Board of Directors

The Foundation is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors. Members are elected to three-year terms, and service is restricted to nine consecutive years. The Board meets quarterly.

  • Rev. Mark Becker -- Pastor, Orange Park United Methodist Church.
  • David Butcher -- Director of Civil Engineering, BCI Engineering, Lakeland.  Member of First United Methodist Church, Plant City.
  • Julia Cartland -- Partner, Mercier and Cartland, PA, Englewood. Member of Englewood United Methodist Church.
  • Andrew Craske – Vice President, Corporate Banking, BB&T. Member Anona United Methodist Church, Largo.
  • Sallie Shelton Culver -- Retired Assistant Principal Spruce Creek High School, Port Orange. Member of Stewart United Methodist Church, Daytona Beach.
  • Gary Davis – President, Citizens First Trust Company, The Villages. Member New Covenant United Methodist Church, The Villages.
  • Deborah R. Garvin -- Senior lecturer at Fisher School of Accounting, University of Florida. Member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Gainesville.
  • Charles Hackney -- Manatee County Property Appraiser. Member First United Methodist Church, Bradenton.
  • Elizabeth Knowles – Vice President, Sabal Trust Company. Member First United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg.
  • David P. Lyons -- Founder and chairman of Saddle Creek Corporation. Member of Beymer United Methodist Church, Winter Haven.
  • Rev. Walter E. Monroe, Jr. – Pastor Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church, Daytona Beach.
  • Rev. Richard Nussel – Pastor Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, Tampa.
  • Dyana Petro – Attorney. Member First United Methodist Church Orlando.
  • Vernon Swartsel – Attorney, Carlton Fields, P. A., Orlando. Member First United Methodist Church, Orlando.
  • Dennis Vlassis -- President and Chief Operating Officer, Gulf Stream Builders Supply. Member Faith United Methodist Church, Boynton Beach.

Officers of the Foundation 2008-2009

  • Chairperson: Vernon Swartsel
  • Vice-Chairperson: Andrew Craske
  • Secretary: Elizabeth Knowles
  • Asst. Secretary: Ginny Wood
  • Treasurer: Pam Hicks
  • Asst. Treasurer: Margaret Cox
  • President: Thomas W. Marston
  • Vice-Presidents: Christian Burns, Bonnie Ogie-Kristianson, John D. Peterson, Suzanne McGovern and J. Thomas Wilkinson

Non-voting, Ex Officio Directors

  • Bishop Timothy Whitaker – Bishop, Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
  • Dr. Montfort Duncan – Executive Director of New Church Development, Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
  • Milton E. ("Mickey") Wilson -- Treasurer, Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church