Meet our Senior Leaders / Lisa Funchess - Public Health Nutrition Program Director - Biography

Lisa Funchess joined the Volusia County Health Department, WIC and Nutrition Services Division in June 2010 as the Nutrition Program Director. Lisa is a transplanted Floridian from Southwestern Mississippi. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Dietetics from the University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg, MS) and her graduate degree in Health from the University of North Florida (Jacksonville, FL). She is a Registered Dietitian with the American Dietetics Association and Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist with the State of Florida. Lisa began her public health career as a Public Health Nutritionist with the Collier County Health Department in culturally diverse Immokalee in January 1993. It was here that her interest was sparked to take up a second (Spanish) and third language (Haitian Creole). She transferred to Lee County (Ft Myers) in April 1994 where she continued to work in culturally diverse clinical settings. Her language skills in Spanish and Haitian Creole proved to be quite beneficial as she was able to do her own translations. This dedication to communicating with her culturally diverse WIC population lead to her being nominated by her staff for Employee of the Month. She earned the honor as Employee of the Month for April 2000. Her service at Lee County also lead to her Bonita Springs WIC site receiving a Davis Productivity Award for cost saving collocation and coordination of WIC program services between South Lee and North Collier counties. Lisa left Lee County in July 2001 to pursue her advanced degree in Health with the University of North Florida (UNF). While earning her degree at UNF, she also worked as the Nutrition Supervisor with the Jacksonville Urban League Head Start Program. Upon completion of her degree, Lisa went back into Public Health with the Highlands County WIC Program. As the WIC Coordinator in Highlands County, she enjoyed strong community partnerships with Healthy Start, March of Dimes, Heartland Library Cooperative (Born to Read) and Redland Christian Migrant Association. Her strong leadership abilities and skills enabled her to guide her staff to increased caseload, revenue and staffing. Lisa is excited about the opportunity to work at the Volusia County Health Department and looks forward to making a significant difference in the community.