The mission of the Department of Finance Professional Advocacy Board is, among other things, to prepare students for success in their careers, facilitate business opportunities for them and financially support the finance department and the College of Business.
Members of the board are highly regarded in their fields and represent diverse industries, viewpoints and communities. Serving three-year terms, board members meet twice a year and may meet intermittently when necessary.
To learn more about the board, please contact Gary Bliss, senior finance lecturer and board liaison, at gbliss@business.fsu.edu.
Board Chair
Peter Jones (B.S. Accounting, ’77)
Retired President, Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. and
Retired, Chairman, Franklin Templeton Institutional Inc.
Clearwater, Fla.
Board Members
Charles "Chuck" Adcock (B.S. Finance ’97)
President and CEO, FSU Credit Union
Tallahassee, Fla.
Niki Armstrong (B.S. Finance ’03)
Director of Institutional Sales and Business Development, Artisan Partners
Atlanta, Ga.
George Bchara (B.S. Accounting and Finance ’06)
Chief Financial Officer, Conn’s HomePlus
The Woodlands, Texas
Terin B. Cremer (JD/MBA ’10)
Managing Partner, Barbas Cremer, PLLC
Tampa, Fla.
David Diaz (B.S. Marketing ’83)
Investment Advisor, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Sea Ranch Lakes, Fla.
Sammie Dixon (B.S. Finance ’96)
CEO, Prime Meridian Bank
Tallahassee, Fla.
Alain Ferzli (MBA ’95)
Vice President of Finance, Accounting & Supply Chain, Virgin Voyages
Pinecrest, Fla.
Kevin Hawkins (B.S. Finance and Risk Management/Insurance ’87)
CEO, MidAtlantic Finance Company
Belleair, Fla.
Byron Holmes (B.S. Finance and Marketing ’91)
Managing Director, LoanStreet
Atlanta, Ga.
Kevin Kacer (B.S. Accounting ’11)
Partner, K-2 Ventures
Miami, Fla.
Todd Lazenby (MBA ’95)
Founder and Managing Partner, Royal Ascot Partners
West Palm Beach, Fla.
Holly Newell (B.S. Accounting ’00; MBA ’11)
Chief Financial Officer, Florida State University Foundation
Tallahassee, Fla.
Rueben Stokes II (B.S. Finance ’11; M.S. Marketing ’13)
Investment Banking Associate, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Miami, Fla.
Salmaan Wahidi (B.S. Finance ’04; MBA ’06)
Senior Director Commercial Finance and Credit, CSX
Jacksonville, Fla.
