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It's a New Day in Public Health.

The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Leadership Team

Public Information Officer

Deanna “DT” Simmons 

DT Simmons found her calling in public health over 10 years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia. Since returning to the U.S. in the fall of 2014, she has worked at the Florida Department of Health in Franklin and Gulf counties and currently serves as an operations manager.

She oversees public communications, health education programing, partnership development, community health assessment and improvement planning, and public health accreditation.

In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, exercising, cooking, and traveling. Ms. Simmons received a B.S.B.A. in Finance from the University of West Florida and a master of public health in epidemiology and biostatistics from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. Her mantra is that “We’re called to serve as the community needs.”   

Elizabeth "Jinny" Trammell 

Jinny has been working the business office of the Florida Department of Health in Franklin County for 15 years.

While working in the Apalachicola seafood industry for 20 years, Jinny found her love for all things public health and now serves as the clerical supervisor. She is the facilities manager, oversees purchasing and accounting, supervises clerical staff and ensures all functions run smoothly.

In Jinny's free time she loves spoiling her grandchildren, emersing herself in all things history and working in hotel hospitality.  

Kari Williams 

Kari has been working at the Florida Department of Health in Gulf and Franklin counties since 2015. She began as the tobacco prevention specialist in Gulf County and quickly obtained the role in both counties.

In early 2019, Kari became the operations consultant, which included working very closely with the budget manager and transitioned into the contract manager for both counties. In April of 2019, Kari became the budget manager for Gulf and Franklin counties.

Kari is eager to jump into any role and loves a good challenge. In her free time, she is enjoying a Dr. Pepper and looking for the next Bath and Body Works sale. 

Lesia McDaniel 

Lesia began her employment in 1993, as an clerk typist in the Women, Infants, and Children Program. She has experience with many areas within the Florida Department of Health, including: WIC, dental, and medical, and now serves as a government operations consultant in Administration. 

Her primary focus is human resources, but she also assists with workforce development efforts and many fiscal responsibilities of the business operations.

Lesia is known for her morale boosting activities which often includes her exceptional culinary skills.

Lisa Hogan 

Lisa began her career in public health in 1996 after graduating from Tallahassee Community College's Nursing Program. 

She has worked as a registered nurse in a variety of roles including clinic staff, epidemiology, Healthy Start, and school health. Lisa is currently serving as supervisor for the Healthy Start Program and is the nursing director for both Franklin and Gulf counties.

Lisa is married to her high school sweetheart and they have one daughter who currently attends Troy University in Alabama. In between traveling to and from Troy, Lisa likes to gets creative with her Cricut.

Megan Bennefield 

Megan joined the department as a health educator for the Franklin and Gulf counties' Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program. During that time, she also took on the role as Gulf County's deputy public information officer.

After 5 years of facilitating in the classroom and leading presentations with parents and significant adults, Megan took over the role of management review specialist in 2022. Megan served as the facilities manager, overseeing the vehicle fleet, and worked as the clerical supervisor. 

In 2023, Megan switched roles to focus on supervising the clerical staff, serving as records management liaison officer and deputy registrar of vital statistics in Gulf and Franklin counties.

Megan graduated from Valdosta State University with a bahelors in sociology and anthropology. 

Megan loves to travel and treasures spending time with her family – seeing new places, kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, and eating at Gulf and Franklin’s best local spots. 

Randi "Nicole" Sandoval 

Nicole has been with the Florida Department of Health in Franklin County since 2014. She has served as the public health preparedness planner where she works with community partners, such as the local hospital, long term care facility, law enforcement, emergency management, EMS, and federal, state, and local operations to plan, prepare, respond, and recover from public health emergencies.

Prior to starting with the Florida Department of Health, she worked with Weems Memorial Hospital as a registered nurse in the emergency department and the hospital’s clinics.

Nicole obtained a degree as a registered nurse at Florida State University in 2003.

Nicole enjoys spending time with her family, friends and fur babies. Her hobbies include fishing, kayaking, taking long walks on the beach, watching sunsets, and making the most of everyday.

Stephanie Cash 

After spending seven years in child welfare with the Florida Department of Children and Families, in 2002, Stephanie transitioned to public health and prevention services at the Florida Department of Health. She began her public health career as a clinical supervisor for the nationally accredited, evidence-based Healthy Families Franklin-Wakulla-Gulf home visitation program. 

Since 2016, she has served as the program manager, focused on improving the health outcomes for families and children in our tri-county area. 

Stephanie earned her BSW and MSW from Florida State University.

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys traveling and relaxing with her family.

Zach Hodges 

Zach has been with the Florida Department of Health in Gulf County since 2006 and became an environmental manager in 2007. 

Zach obtained his undergraduate degree from UGA back in 1998 but shortly after his employment began at DOH–Gulf, he started the master of public health degree program at the University of South Florida. During his time at USF, he also obtained his certificate of disaster management. 

Related to local job responsibilities, Zach manages a staff who regulates onsite waste water, beach water monitoring, animal bite surveillance, biomedical waste, sanitary nuisances, institutional food hygiene, public swimming pools, tanning, tattooing, body piercing, mobile home and RV parks, and limited use public well systems.

From a regional lens, he administers a five-county Florida Department of Environmental Protection's regulatory contract oversight of area’s storage tank compliance assistance needs. Additionally, in 2019 Zach became the manager for the county’s public health preparedness program which has kept him incredibly busy with various natural disasters.

In his free time, Zach enjoys traveling to his home in North Carolina with his family and watching the Georgia Bulldogs football games.