Gov. Scott names 18, reappoints 12 to state regulatory boards

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott made a wave of 18 appointments and 12 reappointments to a variety of state regulatory boards.

North Florida Community College District Board of Trustees

Scott began with the naming of two appointments and two reappointments to the North Florida Community College District Board of Trustees.

Jon Coker, 50, of Perry, is the president of J Travis Coker Consulting Inc. Coker fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term ending May 31, 2019.

Alton Williams Jr., 72, of Live Oak, is the former Sheriff of Suwannee County. He previously served as a member of the Human Rights Advocacy Committee. Williams fills a vacant seat for a term ending May 31, 2019.

Ann “Sharon” Benoit, 68, of Greenville, is the former International Director for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission. She is reappointed for a term ending May 31, 2019.

Lloyd “Gary” Wright, 74, of Monticello, is the former president and chief executive officer of Farmers and Merchants Bank. He previously served as chairman of the Florida Banker’s Association and as the Florida Representative for the American Bankers Association. He is reappointed for a term ending May 31, 2019.

The four appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Jacksonville Aviation Authority

Scott then named Teresa Davlantes and Frank Mackesy to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, the agency that owns and operates for airports in the Jacksonville area — Jacksonville International, Jacksonville executive at Craig Airport, Herlong Recreational Airport and Cecil Airport.

Davlantes, 57, of Jacksonville, is the executive director of the EPIC Program at Jacksonville University. She currently serves as a member of the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization. She is also a current member and the previous chair of the Youth Crisis Center board of directors. Davlantes is reappointed for a term ending Sept. 30, 2019.

Mackesy, 57, of Jacksonville, is the director of public safety and chief of police at the University of North Florida. He previously served as undersheriff for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office from 2005-2011. Mackesy is reappointed for a term ending Sept. 30, 2019.

Both appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Hendry County Hospital Authority

Scott appointed Tuesday Tritt to the Hendry County Hospital Authority, the policymaking body of Hendry Regional Medical Center.

Tritt, 48, of LaBelle, is a Senior vice president at First Bank. She currently serves on the Hendry County Economic Development Council, Leadership Hendry/Glades, the Hendry County Education Task Force, and the Hendry Regional Medical Center Foundation.  She is appointed to fill a vacancy for a term ending Nov. 21, 2017.

Board of Pilot Commissioners

Scott also announced three appointments of to the Board of Pilot Commissioners, the agency responsible for licensing and regulating harbor pilots.

Sherif Assal, 53, of Miramar, is the senior vice president of American Guard Services Inc. and the president of United Stevedoring of America Inc. He fills a vacant seat for a term Oct. 31, 2017.

Louis Sola, 47, of Miami, is the chief executive officer of Evermarine. He succeeds Thomas Burke for a term ending Oct. 31, 2019.

David Wilkins, 55, of Tallahassee, is the founder of Life Connectors and the former secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families. He succeeds Robert Swindell for a term ending Oct. 31, 2019.

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Seminole State College District Board of Trustees

The governor then reappointed Jonathan Alex Setzer and Scott Howat to the Seminole State College District Board of Trustees.

Setzer, 35, of Lake Mary, is a partner at Southern Strategy Group in Orlando. His reappointment is for a term ending May 31, 2019.

Howat, 46, of Winter Park, is the senior executive director for the School District of Orange County. His reappointment is also for a term ending May 31, 2019.

Both appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Chipola College District Board of Trustees

Scott made three appointments and one reappointment to the Chipola College District Board of Trustees, a nine-member board that serves five Florida Panhandle counties of Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty and Washington.

Andrew Fleener, 45, of Chipley, is the owner of Fleener Cleaner Inc. He currently serves as a member of the Chipola College Foundation and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Fleener succeeds Jan Page for a term ending May 31, 2019.

Joel Paul Jr., 58, of Holmes, is the executive director of Tri County Community Council Inc. He currently serves as a member of the Walton Academy Board of Trustees and CareerSource Chipola. Paul fills a vacant seat for a term ending May 31, 2019.

Darrin Wall, 49, of Chipley, is an office manager with Gulf Power Company. He currently serves as a member of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce board of directors and CareerSource Chipola. Wall is appointed for a term ending May 31, 2019.

Thomas “Tommy” Lassmann, 43, of Marianna, is a commercial banker with PeoplesSouth Bank. He previously served on the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Lassmann is reappointed for a term ending May 31, 2019.

