PCC District Board of Trustees

Polk Community College, like Florida’s 27 other community colleges, is governed by a locally autonomous District Board of Trustees that serves without compensation. The Trustees are vested with decision making power in all matters of college policy, programs, building, budget and personnel. The Governor of Florida appoints this group of seven outstanding local citizens. The Trustees meet once a month and contribute their time and talent to guide PCC in its mission of being a “quality-driven educational institution providing for the people of Polk County degree, career and lifelong learning programs within an environment of excellence and commitment to student success.”
Twyla G. Ely, Chair, is a political and media consultant, who has consulted on numerous political campaigns, including Sen. JD Alexander, Rep. Marty Bowen, Sen. Paula Dockery, Rep. Baxter Troutman. She is the former Executive Director of the Republican Party of Polk and staff assistant for Congressman Andy Ireland. She was selected to be on the 2005 PCC Presidential Screening Committee and served as press liaison during the presidential search. She is a former member of the PCC Foundation board. Past & present activities include: ACCT Trustee Member: Associate Member, Public Policy Committee; FACC Trustees Commission- Co-Chair, State Legislative Committee; Training for Guardian Ad Litem; Executive Board/Operation Troop Salute; Government Affairs Committee/Lakeland Chamber of Commerce; Leadership Council for MyRegion.org; American Business Women’s Association; Surrogate Parent/PCSB & leader of several volunteer programs in the public schools.	Gregory Littleton, Vice Chair, is president and chief executive officer of Citizens Bank & Trust. He graduated from PCC in 1987. He went on to attend Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee and graduated in 1989 cum laude. He has been at Citizens Bank & Trust since 1997 and has been president since 2001. He serves on the board of the Lake Wales Arts Council, Florida School of Preaching, Florida Bank Pac, Government Relations Council for the Florida Bankers Association, PCC’s Workforce Education Council and serves on the Polk Vision Steering Committee and is on the executive board and is Chair of the Economic Development Foundation. He is the Past President of the following: Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce, East Polk Committee of 100 and Central Florida Development Committee. He and his wife, Julie, and their two daughters, Currie Ann and Anna Beth, live in Winter Haven.
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Ricardo Garcia is the owner and operator of Gulf Coast Avionics Corp. of Lakeland and Pacific Coast Avionics of Portland, OR. He also is the owner and operator of two other Lakeland businesses: Sunstate Realty Investments Corp. and Polk Home Development Corp. He currently is an officer on the following boards: Vice President of Florida Aviation Safety Foundation, Secretary of the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In, Treasurer of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of West Central Florida. He is also on the Polk Museum of Art Board and a member of the Lakeland Association of Realtors.	E. S. "Ernie" Pinner is Chairman/President/ CEO of CenterState Banks of Florida, Inc. He is a former member of the PCC Foundation Board and past Chair of the Heart of Florida Medical Center Board. He is on the board of: Polk Museum of Art, Heart of Florida Education Foundation, Polk County Industrial Revenue Authority. He is the past member of: the Polk Museum of Art Board of Trustees, Imperial Symphony Orchestra Board, Polk Education Foundation Board and the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation Board.
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Dr. Neriah Roberts is Director of the Association of School Based Administrators; Deputy Superintendent of Polk County Schools (retired); Educational Advisor of the Lakeland Housing Authority, NAACP; Past Director for Lakeland Regional Medical Center, United Way of Central Florida, Salvation Army, Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, Youth for Christ, and Lakeland YMCA; Florida Association of School Administrators.	Cindy Ross is a homemaker, community volunteer and a substitute School teacher. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church, Lakeland. Cindy serves on numerous boards, including: Florida House- Washington, DC; Lakeland Council; Rochelle School of the Arts; PTSA Board and Student Advisory Council; George Jenkins High School. Cindy actively participates in FACC and serves on the South Eastern Nominating Committee for the national Association of Community College Trustees. She formerly served on the PCC Foundation Board. Cindy, who is a member of the Republican Women's Club of Lakeland, believes strongly in America's electoral process and has served as campaign coordinator and fundraiser for numerous political campaigns.
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Martha Santiago is the owner and Executive Director of Ace it!, Tutoring Services. It serves schools in Polk, Osceola and Hardee counties. She was an administrator for Polk County Schools from 1988 to 2006. She received the 2003 News Chief Central Florida Women of the Year award. She is on the Steering Committee for Polk Vision, Inc., and the Winter Haven Vision Process. She is a member of the Ridge Arts Association, active in various chambers, a former Junior League of Winter Haven and a former member of the International Toastmasters. She serves on the boards of: the Republican Women's Club of Winter Haven; the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of West Central Florida. She is a doctoral student at the University of South Florida and a former Adjunct Professor at Florida Southern College. She is also active member of New Hope Church.
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