Florida Department of State
Agenda Files
Bio
Hope McMath is a cultural leader, educator, artist, and activist whose knowledge of, and passion for, the arts is matched by a strong commitment to social justice and effecting positive change in organizations and community. She is dedicated to connecting the arts to community needs including education, accessibility, the environment, wellness, and inclusion and diversity.
A Florida native, Hope receive her BFA in Visual Art and Art History and her MAT from Jacksonville University. Hope served at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens for 22 years, the last eight as its Executive Director. During her time at the Cummer Museum, from her early years as a Museum Educator through her tenure as Director, Hope implemented art programs, education outreach, and facility expansions that brought increased relevance to the Museum. Her commitment to using the arts to lift up conversations around education, race, equity, and universal human rights has been most recently recognized with the 2016 One Jax Humanitarian Award, and a 2016 Cultural Icon Award from the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, The Frances Kinne Alumni of Distinction Community Service Award in 2017, and the Educator of the Year Award from the Atlantic Institute.
Currently, Hope is independently curating exhibitions, guest lecturing and teaching, organizing humanities-based programs throughout Jacksonville, and consulting for organizations in arts education, program planning, curatorial practice, and non-profit management.
Hope is alum of the Getty Leadership Institue and the Chief Executive Program of National Arts Strategies. She also gives her time to a variety of organizations and causes including the State of Florida Council on Arts and Culture, TEDx Jacksonville, We Are Straight Allies, the Mayo Clinic Humanities in Medicine Program, and several social justice organizations. Whether through her work as a cultural leader, an artist, or a community leader she consistently deploys the visual and performing arts to amplify the experiences of others and mobilize community around human rights.
Mr. Deratany, a former Florida State Senator and Representative, is president of Deratany Consulting, a Governmental and Public Affairs firm. Prior to lobbying, Mr. Deratany served as Mayor of Indialantic and Director of University Relations at the Florida Institute of Technology.
At some point during each day, you can find Mr. Deratany painting in his riverside art studio. An avid artist for the past ten years, Mr. Deratany is a board member of the Brevard Museum of Art and Science and previously served as Chairman of the Florida Seaside Art Show. He belongs to the Brevard Watercolor Society and the Brevard Artists Guild. For Mr. Deratany, art offers a welcome respite from the hectic world of politics.
Katharine Dickenson has been a community volunteer since 1973 with an emphasis on Historic Preservation and the Arts. She served on and chaired such boards as the Boca Raton Historical Society, the PalmBeach County Historic Preservation Board, and the Boca Raton Junior League in early years. She went on to Chair the Florida Historic Preservation Commission in 1988 and to Chair Florida's Council on Arts and Culture for three terms. Mrs. Dickenson is the only Floridian to have chaired both the Historical Commission and the Council on Arts and Culture.
Nationally, Mrs. Dickenson has served on the Boards of The National Trust For Historic Preservation, The Edith Wharton Home in Lenox, MA, the Robert Todd Lincoln home in Vermont, and the Manchester, VT MusicFestival as well as The Dorset, VT Theater Festival. Serving as Vice-Chair of the Federal Commsission to celebrate St. Augustine's 450th, Mrs. Dickenson has been involved with the Mayor and Commission of St Augustine and the Department of the Interior who appointed her in 2010 to promote St. Augustine world wide. She also recently served on the Strategic Planning Council For The Arts in 2005 and is currently serving on the 2015 Council. The Lynn University Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton recently asked her to join the Friends of The Conservatory.
Mrs. Dickenson resides in Boca Raton with her husband, David, an attorney. Her three sons (who also practice law), their wives and 7 grandchildren live within an 18 minute radius of Katharine ... perhaps one of her finest lobbying efforts.
Towson Fraser is president of Fraser Solutions, a Tallahassee-based lobbying and communications consulting firm, and has close to 20 years of political and governmental experience.
Most recently, Towson was a partner with Southern Strategy Group in Tallahassee. Prior to that, he served Governor Charlie Crist as his Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Affairs Director. As Deputy Chief of Staff, Towson coordinated with numerous state agencies including the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of State, Department of Revenue, Fish and Wildlife Commission, Water Management Districts, and the Agency for Workforce Innovation. As Legislative Affairs Director, Towson managed the progress of the Governor’s priorities through the legislative process including budget issues and landmark legislation in regard to energy, health care, insurance, and property taxes.
Prior to working for Governor Crist, Towson served as Communications Director for Speaker Allan Bense, as well as the Republican Party of Florida, the Department of Management Services, and the Department of Community Affairs. Towson also worked in the House Majority Office under Speakers John Thrasher and Tom Feeney.
A native of Tallahassee who grew up in Jacksonville, Towson, his wife Carrie, and their children Caroline, Jack, Helen and Sophie live in Tallahassee.
Mrs. Benson is a graduate of Emory University in the field of English. She is a former councilwoman for the City of Pensacola, as well as a former state representative from 1992-1994.
She currently serves as chair of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority, chair of Pensacola Opera, and immediate past chair of Foofoofest. She is a member of Five Flags Rotary.
Mrs. Benson is very involved in her local community, serving on the boards of The Zoo of Northwest Florida and the Northwest Florida Historic Preservation Board.