The role of leading Florida State University’s storied athletic support organization has come open just once since its formal organization 45 years ago. In 2020, Seminole Boosters, Inc. set out to attract an accomplished leader with multifaceted skills and both a vision and plan to maximize the effectiveness of one of the top programs in the country. FSU found that leader in Michael Alford, who has already enjoyed outstanding success during his first year at the helm.

Drawing on skills and experience from a remarkably broad-based career with championship organizations, Alford has rapidly transformed the Seminole Boosters into a team that matches his passion for ambitious goals paired with a comprehensive plan to achieve them.

In less than one year under Alford’s leadership, Seminole Boosters have added over 2,000 new annual members, raised $15 million towards a new football operations center bringing the total commitments to over $55 million, and increased total revenue compared to the previous two fiscal years.

Alford’s success at FSU should not come as a surprise given his accomplishments in previous positions during his 26 years in intercollegiate athletics and professional sports.

Alford came to Florida State from Central Michigan University, where he was Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics from 2017-20. His impact on Chippewa Athletics was remarkable and included surpassing the all-time department fundraising record in 2017-18 by 50 percent. Then, he led his team to a new record the next year and enlisted an all-time high of Chippewa Athletic Fund memberships.

Before CMU, Alford was the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and Administration at the University of Oklahoma from 2012-2017. At OU, Alford oversaw the ongoing efforts of the Sooner Club, the principal fund-raising arm of OU Athletics. Under his leadership, the Sooner Club set annual giving records for donations in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, while membership increased to an all-time high of more than 12,000 members. In addition, his team coordinated capital campaigns and other special projects, most notably, the campaign for a renovation and modernization of Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Before joining Oklahoma, Alford was Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships and Sales for the Dallas Cowboys (2008-2012). With the Cowboys, he cultivated corporate relationships that resulted in over $400 million in contractual revenue for the club. In his role, he managed all aspects of programming for Cowboys Stadium.

Prior to joining the Cowboys, Alford was the General Manager of Crimson Tide Sports Marketing at the University of Alabama (from 2004 to 2008). Crimson Tide Sports was responsible for the management of the media rights for Alabama. He provided oversight for all aspects of sales and marketing, including corporate sponsorships, radio and television, sports marketing, and the internet. He was also involved in contract design, negotiations and hiring of coaches, and the management and enhancement of ancillary revenue streams – including licensed apparel, merchandising contracts and concessions.

Alford also worked at ABC Broadcasting in Los Angeles, where he provided oversight of sports sales for both the Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Kings radio networks. Before ABC, he was Associate Athletics Director at the University of Southern California, where he oversaw all aspects of marketing, corporate sales and media contract negotiations.

Alford’s first position in professional sports was Corporate Sales Executive with the Cincinnati Bengals. In this role, he was actively involved in all facets of the planning, construction and corporate sponsorships for Paul Brown Stadium. In addition, he provided oversight for Ticket Marketing, Group Sales and Hospitality. His first position in Intercollegiate Athletics was at the University of Cincinnati as Assistant Director of Marketing.

Alford played baseball at Mississippi State before transferring to UAB, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication in 1993. He received a master’s in Athletics Administration from the University of Arkansas in 1995.

Alford is married to Laura, a former collegiate volleyball student-athlete at Hawaii. They have three daughters Audrey, Ashley and Anna Leigh.

@SeminoleAlford

Stephen Ponder most recently served as Deputy Athletics Director at Ole Miss in 2016-17 and Senior Executive Associate Athletics Director from 2012-2016. While there, he led the ultra-successful Forward Together Campaign at Ole Miss that surpassed its $150 million goal by $20 million. He also was responsible for oversight and project management on a $100 million football facilities improvement project, a $95 million basketball facility as well as a baseball and a varsity sport facility.

Prior to Ole Miss, Ponder was Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at Arizona State where he is credited with increasing athletics fundraising from $7.5 million when he joined the Sun Devils in 2006 to $25 million in 2012.

A 1989 graduate of NC State, Ponder worked for the Wolfpack from 1991-2006 rising to Associate Athletic Director and Associate Executive Director of the Wolfpack Club. Among his many accomplishments at NC State was securing $55 million for the expansion of the football stadium and $65 million to build a new basketball arena. Most recently, Ponder was with Balch Sports where he worked with high-level collegiate coaches and served as a consultant to intercollegiate athletic programs.

Stephen and his wife, Sloane, have two sons – Stetson and Stratton.

Derril Beech started her career with Seminole Boosters in 2005 and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Annual Giving and Marketing.

Additionally, she provides oversight to the Coaches Clubs, Seminole Student Boosters and member engagement. Over the past decade, she has worked primarily on the Annual Fund, helping to generate over $170 million in gifts.

