Distinguished Alumni of the Year
Michael Williams
The 2013 Florida Gateway College Distinguished Alumni of the Year is Michael Williams. A native of Hamilton County, Mike graduated from Lake City Community College, now FGC, in 1981.
Following his graduation from Hamilton County High School in 1973, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving honorably for more than 20 years. During that time, Mike continued to further his education. Ten years after graduating from LCCC, Mike earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration in 1991 from Brenau University and a Masters of Public Administration in 2001 from Valdosta State University.
Currently, Mike serves as the Public Affairs Manager for Potash Corp. White Springs. Before that, he served as the County Manager of Hamilton County from 1998-2005.
Mike has proven instrumental in developing relationships between Potash Corp. and the North Florida community. In recent years, Mike has helped secure more than a quarter of a million dollars for program support at Florida Gateway College, and Potash Corp. is a lead sponsor on both FGC Entertainment and FGC’s news talk show, Perspective.
Mike is a big part of the United Way of the Suwannee Valley, and provides guidance at various levels due to his knowledge of the community and its residents, particularly those willing to assume active roles in volunteer capabilities. An example of this would be the assistance he has provided in identifying individuals in Hamilton County to assist in any United Way community efforts, such as the BEST Neighborhood Grant, which has projects in White Springs, Jasper, and Jennings.
Mike also serves on various boards of directors, including the Manufacturers Association of Florida, Florida Phosphate Committee of Continuous Existence, Lake City-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, and The Foundation for Florida Gateway College.
Mike and his wife, Laurie, live in White Springs. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Distinguished Alumni of the Year
Rhonda Sherrod
The 2013 Florida Gateway College Distinguished Alumni of the Year is Rhonda Sherrod. A Lake City native, Sherrod graduated from Lake City Community College, now FGC, in 1983.
Following her graduation, Sherrod attended the University of Florida in 1986 where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She later added a Master of Science of Nursing with a clinical specialty in Adult Health and a functional specialty in Administration from Valdosta State University.
During this time, Sherrod was busy advancing in her field – she began her career at Shands Live Oak as a registered nurse. Twenty years later, she left that hospital as its chief operating officer.
In 2007, Sherrod returned to lead the same hospital that she was born in, Shands Lake Shore Regional Medical Center.
Since then, Shands Lake Shore has undergone many changes – it has added a cardiac catherization lab; opened new physician practices and acquired new ones; began performing robotic surgery; and various renovations to the hospital. Shands Lake Shore has truly become a regional medical center located in Lake City.
In addition to her community involvement – which includes Altrusa International and various health advisory boards – Sherrod ensures Shands Lake Shore is involved in various community aspects. She is involved in everything from the March of Dimes to the American Cancer Society. Students in the FGC Nursing program perform many of their clinical rotations at Shands Lake Shore, and the hospital is one of the main employers for FGC nursing students upon their graduation.
Sherrod said Florida Gateway College provided a great foundation for her college studies and was a great stepping stone in her career.
Sherrod lives in Lake City with her husband, Leroy, and son, Tyler.
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