Polk State College District Board of Trustees elects leadership for 2026-2027
The Polk State College District Board of Trustees elected its 2026-2027 leadership during its Monday meeting, where Ann Barnhart completed her service as Chair. Greg Littleton, who served as Vice Chair, was elected as the new Chair, and Steve Lester was elected as Vice Chair.
They serve alongside members Immediate Past Chair Barnhart, Ashley Bell Barnett, Kyle Davis, Cindy Hartley Ross and John Webb.
The District Board of Trustees is made up of members who are vested with oversight of all College policies, including matters related to programs, buildings, finances and personnel. Florida’s governor appoints the members who serve without compensation.
“Polk State College is fortunate to have a District Board of Trustees comprised of dedicated community leaders who put students first,” Polk State President Anastasios Kamoutsas said. “I am grateful to Immediate Past Chair Barnhart for her service, and I look forward to working closely with Chair Littleton, Vice Chair Lester and the Board to advance our shared vision for Polk State College.”
Littleton, a Polk State Distinguished Alumnus, is Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank & Trust. He graduated from Polk State in 1987 and went on to attend Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee, graduating in 1989 cum laude. He has served Citizens Bank & Trust since 1997 and became president in 2001. In 2022, he was named Banker of the Year by the Florida Bankers Association.
Littleton 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, Polk State College’s Workforce Education Council, the Executive Board of the Polk Vision Steering Committee 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.
Lester is also a Distinguished Alumnus who received his Polk State Associate in Science in Criminology in 1982 and a Polk State Associate in Arts in 1983. He serves as Chief of Staff for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office– a position he has held for more than 15 of his 40 years with the PCSO. Lester works closely with Sheriff Grady Judd and acts as Sheriff in all regards during the Sheriff’s absence. Lester holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the University of Florida and a Master of Public Administration from Troy University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 240 and the Senior Management Institute of Police, Session 41.
He is a member of the Polk State Alumni Association, Polk County Police Chiefs Association, Police Executive Research Forum, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Rotary Club of Winter Haven. He is also a graduate of Leadership Polk: Class II and, in 2023, was named one of the “10 Most Inspiring People” for Polk County.