About SFCC
Board of Trustees
Timothy D. Backer

Timothy D. Backer

is chair of the SFCC District Board of Trustees. He was appointed to the board in 2009, representing DeSoto County. Originally from St. Louis, Mo., he moved to Arcadia, Fla. in 1972. One of the college’s own, Backer graduated from SFCC with an Associate in Arts degree in 1975. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from the University of South Florida in 1983. A real estate appraiser since 1975, Backer has been adjunct faculty in real estate at SFCC since 1985. He is commander of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Auxilliary. He was a member of the Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department for 27 years, serving 24 years as chief. Backer is currently chairman of the DeSoto High School Advisory Committee. He is president of the DeSoto County Board of Realtors, an office in which he has served 12 terms. Backer and his wife, Pat, have three children--Tim, Jim, and Bryan.

Tami Cullens

Tami Cullens

is vice chair of the SFCC District Board of Trustees and has served on the board since 2006, representing Highlands County. She was born and raised in Highlands County, graduated from Avon Park High School, and earned her bachelor’s degree in retail from Webber International University. For the last nine years, Cullens has been an active member of the SFCC Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors, serving as secretary, vice president and president. She is a member of the Highlands County Outreach Board of Good Shepherd Hospice, has been a mentor with Take Stock in Children for six years, and was involved in planning Florida Hospital Heartland Division’s benefit galas for many years. Cullens follows in the footsteps of her uncle, Ronnie Sachsenmaier, and her brother-in-law, Jim Brooks, who both served on the SFCC District Board of Trustees in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Derren J. Bryan

Derren J. Bryan

of Bowling Green, has been the general manager and information technology director for Albritton Insurance Services L.L.C. since 2006. From 2000 to 2008, he was president of Net-Pro Professional Networking Solutions Inc. From 1997 to 2007, he taught science and coached at Hardee Senior High School, and from 1995 to 1996, he taught and coached at Port Charlotte Senior High School. His community involvement includes the Hardee County Chamber of Commerce, the Hardee Athletic Foundation, the Hardee County Economic Development Authority and the Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties Inc. Bryan received a bachelor’s degree from Western State College of Colorado. He succeeds Richard Maenpaa and is appointed for a term beginning Nov. 8, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015.

Dr. Louis H. Kirschner

Dr. Louis H. Kirschner

was appointed to the SFCC District Board of Trustees in 1999, representing DeSoto County. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, he graduated from Chicago City Junior College in 1963, attended Southern Illinois University, and graduated from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1972. He has been a chiropractic physician for 30 years. He has been chairman of the DeSoto County Republican Executive Committee since 1990.

Kenneth A. Lambert

Kenneth A. Lambert

of Wauchula, is the vice president of enterprise solutions for Knowledge-Based Marketing Group. Previously, he was a senior vice president for Merrill Corporation from 2009 to 2011, a self-employed marketing services consultant 2007 to 2009, senior vice president of Harte-Hanks Direct Marketing from 1989 to 2007 and vice president and officer with First Union National Bank from 1983 to 1989. Lambert served as a commissioner of the City of Wauchula from 2004 to 2009 and as mayor from 2000 to 2004. Lambert received an associate degree from South Florida Community College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. He succeeds Gary DeLatorre and is appointed for a term beginning Nov. 8, 2011, and ending May 31, 2014.

Lana C. Puckorius

Lana C. Puckorius

of Avon Park, is a retired certified financial planner. Previously, she was president of Puckorius and Associates Inc. from 1987 to 2009. She has served as president and a board member of the South Florida Community College Foundation. She succeeds Anne Reynolds and is appointed for a term beginning November 8, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015.

Kris Y. Rider

Kris Y. Rider

of Lake Placid, has been a bookkeeper for Michael A. Rider P.A. since 1981. She is a past president and member of Scholarship Recognition Inc. of Highlands County and received an associate degree from South Florida Community College. She succeeds Joan Hartt and is appointed for a term beginning Nov. 8, 2011, and ending May 31, 2014.

Patrick “Joe” Wright

Patrick “Joe” Wright

of Avon Park, has been the president of V&W Farms of Delray Beach since 1988 and president and board chairman of Southeast Milk Inc. since 1997. From 2007 to 2009, he served as a councilman for the city of Avon Park. A member of the board of directors of the National Milk Producers Federation and the Dairy Cooperative Marketing Association Inc. since 1997, he has been a member of the board of managers for Gustafson’s L.L.C. and NAD L.L.C. since 2004 and 2005, respectively. He was director and vice president of Florida Dairy Farmers from 1992 to 2010. Wright received bachelor’s, Master of Business Administration and law degrees from the University of Florida. He succeeds David Leidel and is appointed for a term beginning Nov. 8, 2011, and ending May 31, 2015.

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