Florida Tech Announces Newest Trustees; Alumni Folliard, Wakefield join university
MELBOURNE, FLA.— Florida Institute of Technology today announced the addition of two distinguished leaders to its Board of Trustees. Alumni Tom Folliard and Tim Wakefield are the newest members of Florida Tech’s leadership body.
Folliard, president and chief executive officer of CarMax Inc. since 2006, served as an executive vice president of store operations from 2001 to 2006. He joined CarMax in 1993 as senior buyer and became director of purchasing in 1994. Folliard also served as vice president of merchandising for CarMax Inc. and senior vice president of store operations. He was responsible for the design and development of the unique CarMax purchasing process, the buyer in training program and in-store wholesale auction system, and has overseen sales, service, store operations, inventory management and merchandising for CarMax Inc.’s retail superstores.
Folliard is a 1989 alumnus of Florida Tech, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business. The Panthers basketball standout was inducted into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and, in 2012, was honored with the Jerome P. Keuper Distinguished Alumni Award that is named for the university’s founding president.
“Rising to lead one of America’s most admired companies, Tom represents what’s best about American entrepreneurism,” said Anthony J. Catanese, president and CEO of Florida Tech. “From Florida Tech basketball star to Fortune 500 Company CEO, Tom’s a great role model for professional success. He’s an inspiration to the current generation of Florida Tech students.”
Wakefield, who was born and raised in Melbourne, played baseball for the Florida Tech Panthers. He was team Most Valuable Player as a first baseman and sophomore in 1987 and as a junior in 1988. His professional baseball career began when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 1988. Seven years later, he signed on with the Boston Red Sox and enjoyed a record-setting career.
Wakefield is well known throughout Major League Baseball as a significant contributor both on and off the field. He was nominated eight times by the Red Sox for the Roberto Clemente Award, presented to the player who best reflects the spirit of giving back to the community, and won the award in 2010.
In addition to raising money and awareness for Space Coast Early Intervention Center, Wakefield is actively involved in several charitable organizations throughout the Boston area. His Wakefield’s Warriors Program was created in partnership with Boston’s Franciscan Hospital for Children to bring patients to Fenway Park to share time with him on and off the field. He has also been active with New England’s Pitching in for Kids organization, a program dedicated to improving the lives of children across the New England region, and the Touch ‘Em All Foundation founded by Garth Brooks. He was a major contributor to the university’s Andy Seminick/Les Hall Field and helped add lights to the baseball field in 2011.
Florida Tech has honored Wakefield with a number of awards since his time as a student, including induction into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame, the Alumni Association’s Humanitarian Award, and Florida Tech’s most prestigious award, the President’s Medal.
“Tim’s had an outstanding career as a world-class athlete and also become a well-respected philanthropist,” Catanese said. “His leadership is welcomed by Florida Tech. It’s an honor to have him join our board.
“We are truly proud to count both of these outstanding individuals as members of our Board of Trustees,” Catanese added. “We look forward to working together as we create a bright future for Florida Tech.”
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