Jill Palmer leads the American Red Cross Florida Gulf Coast to Heartland Chapter as the Executive Director. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.

Palmer, a former healthcare volunteer executive, is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Master of Science in Health Science focused on health services administration, gerontology and legal studies. She is a non-profit professional bringing 21 years of experience in volunteer management and community service to the Red Cross. Most recently, Palmer was with Lee Health where she served as the Director of Volunteer Services, Auxiliary Development and Arts in Healthcare. Recognizing her outstanding contributions and innovations in the field of volunteer administration, in 2015, she was awarded the Sally Sitta Commitment to Excellence in Volunteer Administration Award from the Florida Associate of Directors of Volunteer Service, Inc. Prior to joining the Red Cross senior leadership team in 2017, Palmer served as an active board member for the local Red Cross chapter heading the Volunteer Engagement & Mission Capacity Committee.

As Executive Director, Palmer supports a team of staff and volunteers who proudly serve more than 1.3 million residents in Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands and Lee counties. She serves as an ambassador in the community, working closely with community stakeholders, partners and the chapter board to educate and bring awareness and ensure the Red Cross goals and mission are effectively delivered.

From an early age she learned of the importance of volunteering and the Red Cross mission to alleviate human suffering. Growing up, Palmer lived in Guam and the Philippines while her father served in the U.S Navy and her mom was a nurse volunteering and teaching life-saving Red Cross swim lessons and water safety. In 2010, Palmer and her family became disaster clients of the Red Cross when they lost their home to a fire in the middle of the night. After safely escaping the home with their two-young children among the first responders were volunteers from the Red Cross.