NEWS RELEASE

Nov. 12, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Ray Sarracino, Jackie Parker, Miriam Dotson
239-338-3500

Junonia Award goes to Ranger Toni Westland for her lasting impact on conservation & community 
Lee County VCB also unveils new Sales & Marketing Plan at Annual Meeting

LEE COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) presented the Junonia Award to Toni Westland today at its Annual Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. 

Westland was the supervisory refuge ranger at J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. She retired in May after a 27-year career with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  

"Her contributions were never constrained to the title on her business card, because Toni has worn more hats than most of us own. She was an educator, media liaison, visitor services lead, mobile classroom driver, and yes, our wildlife ambassador extraordinaire!" said Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County VCB.  "Today, we don’t just recognize a career, we acknowledge a calling as we celebrate a lifelong commitment to nature, education, creativity and community."

During her tenure, Ranger Toni brought innovative ideas, like the mobile WoW or Wildlife on Wheels classroom, Roving Ranger mobile visitor center and award-winning Learning Lavatories, to life. From building pollinator gardens in Title-1 schools to mentoring young environmental educators, she’s always believed that nature should be shared and protected by everyone.

In retirement, she continues her environmental education mission as ART Ranger Toni creating hand-painted wearables and home goods inspired by nature and made from repurposed materials. 

The Lee County VCB’s Junonia Award honors individuals who have positively impacted the local tourism community through their exceptional leadership, dedication and unique talents. Created in 2006, the VCB’s Junonia Award is named for the junonia, a treasured shell known for its rarity and exceptional quality that is on every sea sheller’s bucket list.

In addition to the Junonia Award, the VCB unveiled its new Sales & Marketing Plan – themed “Growing Together” – to industry partners. Click here for the VCB’s 2024-25 Sales & Marketing Plan presentation.

Keynote speaker Fred Dixon, Brand USA president & CEO, spoke about the state of global travel and what's in store for 2026.

The VCB is funded by a 5% tourist tax collected from tourists on accommodations rented for six months or less. The allocation of bed tax funds is applied as 20% for sports facilities, 26.4% for beach and shoreline and 53.6% for tourism marketing.

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Editor's note: Complete list of Junonia Award Winners

Click here for Junonia Award photo (please credit Lee County VCB)

Caption: 2025 Junonia Award recipient Toni Westland, retired supervisory refuge ranger at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, with Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau.