Board of Directors

727-398-8286

• Attorney and Community Activist
• Serves on the following Boards: Academy Prep, Arts Alliance, St. Pete Free Clinic, YMCA, St. Pete Arts Advisory, COPAA

• Senior Judge, Florida Circuit Court, Juvenile and Family Divisions
• Adjunct Professor, Stetson University College of Law

• Retired Judge, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court
• Former Pinellas County Commissioner

• Public Policy & Administration Student
• Community Volunteer
• An outdoor enthusiast who loves the beach, parks, and camping

• Board of Trustees, St. Petersburg College
• CEO and Publisher, Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine
• Former Publisher, Tampa Bay Business Journal

• Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, Pinellas County
• Former Trustee, St. Petersburg College

Gershom Faulkner, has been motivated by service to his country and to the community. A decorated United States Marine, Mr. Faulkner served honorably during the Gulf War and was awarded several commendations. Mr. Faulkner exchanged his military service for service to his community. Mr. Faulkner serves as Deputy District Director & Military Liaison for Congressman Charlie Crist of the United States House of Representatives serving Florida’s 13th Congressional District.

• Director of Urban Affairs for the City of St. Petersburg. Her focus on the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area helps to leverage existing community resources and direct new investments in people, programs, and purpose in a way that will be impactful and sustainable.
• Passionate about the City’s My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper Initiative to better support African American young men and women through the Cohort of Champions program.

• President, Pinellas County Urban League

• SPC Alumni, Summa Cum Laude
• Former Registered Pharmaceutical Technician
• Former multi-award-winning International Model United Nations Delegate 
• Current Member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society of Psychology, The National Society of Leadership and Success, and The Golden Key Honor Society

• AARP Florida State Director since 2010
• Chair of the Florida Civic Advance. https://consensus.fsu.edu/fca/
• Past Board member and Program Chair of Leadership Florida, and past Board member of the Florida Council on Aging

• Associate Professor of Applied Ethics at St. Petersburg College
• Practiced law for ten years

• Public Policy Officer, Juvenile Welfare Board
• Former Florida State Representative & Mayor of New Port Richey

She has served on the board of WEDU-TV since 1993 and was the chair of its board from 2001-2003. From 2006-2008, she served on the board of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS), a nonprofit group that supports the continued growth and development of a strong and financially sound noncommercial television service. She also serves on the foundation board of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Ms. Sembler serves on the board of advisors of the Davidson Graduate School of Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, New York, and on the board of directors of the Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg in Florida, a privately funded middle school for students qualifying for needs-based scholarships. She also serves on the board of directors of the Florida Orchestra and was a member of the United Jewish Communities National Young Leadership Cabinet in the 1990s.

She began her career as a staff writer for the St. Petersburg Times (now the Tampa Bay Times) after earning her bachelor’s degree in newspaper journalism and political science from Syracuse University. She later earned a master’s degree in English from the University of South Florida.

Ms. Sembler lives in Seminole, Florida, with her husband, Greg. They are the parents of four adult children.