Bill Cowles, Orange County Supervisor of Elections, BA, '76

Bill Cowles has been an integral part of the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office since 1989, after serving thirteen years on the staff of the Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America. He was elected as the Orange County Supervisor of Elections in 1996, and re-elected in 2000 and 2004. Bill supervises the sixth largest county elections office in the State of Florida. 

Bill has a monthly show on Orange TV called, "Elections and You, the Voter". He also serves on the Federal Elections Assistance Commission Standards Board, to which he was appointed in 2003. His other professional involvement includes being Past President of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections and Second Vice President of the International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials, and Treasurers. Bill is currently President-Elect for IACREOT and has been appointed (by IACREOT) to the 2007 EAC Board of Advisors.

Bill graduated in 1976 with a degree in Public Administration, from Florida Technological University, (now known as University of Central Florida). He is a member of the Alumni Association Legislative Committee.

Not only is Bill busy with his professional associations, he is also very active in his church and community. He is an elder at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church; a member of the executive board of Goodwill Industries; and a member and past-president of the Kiwanis Club of North Orlando. 

Bill has been married since 1978 to Cheryl and has two grown sons and one grandson.

Richard T. Crotty, Orange County Chairman and Mayor, BA '72

Richard Crotty grew up in Orlando, attending Orange County public schools, Valencia Community College and the University of Central Florida (then known as Florida Technological University) where he majored in Public Administration and Communications. The year following his graduation from UCF, Mr. Crotty was selected to the prestigious Florida Legislative Staff Internship program where he attended Florida State University completing a graduate level executive program in Public Administration. While in Tallahassee, Mr. Crotty worked on the Senate Staff and completed his service as a member of the United States Army Reserve, serving in a military police unit.

Upon his return to Orlando, Mr. Crotty launched a successful career in sales and management consulting. For the next three years, Mr. Crotty consulted a number of cities across the country under a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. He is credited with saving several cities millions of tax dollars by improving the efficiency of their solid waste collection systems.

Recognized as an up-and-coming leader for his work in our community, Mr. Crotty was selected to be a member of the Orlando Chamber of Commerce's' first "Leadership Orlando" program at the age of 27. At age 30, Mr. Crotty was elected to the Florida House of Representatives.

During his fourteen years of legislative service as a member of both the House and Senate, Mr. Crotty was known as a reformer and consensus builder who succeeded by working closely "with both sides of the aisle". His legislative accomplishments and awards are many.

The very first piece of legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Crotty changed the name of his alma mater from Florida Technological University to the University of Central Florida.

Rep. Crotty was the prime sponsor of a bill creating the first and most successful Prepaid College Tuition program in America. Currently, more than a million young people in Florida can hope for a brighter future because of the investment made in this program.

Mr. Crotty's numerous awards include the Distinguished Alumnus and Distinguished Service Award from UCF and the Leroy Collins Distinguished Alumnus award from the entire Florida Community College system. Mr. Crotty is most proud of the Allen Morris Award, bestowed on him by a secret vote of his House colleagues as the most effective member of his party in committee. The award, named after the late Clerk-Emeritus of the House, recognized Mr. Crotty's work on the Appropriations Committee.

One important appropriation placed in the budget by Mr. Crotty was the original funding of the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) at UCF. Subsequently, that industry has become vital to our region's success in the creation of value employment. Currently, there are more than 100 simulation related companies and a military presence of more than 16,000 people.

As a member of the Florida Senate, Senator Crotty served as his party's Floor Leader. Just before retiring from the Legislature, Senator Crotty passed his last bill creating the "Junny Rios- Martinez Act" which ensured that sexual predators of children would not qualify for early release from prison.

Anxious to spend more time in Orange County with his young family, Senator Crotty left the Legislature and was elected Orange County Property Appraiser in 1992. During his tenure as Property Appraiser, Mr. Crotty went to work using technology and innovation to streamline an already successful operation.

In 1995, The Orange County Property Appraiser's Office received two of the top five awards presented by the International Association of Assessing Officers. Mr. Crotty was ranked the #1 Property Appraiser in the nation with the Distinguished Assessment Jurisdiction Award. He also received the Public Information Award.

While Property Appraiser, Mr. Crotty attended the executive program for State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

On January 23, 2001, Florida Governor Jeb Bush appointed Mr. Crotty as Orange County Chairman shortly after President George W. Bush appointed then Chairman Mel Martinez to serve as Secretary of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). Chairman Crotty was elected to a full term in September of 2002 with 73% of the vote. In 2004, Orange County citizens voted overwhelmingly to change the county leader's title from Chairman to Mayor to better reflect his function as chief executive.

Mayor Crotty has taken tough stands to improve transportation and school capacity, while working with regional partners to protect our valuable water supply and diversify our local economy with an appropriate balance of high tech, high fun jobs. Mayor Crotty has drawn up a "Blueprint for Orange County's Future", focused on his top priority – effectively managing growth.

Mayor Crotty has been recognized by Orlando Magazine as the area's "Best Politician" in 2003 and 2004 and runner-up to Arnold Palmer as the person who "Best Exemplifies Orlando" in August of 2003. The publication also ranked Mayor Crotty at the top of the list of Orlando's 50 most powerful people in July 2004.

More recently, an Orlando Sentinel survey ranked Mayor Crotty #1 on its list of the "25 Most Powerful People In Central Florida.

