Campus Board
The Sarasota-Manatee Campus Board consists of seven community leaders who serve four year terms. The chair of the faculty senate or the equivalent and the president of the student body of the campus shall serve as ex officio members. Per Florida Statute, the board has the powers and duties which includes authority to approve and submit an annual operating plan, budget, and legislative budget request to the USF Board of Trustees. The campus board will exercise other such powers as are lawfully delegated by the University Board of Trustees to provide for the efficient operation and improvement of the campus. The board serves as campus advocates to the community.
Upcoming Meetings • Meetings Archive • Operating Procedures
Rick Piccolo – Chair
Rick Piccolo has been the president and CEO of the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) since 1995. After earning a bachelor degree in business administration from the State University of New York Buffalo, he began his career as a janitor at the Buffalo International Airport (BIA). He held several positions at BIA including building superintendent, property manager, assistant to airport manager and assistant director of operations. Locally, he worked in the operations department at Tampa International Airport and, prior to his position at SRQ, he was the assistant airport director at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.
Mr. Piccolo has served as president of the Florida Airports Council. He has achieved executive accreditation to the American Association of Airport Executives, the largest professional airport managers association in the world. Mr. Piccolo served as the 2007 chair of the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA). He also served as chair on the Board of Directors of Airports Council International.
The Florida Department of Transportation selected Mr. Piccolo as the 2005 Aviation Professional of the Year. The Federal Aviation Administration also chose him as the 2005 Commercial Service Airport Manager of the Year. In October 2009, Airport Revenue News announced Mr. Piccolo as the winner of the “Small Airport CEO of the Year for 2009.”
Mr. Piccolo is a past chair of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a past recipient of the Premier Volunteer Award, an honor given for his significant leadership commitment to the Chamber and community.
Term Expires: January 2026
Lisa Carlton
Lisa Carlton is an eighth-generation Floridian who, along with her husband, Rob Robinson, owns and manages the Mabry Carlton Ranch, a cattle and citrus operation in Sarasota County.
An attorney, she is known for her distinguished service as a Florida legislator. Senator Carlton was elected to represent the 70th District in the Florida House of Representatives in 1994. After two terms, she was elected to represent the 23rd District of the Florida Senate in 1998, where she contributed to the establishment of the current Sarasota-Manatee campus that opened in 2006. She served as appropriations chair under three Senate presidents and was president pro tempore of the Senate during the 2006-2008 term.
Senator Carlton serves as a member of the board of directors of Sarasota-based FCCI Insurance Group and is a founding member of the Florida Historic Capitol Foundation. Her record of public service has earned her recognition from many local and state organizations including Girls Inc., Stetson University, State College of Florida, the Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse, Florida Forever and USF. She has been honored with numerous awards for her work on red tide research and beach re-nourishment, and has received education awards from groups representing students, teachers, superintendents and school boards.
Senator Carlton graduated from Stetson University in Deland and attended law school at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. She and her husband, Rob, have three children.
Term Expires: September 2024
Anila Jain – Vice Chair
Dr. Anila Jain is a physician and medical consultant who resides in Manatee County. She is an active child advocate and volunteer in numerous community organizations at the state and national level. Dr. Jain was instrumental in founding Filling Area Needs, Inc. to assist abused and neglected children and families in need, and to render emergency assistance of food, clothing, medication, household items, etc.
Dr. Jain is an ardent supporter of the University of South Florida since graduation, and served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Anila was elected National Alumni Association President in 2003 and appointed to the USF Foundation Board of Trustees. Dr. Jain was the recipient of the University of South Florida Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985 and the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus President’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001. She has served as President and Executive Committee positions on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus Alumni Chapter for over 20 years and numerous campus-wide committees.
Dr. Jain was honored to Co-Chair the University of South Florida’s 50th Anniversary Committee in 2006; a year of special celebrations, events and programs for all four campuses. She is a Founding Member and Chair of USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy and serves on the Bulls Club Board of Directors for Athletics. Her dedication and support of her Alma Mater includes establishing multiple endowments and scholarships to benefit the University of South Florida in the areas of Women Health Initiatives, the Alumni Association, USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, Athletics and Women’s Sports.
