District Board of Trustees

The St. Johns River State College District Board of Trustees provides leadership and oversight in support of the College’s mission and the students and communities it serves. Appointed by the governor of Florida, board members represent the College’s service district and help guide policies and priorities that advance the continued success of SJR State.

Board Members

Jeremiah Blocker, J.D. – Board Attorney
Joe H. Pickens, J.D. – Executive Secretary

Rich Komando, J.D.

Chair

Komando is an attorney and partner at Bradley, Garrison and Komando, P.A. Previously, he was an assistant state attorney for the 4th Judicial Circuit Court.

He currently serves as Chair of SJR State College Board of Trustees. Komando has volunteered his time with First Coast Healing Hands, Project Cold Case, Florida’s Children First and the Jacksonville Victims Assistance Advisory Council.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminology and his master of business administration from Florida State University and his juris doctor from Loyola University of New Orleans.

He is reappointed to serve June 5, 2026 – May 31, 2029.

Nick Primrose, J.D.

Vice-Chair

Nick Primrose is Special Counsel at Jones Walker LLP. Previously, he served as the Chief of Regulatory Compliance at the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) and as Deputy General Counsel for Florida Governors Ron DeSantis and Rick Scott, and as the General Counsel for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. He currently volunteers his time for the betterment of the State of Florida by serving on the Board of SelectFlorida, St. Augustine Airport Authority, and the 5th District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Lake Forest College, his master's degree in public management from DePaul University, and his juris doctor from Barry University.

He is appointed to serve June 27, 2025 - May 31, 2029.

Alexandria Hill

Alexandria Hill (“Alex”) is an attorney and partner at Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow, PLLC, where she focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, franchising, corporate governance, and business law.

Previously, she served as General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of Maple Street Biscuit Company, where she helped lead the company's growth and sale to Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

She is active in the Northeast Florida business community and advises business owners and executives on strategic growth, acquisitions, governance, and succession planning. She also currently serves as a member of the Clay County Development Authority, the Board of the Jacksonville Bar Association, and the Board of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.

Ms. Hill earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from Stetson University and a juris doctor from the University of Florida.

She is appointed to serve June 5, 2026 - May 31, 2030.

Kevin Payne

Kevin Payne is a Senior Manager of Contracting at Imagine 360, a healthcare benefits management company.

Active in his community, he has served as President of the Jacksonville Association of Health Underwriters and on the Board of Young Life - Clay County.

Payne earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from The University of Texas and his master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma City University.

He is appointed to serve June 5, 2026 - May 31, 2029.

W. J. (Jud) Sapp, Jr.

W. J. (Jud) Sapp, Jr. is the Owner of W. J. Sapp & Son, Inc., which was founded in 1970. He is a State of Florida Certified General Contractor specializing in Railroad Contracting throughout the Eastern U.S. Also, he is a Florida Real Estate Broker.

Mr. Sapp graduated from Baldwin High School. He earned an associates degree from Lake City Junior College and a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. Mr. Sapp is also a United States Navy Veteran.

He has served on the St. Johns Country Day School Board in Orange Park, Florida.

Mr. Sapp is reappointed to serve June 5, 2026 — May 31, 2030.

Chereese Stewart

Chereese Stewart is the Assistant County Manager for the Clay County Board of County Commissioners.

She was previously elected as a Clay County Commissioner and currently serves as a member of the Clay County Development Authority, the Clay County Cattlemen Association, the Clay County Farm Bureau, and the Florida Planning and Zoning Association. Stewart earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and her master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of North Florida.

She is reappointed to serve June 5, 2026 – May 31, 2030.

Cyrus Zomorodian, J.D.

Cyrus Zomorodian is an Assistant State Attorney in the Fourth Circuit State Attorney’s Office.

He previously served as a member of the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism. Zomorodian earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from American University, his master’s degree in political science from the University of Alabama, and his juris doctor from Samford University.

He is appointed to serve January 3, 2025 – May 31, 2027.