C.A. “Neil” Combee, Jr., was unanimously elected Tuesday by his peers to serve as Governing Board chair of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Other Governing Board officers selected today include Todd Pressman, vice chair; Jennifer E. Closshey, secretary; and Ronald E. Oakley, treasurer.
Chair Neil Combee
Combee of Lakeland was appointed to the Governing Board in April 2005. He is also co-chair ex officio of the District’s Peace River Basin Board. His term expires March 1, 2009.
Combee served as the Governing Board secretary and vice chair before being elected chair.
A Polk County native, he graduated from Lakeland High School, and attended Polk Community College and Florida State University. He has a Florida Real Estate license.
Combee also served on the Polk County Board of County Commissioners from November 1988 to November 2004, during which he was the Commissions liaison with the District. He continues to work on his familys farm and ranch, and is a realtor for Century Companies of Lakeland.
Vice Chair Todd Pressman
Pressman of Oldsmar was first appointed to the Governing Board in April 2005, and is also co-chair ex officio of the District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board. His term expires March 1, 2010.
Pressman graduated from Beachwood High School in Cleveland, Ohio and then attended Ohio State University.
Pressman has spent the last 17 years in the professional pursuit of land use issues, political campaigns and lobbying.
Secretary Jennifer E. Closshey
Closshey of Plant City was appointed to the Governing Board in April 2005. She is also chair ex officio of the District’s Alafia River Basin Board. Her term expires March 1, 2009.
Closshey served as the Governing Board treasurer before being elected secretary.
Closshey has been a Florida resident since 1956. She received Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Marketing and Business Administration from the University of South Florida. She is a licensed Florida Real Estate Broker.
Closshey is president, CEO, and owner of Ideas & Innovations, Inc., a strategic business consulting firm.
Treasurer Ronald E. Oakley
Oakley of Zephyrhills was appointed to the Governing Board in June 2007. He is also chair ex officio of the Withlacoochee River Basin Board. His term expires March 1, 2011.
Oakley graduated from Pasco High School in Dade City. He earned a bachelors degree in accounting from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN.
Oakley is executive vice president of Oakley Groves, Inc. in Lake Wales. He has spent the majority of his career in the citrus industry and has experience in the caretaking, marketing, processing and transportation of citrus.
In addition to his citrus industry experience, Oakley serves as director of Florida
Traditions Bank in Dade City and he is also a licensed real estate broker with experience in both real estate and land development.