Board of Directors
Margo Belaga, President
Margo is an entrepreneur, artist and business owner. Having lived in Bradenton for 30 years, she and has owned and operated numerous businesses in Insurance, Restaurant Equipment, and the Arts. As a graduate of University of Miami with a degree in psychology, it's Margo’s love of community and nature that has anchored her to Bradenton. Her passion for nonprofit causes has included: VP of the Artist Guild of Manatee, Director of Arts Council of Manatee, VP of the Art League, Community Liaison for Meals on Wheels Plus, as well as founding member of The Pottery Group and Networking for Non Profit. She has spent many years visiting De Soto Memorial and is looking forward to adding her experience to the continuing great work of the Friends of De Soto.
Mary Hawk, Vice President
Mary is an attorney practicing with the law firm Becker & Poliakoff. She is also a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and a Certified Arbitrator. She has been in practice since 1998 in the Sarasota/Bradenton area. Mary concentrates her mediation and litigation practice in the areas of commercial litigation, condominium and homeowner association law, probate litigation, landlord/tenant law, and mobile home law. She has a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University (Fine Arts, cum laude) and from Georgia State University (Journalism, with honors), and she received her law degree from Georgia State University College of Law (magna cum laude). She lives in Bradenton with her husband and son. She enjoys the wonderful Gulf Coast climate and outdoor activities with her family.
Ann Marie Shields, Secretary
Ann Marie is an ardent supporter of De Soto National Memorial and the National Park Service. Serving as a volunteer for both long term and weekly assignments at De Soto National Memorial and Biscayne National Park she has provided guest service support, written interpretive curriculum for ongoing programs and presented environmentally based Ranger Programs. With undergrad and graduate degrees in science education, she retired from formal education after 43 years and looks forward to serving De Soto National Memorial as a member of the Friends of De Soto board.
Kel Roth, Director
Kel is a museum educator and recent Bradenton resident originally from the Metro Atlanta area. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2022 with a bachelor's in anthropology, minor in classical culture, and certificates in museum studies and archaeological sciences. She moved to Florida after graduation to pursue her career in museum education. She works as the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Manatee County Agricultural Museum in Palmetto, Florida and is currently working towards receiving her master's degree in Informal Education and Interpretation at Canisius University. In her free time, Kel likes to kayak, make pottery, visit museums, explore nature preserves, and take pictures of her cat, Murray.