Meet Sue Barnett

Originally from Connecticut, Sue moved to Martin County full time in 2017 to become a caregiver and provide support for her parents. Once settled, she started looking for a volunteer opportunity and Florida Oceanographic came to the forefront as the perfect match. Loving to live near the water while being concerned about the degradation of the Indian River Lagoon from Lake Okeechobee discharges, she felt this was her opportunity to make an impact.

Having joined the Florida Oceanographic volunteer team in 2021 she has accumulated over 120 hours. Sue participates in a variety of roles including research projects, oyster shell bagging, drilling and matting, seagrass matting, road/beach cleanups, seagrass nursery cleaning and most recently working on a seagrass research project, saying “I truly believe that volunteers can make a difference and I enjoy participating in different activities.” Everyone that she has met through volunteering with Florida Oceanographic has a common goal to improve the environment and ecology of the Indian River Lagoon and local waterways.

Early on in her career she worked for a large corporation as an Engineering Assistant and Computer Programmer. After accepting early retirement, she continued working part time as an Office Manager and Bookkeeper. She currently is an AKC Licensed Agility Judge and AKC Retriever Hunt Test Judge. A highlight was being a judge in the 2020 Westminster Kennel Club Masters Agility Championship!

Along those lines, she enjoys training and competing with her four Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers in Hunt Tests and Agility Trials. She is active with pickleball and a longtime fan of UCONN Women’s Basketball. She loves her gardening with orchids, succulents, and numerous Milkweed plants for the butterflies. She has already released more than 100 Monarch butterflies this year.

Snap Shot

Born: Cambridge, MA

College: Western Connecticut State & Tunxis Community College

Favorite Restaurant: Sailor’s Return for the fresh seafood and direct waterfront dinning

Recent Book: Mostly read training books for her dogs

Movies, TV, Streaming Recommendations: Hacks, great comedy. We need more laughter in this world.