Exuma Half Marathon Advisory Council

Jeff is the co-founder of the Exuma Half Marathon and the Director of Communications for GIV Bahamas Inc., a real estate and hospitality company in Exuma, Bahamas.

An avid runner since high school, he strongly believes in the power of sport and storytelling to bring communities together.

Prior to joining GIV Bahamas more than seven years ago, Jeff was an international journalist and served as the Business Editor of the Nassau Guardian and Correspondent for the Associated Press in The Bahamas.

His work has appeared in newspapers across North America.  He is also an award-winning author. His third book, “Pigs of Paradise”, chronicles the history of Exuma and the world-famous Swimming Pigs.

Kevin is the co-founder of the Exuma Marathon. Kevin rediscovered running in his late 30s and has since run more than 10 marathons and ultramarathons. Originally from Canada, he has lived in The Bahamas for more than 20 years and is well-known in the running community.

Kevin is also an award winning filmmaker and video producer, specializing in  the sports and tourism industries.

He has filmed three movies that have appeared in film festivals in The Caribbean and across North America.  Most recently, Kevin has been commissioned by The Bahamas government to produce a series of documentaries about Bahamians who have excelled abroad.

Doug Flannery is a Director of Race Operations for the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)/Boston Marathon. In this role, he is a director for all matters pertaining to the operations, safety, security, technical production, contracts, vendor management, and distribution/logistics for four events (B.A.A. 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Boston Marathon). He also serves as the liaison to municipal, state and Federal governments and agencies with whom the B.A.A. works and coordinates in the production and conduct of all competitive events.

Prior to joining the B.A.A., he served 31 years in the U.S. Navy, both in the enlisted and officer ranks. Doug retired at the rank of Commander.

Lacie brings over 15 years of experience within marketing, branding and race operations within the running industry. From 2007-2014 she served as the Chief Running Officer & President for Swirlgear, a woman’s running apparel company which she founded in 2007. She currently holds to role of Race Director of the Advocate Health Care International Chicago 5K, Event Manager of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, 2-Mile Walk and Race Director of the BTN Big 10K, which is held in Chicago.

Frankie Ruiz co-founded Miami-based PR Racing, which served as the launching pad for the Miami Marathon. After growing the event to over 25,000 runners, the company was acquired by Life Time Fitness. Currently, Frankie is the Chief Running Officer of the company overseeing various running and triathlon events in South Florida. He has also been the cross-country coach for Belen Jesuit School since 2002, during that tenure he has led them to 8 State Championships. Frankie is also well known in community for launching the popular Baptist Health Run Club Network together with Nike, which encompasses well over 15,000 runners. The Club is considered one of the largest free weekly Run Clubs in the world. He is now Miami’s Nike+ Run Club Head Coach. A short while ago, he was invited to give a TEDx Miami Talk on the booming Social Running Movement in Miami. He is also involved in Plan Z, Ludlam Trail & the Underline among several other major park initiatives. He sits on the Miami-Dade County GMCVB Sports Advisory Board, Green Mobility Network Board, Virginia Key Advisory Board and the Parks Advisory Board. Frankie is also part-owner of Go Run Running store.