Meet Our Staff
Diane Kimes – Executive Director
As a lifelong Floridian, Diane brings a wealth of experience in fund-raising and communications to Heathcote. She has a passion for arts and cultural organizations to her degree in business administration/management from Florida Atlantic University, and work with university health and nonprofit health systems. Diane has volunteered, advocated, and served on boards of many organizations in order to enrich communities through their offerings. The most exciting element of her new vision for Heathcote? Diane answers enthusiastically, “There is an energy that the Friends of Heathcote bring to the Gardens – even in the dog days of summer!” She looks forward to bringing that energy to new programs for diverse audiences and development of philanthropic resources.
Miriam Charles – Curator/Head Gardener
Love of Heathcote is truly a family passion for Miriam, a Fort Pierce native. Her mother, Gloria Moore, was one of the “Founding Five” who formed our nonprofit. Gloria pressed family members into volunteering from the very beginning. Miriam loves gardening; and it is her eye for color that we can credit for our bright annual beds and containers throughout the Gardens. She has worked for a mechanical design firm, the nuclear power plant, and a family business. These have given Miriam an array of both planning skills and people skills. It is Miriam’s special way with plants keeps Heathcote a living treasure for our visitors.
J. D. Collins – Groundskeeper
“I love it!” says J. D. of his eleven years with Heathcote. Before coming to us, he worked in citrus packing. J. D. grows flowers at home and says he has no favorites among those at Heathcote. They all get his tender care with watering, trimming, pruning, and mowing. Keeping the many palmettos on our five acres trimmed is a big ongoing job, but even that, says J. D., “is okay.” Maintenance is a constant, and we appreciate J. D.’s dedication. He makes us look good!