"Gene Engle is a legend in Polk County," says Dr. Marshall Goodman, VP and CEO of the University of South Florida Polytechnic.

A successful real-estate developer and broker, Engle has made a second career out of giving back to Polk County, where he was born and raised. A lifetime of service recently culminated in his appointment as chair of the University of South Florida Polytechnic Campus Board.  

"Because of my involvement in economic development I've always been very aware that good education is the basis of strong economic development efforts," says Engle, who received USF Polytechnic's Distinguished Service Award in 2003. 

Since establishing his own real estate development company in 1968, Engle has been actively involved in central Florida, holding leadership positions with the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeland Board of Realtors and the Sports Marketing Committee of Polk County, to name just a few. He was one of the founders of Leadership Lakeland, the Lakeland Economic Development Council and the Central Florida Development Council. He received the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce George Jenkins Award (the Chamber's highest honor) and the Florida Economic Development Council Volunteer of the Year Award for District 6.

Through his friendship with Sen. Curtis Peterson, who played a key role in bringing the PCC/USF campus to Lakeland, Engle first accepted a position on the USF Lakeland Advisory Board, which he later chaired. 

"I enjoyed that involvement," says Engle. "I then served on the USF Lakeland Business Advisory Board and became more interested in the importance of, and relationship between, the university and economic development efforts."

He also served in Tampa for seven years on the board of the USF Foundation. As a member of the university's primary fund raising entity, Engle helped promote higher education in general, and specifically encouraged the advancement of teaching, research and public service through private support for the university's academic and student development endeavors.

When the Florida Board of Governors appointed him to the USF Board of Trustees in 2007, Engle became the first person from Polk County to serve in that capacity.

"With the coming of Dr. Marshall Goodman, and realizing his vision of a new polytechnic campus, I felt I could continue to help the university by serving on the Board of Trustees in Tampa," he says.

As a trustee, Engle also serves on the USF Lakeland Campus Master Planning Steering Committee and the USF Board of Trustees Academics and Campus Environment Work Group.  

Although Engle tends to downplay his accomplishments, when asked he says his most important contribution to the Board of Trustees has been helping to foster a more positive attitude to the USF Polytechnic campus.

"Doing so has given us more representation and strengthened us within the USF system," he says. "I'm proud of helping to increasing the visibility of USF in central Florida and with USF constituents and community members alike."

Asked to describe his leadership style, Engle says, "I'm a peacemaker. My experience is in negotiating real estate deals, so I negotiate all the time. I help bring people together."

"Being appointed by the Board of Governors to the Board of Trustees is a tremendous honor. Now to chair the USF Polytechnic Campus Board is even more exciting with the potential of the new campus. "

According to Engle, "The new campus will be a major driver for economic development and for creating higher-paying jobs and attracting good clean industries that will be good for our community. The development of the new campus will continue to bring a great deal of positive visibility to the university as a whole."

Looking ahead, Engle say the biggest challenge facing the new campus is funding. "Funding will require a great deal of financial support from individuals and corporations. Having a polytechnic university is critical to the future of this area."

As he considers the state of education in Florida, Engle believes funding education is a major issue, from K-12 to community colleges and state universities.

"The Board of Governors and the Legislature must work together to create a designated funding source and to bring educational levels in Florida to compare with other growth states," he says.

Engle says his association with USF has been especially rewarding.

"I have been treated very well by the university, and it has been a privilege to serve in several wonderful capacities. I enjoy the people, the quality of the university's leadership and the dynamic growth USF has experienced. I have been extremely fortunate to work with great leaders like President Judy Genshaft, VP and CEO Marshall Goodman and many others.  

"Every day is a learning day for me. I sometimes feel I get more back from the university than I give. I hope I can play some small part in the continuing success of USF. "