Wild Spaces & Public Places Team

Rachel Mandell, Director/Project Manager

Phone: (352) 393-8544
Email: mandellrc@gainesvillefl.gov

Rachel is a proud 'Double Gator,' holding a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Florida. She is a certified planner with the American Planning Association and has extensive experience managing projects in both the public and private sectors. In her role as Director and Project Manager for Wild Spaces & Public Places (WSPP), Rachel leverages her urban planning background to bring a community-focused perspective to her work.

As a Gainesville native, Rachel has always enjoyed spending time at the city’s parks with family, friends and pets. Her love for the outdoors carries into to her weekends, where she can often be found working in her yard and taking on home improvement projects. 

Betsy Waite, Engineer IV

Phone: (352) 393-8187
Email: WaiteED@gainesvillefl.gov

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.

Prior to joining the WSPP team in January 2018, Betsy served as a Project Manager with the City of Gainesville Public Works Department. Employment prior to moving to Gainesville included working as a Safety Engineer for Manson Construction Company, 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.

Outside of work, Betsy enjoys spending time outside and learning new skills. 

 Luke Pidgeon, Construction Inspector and Operations Coordinator

Phone: (352) 393-8531
Email: pidgeonls@gainesvillefl.gov

Luke holds a Bachelor of Science in Soil and Water Sciences from the University of Florida and brings over a decade of construction, inspection, management and regulatory experience to the Wild Spaces & Public Places team in his role as WSPP Construction Inspector and Operations Coordinator.

Before joining the WSPP team, Luke worked in private construction trades in Florida, South Carolina, and Georga; public and private utilities in Florida and Texas; environmental protection; and most recently as an Environmental Specialist III for the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) in Alachua County as an inspector and permitter for regulated entities, industries, and facilities. While at FDOH, Luke quickly became lead inspector and permitter, handling some of the most complex permitting and inspection duties while providing mentorship and education to his team and stakeholders. His diverse experiences, breadth of knowledge, and desire to serve his community provide the WSPP team with an invaluable asset as the WSPP Construction Inspector and Operations Coordinator.

Luke prioritizes being outdoors or near the water. He is passionate about water quality and is always striving to learn and experience new skills. He enjoys time with his family, traveling, conducting home improvement projects, and playing music. 

Courtney Rowe, Logistics Coordinator

Phone: (352) 393-8372
Email: rowecm@gainesvillefl.gov

Courtney holds a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication from the University of Florida and brings over a decade of administrative experience to the Wild Spaces & Public Places team in her role as Logistics Coordinator.

She began her professional career in the private sector but soon realized a desire to make a more meaningful impact in her community. That calling led her to a role in public service as the Office Manager for the Columbia County Recreation Department. Although new to WSPP, Courtney has been with the City of Gainesville for more than four years. She previously served as a Staff Assistant and Interim Manager for Park Operations within the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.

Courtney is deeply passionate about the value of parks and the critical role they play in promoting physical and emotional well-being. She is committed to ensuring public green spaces remain clean, safe and accessible for everyone to enjoy. Outside of work, Courtney enjoys exploring Gainesville’s parks with her husband and two dogs, kayaking the Ichetucknee River, baking sweet treats and getting lost in a good book. 

Cristina Cortez, Sr. Marketing and Communications Specialist

Phone: (352) 393-8182
Email: cortezcs@cityofgainesville.org

Cristina holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Portuguese from the University of Florida. In her role as Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, Cristina helps to promote WSPP and its projects through public engagement, email and print communication, website maintenance, and park signage design.

Before joining the WSPP team, Cristina worked in the private sector for a local engineering firm. Through this role, she gained invaluable knowledge about project management, technical writing and marketing asset design. Leveraging her background in history, she hopes to tell the story of WSPP, its value for the local community and how it can serve as an example for future programs like it. 

In her free time, Cristina can usually be found outdoors or planning her next hiking trip. She enjoys time exploring new coffee shops, thrifting for new records and sketching wildlife at the local parks.  

Michael Schlein, Intern

Email: schleinm1@cityofgainesville.org

Michael holds a bachelor's degree in Sustainability and the Built Environment from the University of Florida and is currently back at the university to pursue his master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

Before joining WSPP, he worked in the private sector in Los Angeles, CA, tracking energy and water usage for buildings across California and benchmarking their efficiency. In 2025, he returned to Gainesville to pursue his master's degree to merge his passion for sustainability with his passion for vibrant communities, high-quality parks and third spaces. This led him to joining WSPP as an intern in August 2026 where he leverages his knowledge from the master's program to assist with a variety of projects. 

In his free time, Michael likes going to parks across the city where he spends his time either reading or cycling. He can often be found downtown with his friends either playing trivia on Thursday nights or watching NFL and Premier League games.