OFFICERS
Dennis Hatfield, President
Dennis grew up in many “homes” across the country and worldwide as a military dependent. He attended several colleges and attained degrees in Geology from the University of South Alabama (BS) and the University of Mississippi (MS). While in school, Dennis met and married his wife of nearly 40 years, Deborah. Following college, he worked for 20 years in New Orleans and Houston for Amoco Production Company as a petroleum geologist and natural gas marketer. Deborah and Dennis have two grown children. Mike works in Biloxi as a marketing manager for Verizon, and Kim is a marketing representative for The Woerner Companies. Aside from working on environmental initiatives, Dennis likes to play golf, fish under his pier lights at night, play with his black lab Molly, or just spend quiet time at his lagoon-front home.
Greg Bourgeois, Vice President
Greg was born in Baton Rouge, La., but grew up in and attended schools in various parts of Alabama, including UAB-Birmingham. Following several years of military service and three years of employment with US Steel, Greg embarked on a 35-year career as an elevator specialist. In retirement, Greg is a vigorous handyman at home and for neighbors, loves greenhouse gardening (with over 500 plants!), loves to travel, and loves spending time with his adorable granddaughters. He and his wife Deborah have had two children and two granddaughters. Since joining LLPS in 1997, Greg has been active in many environmental initiatives, including water testing, Share the Beach, Turtle Rescue and Recovery, Coastal Clean-up, Little Lagoon Oyster Gardening, and Mussel Gardening. Greg and his family have enjoyed being on the waters of Little Lagoon and will do all they can to preserve the beauty and uniqueness of our paradise.
Deborah Hatfield, Treasurer
Karen Pera, Secretary
I grew up in California, then joined the Air Force and moved around the country as an Officer for 12 years working various weapon systems, then as a Defense Contractor (20+years), supporting the Missile Defense Agency. I attended several colleges, getting degrees in Computer Programming, Economics, and Masters of Business Administration.
My last real job was in Huntsville, Alabama, where I came to the Gulf Shores area. After buying a condominium on the beach as a weekend getaway, I decided to retire here and make Gulf Shores my permanent home. I got involved with the water quality testing team because the first collection point is on the street where I bought my house. After a 20+ year hiatus, I took up tennis again. I am President of my Condominium Association and Treasurer for Gulf Shores Ladies Tennis League. I also have the perfect retirement job at the Peninsula Racquet Club and volunteer with Impact 100 for Baldwin County.
DIRECTORS
Ron Phelps
Ron was born in Mobile, AL and his family frequently visited Gulf Shores and Little Lagoon. He received his BS and PhD from Auburn University in Fisheries, specializing in fish diseases. He remained on the Auburn faculty in the Fisheries Department until his retirement, conducting research and teaching fish hatchery management/fish reproduction. Marine work included successfully reproducing and culturing red snapper and culturing flounder, pompano, and bull minnows. Over his career, he has spent over five years working internationally in 29 countries, where he has seen firsthand the consequences of not taking care of your environment.
Steve McMillan
- Member and Past President of Alabama Association of REALTORS
- Member and Past President Baldwin County Association of REALTORS
- Member of three Chambers of Commerce
- Member of South Baldwin Farmers Club
- Member of AL Forestry Association
- Member of AL School of Mathematics and Science Foundation Board
- Member and Past President of Bay Minette Rotary Club
- Member of Little Lagoon Preservation Society
- Member of Optimist Club of Perdido Bay
Committees: Chair County and Municipal Government, Vice-Chair Ways and Means Education, Member Internal Affairs Committee, Chairman Joint Legislative Committee on State Parks
Johnna Kolaks
I was born off the Gulf of Mexico in Miami and finally returned two years ago to the northern part of the Gulf. I’ve been an active volunteer throughout my life, beginning with Brownies and Girl Scouts and moving to the community and local involvement, fulfilling a lifelong passion. Since moving to Little Lagoon, I have joined the Professional Women’s Group, become a member/officer of the South Baldwin Newcomers Club, and am a volunteer and board member for Little Lagoon Preservation Society. My career has led me through administrative expertise, export management sales and training, and a lifetime of customer service. I am happy to join the board of LLPS and share my lifetime joy of giving back with you all.
Brenda Hancock
Brooke Shinn
Robert Sorrells
Robert is an Auburn University alumni of ’79. He currently works as a Mortgage Banker in Gulf Shores and is a Gulf Shores Methodist Church member. A husband, father, and grandfather, Robert resides on the north shore of Little Lagoon and is an avid fisherman and conservationist.
Barney Gass
HB (Barney) Gass, Colonel, US Army (Ret.), is a native of Florence, AL, and graduate of the University of Alabama. After retiring from the military, Barney became Vice President of the Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute and later, the founding owner of ALON Science and Technology, Inc, of Mclean, VA. Barney and his wife, Maxine, moved to Gulf Shores from northern Virginia in 1998. Since moving to Laguna Key, Barney has been an active member of LLPS and a member of the Board of Directors since 2002.
Harry King
As the youngest of four boys, Harry A. King grew up in Andalusia, AL. He graduated from Livingston University with a BS in Business Administration and immediately entered Officer Candidate School as a flight student at Pensacola Naval Air Station. He is retired (LCDR) from the US Naval Reserve and has been an active volunteer at the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, FL. As a long-term real estate broker/developer in Florida and Alabama, Harry has developed properties that include Lafitte Cove Marina, Peg Leg’s Oyster Bar on Pensacola Beach, and Blakely Plantation subdivision in Baldwin County, Alabama. Harry is currently a broker with National Land Realty.
Harry and his wife, Anita, are parents to Harry King, Jr. and Katy King Elliott and are active grandparents to Kayla Rose. He and Anita are members of St. Andrew by the Sea Church.
Harry is an avid bowhunter, fisherman, and archeology hobbyist. He enjoys Little Lagoon, where he spearheaded archeology digs in coordination with the University of South Alabama. He participates in water quality testing and oyster harvesting coordinated through the Little Lagoon Preservation Society.
Chandra Wright
A resident of Gulf Shores since 2009, Chandra is the Director of Environmental and Educational Initiatives for the Lodge at Gulf State Park. She oversees the environmental and educational programs at the Lodge, the Interpretive Center, and the Learning Campus. Previously, she served as the Nature Tourism Specialist for the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism. In that role, she worked with nature-based tourism operators on environmentally-friendly ways of improving business practices and increasing profits. Chandra loves the outdoors and is an avid scuba diver and nature photographer. Among her other volunteer activities, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Gulf Coast Reef & Restoration Foundation and watches over Alabama’s sea turtles with Share the Beach. Chandra graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in political science, holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law, and practiced civil law before focusing full-time on promoting wise stewardship of our natural resources.
ALTERNATE MEMBERS
Greta Eleen Pennell
My love for the outdoors and nature art was instilled by my parents, especially my father, at a very early age. He encouraged me to dream big and develop my talents as an artist, naturalist, environmentalist, and educator. In pursuit of those dreams, I completed a BS in Zoology from Iowa State University, two education masters degrees while teaching science in Indiana and Massachusetts, and ultimately a masters and PhD in Developmental Psychology from Rutgers University. As Professor Emeritus from the University of Indianapolis, I’m now able to spend more time in this place that has been my second home for over 30 years. I’m proud to support the work of LLPS to protect and promote Little Lagoon’s watershed, wildlife, and precious ecosystem because through them; we are all connected.