Walt Disney World Resort President Meg Crofton, local attorney Marcos Marchena and veteran investment manager Robert A. Garvy are the newest members of the 海角直播鈥檚 Board of Trustees.

Crofton, Marchena and Garvy were appointed to UCF鈥檚 13-member board by the Board of Governors of the State 海角直播 System.

In her 30 years at Disney, Crofton has held a wide range of executive leadership roles and led an international task force responsible for opening six resort hotels at Disneyland Resort Paris.

As resort president, Crofton oversees a workforce of more than 62,000 cast members. She also is a member of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and served as its chair in 2009-2010.

Marchena is a UCF alumnus and vice chair of the UCF Foundation Board of Directors. A senior partner and president of the law firm of Marchena and Graham, P.A., he serves as general counsel for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Marchena was chair of the Florida Transportation Commission from 2004 to 2010.

Garvy has more than 40 years of experience in investment management. As chairman and co-CEO of INTECH Investment Management LLC, he helped build INTECH from a single product company into a multi-product global venture.

Garvy previously was a senior vice president at the investment technology firm Wilshire Associates, where he co-founded the company鈥檚 consulting division and helped it grow nationally.

Crofton, Marchena and Garvy will replace trustees Rick Walsh, Tom Yochum and Daniel Webster. Crofton and Marchena will serve five-year terms. Garvy is taking over Webster’s seat and will serve for four years.

Walsh, who has served as the Board of Trustees chair, is a charter member of the board. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from UCF. He is president of the Knob Hill Group, a private development and strategic investment company. He formerly served as senior vice president for Corporate Affairs of Darden Restaurants Inc.

Yochum, the former BOT vice chair, is a charter member of the board, and he serves on the UCF Foundation Board of Directors. He is chairman of the board for Seaside National Bank & Trust and serves as the director of Community Services and Business Strategy for the Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed law firm.

Webster is a veteran political leader who currently represents the 8th district of Florida in Congress. He served in Florida鈥檚 Senate and House of Representatives for 28 years, retiring in 2008 as the Senate Majority Leader.

鈥淭he 230,000 square feet of shared space in these three buildings anchors the $2.5 billion local industry in simulation and training that contributes so greatly to the economic well-being of Central Florida,鈥� said UCF President John Hitt. 鈥淲ith nearly 17,000 employees at more than 100 Central Florida companies, this industry is central to our region鈥檚 aggressive efforts at economic diversification and its bid for technologically advanced industries.鈥�

Partnership III also will enhance the safety and security of U.S. armed forces and allow UCF and its partners to expand their research capabilities in such areas as medical simulation, high-performance computing and mobile applications for training.

In one example, UCF and military research focuses on improving medical care in the battlefield to save the lives of military personnel and civilians. Such research also benefits law enforcement officers and emergency health care providers.

鈥淧artnership III is a fitting home for a world-class IST that is widely recognized as a major player on the international modeling and simulation stage,鈥� Navy Rear Admiral Tim Alexander said.

During tours of the new building, IST researchers showcased a variety of research projects. One of those simulations helps future teachers prepare for the challenges of a classroom. Exhibits also included a driving simulator, museum exhibits about the Everglades and gravity, and a simulation of the 1964-65 World鈥檚 Fair in New York City.

The ceremony celebrated the opening of the building and the longstanding partnerships that have made Orlando a national hub for simulation and training.

Speakers included Dean Cannon, speaker-designate of the Florida House of Representatives, and retired State Senator and UCF Board of Trustees member Dan Webster, both of whom led efforts to secure state funding for the new building. Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty and state senators Lee Constantine and Thad Altman attended the ceremony.

Partnership III is a mirror image of Partnership II, located next door. The building鈥檚 general contractor was Clancy + Theys, and the architect was Schenkel Shultz.

IST and Department of Defense agencies have shared the Partnership II building since it opened in 2004 and Partnership I since 2000.

Source: WMFE News, by Tom Parkinson, Friday, October 23, 2009