ABOUT

Board of Directors

The Florida Community of Mindfulness (FCM) Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the management and affairs of FCM. This responsibility includes working with our Dharma Teacher, Fred Eppsteiner, to develop and oversee the realization of FCM's mission and vision; overseeing FCM's fiscal health and well-being; approving fund raising goals and campaigns; conducting strategic planning; overseeing organizational development; setting policies; formally appointing FCM's Dharma Teacher; and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Board members serve three-year terms and are elected at an annual meeting of the Board to serve staggered terms. Any FCM member who is interested in serving on the Board is encouraged to contact the current Board Chair.

John McHarris, Chair, began practicing the Dharma in 1990 with teacher Shinge Roko Sherry Chayat Roshi at the Zen Center of Syracuse, Hoen-ji. Between the mid 1990s through 2016, John continued his practice while living overseas in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. During his career as a humanitarian aid worker with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), his focus has been on hunger, food security and nutrition. In 2010, John had the good fortune to meet his teacher Fred Eppsteiner in southwest Florida and has since been practicing with Fred and FCM in Naples.

Marsy Mechling, Secretary was introduced to Buddhism through the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh.  She studied Buddhism for several years before attending a retreat at the Southern Dharma Retreat Center (SDRC), where she learned the mechanics of actual practice.  It was through SDRC that she later met Fred.  She joined the Florida Community of Mindfulness in 2015.  Despite living in Davidson, NC, she is active in Sangha life through participation in intensives, retreats in Tampa, and the Dharma Transmission Group.  Marsy is the CFO of a small business.  She lives with her husband, Matt, and two daughters, Chloé and Parker Grace.

Bill Lee has been part of FCM since the days of the Tampa group known as Dancing Waters Sangha.  His Buddhist inquiry began with Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind  in the early 1980s.  Bill is a fourth generation Floridian who has been a Professor at the University of South Florida (USF) for almost 38 years.  His formal appointment is in Engineering, but he has also taught Art History and Epistemology.  Bill is a lifelong musician and has published poetry through the years.   He has assisted Public Defenders in the defense of presumably innocent individuals.  Bill served on the Boards of Directors at WMNF and the ACLU and is currently on the Board at USF’s Center for Music Education Research.  He was ordained into the Order of Interbeing in 2015. Bill finds great joy in mentoring others and believes it is important to spread the Dharma in the contemporary world.

Christopher Lee-Nguyen has been practicing with the Florida Community of Mindfulness since 2014.  In 2015, he helped start and facilitate Wake Up Southwest Florida, which is part of an active global community of young mindfulness practitioners, inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. He is a member of the Order of Interbeing and completed FCM’s three year Dharma Transmission Program. Chris lives in Fort Myers, where he helps with the Fort Myers sangha and was previously a board member of Hearts' Path to Mindful Living. He received his BA in communication from Florida Gulf Coast University, holds the rank of Sho-dan in the Shito-Ryu Karate-Do, and currently works as a software quality assurance engineer, loving husband, and father of his newborn son, Bodhi.

Misti Oxford-Pickeral, Chair-Elect; was introduced to Buddhism in her 20s through the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron, and the Dali Lama. She studied and practiced Buddhism for many years on her own. Having expressed an interest in going on a retreat, her husband surprised her with an FCM membership in 2016. She has had the wonderful privilege of attending many FCM retreats, as well as participating in classes, workshops, and intensives. Misti is ordained in the Order of Interbeing. She enjoys sangha building and serving with the Community Care Team. Misti is the Director of Clinics for Academy for Five Element Acupuncture in Gainesville, FL and maintains a private acupuncture practice. Misti and her husband Chuck are parents of three adult children, Alex (30), Emily (22), and Lincoln (18).

Ray-lyn Barnett, Treasurer, Operations Leader, began a secular meditation practice in 2015. She visited Florida Community of Mindfulness for the first time in 2016 to learn about Buddhism and became a member shortly thereafter. She received transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings in 2018 and became an aspirant to the Order of Interbeing in 2023. Ray-lyn has worked in public accounting for over 30 years and is currently an Audit Principal for a national CPA firm. She lives in Wesley Chapel with her husband, Jay, and has two adult children, Katie and Trey.

Peggy Wallace joined the Florida Community of Mindfulness in 2020, after many years of being a “book Buddhist” sparked an interest in seeking out a teacher for guidance and direction. She has been fortunate to attend many workshops and retreats, and to have benefited from joyful participation in FCM’s intensives. She is an active member of the kitchen team and the flower team, and is privileged to co-host new member dinners regularly. She enjoys sangha building and selfless service, and holds a deep admiration and appreciation of the FCM core values and mission. Peggy is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, serving the HIV+ community through her work with BayCare. Prior to nursing, Peggy enjoyed a career as a Social Worker, also in service to those living with HIV. She lives in the Seminole Heights neighborhood in Tampa with her husband, Daniel, and their two rowdy dogs, Olive (12) and Ruby (11).                                      

 Dion Hall began his journey in Buddhism around 2009 with the Shambhala Meditation Center of    Boston, attending the center for about two years. He then went to practice and study on his own for a number of years. In 2021 with a strong desire to be part of a Sangha, Dion joined FCM. He is active with our retreat and intensive offerings. Dion is also an avid student of Buddhism and Vedic philosophy. He received transmission of the Five mindfulness trainings and became an OI aspirant in 2023. Dion is a 12 year Air National Guard veteran and works in the Information Technology industry as a Systems Administrator. He is currently pursuing a degree in Cyber Security. Dion resides in Temple Terrace, FL with his fiance Katrina Goldstein.