Keith Keene

DeSoto County Health Department

Arcadia, FL 34266

Biography

Keith Keene is the Environmental Administrator of the DeSoto County Health Department in Arcadia, Florida.  He holds a Bachelor of Chemistry degree from the University of South Florida.  He began his career as an Environmental Health Specialist at the Charlotte County Florida Health Department in 1989.  His has oversight of environmental health programs including but not limited to onsite wastewater, migrant housing, swimming pools and mobile home parks, and petroleum storage systems.  He is in the second year of a PACE-EH program in two local communities. Additionally, the epidemiology programs (EH, STD and TB) and the WIC program report to him.  Mr. Keene is member of the Florida and the National Environmental Health Associations.  He is the Environmental Health Section Co-Chair for the Florida Public Health Association.  He serves as the Florida Department of Health representative on the Peace River Basin Management Advisory Committee.

Leadership Development Opportunities

I am extremely blessed to have participated in Cohort III of the Environmental Public Health Leadership Institute. The lessons learned have made me an effective leader in the work place and my community.   The Skillscope 360 and resulting individual development plan has proved invaluable.  I have achieved many of my goals and continue to seek out areas for additional self improvement.  The systems thinking approach is a tool I use each day as I meet the ever increasing issues facing environmental health.  The opportunity to network with my peers from around the country and the relationships that have resulted from working on a team project are priceless.  The principles and skills learned have definitely enhanced my leadership ability in environmental health.  Participating in EPHLI has enriched my life professionally and personally.