Jose Perez

Dr. Jose Perez is a Professor of Business at Polk State College with over 30 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. He is also a certified SCORE mentor and a small business solutions manager, helping startups and established small businesses in Polk County. Before his career in higher education, Perez was the Tampa district manager for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants. In this role, he oversaw the daily operations for over 15,000 public foodservice and lodging establishments across a seven-county region in west-central Florida.

Professional and Academic Background

An accomplished academic and leader, Perez is a lead faculty member for Polk State’s Human Resource Management Program. He holds memberships in several professional associations, including the Mid-Florida chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the American Economic Association, the Corporate Finance Institute and the Florida Instructional Design Network. His expertise is further demonstrated by his role as a dissertation chair and his published works on topics such as organizational leadership, organizational behavior, global leadership and ethical leadership.

Leadership and Public Service

His commitment to public service extends to his current role as a board member on the City of Lakeland’s Civil Service Board and his past service on several nonprofit boards. Perez is also a proud military veteran and a former law enforcement officer.

Education

Perez holds an impressive academic record, including a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Organizational Leadership and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in finance, both from Nova Southeastern University. He also earned a post-doctoral certificate in global leadership from Colorado Technical University, a Bachelor of Arts in business from Ottawa University, a Bachelor of Science in business with a minor in economics from the University of South Florida and an associate’s degree from Glendale Community College.