.
Nick Simmons
Nick Simmons serves as the County Extension Director for UF/IFAS Extension in Escambia County Florida. Nick is the administrative lead for all faculty, program assistants and staff for Escambia County Extension. He provides guidance and vision for programmatic planning and to serve as the liaison between faculty & staff and county government as well as university administration. Nick completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal & Dairy Sciences from Mississippi State University in 2009. He completed his Master of Science degree in Animal & Dairy Sciences from Mississippi State University in 2012.

Mike Thomas
Mike Thomas is the owner of BlackWater Olive, a local olive farm situated across the street from the West Florida Research and Education Center's Experimental Station. As a self-proclaimed "city boy learning to farm," Mike has embraced the challenges and rewards of cultivating 3,000 olive trees. BlackWater Olive operates a small mill, producing high-quality extra virgin olive oil and table olives.
A resident of Pensacola, Mike has been married to Dr. Patti Thomas, EdD, for 22 years. He looks forward to contributing his unique perspective and passion for local agriculture to the WFREC Advisory Board.