CHAIRMAN 
Brian Leaver ~ Tandem Construction

Principal / Sr. VP
Brian Leaver graduated from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, with a Bachelors of Science Degree after completing a double major in Construction Management and Architectural Design.
After spending five years in Orlando, Florida, where he was involved in construction of retail stores, office buildings, timeshares and hotels, Brian returned to his hometown of Sarasota, Florida and is currently a Principal and Senior Vice President of Tandem Construction.

Since joining Tandem, Brian has been responsible for Construction Management services at IMG Academy, Sarasota High School, Hudson Crossing Condominiums, University Professional Park, Glenallen Elementary School, Wilkinson Elementary School, ADF Dermatology and Skin Surgical Center, New Gate Elementary School Phases I and II, Gutierrez Dental Office, Serendipity Country Club, and multiple other projects.
Brian is a Certified General Contractor, a member of Church of the Palms in Sarasota, and a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame at Bowling Green State University.

Brian and his wife Katherine are the proud parents of three amazing children and are also licensed foster parents through the Safe Children’s Coalition.

Immediate Past Chairman
Kevin Hicks ~ Gator Grading & Paving

Kevin Hicks serves as CEO of Gator Grading & Paving, a company formed in January 2007 and is a Florida licensed General Contractor and Underground Utility & Excavation Contractor. He also serves as the President of Gatorgap, Inc. Kevin is a graduate of Manatee Junior College and attended the University of South Florida.
Kevin’s career in the construction industry began with National Paving, Inc of Berlin, NJ until he joined the US Army where he served as the Battalion Construction Sergeant with the 14th Engineer Battalion stationed in Ft. Ord, Ca. In 1978, Kevin re-entered the private sector, going to work for Gator Asphalt Company of Bradenton, where he ultimately became VP/GM and Part Owner. After Gator Asphalt was acquired by APAC in 2000, Kevin took a position as President of Mangum Asphalt Services of Raleigh NC. In 2003 Mangum Asphalt Services and CC Mangum Construction consolidated to form CC Mangum Company where Kevin served as the Sr VP/COO of this $75 million/400+ employee Heavy Highway Company.

Kevin has long been active in community affairs. He currently is a Director and Past Chairman of SCOPE, a Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, a member of the Bradenton Area EDC, a Director and Vice Chairman of Bay Village of Sarasota, a member, past VP and Director of the Sertoma Club of Venice, a Director and Secretary of the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, a member of Florida Transportation Builders Assoc., Asphalt Contractors of Florida, and many local Chambers of Commerce. Kevin is a Past President of the Venice Area Chamber, Past President of the Carolina Asphalt Association, served as Co-Chair of the Venice Shark’s Tooth Festival, past member of the Sarasota County Board of Zoning Appeals and City of Venice Zoning Appeals Board. He has also served on the Institute of the Ages Transition Team, Committee of 100, Metropolitan Planning Organization CAC, and is a 1988 graduate of Leadership Sarasota and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998.

Kevin has been married to his wife Linda since 1974 and has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. His current hobbies are boating and golfing.

CHAIRMAN-ELECT  
David Karins ~ Karins Engineering Group, Inc.

David Karins is founder and president of Karins Engineering Group, Inc., a professional service firm headquartered in Sarasota, FL offering Civil and Structural Engineering services for new construction and existing structures to government and industry. He is also president of the structural engineering consultant firm KWA Engineers, LLC headquartered in Tampa, FL. With well-established offices around Florida together the companies provide structural design engineering services throughout the United States; and forensic, building envelope and restoration consulting services throughout the state. Mr. Karins has civil engineering experience with practice specialization in structural engineering. His experience encompasses all aspects of the typical engineering project including analysis, design, plan preparation, specification writing, and report preparation, consulting during permitting and bidding, and field observations of work-in-progress. Mr. Karins is also specialized in commercial and residential structural design and threshold inspection for buildings ranging from one to twenty-six stories, and structural restoration consulting including damage survey, diagnosis, repair design, specification preparation, and field observations of work-in progress. Site development coordination, quality control and materials testing is also conducted by his firm.

Raised in St. Petersburg and a graduate of Florida State University, David came to Sarasota in 1995. David along with his wife Beth are the parents of four and love golf and boating.

VICE-CHAIRMAN
Michael Bennett - Bright Future Electric

Mr. Bennett took office as Manatee County Supervisor of Elections on January 8, 2013. Prior to that, he served in the Florida Senate from November 2002 until November 2012, Representing District 21, consisting of Manatee and Lee Counties and parts of Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto Counties. Mr. Bennett served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2002. He was involved in chairing and the directing Senate committees responsible for building codes, land regulation and other rules and regulations affecting the construction and development industries. Mr. Bennett was a legislator known to be a champion of business, a community leader, and someone who gets things done. He remains committed to those principles.

Born in Brainerd, Minnesota, Mr. Bennett moved to Bradenton with his family at 10 years old and is a proud graduate of Sarasota High School. Following high school, he joined the Navy and served 4 tours in Vietnam. After graduating with a BA and MBA from Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa), Mr. Bennett worked as an Associate Professor in the College of Business at Iowa State University, and subsequently at Drake University. From there he embarked on a business career ultimately founding Aladdin Ward Electric in Bradenton in 1985, and growing it into a thriving enterprise employing 175 people.

Currently, in addition to his duties as Supervisor of Elections, Mr. Bennett is a business development consultant with Bright Future Electric. In his spare time he serves on numerous community boards including the SANCA Foundation, the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange, the Florida Maritime Museum, and the Florida Defense Support Task Force. Mr. Bennett is an enthusiastic supporter of Mote Marine Laboratory, The Greater Sarasota Sertoma Club, and Southeastern Guide Dogs among others.

As a military veteran (U.S. Navy 1963 – 1967) Mr. Bennett remains devoted to veterans’ causes. His most treasured accomplishment is the fact that his lovely wife Dee said “yes” when he asked her to marry him. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in November 2016.