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.