WATCH: Steve Wilson Talks With Brevard County Tax Collector Lisa Cullen
By Steve Wilson // April 21, 2024
Originally from West Virginia, moved to Merritt Island at age 12
WATCH: The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson talked with Brevard County Tax Collector Lisa Cullen at the Erdman Automotive Studio in Cocoa. They talked about her early years in West Virginia, her high school years at Merritt Island High School, and much more in this exclusive interview.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – One of the things I enjoy most is conducting one-on-one interviews. I talk with people from all walks of life, not necessarily about their job, but about them, as a person. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Brevard County Tax Collector Lisa Cullen. It was a very enjoyable conversation.
Cullen was born in Logan, West Virginia. I asked her about her interests as a child and what she enjoyed doing. She laughingly said, “playing in the creek!” She continued, “I loved being outside, I loved nature.”
Cullen moved to Merritt Island when she was 12 years old. As a student, she was interested in math and science and enjoyed playing the flute in the Mustangs band.
After graduating from Merritt Island High School, she attended Brevard Community College (now Eastern Florida State College) taking a heavy math and science course load. Cullen told me that initially she wanted to become a doctor.
However, during college, she worked part time at the Brevard County Tax Collector’s Office, and as she put it, “I kind of fell in love” with what I was doing. Cullen told me, “I wanted to pick a major that would correspond to that type of work, so business and accounting was where I focused.” And the rest, as they say, is history!
I asked Cullen what she enjoys doing in her spare time. She said, “I love to garden, and along with that comes my love of canning.” She smiled and told me that a lot of her friends were beneficiaries of her canning.
Hopefully Lisa Cullen will consider me a friend. I love canned goods!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
