Michelle M. Schmitz joined the Friends team in 2020 as Director of Membership & Development, and was promoted to Executive Director in June of 2022. She is responsible for raising funds and enlisting in-kind support from the community to help preserve, conserve, enhance and promote Hugh Taylor Birch State Park.
Michelle is a south Florida native, growing up in Deerfield Beach and attending high school at Cardinal Gibbons. She graduated from Florida State University’s Dedman School of Hospitality majoring in Business Administration and a minor in Communications.
Prior to joining Friends of Birch State Park, her career was spent in the private club industry. She has worked in Catering and Events at the Lauderdale Yacht Club and Coral Ridge Country Club and most recently as the Membership & Communications Director at the Lauderdale Yacht Club.
Michelle and her husband, Patrick (P.G.A. 1st Assistant at Coral Ridge Country Club), keep busy with their daughter Parker (3), Carson (1) and dog, Bandit.