Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Six to the Florida Independent Living Council
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Whitney Harris, Christopher Littlewood, Ciawanda McDonald, Robert Melia, Donald Moran and Tyler Morris to the Florida Independent Living Council.
Whitney Harris
Harris, of Tallahassee, is Executive Director of the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology. She is a member of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification and the Association of Youth Leadership Forums. Harris earned her bachelor’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics from St. Petersburg College and her master’s degree in nonprofit management from the University of Central Florida.
Christopher Littlewood
Littlewood, of Seminole, is an Instructional Technology Coordinator at St. Petersburg College. He is a past Vice President of the Association of Late Deafened Adults and is a member of the Hearing Loss Association, Florida Association for the Deaf and the National Association for the Deaf Emergency Management Committee. Littlewood earned bachelor’s degrees in social sciences and secondary education and his master’s degree in instructional technology from the University of South Florida.
Ciawanda McDonald
McDonald, of Palm Coast, is Chief Executive Officer of Disability Solutions for Independent Living. Previously, she was a Medical Disability Program Specialist at the Florida Department of Health. McDonald earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida State University, master of public administration from Troy University and her master of occupational therapy from the University of Saint Augustine.
Robert Melia
Melia, of Orlando, is a Spinal Cord Network Coordinator at Orlando Health. Previously, he was Coordinator for Independent Living Services at the Center for Independent Living and an Executive Board Member at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. Melia is a member of the Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board and the Greater Orlando Spinal Cord Injury Network. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and master of public administration from Florida International University.
Donald Moran
Moran, of Jacksonville, is President of Wheelers Medical Supply, a business that emphasizes hiring disabled individuals. He volunteers his time with the Sulzbacher Center for Homelessness and earned his bachelor’s degree in communication and advertising from the University of North Florida.
Tyler Morris
Morris, of Jacksonville, is Executive Director of Opportunity Development. He is the Immediate Past President of the Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living, serves as a Board Member for the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida and served on the City of Jacksonville’s Mayor’s Disability Council. Morris earned his bachelor’s degree in special education and master of business administration from the University of North Florida.
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Belinda Kirkegard to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Belinda Kirkegard to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
Belinda Kirkegard
Kirkegard, of Kissimmee, is Economic Development Director for the city of Kissimmee. She was named the Orlando Business Journal’s 2019 Women Who Mean Business Executive of the Year and serves on the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando and the AdventHealth Central Florida Division. Kirkegard earned her bachelor’s degree in public administration and political science from the University of Central Florida and her master of public administration from Troy State University. This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Lauran Monbarren to the University of South Florida Board of Trustees
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Lauran Monbarren to the University of South Florida Board of Trustees.
Lauran Monbarren
Monbarren, of San Antonio, is Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Simpson Environmental Services and Simpson Farms. Previously, she was an administrator at Pasco-Hernando State College and a teacher with Pasco County Schools. Monbarren is a graduate of Leadership Pasco and a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Lacoochee. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and master’s degree in education leadership from Saint Leo University. This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Three to the St. Johns River State College District Board of Trustees
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Richard Komando, Wendell Davis and Makayla Buchanan to the St. Johns River State College District Board of Trustees.
Richard Komando
Komando, of Jacksonville, is an attorney and partner at Bradley, Garrison and Komando, P.A. Previously, he was an assistant state attorney for the 4th Judicial Circuit Court. Komando has volunteered his time with First Coast Healing Hands, Project Cold Case, Florida’s Children First and the Jacksonville Victims Assistance Advisory Council. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology and his master of business administration from Florida State University and his juris doctor from Loyola University of New Orleans.
Wendell Davis
Davis, of Fleming Island, is the former Executive Vice President of Watson Realty Corporation and a former member of the Clay County Board of County Commissioners. He is a veteran of the United States Army and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1988, Fleming Island Rotary Club and the National Association of Residential Property Managers. Davis earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Florida.
Makayla Buchanan
Buchanan, of Green Cove Springs, is the Executive Director of the Clay Education Foundation. She was recognized in the Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and serves on the Clay Women’s Empowerment Council and the YMCA of Northeast Florida Advisory Council and is a member of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce and the JAX Chamber. Buchanan earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida, master’s degree in public policy and PhD in public policy from Liberty University. These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Scott Sturgill to the Seminole State College District Board of Trustees
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Scott Sturgill to the Seminole State College District Board of Trustees.
Scott Sturgill
Sturgill, of Sanford, is Chief Executive Officer of Durable Safety Products. He is a Past Chair of the Greater Sanford Regional Chamber of Commerce and the AdventHealth Altamonte Springs board and currently serves on the Seminole County Industrial Development Authority. Sturgill earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Flagler College. This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Four to the Valencia College District Board of Trustees
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Daisy Lopez-Cid, John Martinez, Bobby Olszewski and Michael Sasso to the Valencia College District Board of Trustees.
Daisy Lopez-Cid
Lopez-Cid, of Kissimmee, is a real estate broker and owner of ReMax Premier Properties. She is the current Vice Chair of the Valencia College District Board of Trustees and is a Past President of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals and the Osceola County Association of Realtors.
John Martinez
Martinez, of Orlando, is Executive Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Previously, he was Director of PNC Bank’s Capital Markets and a member of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. Martinez is President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orlando and earned his bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and juris doctor from the Florida State University College of Law.
Bobby Olszewski
Olszewski, of Winter Garden, is Managing Principal of Emerson Management and Consulting Group. He is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives and former City of Winter Garden Commissioner. Olszewski earned his bachelor’s degree in organization communication from the University of Central Florida, master’s degree in corporate communication and technology from Rollins College, master’s degree in management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and PhD in business administration from Northcentral University.
Michael Sasso
Sasso, of Orlando, is an attorney and managing partner of Sasso & Sasso, P.A. He is a past Vice Chair of the Valencia College District Board of Trustees and the Immediate Past President of the Seminole County Bar Association. Sasso also serves on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Ninth Judicial Circuit and is a recipient of the Seminole County Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Service Award. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and juris doctor from Barry University. These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Two to the Tallahassee Community College District Board of Trustees
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Charlie Ward and Eric Grant to the Tallahassee Community College District Board of Trustees.
Charlie Ward
Ward, of Tallahassee, is a former professional basketball player and the current Head Coach of Florida State University Schools’ “Florida High” boys basketball team. A Thomasville, Georgia native, Ward attended Florida State University where he was a standout basketball and football player. After leading the Florida State football team to the 1993 National Championship and winning the Heisman Trophy, Ward was selected by the New York Knicks in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft. He’d go on to play eleven years in the league where he amassed 3,947 career points, 1,648 career rebounds and 2,539 career assists. Ward earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
Eric Grant
Grant, of Tallahassee, is President of Municode. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a member of the Young President’s Organization, Board Secretary of the Community Foundation of North Florida and a Board Member of the United Way of the Big Bend and the Maclay School Foundation. Grant earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the United States Naval Academy, master’s degree in national security studies from Georgetown University and juris doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
