Longboater tapped for board

SARASOTA — The Florida Board of Governors for the State University System appointed George Skestos, a Longboat Key resident, to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees.

Skestos founded Homewood Corp., a Columbus, Ohio-based homebuilding company, in 1963 and spent 25 years leading the firm, according to a news release. While CEO of the company, Skestos oversaw the construction of more than 10,000 multifamily and about 16,000 single-family homes, according to a biography on an Ohio State University website.

He served on the Ohio State University Board of Trustees for nine years, with one of those terms as president. He also served as chairman of the University East Hospital Board.

A native of Michigan, Skestos earned his bachelor's degree, M.B.A., bachelor of laws and law degree from the University of Michigan, according to the release. Skestos moved to Longboat Key in 2000.

His term runs through Jan. 6, 2013, completing the term of J. Robert Peterson, who died in March.