an amazing resource for this community. South Floridians are lucky to have such and amazing resource so close to them.  I am excited to lead an organization that continues to educate our community of these resources.  I want to help provide educational programs that we can all enjoy at Everglades, Biscayne, Big Cypress, and the Dry Tortugas,” Cueto said.

In his new role, he will be responsible to continue the success of fundraising and outreach efforts in South Florida and advance the mission of the SFNPT to promote, preserve, and enhance South Florida’s national parks – Big Cypress, Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas. His first project is to manage and lead the Flamingo campaign which kicked off September 2019. 

Mr. Cueto enjoys Photography and spending time with his family.

About the South Florida National Parks Trust:
The SFNPT is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service (NPS) in South Florida, established in 2002 to support four national parks – Everglades, Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve. The SFNPT is governed by a board of 22 volunteers who live and work in South Florida, which includes the gulf coast and Keys.

The SFNPT is the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service (NPS) in South Florida, established in 2002 to support four national parks – Everglades, Biscayne and Dry Tortugas National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve. The SFNPT is governed by a board of 22 volunteers who live and work in South Florida, which includes the gulf coast and Keys.

Through fundraising and community engagement, the Trust seeks to promote, preserve and enhance South Florida’s national parks in ways that enrich the experience of park visitors, connect diverse communities to these parks, and build a legacy of stewardship.

The Trust succeeds by funding national park programs and projects in five critical areas: environmental education, resource protection, visitor services, volunteer activities and community outreach. For more information, visit www.southfloridaparks.org