Derril received two degrees from Florida State, and, as a student, was a founding member of the Student Booster organization that is now the largest student organization on campus. Derril and her husband Taylor have four children, are involved with their church and youth sports, and enjoy outdoor sports and visiting the coast.

Coming

J.P. Sinclair began his career as an auditor at Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. As a lifelong Tallahassee resident and Seminole fan, when the chance came to join the Seminole Boosters in 2014 he jumped at the opportunity.

Since joining the Seminole Boosters, J.P. has helped the Accounting Department make significant strides in monthly reporting and was heavily involved in the acquisition of debt for the Dunlap Champions Club and Stadium Renovation projects, and the CollegeTown phase III project. J.P. is married to Courtney and is an avid golfer.

Three words that describe Kari are dedicated, honest and loyal. Kari Terezakis moved to Tallahassee from Fort Pierce, Florida, in 2003 to attend Florida State. Soon after graduating, she began her career with Seminole Boosters and developed a passion for being in the "people" business. Over the course of 10 years, she has gained invaluable experience by working in various areas of the organization from customer service to special events and now donor relations.

Helping to create positive experiences for Florida State supporters through personal connections and outreach is what she enjoys the most. Recently, Kari has worked to develop a comprehensive stewardship program for donors of all levels with a primary focus on major and principal-gift level individuals and families, as well as implemented an endowment reporting process. Outside of the office, she likes to spend her time staying physically active, traveling and spending time with her friends.

Ben Zierden began his career at Florida State in 1999 as a graduate assistant in the Athletics Ticket Office, advancing to Assistant Athletics Director over 15 years. Under his leadership, the department grew from six to 18 full-time employees across Ticket Operations, Sales and Service. He joined Seminole Boosters in February 2014 as Vice President for Marketing and Annual Giving, transitioning to Senior Vice President for Operations in March 2016.

In his current role, he provides executive oversight of operations including systems, business processes, procedures, data management and support of organizational and specific department goals. He oversees the areas of Gift Processing, Advancement Services, Facility Operations, Trademark Licensing and also serves as liaison with the Athletics Ticket Office in the administration of the FSU Priority Policy. Ben and his wife, Kim, have two daughters and enjoy spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Mike Dasher has been with the Seminole Boosters since 2015 and FSU since 2009 and oversees major gift fundraising, gift planning and is a principal gift fundraiser. Mike came to Seminole Boosters after serving as the Senior Director of Gift Planning at the FSU Foundation.

A native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and a 1999 FSU College of Business graduate, Mike was previously a Financial Advisor with Morgan Keegan in Tallahassee. His love of all things Florida State make this his passion to serve the many loyal and generous constituents of the university. He is married to Rachel, College of Nursing Class of '01, and they have a son, Daniel. Mike not only frequents baseball, football and basketball games but loves to fish, hunt and spend time traveling with his family.

Tom lived in Tallahassee since 1971. After beginning his career in 1970 working with First Boston Corporation in NYC he moved back to Tallahassee and completed his degrees at FSU while also serving as the GA basketball coach with head coach Hugh Durham. Upon graduation he accepted the head coach position at Maclay school in Tallahassee. He was the boys basketball coach there for 11 years, winning the boys state basketball championship in 1979 and Coach of the Year honor. He later accepted a position with FSU on Pat Kennedy's staff.

During that time the FSU men's basketball team had 7 post season tournament appearances, including 5 NCAA, with Elite 8, Sweet 16 and also Final 4 NIT appearances. After coaching, he joined the Seminole Boosters and has served as a major gift fundraiser for 21 years and most recently as Sr Vice President of Development. He has been involved in fund raising with the very successful capital campaigns starting with the Dynasty campaign to the Champions Campaign. He is Married top Pam Wood Carlson and they have 5 children. All have attended Florida State University, they are Erika Lord, Brandy Carlson Moore, Kayce Bonfield, Carmin Nedley and Benjamin Wood.

Eric Carr grew up in Richmond, Virginia, admiring the Seminoles from afar before attending and then graduating from FSU (2002). Eric’s career with Seminole Boosters began as an unpaid intern on the 30th Anniversary Bobby Bowden Tour, working closely with both former senior vice president and executive director Charlie Barnes and the late legendary Coach Bowden. He later enjoyed a successful stint in the publicly traded animal health industry and earned regional and national sales awards. Eric was then recruited by former president and CEO Andy Miller to return to Seminole Boosters in 2009 – this time as a development officer.

