WSPP Team
Betsy Waite, Director
“I’ve lived in over 10 cities during my adult life - the City of Gainesville offers something truly unique. You can tell just by walking around Gainesville how much this city cares about its parks and nature. Thank you, voters, for allowing us to continue to create exceptional wild spaces and public places.”
Betsy Waite, Wild Spaces & Public Places Director
As Wild Spaces & Public Places (WSPP) Director for the City of Gainesville, Betsy Waite is responsible for the implementation of the City’s Recreation Master Plan and 352Arts Roadmap and manages many of the capital improvement projects supported by the WSPP funding source.
Prior to joining the WSPP Team in January of 2018, Betsy served as a Project Manager with the City of Gainesville Public Works Department. There she managed a variety of construction projects to include landfill remediation, multi-modal projects, storm water conveyance systems, and roadway reconstruction in excess of $7 million annually. Employment prior to moving to Gainesville included working as a Safety Engineer for Manson Construction Company, a dredging company specializing in beach re-nourishment and channel maintenance, as well as working as an active duty Army Officer in the Engineer Branch where she performed in a variety of leadership roles to include Battalion Adjutant, Maintenance Platoon Leader, Assistant Battalion Logistics Officer, and a Vertical Construction Platoon Leader. She managed construction projects both stateside and in Afghanistan while serving in the US Army.
Betsy holds a Bachelor of Science degree from West Point in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Project Management from Florida Institute of Technology. She is a professional engineer registered in the state of Florida.
Betsy Waite, P.E.
Wild Spaces & Public Places Director
Phone: 352-393-8187
Email: WaiteED@gainesvillefl.gov
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 am–4:00 pm
Angie Gould, Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist
As Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, Angie collaborates with the Wild Spaces & Public Places director and team to develop the program’s communications. She develops marketing materials for the purpose of enhancing community engagement and awareness of WSPP’s achievements and coordinates and designs park signage for WSPP improvement projects.
Angie received her BFA from the University of Florida's School of Art and Art History, and her MFA from Florida State University. She spent four years teaching university-level drawing, painting, figure study, and digital photography in the US and Italy. She has been a participating artist on the Friday night art walk, a performing musician for the city concert series held at the Bo Diddley Plaza, a member of the Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery and spent years playing in the USTA tennis league at Albert "Ray" Massey" Park. She comes to us from the University of Florida and has had over 15 year’s communications experience.
Angie Gould
Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist
Phone: (352) 393-8182
Email: GouldA1@gainesvillefl.gov
Yolanda Hocker, Logistics Coordinator
Yolanda Hocker is the Logistics Coordinator for the Wild Spaces & Public Places program. She is responsible for preparing and routing contracts, coordinating purchases and payments, tracking spending, compiling data and preparing reports.
Yolanda has more than 20 years of integrated knowledge in accounting, finance, and real estate. She previously worked for the City of Gainesville’s Attorney Office as the Sr. Executive Assistant and for the City’s Budget and Finance Department as an Account Clerk II. She also worked for the ARC of Alachua and Partnership for Strong Families and is the Co-owner/Operator of a residential program that offers an array of services to consumers with developmental disabilities.
Yolanda Hocker
Logistics Coordinator
Phone: (352) 393-8372
Email: hockerye@cityofgainesville.org
Pete McNiece, Project Manager
Pete is a life-long Gainesville resident and Buchholz graduate who went to MIT on an ROTC scholarship. During his 5 years as a naval officer in the Seabees, he completed tours in California, Iceland, and Philadelphia before moving back to Gainesville permanently. He’s a licensed Building Contractor, Professional Engineer, Real Estate Broker, and LEED Accredited Professional who’s spent his professional career managing construction projects. He enthusiastically joins the Wild Spaces & Public Places team to make a meaningful contribution to the community and looks forward to serving the residents of Gainesville as an advocate for public parks.
He’s married to Kirsty Freshwater who is a Nurse Practitioner at UF and has two daughters currently attending Emory and Duke. Pete spends most of his free time at the beach or engaged in activities that always involve the outdoors.
Pete McNiece
Project Manager
Phone: Office - (352) 393-8544; Cell (352) 514-8992
Email: McNiecePR@gainesvillefl.gov
Jody Romani, Senior Construction Inspector
Jody Romani is the Senior Construction Inspector for the Wild Spaces & Public Places program. He is responsible for conducting field inspections of complex construction work to ensure that projects are in compliance with all standards and regulations.
Jody has 30 years of municipal experience as an Engineering Assistant, Project Manager, Construction Inspector, Vehicle Maintenance Mechanic and Maintenance Utility Worker. While working for the City of St. Cloud he dealt with the National Flood Insurance Program, ISO/CRS Community rating system requirements and NPDES MS4 permitting. Jody is a certified Stormwater Operator and licensed water distribution operator.
Jody Romani
Senior Construction Inspector
Phone: (352) 393-8531
Email: RomaniJM@gainesvillefl.gov