Board of Trustees

CF has a board that brings strong leadership and unique backgrounds, adding to the diversity of the college’s leadership. Members of this board are appointed by Florida’s governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The chief administrative officer of the college is the president, who also serves as secretary to the District Board of Trustees.

2024-2025 Board of Trustees

Joyce Brancato recently retired as the CEO of Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center in Crystal River, where she had been employed for 30 years. She is currently an adjunct assistant professor with the University of Maryland University College. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida and a master’s in Business Administration from Nova University. She is past president of the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and is past chairperson of the Board for Nature Coast EMS Service. Brancato has served on the District Board of Trustees since 2011.

Rusty Branson is president of SouthState Bank in Ocala, serving in that position since the bank was chartered in 2007. He earned his Bachelor of Art in Finance from Florida State University in 1983 and his graduate degree in Banking from Louisiana State University in 1991. He is the past chairman of the Marion County Housing Finance Authority and currently holds board positions at the Chamber and Economic Partnership of Marion County, Childhood Development Services, the Southeastern Youth Fair and the State of Florida Board for the Prevention Network.

Bobby Durrance is retired from Levy County Schools after serving for 34 years. He served as the Testing and Truancy coordinator since 2000 and previously was the assistant principal of Bronson High School. He also instructed math at Chiefland High School and Cedar Key schools. He currently serves as chair.

Bill Edgar is chairman of a CEO/Business Owner think tank in Ocala and Gainesville affiliated with Vistage Florida and is also a licensed FranklinCovey facilitator through the College of Central Florida. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida, completing his postgraduate work in finance, accounting and taxation at the Fisher School of Accounting, University of Florida.

Fred Roberts Jr., from Ocala, is a partner and attorney for Klein & Klein LLC. He is a board member for Oak Hammock at the University of Florida and a member of the Marion County Bar Association. Roberts earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from UF and his juris doctor from Stetson University. He also has served as a member of the CF Foundation Board of Directors.

Charlie Stone, from Ocala, is the president and owner of Stone Petroleum Products Inc. He was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2012-2020 and a Marion County Commissioner from 2004-2012. Stone is a member of the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership and the Marion County Roadbuilders Association and is past president of Silver Springs Rotary Club. He also has served as a member of the CF Foundation Board of Directors. He currently serves as vice chair.