Governor DeSantis reappoints Leonard Boord, adds Gene Prescott to FIU Board of Trustees

Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the re-appointment of Leonard Boord and the appointment of Gene Prescott to the FIU Board of Trustees for five-year terms beginning Jan. 31, 2020.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Trustee Boord and we welcome Trustee Prescott,” said President Mark B. Rosenberg. “We are fortunate to have the leadership of these two business leaders with deep roots in the community who are dedicated to advancing FIU as a Top 50 University.”

Boord is a four-time CEO, focusing on innovation in the technology sector. He is the founder of Slon Capital, an investment firm, and is the managing director of Lydians Capital. He is the co-founder of Intotheblock, a crypto asset company. Currently, he serves on the board of Master Concession Air, an air travel concessions operator.

Born in Venezuela, Boord has lived in Miami since 1978. He studied computer science and math at the University of Miami. He is the father of two sons, one of them an FIU alumnus.

“As a trustee, I am eager to help the university further itself as a leader in innovation,” Boord said. “FIU is a beacon for South Florida, the country, and the world. I look forward to continuing to work with my fellow trustees and with President Rosenberg in the years to come.”

Prescott is a successful business leader, who has worked to secure South Florida’s role in the global marketplace. He is the owner, president and chief executive officer of Seaway Hotel Group, which operates the iconic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. He has served on the Board of Directors of the FIU Foundation since 2003.

Prescott grew up on a ranch in Idaho. He earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Idaho, his master’s degree in industrial administration from Carnegie Mellon University, and is also a CPA.

“I am humbled by this appointment and look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board to further the mission, vision and goals of FIU,” Prescott said. “My endeavors will be dedicated to ensure that FIU continues to provide a world-class education steeped in global learning and that its graduates become leaders in all walks of life as they pursue their careers”. 

Prescott succeeds Michael G. Joseph, former president of HCA’s East Florida Division, who served on the board since 2015.

The appointments of Boord and Prescott are pending confirmation by the Florida Senate.