Florida - Sunday March 5, 2023: Governor DeSantis has made the following nine appointments to Various State Authorities, Councils and Boards:
One appointment to the Tampa Sports Authority
Donald DeFosset - DeFosset, of Tampa, is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Walter Industries. He currently serves as a Trustee for the University of Tampa and a current board member of the Florida Council on Economic Education and the Florida Council of 100. DeFosset earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University and his master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University.
Three appointments to the State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision
Stormie Knight - Knight is a Policy Coordinator for the Executive Office of the Governor. Previously, she was the Deputy Director of Government Relations for the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers Association and an Adjunct Instructor of Criminal Justice for Saint Leo University. Knight earned her bachelor's degree in criminology and sociology and her master's degree in criminology from Florida State University.
Adrian Soud - Soud is a Judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal. He previously served on the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida from 2009–2022 and was appointed in 2017 as the State Courts System’s representative on the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. Soud earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his juris doctor from Stetson University.
Patricia Tuthill - Tuthill is the President and Founder of the Peyton Tuthill Foundation and an Operations Consultant for the Florida Youth Foundation. She has dedicated her time to advocating for victims’ issues and public safety. She is the recipient of the American Parole and Probation Association Judge Joe Keegan Award and previously served as Florida’s Delegate for the American Corrections Association. Tuthill earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Illinois University and her master’s degree in management from Troy State University.
Three Reappoints to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board
Jonathan “Scott” Christy - Christy, of Marianna, is a Trucking Supervisor for Anderson Columbia. A Commercial Driver’s License holder, he is trained in pre-trip and post-trip inspection, defensive driving, and load requirements.
Kathy Panozzo - Panozzo, of Jacksonville, is the Director of Trailer Maintenance at Landstar. Previously, she held the positions of Manager and Coordinator of Automotive Operations at Landstar. Panozzo is a current member of the Technology and Maintenance Council.
Scott Reagan - Reagan, of St. Johns, is the Safety Director at Centurion Auto Transport. He was previously a Field Safety Advisor with FedEx Freight. Reagan earned his bachelor's degree in political science from The Citadel.
Two appointments to the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
Cara Higgins - Higgins, of Key West, is the Owner of Cara Higgins Law Firm. She currently serves on the Key West Military Affairs Committee and the Key West Chamber of Commerce Board. Higgins earned her bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and her juris doctor from Villanova University.
Richard Toppino - Toppino, of Key West, is the President of Charley Toppino and Sons, Inc. He is a current member of the Key West Military Affairs Committee, the Florida Independent Concrete & Associative Producers, and the Florida Road Builders Association. Toppino attended the College of the Florida Keys and the University of Miami.