Shortly after the terrorist attacks on our nation on September 11, 2001, Mayor Crotty gained international recognition for promoting our region's visitor economy on BBC World Television. He also appeared on the CBS Evening News, the Today Show, Good Morning America, the Weather Channel, CNN, Fox News and a number of other cable networks regarding Orange County's emergency management during Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne in 2004

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Mayor Crotty and his wife Pam live in Belle Isle with their daughter Christina and son Tyler.

Sharon Donoghue, Orange County Deputy Administrator, MPA '90

Ms. Donoghue has served as Deputy County Administrator for Orange County Government since 2000.   In that role, she oversees the Orange County Convention Center, all of the financial and human resources functions for the County, as well as various other administrative functions. She has been with Orange County Government in various positions since 1986.  Ms. Donoghue's longevity with Orange County Government began when she was an intern right out of college; she progressed through the Office of Management & Budget and then to the County Administrator's office in 1997 as an Assistant County Administrator.

After receiving her AA degree from the University of Florida, she went on to attain her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida (UCF).  With respect to professional and community involvement, Ms. Donoghue is a member of several professional organizations related to government finance, county management, human resources and employee wellness.  In addition, Ms. Donoghue currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Coalition for the Homeless, was a Board member/Board chair for several UCF Public Administration advisory boards and is a past member of the Junior League. 

Tom Harmer, Senior Director of Public-Private Projects for the Pizzuti Companies, MPA '01

Tom currently serves as the Senior Director of Public-Private Projects for the Pizzuti Companies, a national development and public consulting firm.  He has over 26 years of local government public sector experience retiring in 2006 as the City Manager for the City of Titusville, Florida where he also served as the Executive Director of the Community Redevelopment Agency. 

Tom has received a 25 year service award from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and holds certification as an ICMA “Credentialed Manager.”  He has also completed the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and served as an appointed commissioner on the Chief Fire Officer Designation Commission.  

Tom has been recognized by the Florida League of Cities in 2006 as “City Manager of the Year Finalist” and in 1999 was recognized Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet as Florida’s Fire Chief of the Year.   Upon retiring from the City of Titusville he was presented with a Key to the City and recognized as the longest serving manager in the City’s history. 

Tom was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to serve on the State Wildfire Commission following the 1998 wildfires.  He has a Bachelor Degree in Fire Safety and Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida where he also serves as the Vice Chair of the Public Administration Advisory Board and as an Adjunct Instructor teaching classes in local government and emergency management. 

Spencer Hawkins, Deputy Emergency Manager for the City of Orlando,  BA '02

Spencer Hawkins is the Deputy Emergency Manager for the City of Orlando.  He has been with the city since 2003 and has been working in emergency management in Central Florida for 8 years.  Before that, he worked as a Regional Emergency Response Coordinator for the Florida Department of Health, Office of Emergency Operations as well as a Special Projects Coordinator for Orange County Emergency Management. 

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Spencer attended the University of Central Florida and received a Bachelors Degree in public administration. He is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida. 

Spencer is currently a member of Central Florida's Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) as a Logistics Officer. To date, he has been involved with many disasters and special event situations such as Sept. 11th, Anthrax/White powder response, International G-8 Summit, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Jeanne, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. 

Dedicated to giving back the community, Spencer supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Guys with Ties Philanthropy, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Scleroderma Foundation, and the Florida International Volunteer Corps. 

Spencer enjoys being outdoors and his interests include camping, hiking, skydiving, whitewater rafting, SCUBA diving and water skiing. 

Dean Sprague, City Manager, City of Maitland, MPA '86

Dean was born in Belfast, Maine, and is extremely well traveled having lived and worked in the states of California, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Dean received his BA in Public Administration from California State University at San Diego, Certificate in Urban/Regional Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology, and his Masters in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida.

His well-rounded professional career began in the fast-paced advertising/marketing world where he owned his own marketing agency/film production company. He then turned to the government arena because of the opportunity to make a real contribution to life. He began the first 3 years of his local government career working as an area planner for the Volusia Council of County Governments.  He continued his career in government as a planner and later working directly for the County Manager as an Urban Administrative Services Director in Volusia County.  After leaving Volusia County he went to Brevard County as Director of Internal Services; then, later promoted to Assistant County Manager.  He came to Maitland in June of 1995 as City Manager where he still serves.

 Career wise, "watching people use and enjoy the services and facilities that you are part of creating" is what motivates him day in and day out. Success is measured by task completion and watching his children develop into productive citizens while pursuing and achieving their own dreams. Dean's motto or credo in life is "success, honesty, character, integrity, trust, and teamwork, without them nothing is sustainable." The most enjoyable part of his career is working with people; team building to address issues, problems, and opportunities.

In 1997 the University of Central Florida's Alumni Association named him "Health & Public Affairs and Public Administration's Alumni of the Year."

Dean and his wife Bev have two sons, Jason and Christopher, a daughter Britany and twin granddaughters.

Howard Tipton, Chief Admin Officer, Clerk of Circuit Courts Office, Orange County, Florida, MPA '90

Public sector career spans more than 26 years.  Leadership roles have included the current assignment as Chief Administrator Officer for the Office of Lydia Gardner, Orange County Clerk of Courts as well as serving as a Deputy County Administrator for Orange County.  He has served on a variety of boards and councils including the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Health and Public Affairs as well as the Public Administration Advisory Council (UCF); United Way’s Campaign Cabinet – Public Sector Chair; 9th Judicial Circuit’s Juvenile Commission – Chair of the Mental Health & Substance Abuse Subcommittee; Mental Health Association of Central Florida Board Member and Chairman; President of the Central Florida Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA); Elected to serve on ASPA’s National Council; WMFE Community Advisory Board.