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Halifax Hospital Medical Center Board of Commissioners

Scott appointed Edward Connor and Dr. Carl “Rick” Lentz III to the Halifax Hospital Medical Center Board of Commissioners, which oversees the 678-bed facility in Daytona Beach.

Connor, 73, of Ormond Beach, is the retired president of Golforms, Inc. Connor fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term ending May 23, 2018.

Lentz, 71, of Daytona Beach Shores, is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and owner of Lentz Plastic Surgery in Ormond Beach.  Lentz fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term ending May 23, 2018.

Jacksonville Port Authority

Scott reappointed John Falconetti and Ed Fleming Jr. to the Jacksonville Port Authority, which operates JAXPORT, the full-service trade seaport that maintains three cargo terminals and one passenger cruise terminal along the St. Johns River: Blount Island Marine Terminal, Dames Point Marine Terminal, Talleyrand Marine Terminal and the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal.

Falconetti, 47, of Jacksonville, is the chairman and chief executive officer of Drummond Press. He previously served as a member of the Enterprise Florida Inc. Board of directors, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, and the Jacksonville Library Board. Falconetti is reappointed for a term ending Sept. 30, 2019.

Fleming, 60, of Jacksonville, is the retired president of Atlantic Marine LLC. He currently serves as a member of the Jacksonville Marine Transportation Exchange and the Jacksonville Waterways Commission. He previously served as a member of the National Shipbuilding Research Program and the First Coast Manufacturers Association. Fleming is reappointed for a term also ending Sept. 30, 2019.

Both appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Southeast Volusia Hospital District

Scott named two and reappointed one to the Southeast Volusia Hospital District, a seven-member board that seeks to provide health care for residents of Southeast Volusia County.

William “Bill” Preston, 62, of New Smyrna Beach, is an attorney and the owner of The Preston Law Firm. He succeeds Patrick Corbett for a term ending March 31, 2019.

Mary E. Spencer, 62, of New Smyrna Beach, is the director of continuous care for VITAS Healthcare. She will serve a term ending March 31, 2017.

Harold “Pat” Card, 72, of Edgewater, is a retired corporate officer for Columbus Life Insurance. His term will end March 31, 2019.

Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority

Scott named Richard Toppino to the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, which is in charge of providing safe, reliable and cost-effective water to residents and visitors of the Florida Keys. FKAA serves approximately 44,000 customers within Monroe County, and oversees a 130-mile transmission pipeline and an additional 649 miles of distribution pipelines.

Toppino, 54, of Key West, is the treasurer of Charley Toppino and Sons Inc. and the vice president of Monroe Concrete Products Inc. He currently serves as a member of the Monroe County Housing Authority. Toppino fills a vacant seat for a term ending Dec. 30, 2018.

Florida Keys Community College District Board of Trustees

Scott next named Michael Puto to the Florida Keys Community College District Board of Trustees, which serves higher education and continuing education needs of Monroe County.

Puto, 67, of Marathon, is currently the city manager of the City of Marathon. He previously served as both a county commissioner and mayor of Monroe County from 1986 to 1990. Puto is appointed to a vacant seat for a term ending May 31, 2019.

Puto’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Council

Scott appointed Dr. Mary Martinasek and Dr. Theresa Graham to the Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Council, a statewide program that focuses on tobacco use by youth.

Martinasek, 53, of Tampa, is currently a public health professor at the University of Tampa. She fills a vacant seat for a term ending June 30, 2016.

Graham, 49, of Jacksonville, is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty. She succeeds Dr. Mae Waters for a term also ending June 30, 2016.

West Orange Healthcare District

Lastly, Scott announced one appointment and two reappointments to the West Orange Healthcare District.

Jaclyn Whiddon, 35, of Oakland, is an orthodontic marketing consultant as well as the owner of The Whiddon Group, LLC. She is appointed for a term ending Sept. 24, 2019.

Alan “Kurt” Ardaman, 58, of Gotha, is an attorney with Fishback Dominick as well as a city attorney for the cities of Winter Garden, Winter Park, DeBary and Longwood. He is reappointed for a term ending Sept. 24, 2019.

John Murphy, 61, of Winter Garden, is the chief financial officer for OneBlood, Inc. He is reappointed for a term ending Sept. 30, 2019.