He served the final seven years of Miller’s tenure as a member of his executive team. Eric’s Seminole Boosters career fundraising total exceeds $75 million in commitments. He secured leadership gifts for Seminole Boosters’ Legacy Campaign, Winning Edge Campaign, Champions Campaign, and Renaissance Campaign, and landed the $20 million lead gift for the Unconquered Campaign. Since 2010, he has represented Seminole Boosters as an ex officio member of the FSU Black Alumni National Board of Directors. Eric lives in Orlando with his wife, Anne (FSU class of 2008), and their three young children, Roman, Aurora, and Dixon. The Carr family is active in Summit Church and enjoys anything having to do with faith, family, football, FSU, and their dog "Phoenix".

Colson Hosford joined the Seminole Boosters staff in April 2015 and serves as the asset manager for all SBI owned real estate assets. In 2016 he also began serving as a major gift fundraiser focusing on real estate gifts to the Boosters. Prior to joining the Boosters Colson was a member of the 2002-03 Football team as a walk-on WR and later played two seasons professionally in Europe with the Munich Cowboys.

Prior to playing football abroad he spent eight years in the Commercial Real Estate & Banking industries. Colson is a native Tallahassian and is a very average golfer and angler, but seems to really enjoy both. He and his wife, Katie (Class of '03), have been married since 2010 and have three sons and one daughter: Yancey (6), Duke (5), Winsborough (3), and Slater (1).

Kyle Kashuck started with Seminole Boosters in June 2019 and is a major gift fundraiser in NE Florida, focusing on facility and scholarship needs, as well as annual memberships. After two years in the Palm Beach territory, he was transitioned and moved to Jacksonville. He now is covering NE Florida, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming for the Seminole Boosters.

Kyle previously has worked with Maryland Terrapins and the Alliance of American Football- Orlando Apollos selling corporate partnerships, and luxury suites. He grew up in Clearwater, Florida and attended FSU as a student equipment manager for FSU Football under Coach Bobby Bowden for his final season in 2009 working with the football team until the 2013-14 National Championship season. In a five-year span Kyle was a part of five bowl game victories, three ACC championships and a BCS National Championship.

Kyle also worked at IMG Academy under Chris Weinke, worked as a UCLA Quality Control coaching assistant, and earned a double master's degree MBA/MSA from Ohio University. Kyle lives in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife Caroline and Mini Goldendoodle Kruz.

Kevin Smith joined Seminole Boosters, Inc. in April 2017 and oversees development for Tampa Bay and the West Coast of Florida, as well as IL, IN, KY, MO, while focusing on facility and scholarship needs and annual memberships.

Kevin previously worked nine years for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, mostly as Luxury Suite Manager and was responsible for client relations and retention for their luxury suite memberships.

Kevin was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, where his father, Hunter Smith (FSU class of '71), was the Head Athletic Trainer for the Indianapolis Colts for over 25 years. Kevin and his twin brother Brian (both FSU Class of '06), followed in Hunter’s footsteps to FSU. Both were student equipment managers for FSU Football under Coach Bobby Bowden's leadership from 2002-2005, and Kevin held Coach Bowden’s head set during the games. Kevin also interned in sales with the Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Colts, and earned a master's degree at FSU as a Graduate Assistant for the 2006-2007 football seasons.

He now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Lauren. Together they enjoy golf, bicycling, traveling, and spending time with their chocolate labs named Poppy and Boomer.

Hugh Tomlinson joined the Boosters in August 2016 and serves as our Director of Development and Planned Giving where he specializes in complex and deferred gifts. Prior to joining the team, Hugh was a successful business owner, and longtime Financial Advisor with North Florida Financial Corporation. He is a Thomasville GA native that came to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University where he graduated in 1994 with a BS in Economics. Hugh met his wife, Julie (C/O 1994), while attending FSU and they have been married 22 blissful years. They have three children, Tanner who is 12, Taylor Faye who is 15, and 17-year-old Maegan who has a scholarship to play softball at FSU. Hugh has been very active locally serving on several boards. Hugh is a current and longtime board member and a four-time President of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club, a Past Chairman of the YMCA, the current Chairman of the Board of Governors for the University Center Club, a current board member of Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates (NEBA), member of Springtime Tallahassee, and also serves as Chairman of the BluePrint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency's Citizens Advisory committee.

Chris Wilson joined Seminole Boosters in 2018 as Director of Development for the Greater Atlanta area and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Development.

He started his career with Florida State in 2009 as a graduate assistant in the Athletics Ticket Office, advancing to Director of Customer Service and Retention in 2015. He spearheaded the growth of the service and retention initiative at FSU from a 4-person team to a 10-person team over a four-year period that was responsible for retaining $40 million in annual donations and season ticket revenue.

A native of Lexington, SC, Chris earned his Master's degree in Sport Administration from Florida State University in 2011. Chris and his wife, Krizia, have two Brittany Spaniels – Harvey and Jackson.

