Governor taps Ocoee resident for Valencia College board

Nearly two years after applying to serve on Valencia College’s board of trustees, Angel de la Portilla received his appointment from Gov. Ron DeSantis at the end of January.

The Ocoee resident received notice of approval from DeSantis’ office Jan. 27, making him the ninth member of the Valencia College District Board of Trustees.

Each of Florida’s 28 community colleges is under the local control of a lay District Board of Trustees. The board comprises local citizens who serve without pay but are charged with making decisions related to college policy, programs, building, budget and personnel.

All trustees are appointed by the governor. For Valencia’s District Board of Trustees, board members reside in Orange and Osceola counties. They meet regularly to help guide Valencia’s development and further its mission for and service to the community.

De la Portilla, 53, is the president of Central Florida Strategies, a government consulting firm that advises clients in the realm of real estate development, tourism and hospitality, procurement, and other local and state government matters.

He also served briefly as an Ocoee commissioner when Mayor Rusty Johnson vacated his commission seat in 2015 following his mayoral election. De la Portilla continues to serve Ocoee as a consultant on real estate and developmental projects. 

His interest in serving on Valencia’s board was piqued after his oldest son, Nicolas, was inspired to study economics and finance after taking a course at Valencia with professor Jack Chambless. It changed the course of Nicolas’ life. De la Portilla said his son will graduate this semester from the University of Central Florida with a degree in finance, and he already has a job lined up.

“I saw the remarkable change in him, and I attribute it to Valencia, their small classes and the ability for students to interact with professors,” de la Portilla said. “Students who don’t yet have a career path can go to Valencia and figure out which is their path in life. As a family, we had a very good experience there, and that’s why I requested to serve on the board. I wanted to help the cause and help other young people in this community that may not have their minds made up yet or might not have the access to education. (I wanted) to help promote Valencia College as a viable option for them.”

When de la Portilla heard there were some vacancies on the board, he immediately contacted Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez to submit an application, which he did in February 2019.

There were some delays in getting all of the positions filled — not only on Valencia’s board but also on boards across the state — partially due to COVID-19. But on Jan. 27, de la Portilla received the call.

The following day, he began his first four-year term. His first meeting took place Feb. 24, during which the board approved the contract for Valencia’s new president, Kathleen Plinske, who will replace outgoing president Dr. Sandy Shugart.

“It is a great honor for me to have this opportunity to serve the residents of Orange and Osceola counties on the Valencia (District) Board of Trustees,” de la Portilla said. “I look forward to being a (part) of the great team that Dr. Sandy Shugart has built as president of Valencia.”