2018-19 Leadership Update: Sittema begins term as president, Schaefer moves to chairman
As Florida Citrus Sports kicked off its 2018-19 season on April 1, Tom Sittema, managing director of Riverbridge Capital, officially took over as the organization’s 42nd president, while outgoing president Pete Schaefer of Hannover Re began his one-year term as chairman.
Sittema will lead the day-to-day activities of the organization’s board of directors. The former CEO of CNL Financial Group, Sittema served on the organization’s associate board and elected board before joining the executive committee in 2013. He previously had a 27-year banking career with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Bank of America and is also a co-founder of LIFT Orlando, where he serves as board chair.
As chairman, Schaefer will continue his role on the board’s executive committee and also oversee Florida Citrus Sports’ team selection committee. The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business graduate is also an active participant on numerous life insurance industry committees and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Council of Life Insurers.
Andy Odenbach of Tavistock Group has completed his term as chairman but will remain a part of Florida Citrus Sports’ executive committee for two more years. Ken Robinson of Dr. Phillips Charities has been named president-elect and will begin his term in April of 2019. Robinson previously served as treasurer on the executive committee.
Additionally, Ed Dougherty of Massey Services and Paul Curran of Cox Media Group Orlando have moved from the elected board to join the board’s executive committee as treasurer and vice president, respectively.
Several new names were also added to the organization’s elected board of directors:
Scott Cathcart, SunTrust
Sharon Line Clary, Florida Hospital
Sandy Hostetter, Valley National Bank
Eric Marshall, Universal Orlando
Phil Zeman, CenterState Bank