Dykes Everett, a native Floridian, comes from an agricultural and ranching tradition of more than six generations.  He earned a law degree at the University of Florida in 1985, after receiving his B.S. from the University of Central Florida. After graduation, Everett began his law practice in Winter Park with the firm of Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, where he practiced until 2006.

During his law career, Everett practiced primarily in the areas of land use, conservation, environmental, governmental and litigation and he served as City Attorney for the cities of Orlando and Winter Garden. He also served as Counsel to the St. John's River Water Management District, the South Florida Water Management District, Tampa Bay Water and numerous other local and regional governments as well as variety of private sector business and agricultural clients.

In 2006, Everett founded Dykes Everett & Company, a land and natural resource consulting and investment company headquartered in Orlando. The Company provides advice, management and investment services for land, natural resources, agriculture and conservation projects primarily in the South and Western U.S. In addition to his business activities, Everett has served on private and public company boards in the land, natural resource and agricultural sectors.

Through his practice and companies, Everett has been directly engaged in the conservation of over 2,000,000 acres in the U.S. over the last 20 years. In the last 5 years, he has overseen the management and operations of over 1.3 million acres of farms and ranches and over 35,000 head of cattle. In the last 10 years, his companies have handled the restructuring and disposition of over one billion dollars in commercial, industrial and residential real estate.  

In addition to his law and business ventures Everett remains active in local farming and ranching. He and his wife, Lisa Simonton Everett, own the Christmas Creek Ranch in Christmas, Florida and have owned and/or operated farms and ranches in Brevard, Lake, Orange and Volusia Counties. Dykes and Lisa reside in Winter Park, where they raised two sons and where they remain engaged in the arts, music and theater.