Dr. Jain’s community involvements include: Women’s Resource Center of Manatee, Charter Member, Manatee County Library Foundation Board of Directors, Manatee Children’s Services Vice President, Secretary and Board, Manatee County Head Start Health Advisory Board Chair, India Association of Manatee-Sarasota President and Board Member, League of Women Voters, Manatee County Female Physicians, Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation Grants Committee, American Association of Physicians from South Asia, Easter Seals of Southwest Florida, and others.
Dr. Jain has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of South Florida; an MD from Spartan Health Sciences University, School of Medicine; and an MBA from NOVA Southeastern University. Manatee and Sarasota Counties have been home to Dr. Jain and her family for the last fifty plus years.
Term Expires: September 2024
Bill Mariotti
Bill Mariotti, the president and CEO of Mariotti Site Development Co., Inc., is a USF Sarasota-Manatee campus alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in business, with concentrations in management and marketing. He also is president of Mariotti Asphalt and Mariotti Utilities, a family-owned business since 1952, providing complete site development for residential, industrial and commercial properties.
Mr. Mariotti has received recognition in Who’s Who on multiple occasions. He was inducted into the Metropolitan Who’s Who Registry, of which inclusion is limited to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and/or achievement in their occupation, industry or profession. He is the past president of the Sarasota Site Contractors Association.
Mr. Mariotti is active in the community, serving on boards and committees of the Loveland Center, Children’s First (Head Start Program) and The Haven. He is a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and serves as treasurer of the House Corporation for the USF Chapter in Tampa.
Term Expires: June 2025
Diana Michel
Diana Michel is an ardent and longtime supporter of USF and the Sarasota-Manatee campus. She is a USF alumna who graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1988, She has served on the campus Alumni Association Board and was one of the founding members of the Brunch on the Bay committee that organizes the campus’ largest community fundraising event. Ms. Michel also served on the Sarasota-Manatee Community Leadership Council, received the campus’ distinguished alumni award and is a member of the Women in STEM Committee.
She recently established a scholarship in memory of her father, James E. Carla, to support student veterans at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, and earlier established the Barbara Michel Endowed Scholarship for USF Culinary Scholarships, in honor of her late mother-in-law.
Ms. Michel founded a marketing company, Michel Sports Marketing, in 1995, and has worked as a real estate professional for 20 years, currently licensed as a global luxury specialist with Coldwell Banker. In 2015, she founded Triax Precision Manufacturing with two partners to serve the automotive, medical, marine, aerospace and industrial-equipment markets in the United States, Costa Rica and Panama.
She has served on numerous boards and committees, both in connection with USF and in the Sarasota-Manatee community and beyond, including, among many others, the boards of the Sarasota High Cambridge AICE (Advanced International Certificate of Education), Cotillion Club of Sarasota, Impact 100 SRQ, Sarasota Crew and March of Dimes (national board).
She and her husband, William, have two children.
Term Expires: September 2024
Ernie Withers
Ernie Withers, a Youngstown, Ohio native, has enjoyed a distinguished 40-year career in the automotive industry and currently serves as general manager of Mercedes Benz of Sarasota.
He serves as both chair of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and trustee of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he is a board member for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Association, the Sarasota Salvation Army (Advisory Board) and the Manatee DeSoto Historical Society.
Mercedes Benz of Sarasota received the JD Power Dealer of Excellence Award in January 2020, the same night he took the helm of the Manatee Chamber.
Mr. Withers is a Miami Dade College North Campus and USF alumnus, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree from USF in social and behavioral sciences. While attending the university, he wrestled for the USF Wrestling Club in 1975 and 1976 and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in March.
He is married to Manatee County native Cindy Lou, whom he met in 1974 during an orientation class for transfer students at USF. The couple will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary next year. They have three children and eight grandchildren, all residing in Manatee County.
Term Expires: September 2024
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Vacant Seat Pending Appointment