Appointed by Governor DeSantis:
Agency for Persons with Disabilities Taylor Hatch is the new director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Hatch, former Florida Department of Children and Families deputy secretary, replaces Barbara Palmer. Palmer, who resigned on December 31st, was appointed in 2012 by Governor Rick Scott.
Board of Governors of the State University System Appointed was Jose Oliva, Miami Lakes, CEO of Oliva International Foods and former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections Appointed was Leah Valenti, Port Charlotte, external affairs manager for TECO People’s Gas.
Mike DeNapoli Appointed executive director of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation was Mike DeNapoli. DeNapoli served as the director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Office of Small and Minority Business Capital and as chair of the Florida Development Finance Corporation. He replaces Trey Price.
State Agency and Department Reappointments: Pedro Allende, secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services; Jim Davis, secretary of the Florida Lottery; Melanie Griffin, secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation; James S. “Hammer” Hartsell, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs; Josefina Tamayo, CEO of Volunteer Florida; Dana Young, president and CEO of VISIT FLORIDA; and Jim Zingale, executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue.
Enterprise Florida Appointed CEO and secretary of commerce was Laura DiBella. Freddie Figgers was nominated to serve as vice chair of the Enterprise Florida board of directors.