Dr. D. Kent Sharples Dr. D. Kent Sharples was born and raised in northwest Ohio. He attended Bowling Green State University where he earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree. Upon graduation he moved to Athens, Ohio where he taught in the College of Engineering and Technology at Ohio University for seven years. Following his passion for Community Colleges he earned a PhD in Education Administration with an emphasis on Community Colleges. Following 30 years as a community college President, D. Kent Sharples was appointed as the first President of the CEO Business Alliance, a private sector initiative in economic development. The CEO Business Alliance is dedicated to improving the quality of life through the economic growth of Volusia County.

Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. celebrated its 100th year in Florida in 2002. In the early decades of the century, “Consolidated” was reputedly the largest land owner in Florida holding almost two million acres of land. It remains today the largest land owner in the Daytona Beach area with approximately 11,500 acres of undeveloped land. Consolidated-Tomoka is headquartered in Daytona Beach and its common stock is traded in the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CTO.