Scott Appoints Fine, North, Burke, Gibbons to St. Pete College Board

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Robert J. Fine Jr. and Timothy O. North to the district board of trustees, St. Petersburg College, and reappointed Kenneth P. Burke and Deveron M. Gibbons.

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Burke, 51, of Seminole, has been the clerk of the circuit court for Pinellas County since 2005. He is currently a member of the St. Petersburg College Alumni Association board of directors and national board of directors of the American Association of Community Colleges. From 2001 to 2007, he was a member of the national board of directors for the Association of Community College Trustees and served as chairman from 2005 to 2006. Burke was also appointed by former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the U.S. Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and served on the work force committee from 2005 to 2006. Burke received his associate degree from St. Petersburg College and bachelors degree from University of South Florida. He has served on the district board of trustees of St. Petersburg College since 1999 and is reappointed for a term beginning Sept. 23, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015.

Gibbons, 38, of St. Petersburg, has been the vice president of public affairs at Amscot Corp. since 2005. Previously, he was senior government affairs adviser at Holland and Knight from 2003 to 2005 and director of government affairs for the Department of Community Affairs from 2000 to 2001. Gibbons received his bachelors degree from University of Florida and masters degree from University of South Florida. He has served on the district board of trustees of St. Petersburg College since 2006 and is the boards current vice chair. He is reappointed for a term beginning Sept. 23, 2011, and ending May 31, 2014.

Fine, 46, of St. Petersburg, has been president of Admiral Farragut Academy since 1998 and has served in various positions at the school since 1989. He has been a member of the Florida Council of Independent Schools since 1989 and served on the board of directors from 2005 to 2009. Fine is currently a member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools and National Association of Independent Schools. He is also past president of the Bay Area Association of Independent Schools. Fine received his bachelors degree from Carroll University and masters degree from National Louis University. He succeeds Richard Johnston and is appointed for a term beginning Sept. 23, 2011, and ending May 31, 2014.

North, 49, of Belleair, is the president and chief executive officer of AmeriLife. Previously, he served as a board member and past chair of the finance committee for the Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA). North received his bachelors degree from University of the South. He succeeds Evelyn Bilirakis and is appointed for a term beginning Sept. 23, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015.