Several people with UCF ties have been named to Florida Trend magazine’s 2020 Florida 500 list, which recognizes the state’s most influential business leaders.

The selections — chosen from 60 business categories — were based on their contacts in regional business circles, “culminating in a highly selective biographical guide to the people who really run Florida.”

Four people named to the list are on the UCF Board of Trustees: Chair Beverly Seay and members Alex Martins ’01MBA, Harold Mills and William Yeargin.

  • Seay, a longtime leader in Central Florida’s modeling and simulation industry, has served on the board since 2013. She is a member of the National Center for Simulation Hall of Fame and also served as chair of the Dean’s Industry Advisory Board for the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
  • Martins, vice chair of the board, is CEO of the Orlando Magic. He is also a member of the College of Business Hall of Fame, serves on the Dean’s Executive Council, and is a recipient of the university’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He earned his degree in business administration.
  • Mills is CEO of VMD Ventures, which focuses on enabling aspiring entrepreneurs who create technologies and tech-enabled services that create new market spaces.
  • Yeargin is CEO of Correct Craft, which manufactures fishing, utility and recreational boats and operates watersports parks.

Names of others with UCF roles:

  • Thad Seymour Jr., former interim president of the university, who retired earlier this year. He previously oversaw development of the UCF Downtown campus and was a senior vice president of Tavistock Development, where he led strategy and development for Lake Nona Medical City.
  • Clint Bullock ’95, is a board member of the UCF Foundation and general manager and CEO of the Orlando Utilities Commission. He earned his degree in marketing.
  • Brian Butler is a board member of the UCF Foundation and president and CEO of Vistra Communications in Tampa.

Other UCF alumni at organizations in Orlando and around the state:

  • George Cheros ’78 ’80MBA, president and CEO of National Center for Simulation, earned his degrees in accounting and business administration
  • Steve Hogan ’01, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, earned his degree in journalism and played football at UCF.
  • Inez Long ’98MBA, president and CEO of Black Business Investment Fund Florida, earned her degree in business administration.
  • Karen Moore ’79, founder and CEO of Moore Inc., Tallahassee, earned her degree in history and played volleyball and tennis at UCF.
  • Terry Shaw ’90MBA, CEO of AdventHealth, Altamonte Springs, earned his degree in business administration.
  • John Sowinski ’86, founding partner of Consensus Communications, earned his degree in public administration and was president of Student Government.
  • Rasesh Thakkar ’84, senior managing director of Tavistock Group, earned his degree in accounting.
  • Richard J. Walsh ’77 ’83MS, CEO of Knob Hill Group, who previously served as chair of the UCF Board of Trustees, earned his degrees in political science and public policy and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2014.

Ava Parker, a former member of the UCF Board of Trustees, is now president of Palm Beach State College, West Palm Beach.