Several people with Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ ties have been named to Florida Trend magazine’s 2020 Florida 500 list, which recognizes the state’s most influential business leaders.
The selections — chosen from 60 business categories — were based on their contacts in regional business circles, “culminating in a highly selective biographical guide to the people who really run Florida.â€
Four people named to the list are on the Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ Board of Trustees: Chair Beverly Seay and members Alex Martins ’01MBA, Harold Mills and William Yeargin.
- Seay, a longtime leader in Central Florida’s modeling and simulation industry, has served on the board since 2013. She is a member of the National Center for Simulation Hall of Fame and also served as chair of the Dean’s Industry Advisory Board for the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
- Martins, vice chair of the board, is CEO of the Orlando Magic. He is also a member of the College of Business Hall of Fame, serves on the Dean’s Executive Council, and is a recipient of the university’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He earned his degree in business administration.
- Mills is CEO of VMD Ventures, which focuses on enabling aspiring entrepreneurs who create technologies and tech-enabled services that create new market spaces.
- Yeargin is CEO of Correct Craft, which manufactures fishing, utility and recreational boats and operates watersports parks.
Names of others with Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ roles:
- Thad Seymour Jr., former interim president of the university, who retired earlier this year. He previously oversaw development of the Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ Downtown campus and was a senior vice president of Tavistock Development, where he led strategy and development for Lake Nona Medical City.
- Clint Bullock ’95, is a board member of the Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ Foundation and general manager and CEO of the Orlando Utilities Commission. He earned his degree in marketing.
- Brian Butler is a board member of the Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ Foundation and president and CEO of Vistra Communications in Tampa.
Other Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ alumni at organizations in Orlando and around the state:
- George Cheros ’78 ’80MBA, president and CEO of National Center for Simulation, earned his degrees in accounting and business administration
- Steve Hogan ’01, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, earned his degree in journalism and played football at Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½.
- Inez Long ’98²Ñµþ´¡, president and CEO of Black Business Investment Fund Florida, earned her degree in business administration.
- Karen Moore ’79, founder and CEO of Moore Inc., Tallahassee, earned her degree in history and played volleyball and tennis at Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½.
- Terry Shaw ’90MBA, CEO of AdventHealth, Altamonte Springs, earned his degree in business administration.
- John Sowinski ’86, founding partner of Consensus Communications, earned his degree in public administration and was president of Student Government.
- Rasesh Thakkar ’84, senior managing director of Tavistock Group, earned his degree in accounting.
- Richard J. Walsh ’77 ’83MS, CEO of Knob Hill Group, who previously served as chair of the Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ Board of Trustees, earned his degrees in political science and public policy and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2014.
Ava Parker, a former member of the Âé¶¹Ó³»´«Ã½ Board of Trustees, is now president of Palm Beach State College, West Palm Beach.