St. Petersburg College Board of Trustees
St. Petersburg College supports open access to all Board of Trustees information and provides this ongoing record of BOT meetings and decisions.
Requests for publications, documents, forms, applications, variances, waivers of agency rules, filing a petition for variance or waiver and other similar information may be obtained between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Requests can be submitted through e-mail, facsimile or phone by using the contact information on the left. If the request is submitted after 5 p.m., it is considered to be filed as of 8 a.m. on the next regular business day.
St. Petersburg College Board of Trustee members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. Generally, the role of the Board is described as that of policy and finance and the role of the President is described as administration and management.
Board Members
Jason Butts, Chair
Jason Butts, of Palm Harbor, is the President of SimplyIOA, a division of Insurance Office of America. Previously, he was the Founder and Owner of Commonwealth Insurance of the Bay Area. In addition, Butts serves on the Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors as well as the John Geigle YMCA advisory board. He is a lifelong resident of Pinellas County.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from the University of Florida in 1998.
Butts was appointed to the board in July 2021.
Katherine E. Cole, Vice Chair
Katherine E. Cole, of Belleair, is an attorney and shareholder at Hill Ward Henderson, where her practice primarily involves representing real estate owners in the development of commercial projects and residential subdivisions. Her practice areas also include land use and zoning, code enforcement and environmental permitting.
Cole earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee in 1995, and her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 2007.
Cole is the Chair-Elect for the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, and is a former member of the Charter Review Committees for both the City of Clearwater and Pinellas County.
Additionally, Cole currently serves on the Board of Directors for Morton Plant Mease Hospital. Since 2009, Cole has served on the Omelette Party committee, an annual fundraising event for The Arc Tampa Bay Foundation.
Cole was appointed to the board in March 2017.
Richard Franz III
Richard Franz III, of Clearwater, is the Chief Operating Officer at Sorren — a top 50 national CPA firm — where he plays a central role in developing and executing firmwide strategies while fostering a connected and values-driven firm culture. Before joining Sorren, Franz began his career at PwC in Tampa.
Franz is a graduate of the University of Florida and is an active member in his community, serving many leadership roles throughout his career.
Franz was appointed to the board in January 2026.
Thomas Kidwell
Thomas Kidwell, of St. Petersburg, is Vice President of Wealth Management for Cyndeo Wealth Partners.
Kidwell is a Yale University graduate and former Minor League Baseball player and coach with the St. Louis Cardinals system.
Prior to UBS, Kidwell worked as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He also serves as a board member with the St. Petersburg Police Athletic League.
Kidwell was appointed to the board in July 2019.
Danielle Marolf
Danielle Marolf, of Seminole, is the President, Founder, and Head of School for Wellmont Academy, where she has provided visionary leadership since 2013. Active in her community, she serves as Vice Chair and Treasurer for the Florida Coalition of Christian Private Schools Accreditation, and she has supported a variety of community outreach initiatives through school and faith-based partnerships.
Marolf earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in music from Houghton College.
Marolf was appointed to the board in January 2026.
Trustees emeriti of St. Petersburg College (formerly known as St. Petersburg Junior College) since the Board of Trustees was created in 1968 are:
- Arthur Libby Albers*
- Bridgette Bello
- Philip Benjamin*
- Evelyn Bilirakis
- Stanley A. Brandimore*
- Terrence E. Brett
- L. Chauncey Brown*
- Janice Buchanan Swartz
- Kenneth P. Burke
- Laurel J. Chadwick*
- Pamela Jo Davis
- Robert J. Fine Jr.
- Bill Foster
- Deveron Gibbons
- William W. Gilkey*
- Thomas H. Gregory*
- Lacy R. Harwell*
- Paul Hatchett*
- James E. Hendry*
- Ann G. Hines*
- H. W. Holland*
- W. Richard Johnston*
- Susan D. Jones
- Cecil B. Keene*
- Joseph H. Lang* (designated Chairman Emeritus)
- Beatrice Lewis*
- E. C. Marquardt*
- J. Patrick McElroy
- Demos A. Megaloudis*
- Gary Megaloudis
- Tim Noth
- Dale Oliver
- Reina C. Pollack
- Nathan Stonecipher
- Kenneth T. Welch
- Lauralee Westine
- Mac J. Williams*
- Robert C. Young
* deceased
You can contact SPC's Board of Trustees by e-mail at board@spcollege.edu or by calling 727-341-3241.
The Board of Trustees Governance Guide acquaints board members with their authority and responsibilities at St. Petersburg College.