DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES

 

Wendell D. Davis, Chairman

Wendell D. Davis joined the SJR State Board of Trustees in 2013. He is the senior vice president of Watson Realty Corp. He currently serves on the Clay County Commission. Davis served in the U.S. Army from 1964-1966, and in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1966-1987.

Following his two years of active military service, he coached high school football in Florida for 14 years and college football in North and South Carolina for 6 years.

Wendell served as President of the Florida Association of Realtors in 2010, the largest trade association in Florida with approximately 120,000 members, and was recognized as “Realtor of the Year” for 2011.

Davis is a University of Florida graduate. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical education, health and recreation, and his master’s degree in educational administration.

He was reappointed to serve a four-year term, serving July 23, 2021 – May 31, 2025.

 

Rich Komando, Vice Chairman

Komando, of Jacksonville, 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. 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 was appointed to a four-year term, serving July 23, 2021 – May 31, 2025.

 

Makayla Buchanan

Buchanan, of Green Cove Springs, is the Executive Director of the Clay Education Foundation. She was recognized in the Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and serves on the Clay Women’s Empowerment Council and the YMCA of Northeast Florida Advisory Council. She is a member of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce and the JAX Chamber. Buchanan earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida. She earned her master’s degree in public policy from Liberty University and is currently pursuing her doctorate in public policy.

She was appointed to a one-year term, serving July 23, 2021 – May 31, 2022.

 

Jan Conrad

Conrad, of St. Johns, is the senior vice president of commercial banking at Ameris Bank. She is vice chair of the board for PACE Center for Girls and has been a member of the Fleming Island Rotary Club. She is a former member of the Clay County Development Authority. She previously served as the chair of the Business Excellence Award Committee, an effort to promote and highlight business achievement in Clay County and was nominated by the Florida Business Development Corporation for the Small Business Advocate (SBA) of the Year Award in 2013.

Conrad was appointed to a four-year term on August 26, 2019.

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James Reid

James Reid is a certified public accountant in private practice. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. Reid is currently working as a financial consultant in the healthcare industry. He has also worked for over 20 years as a Chief Financial Officer in the healthcare and manufacturing industries. Prior to becoming a CFO, Reid worked for 18 years as a CPA including ten years as a Senior Audit Manager for Deloitte & Touche. Reid was a public sector specialist with extensive experience auditing State and Local Governments in Florida.

He has served as a Finance Committee Board Member for the American Furniture Manufactures Association and as President of a business condominium association in St. Johns County. Reid is also current member and past board member of the Rotary Club of Palatka-Sunrise.

Reid, his wife and three daughters are all Alumni of SJR State.

Reid is appointed for a term beginning December 6, 2018 and ending May 31, 2019.

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 appointed for a term beginning December 23, 2020 and ending May 31, 2022.

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Ron Brown, J.D., - Board Attorney


Joe H. Pickens, J.D. - Executive Secretary