Biographies

Charles R. Baumann is Board Vice Chairman and  joined Kerkering, Barberio & Co. as a shareholder in 1981. He is especially noted for his work in tax consulting, tax appeals and litigation support.

    Following his graduation from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in Accounting, Mr. Baumann worked for the Internal Revenue Service for 13 years. He has been qualified as an expert witness to testify in civil litigation cases regarding income tax, business valuation and general accounting matters.  Former community involvement includes:  Members, United Way of Sarasota Board of Directors, Chairman, United Way Foundation Board of Governors, Chairman, Mote Marine Laboratory Advisory Board, Chairman, Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, Chairman, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Investment Committee, Member, YMCA Foundation of Sarasota Endowment committee, Honorary Member, The Great Outdoors Conservancy Board of Directors/Treasurer
    Mr. Baumann’s community involvement includes:  Chairman, Community Health Corporation Board of Directors, Member, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Board of Trustees, Member of University of South Florida Foundation Board of Trustees, Members, Sun Trust/Gulf Coast Bank Board of Directors, Member, Mote Marine Laboratory Advisory Council, Honorary Member, Mote Marine Board of Trustees, Member of the Sportsman’s National Land Trust Board of Directors
    Mr. Baumann and his wife, Linda, have two daughters – Kimberly and Kristen. The family’s enjoyment of outdoor activities ranges from sailing to backpacking.

Lynette Edwards is a Manatee County resident and 29-year employee of the School Board of Manatee County, and since 1998 has been Assistant Superintendent of Academics. Previously she was a teacher, dean of students, and assistant principal at Lincoln Middle School, a middle school principal at Louise R. Johnson Middle School, and Director of Personnel Management and Chief Negotiator for the school system. 
    She earned a Certification in Educational Administration and Supervision and graduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction from USF, and an undergraduate degree in Vocational Home Economics from Tuskegee University in Alabama.
    Ms. Edwards’ community involvement includes membership in the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the St. Petersburg Chapter of LINKS, and board member of the Family Heritage House, Rogers Memorial United Methodist Church, Central Community Development Agency, and Bradenton Front Porch Revitalization Council. She also received several education-related awards

Jan E. Smith, USF Trustee, is the President of Jan Smith &  Company, a commercial real estate and business investments organization in Bradenton. He is also Managing General Partner of Ramblers Rest Resort, Ltd., a 600-space recreational vehicle park in Venice, Florida. He is a member of the SunTrust Bank Gulf Coast Board of Directors, and a board member of Brown and Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO). He is also a member of the USF Sarasota-Manatee Community Leadership Council and Education Governance Reorganization Transitions Task Force of Florida. He lives in Manatee County. Mr. Smith chaired the Board of Trustees of Manatee Community College for 12 years, and is a past chairman of the Board of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, among many other community leadership positions. He has been a member of the USF Foundation Board of Trustees and inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame. He received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Florida.
    Mr. Smith also served as a member of the School Board of Manatee County for six months in 1974, having been appointed by Governor Rubin Askew to complete the term of a member who resigned the position. He did not seek election to the seat at the end of the term.

Cliff Walters, Campus Board Chairman, has been with Blalock Walters Attorneys at Law since 1976, and is an attorney and partner with this highly-regarded law firm. Walters resides in Manatee County and is currently a member of the Board of Directors for Beall’s, Goodwill Industries-Manasota,  and Retailers for Responsible Government.  He has been involved in many other community organizations over the years, including as past chairman and board member of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce; past president and board member of Kiwanis Club of Bradenton; a member of the Board of Regents for Leadership Florida; past president, campaign chair and board member for United Way of Manatee County; past president and board member of the Manatee County Bar Association; and, a member of the USF Sarasota/Manatee Community Leadership Council.
    Mr. Walters received his bachelor’s of science and juris doctor degrees from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.