Leadership Florida Welcomes Next President & CEO

FROM THE BOARD CHAIR

Dear Leadership Florida Members,

I am pleased to announce that the Leadership Florida Board of Directors has appointed John Gyllin as the next President and CEO of Leadership Florida. We look forward to welcoming him into the role on October 15, 2026. As we celebrate this new chapter, we also honor Wendy Spencer, whose passion, energy, and commitment have shaped Leadership Florida in profound and lasting ways. We are deeply grateful for her service and wish her the very best in retirement.

John is a proud member of Cornerstone Class 37, has served in several leadership roles for Leadership Florida including the East Central Region Council and is a Lifetime Member. 

John brings three decades of leadership experience in higher education, fundraising, and community engagement. Since 2011, he has served at Seminole State College, most recently as Vice President for Resource & Economic Development and Executive Director of the Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida. Under his leadership, the Foundation’s assets grew from $11.9 million to over $53 million, and annual fundraising increased from under $1 million to routinely exceeding $4-5 million.

His career also includes senior advancement roles at the College of Coastal Georgia, Northeastern State University, and Henderson State University. John holds a holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and both an MBA and BBA from Henderson State University.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, John is widely recognized as a gifted connector and someone who builds relationships, engages communities, and inspires collaboration. His statewide involvement includes service on multiple boards, including Greater Orlando Sports Commission, Florida Citrus Sports, and the Florida College System Foundation, as well as active participation in Rotary Clubs and Chambers of Commerce.

John’s experience leading teams, managing complex organizations, and engaging volunteer leadership makes him exceptionally well prepared to guide Leadership Florida into its next chapter. The Board and I are confident that his vision, energy, and deep commitment to our mission will strengthen our statewide impact for years to come.

John shared, “I am humbled to be selected as the next leader for this amazing organization, and excited to connect the love and passion I have for my home state of Florida and the people who make it so special. I look forward to all the opportunities we have together to strengthen this state, and each other. I am so appreciative to the Board leadership and search committee for placing their faith in me for this transformational opportunity.”

Current President and CEO Wendy Spencer shared her excitement about John’s appointment: “John is a tremendous leader whose passion for Florida is evident in everything he does. Leadership Florida will thrive under his guidance, and I could not be more enthusiastic about welcoming him as our new CEO.”

As Board Chair, I also want to express my sincere appreciation to the CEO Search Committee, chaired by Karen Moore. Karen, along with committee members Michael Wynn, Mark Wilson, Lila Jaber, Jessica Hays, Ron Christaldi, Kim Vassar, and Ginger Cruze, invested countless hours throughout this process that began in January. Their passion, diligence, and unwavering commitment to identifying the strongest possible leader for our organization have been extraordinary. I am deeply grateful for their work and proud to say: mission accomplished. We also appreciate the hard work of our professional search firm, DSG Global, represented by Cassie Scarano.

Please join me in congratulating John and welcoming him as the new President and CEO of Leadership Florida.

Warm regards,

Aundra Wallace

Leadership Florida Board Chair

Cornerstone Class 34

JAXUSA Partnership President