The Collins Center is governed by a distinguished Board of Trustees. Our Board includes university presidents, executives of major corporations and senior professionals from throughout the state. Four former Florida governors have played significant roles in leading the Collins Center. The current members are featured on this page.
Click here to download a list of the trustees in print format.
Jeffrey S. Bartel
Hamptons Group, LLC
Coral Gables
Mr. Bartel is Chairman and Managing Director for the Hamptons Group, LLC. He previously served as vice president of regulatory affairs and, before that, as vice president of corporate and external affairs, both for FPL Group’s subsidiary Florida Power & Light. Biography
Peter L. Bermont
The Bermont Advisory Group
Coral Gables
For more than 30 years, Mr. Bermont has provided financial guidance to individuals, families, institutions and not-for-profit corporations. He is a nationally respected advisor and consultant who has served his community in many capacities and has been recognized and honored with many awards for his service. Biography
Barney T. Bishop III
Barney Bishop Consulting, LLC
Tallahassee
An outspoken advocate for the free enterprise system, Mr. Bishop is the President & CEO of Barney Bishop Consulting, LLC and former president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, which is known as one of the most influential voices of Florida Business. Biography
Robert A. Butterworth
Fowler, White Boggs, P.A.
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Mr. Butterworth has devoted much of his professional life to public service. He served four terms as Florida’s attorney general and was appointed to head the state’s Department of Children and Families when that agency needed significant reform. As attorney general, he was known for his advocacy for consumer protections, environmental laws and victims’ rights. Biography
Raoul G. Cantero, Esq.
White & Case Law Firm
Miami
Mr. Cantero was the first Florida Supreme Court justice of Hispanic descent and one of the youngest ever to sit on the state’s highest court. In his six years on the court, he heard hundreds of appeals and issued well over 100 majority, concurring and dissenting opinions. He was named by Hispanic Business magazine one of the top 100 Most Influential Hispanics. Biography
Mikki Canton, Esq.
AsiaAmericana International LLC
Coral Gables
A virtual force of nature in South Florida life for years, Ms. Canton is beloved in legal, business and political circles as one of the Best Lawyers in America and among the Florida Legal Elite. Biography
Betty Castor
Former President
University of South Florida
Tampa
Ms. Castor has a long and distinguished career as a public servant and educator, most notably as the president of the University of South Florida, the state’s Commissioner of Education, and president and CEO of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Biography
LeRoy Collins III
Daniel Risk Mitigation
Tampa
Mr. Collins is experienced in government, international business and start-up companies. He currently serves as the director of business development for Daniel Risk Mitigation, a Tampa-based company specializing in risk mitigation, training and security services. He is the grandson of Gov. LeRoy Collins. Biography
Albert E. Dotson, Jr., Esq.
Bilzin Sumberg
Miami
In the latter half of the previous decade, Ebony magazine named Mr. Dotson one of the nation’s most influential blacks and the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce named him national business leader of the year. An attorney who practices in the areas of land use, zoning and government relations, he is an executive committee member of the Alliance for Ethical Government and past board chairman of the Miami Dade College Foundation. Biography
Joel Embry
Civic Software, Inc.
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Mr. Embry is the founder of the walkable, mixed-use neighborhood Amelia Park in Fernandina Beach. An expert in New Urbanism, he is active in public policy discussions related to community building patterns and quality of life. He serves as director of 1000 Friends of Florida and was Founding Chairman of the Leadership Florida Institute. Biography
José Greer Jr.
FIU, School of Medicine
Miami
Dr. Greer is a recipient of the nation’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, for his pioneering work in creating health care programs for people facing homelessness and poverty. In awarding the medal, President Obama said, “It’s a life that might be distilled into a question Dr. Greer asks all of us: If we don’t fight injustice, who will? Biography
Brian Lucas
Bonita Bay Group
Bonita Springs
Mr. Lucas has an extensive background in management consulting and technology solutions. He is the Bonita Bay Group’s strategic planner and oversees all corporate operations. He was named to Gulfshore Business magazine’s list of 40 people to watch in Southwest Florida under the age of 40. Biography
Dr. William D. Law Jr.
St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg
Dr. Law is president of St. Petersburg College and the former president of Tallahassee Community College (TCC). At TCC, Law became well known as an advocate for, among other things, economic and workforce development, student success and community outreach. Biography
Joe Oglesby
Journalist/Media Specialist
Miami
As editorial page editor of the Miami Herald, Mr. Oglesby led a team of writers, editors and a cartoonist that determined the newspaper’s opinion and positions on public-policy issues. In retirement, he is directing the Haiti News Project’s effort to help Haitian newspapers recover from the 2010 earthquake. Biography
Kathy Baughman McLeod
Principal of KBM Strategies
Tallahassee
An energy and environment consulting firm serving domestic and international corporate clients focused on energy, water, resource productivity, and sustainability strategies. Biography
Andrew L. Rosenkranz
Director of Development and Associate Rabbi, B’nai Israel
Boca Raton
Biography
Merrett R. Stierheim
Miami
Most recently, Mr. Stierheim served as interim president for the Collins Center. He previously served as superintendent of the Miami-Dade school system, the fourth largest in the U.S. Mr. Stierheim has been known for his leadership abilities throughout his 45-year public service career, during which he served as Miami-Dade County Manager, the CEO of the professional Women’s Tennis Association, and President and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. Biography
Parker D. Thomson, Esq.
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Miami
Mr. Thomson is a partner in Hogan Lovells US LLP, a large international law firm. His practice focuses primarily on complex commercial and constitutional litigation. He has extensive experience representing clients before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals (11th Circuit), the Florida Supreme Court, and various state and U.S. federal courts throughout Florida. Biography
Trustees Emeritus (non-voting)
Jane Collins Aurell
Tallahassee
J.Clint Brown, Esq.
Of Counsel
Fowler White Boggs Banker P.A.
Tampa
Mr. Charles J. Zwick
Coral Gables
Honorable Bob Martinez
Senior Policy Advisor
Holland & Knight LLP
TampaLeRoy Collins, Jr. (deceased)
*Hon. LeRoy Collins (deceased)
*Chesterfield Smith (deceased)
