Please introduce yourself to your neighbors.
My name is Jeremy Heath, and I currently serve as the Lealman Citizen Advisory Committee Chairman.
How many years have you lived in Lealman?
I have lived in Lealman since 2009. However, my family has lived in Lealman since 1947. I have been actively involved with the CRA for three years.
What organizations are you involved in?
Besides the Lealman CRA, I am actively involved with the Nature Conservancy of Florida and Tampa Bay Watch and have been involved to a lesser extent, with the Police Athletic League, Lealman Fire Department, LCS, and the Florida Trail.
What gets you out of bed every day?
My amazing wife, Amanda, is a huge supporter in all of my endeavors and my travel buddy. We are both avid outdoorsmen and hikers. I thru-hiked the Florida Trail in 2009 and the Appalachian Trail in 2012. We have hiked the Inca Trail together, later summitting Machu Picchu, parts of the Swiss Alps, and rim to rim at the Grand Canyon as well as other small weekend hikes with our two dogs, Mia and Zoey.
What is one thing you’ve seen change for the better in Lealman in the last few years?
The quality and quantity of community involvement in Lealman. Our CRA meetings have not only increased in participation rapidly in the last few years, but the issues that are being raised and how the community chooses to tackle them have been simply inspiring. Whether it’s community meetings or gatherings such as the Christmas Tree Lighting in December, Lealman is undoubtedly ready to show the rest of Pinellas County that they’re prepared to put their best foot forward. While the progress in the last 24 months have been tangible and significant, it is my fervent belief that the best is yet to come. Between word of mouth, the creation of a distinct Lealman “brand,” and some fairly significant infrastructure projects, I feel Lealman is about to undertake the kind of progress that decade-old residents and new residents alike can take a ton of pride in.
What’s next for you?
My wife and I try to check off a trip or two each year. Fingers crossed for Paris in 2023!