Home » Wakefield, Folliard Named To Florida Tech Board of Trustees

Wakefield, Folliard Named To Florida Tech Board of Trustees

By  //  January 25, 2014

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two distinguished tech graduates tapped

ABOVE VIDEO: Tom Folliard, president and CEO of CarMax, captivates and entertains attendees of the 2012 Great Place to Work Conference. Folliard, along with Tim Wakefield, are the newest members of Florida Tech Board of Trustees.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — Florida Institute of Technology announced today 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 1988 TECH GRAD, BASKETBALL STANDOUT

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, 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. (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)
Tom 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. (Image For SpaceCoastDaily.com)

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.

Long before taking his role as CEO at the nation’s largest online used car retailer, Tom Folliard maintained an impressive basketball record at the Florida Tech, scoring over 1,000 points. Folliard’s father coached the team and he shared a season with his brother Kevin. Both Folliard Jr. and his father were named to the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame. (Florida Tech image)
Long before taking his role as CEO at the nation’s largest online used car retailer, Tom Folliard maintained an impressive basketball record at the Florida Tech, scoring over 1,000 points. Folliard’s father coached the team and he shared a season with his brother Kevin. Both Folliard Jr. and his father were named to the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame. (Florida Tech image)

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.

Long before taking his role as CEO at the nation’s largest online used car retailer, Folliard maintained an impressive basketball record at the Florida Tech, scoring over 1,000 points. Folliard’s father coached the team and he shared a season with his brother Kevin. Both Folliard Jr. and his father were named to the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame.

Dr. Anthony J. Catanese
Dr. Anthony J. Catanese

“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.

“FromFlorida 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 PANTHER BASEBALL MVP, LONGTIME MAJOR LEAGUER

ABOVE VIDEO: Florida Tech has honored Tim 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. He is also a member of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

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.

Among the high points of Tim Wakefield's Major League career was 2004 when he helped the Red Sox win the ALCS against the Yankees, and then went on to pitch Game One of the World Series, as the Red Sox swept the Cardinals for their first Series title in 86 years.
Among the high points of Tim Wakefield’s Major League career was 2004 when he helped the Red Sox win the ALCS against the Yankees, and then went on to pitch Game One of the World Series, as the Red Sox swept the Cardinals for their first Series title in 86 years.

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.

Famous throughout Major League Baseball as one of its most charitable players, Wakefield won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010, which is presented to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.” (Image courtesy of the Boston Red Sox)
Famous throughout Major League Baseball as one of its most charitable players, Wakefield won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2010, which is presented to the player who “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.” (Image courtesy of the Boston Red Sox)

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.

SEE RELATED STORY: TIM WAKEFIELD INDUCTED INTO SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

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.”