New FAU Board of Trustees Appointments

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Brent Burns and Brad Levine and reappointed Mary Beth McDonald to the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees. Burns succeeds Thomas Workman, Jr. who has served on the Board since 2008. Levine succeeds Daniel Cane, the current vice chair, who has served on the Board since 2013.

McDonald, who has served on the Board since 2013, is the former mayor of the City of Vero Beach. She received her bachelor’s degree from FAU in 1974. In 2013, she was named a “distinguished alumni” by the Florida Atlantic University Alumni Association (FAUAA).

Burns graduated from FAU with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1981. He was named the 2016 inductee to the FAUAA Hall of Fame. 

“It is an honor to return to my alma mater and serve on the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees,” said Burns. “I look forward to serving on the Board with my fellow trustees to ensure that FAU continues on its path to becoming America’s fastest-improving university.”

Burns is currently the president and chief operating officer of JM Family Enterprises, Inc., a $15.1 billion diversified automotive company based in Deerfield Beach. JM Family is ranked No. 20 on Forbes’ list of “America’s Largest Private Companies.” It is also ranked No. 55 by FORTUNE® as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For®, its 19th consecutive year on the list.

As president and COO, Burns oversees JM Family’s three operating business units – Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, World Omni Financial Corp. and JM&A Group – and leads the organization’s overall strategic planning and diversification efforts.

Burns joined JM Family in 2000 with nearly 20 years of leadership experience in automotive operations and finance.

Levine is currently the chief executive officer of Tellus, LLC, based in Deerfield Beach. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his master’s degree from Schiller University. He currently resides in Boca Raton.   

Prior to Tellus, Levine launched and scaled the second largest life and annuity insurance processor in the country and maintains a seat on the board as a main shareholder. His entrepreneurial commitment to building solutions for the healthcare and government industries led him to launch Tellus in 2013.

“I am honored to have been selected by Gov. Scott and look forward to working with my fellow trustees, President Kelly and the entire FAU team to continue enhancing and building this great University,” said Levine. 

FAU’s Board of Trustees are a 13-member group responsible for cost-effective policy decisions appropriate to the University’s mission, the implementation and maintenance of high-quality education programs, the measurement of performance, the reporting of information and the provision of input regarding state policy, budgeting and education standards.