The son of Cuban immigrants, Javi Garcia-Tunon was born and raised in Miami, Florida. After graduating from Belen Jesuit, Javi was recruited to compete for FSU's Track & Field team from 2004-2009. During those years, the team won 3 National Championships; '06, '07 and '08. Javi won the ACC Championship in the 400 meter hurdles in '09 and became an All-American with his 8th place finish at the NCAA Championship. Javi excelled in the classroom as well winning the Golden Torch Award (highest GPA) five years in a row, earning Academic All-American honors 4 years in a row and being named ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year in '09. Javi earned his BS in Business Management in '07 and MBA in '09. He worked for three years in the FSU Athletic Ticket Office and in 2012 returned to the front lines, the heart of Hurricane territory, to serve as a Seminole Boosters fundraiser for the South Florida area. Javi is married to a former FSU swimmer, Abbie, and they have three future Seminoles –Javi Jr., Lucy and Luke. Javi is proud to work every day raising funds for the athletic scholarships and facilities that he and Abbie both benefitted from.

James is a lifelong resident of Panama City Beach where he lives with his wife Connie who is also a Bay County native and Seminole sports fan. The Warrens' have two daughters and two granddaughters who also live in the area. Seminole Booster members and season ticket holders for 30 years, James and Connie have served as volunteer leaders for the Panama City Seminole Club and for Seminole Boosters, Inc. After a successful career as a housing contractor, James became an employee of Seminole Boosters, Inc. in 2007 serving our donors with season tickets and club seats before becoming a major gift fundraiser. The Warrens love to travel especially to Seminole athletics events.

Mark Cameron began working for Seminole Boosters, Inc. in 2011 and currently serves as the Vice President of Membership & Sales.

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Economics and B.A. in Communication in 2010, he joined the sports industry as an inside sales representative with the Pittsburgh Pirates later that year. Mark started with Seminole Boosters as a ticket sales Account Executive and was responsible for generating over $2 million in new ticket and booster revenue from 2011-2014. In 2014, he was promoted to Manager of New Ticket Sales, where he oversaw the outbound sales staff for Seminole Boosters. After being named Director of Ticket Sales in 2016, he was promoted to Sr. Director of Ticket Sales & Service in 2018, when Seminole Boosters expanded their sales department to include Customer Service & Retention as well.

Mark’s wife, Rachel, is also a Pitt graduate and earned her Master’s in Art Education from Florida State University in 2015. Together they have a son, Carter, and have enjoyed living in Tallahassee and being a part of the community since arriving in 2011.

Bo Nahstoll joined the Seminole Boosters in August of 2022 to help grow Booster membership in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and the Pacific territories. His goal is to engage the largest living Alumni in the ACC in those specific regions.

Bo comes to SBI from Wake Forest where he was a senior account executive on their ticket sales team. His primary focus for Wake Forest was season ticket sales through premium seating and annual fund memberships.

Bo is from Richmond, Virginia with a bachelor's degree from Old Dominion University and a master's degree in sport administration from the University of Louisville. He resides in Atlanta, GA with his dog, Maverick.

Ronnie Heard joined the Seminole Boosters staff in August of 2022 and serves as the Director of Development covering the Tallahassee area.

Ronnie previously operated as Team Lead at Regions Bank where he directed and collaborated with a team of associates to establish their branch as number one in the entire Regions Corporation. Prior to his banking and finance role, Ronnie was a Major Gifts officer at the University of Mississippi in the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation. He worked in a variety of areas including the Annual Fund and Priority Seating.

Ronnie was a four-year starter at the University of Mississippi, playing defensive back for the Ole Miss Rebels football team. He was the 10th recipient of the Chucky Mullins Courage Achievement Award, a defensive accolade for leadership, on and off the field. In 2000, as an undrafted free agent, Ronnie spent five seasons with San Francisco 49ers, and in 2005 he joined the Atlanta Falcons.

Ronnie is married to his college sweetheart LaToya Heard. They have three children, Kaitlyn Paige, 18, Parker Madison, 15, and Reid Emerson, 13.

Kacie Juday joined Seminole Boosters as an Account Executive in January 2022 and is now a Development Officer for the Tallahassee region. She was born and raised in a small town in Indiana, where sports quickly became her passion. After graduating high school, she began her collegiate basketball career at Stony Brook University, before transferring to Eckerd College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing.

She worked as a sales and marketing director in healthcare, the moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University, where she earned a master’s degree in Sports Administration.

While a student at Florida State, she was an intern with the Athletic Equipment department, working with the track and field, men’s and women’s tennis, beach volleyball and indoor volleyball teams. As a Graduate Assistant in the College of Education she taught undergraduate courses and worked managed the Dunlap Champions Club.

Juday resides in Tallahassee with her dogs Roscoe and Riley.