Board Committees

Until he retired, John G. Sample Jr. served as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Atlantic American Corporation from 2002 to 2017. The Atlanta, Georgia-based holding company operates through subsidiaries in specialty markets within the life, health, and property and casualty insurance industries. He also served as corporate secretary from 2010 until 2017. Prior to joining Atlantic American Corporation, Mr. Sample had been a partner at Arthur Andersen LLP since 1990.

Since 2004, Mr. Sample has served as a director and chairman of the audit committee of the board of directors of 1st Franklin Financial Corporation, a consumer finance company that originates and services direct cash loans, real estate loans and sales finance contracts through more than 375 branch offices operating throughout the southern United States.

Mr. Sample earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in accounting from Emory University. He earned his Certified Public Accountant designation in 1980 and is licensed in the state of Georgia.

Robert Antoine was a senior partner in the Deloitte & Touche Banking & Capital Markets Practice until his retirement in 2019. During his more than two decades with Deloitte, he advised U.S. and foreign institutions on a broad array of regulatory issues, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance, and supported many large financial statement audits across industries. As part of his work in Deloitte’s Federal Practice, he served many of the largest federal government agencies. Prior to joining Deloitte, Mr. Antoine held several executive positions in risk and financial management in the financial services industry.

Mr. Antoine is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor. He earned his accounting degree from the University of West Florida and holds a Master of Business Administration from Western New England College. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Florida Institute of CPAs.

William “Will” F. Butler is an accomplished real estate project and portfolio manager with more than 40 years of experience partnering with high-net-worth private, corporate and institutional clients throughout the United States on projects ranging from commercial portfolios to mixed-use facilities and residential developments. As founder and principal of Real Estate InSync (REI), Mr. Butler works closely with clients to assess needs, clarify goals, design comprehensive development solutions and manage programs to strategically reposition assets, brand properties and maximize real estate portfolios valued up to $100 million.

He formerly served as a senior vice president with The St. Joe Land Company, where he designed and implemented business models for five new product lines involving 250,000 rural acres across a six-county region in North Florida. Other previously held positions include principal of Boutin Brown Butler Real Estate Services, vice president with New York-based Landauer Associates, Inc., and real estate analyst and project administrator with Raymond-Kaiser Engineers, Inc.

He earned the prestigious designation of Counselor of Real Estate, signifying professional achievement as a trusted real estate advisor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in real estate from Florida State University and is a graduate of Leadership Florida and Leadership Tallahassee.

Stanley “Stan” W. Connally Jr. has been employed by Southern Company since 1989 and is executive vice president and chief operating officer. Southern Company is one of the largest producers of energy in the United States. From 2012 until the end of 2018, Mr. Connally was chairman, president and chief executive officer of Gulf Power Company, a subsidiary of Southern Company. He previously served on the boards of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Council of 100, Enterprise Florida, National Association of Manufacturers, Aerospace Alliance and Electric Power Research Institute.

Mr. Connally earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He completed executive education programs at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Academy for Nuclear Training's Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives.

Marshall M. Criser III is president of Piedmont University in Georgia. He is the former chancellor of Florida’s public university system, a post he held for nine years prior to his 2023 appointment at Piedmont.

As chancellor, he served on the Florida Talent Development Council and the Credential Review Committee. He is also a former president of AT&T Florida. Mr. Criser is a member and former chairman of the Florida Council of 100. His community service includes terms as vice chairman of the University of Florida Board of Trustees, chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Florida TaxWatch.

A Florida native, Mr. Criser graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and later completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

Kimberly “Kim” A. Crowell is the CEO and co-founder of Kalo Companies, which owns and operates more than 70 Jersey Mike’s Subs and Slim Chickens restaurant franchises and employs more than 700 people in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. She founded the company with her husband in 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Prior to entering the franchise industry, she practiced corporate law in Charlotte, North Carolina, specializing in commercial real estate and development. Since then, she has continued to use her legal knowledge to advise other franchisees and business owners on a variety of matters by serving on the International Franchise Association Board of Directors.

Ms. Crowell earned a Bachelor of Science in commerce from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She maintains her law licenses in both Florida and North Carolina.

William “Eric” Grant serves as a vice president at CivicPlus, a leading provider of innovative software and services to local governments across the United States. With extensive leadership experience in the technology and public sector services industries, Mr. Grant brings strategic insight and operational expertise to his role. He also serves on the advisory board of Ascend Capital Group, an investment banking firm based in Washington, D.C., where he provides guidance on strategic initiatives.

Prior to CivicPlus, Mr. Grant was president and CEO of Municipal Code Corporation, a company specializing in municipal code publishing and technology solutions, until its acquisition by CivicPlus. He joined the company in 2007 as vice president, was promoted to president in 2012 and later assumed the role of CEO in 2019.

Mr. Grant’s career began with service in the United States Marine Corps. He served with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001.

A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor, Mr. Grant also attended the United States Naval Academy and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, establishing a strong foundation in legal, strategic and international affairs.

Deeply committed to community service, Mr. Grant serves on the board of the Charlie Ward Champions Ranch, an organization dedicated to empowering future generations.

Marshall M. Criser III is president of Piedmont University in Georgia. He is the former chancellor of Florida’s public university system, a post he held for nine years prior to his 2023 appointment at Piedmont.

As chancellor, he served on the Florida Talent Development Council and the Credential Review Committee. He is also a former president of AT&T Florida. Mr. Criser is a member and former chairman of the Florida Council of 100. His community service includes terms as vice chairman of the University of Florida Board of Trustees, chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Florida TaxWatch.

A Florida native, Mr. Criser graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and later completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France.

William “Will” F. Butler is an accomplished real estate project and portfolio manager with more than 40 years of experience partnering with high-net-worth private, corporate and institutional clients throughout the United States on projects ranging from commercial portfolios to mixed-use facilities and residential developments. As founder and principal of Real Estate InSync (REI), Mr. Butler works closely with clients to assess needs, clarify goals, design comprehensive development solutions and manage programs to strategically reposition assets, brand properties and maximize real estate portfolios valued up to $100 million.

He formerly served as a senior vice president with The St. Joe Land Company, where he designed and implemented business models for five new product lines involving 250,000 rural acres across a six-county region in North Florida. Other previously held positions include principal of Boutin Brown Butler Real Estate Services, vice president with New York-based Landauer Associates, Inc., and real estate analyst and project administrator with Raymond-Kaiser Engineers, Inc.

He earned the prestigious designation of Counselor of Real Estate, signifying professional achievement as a trusted real estate advisor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in real estate from Florida State University and is a graduate of Leadership Florida and Leadership Tallahassee.

Kimberly “Kim” A. Crowell is the CEO and co-founder of Kalo Companies, which owns and operates more than 70 Jersey Mike’s Subs and Slim Chickens restaurant franchises and employs more than 700 people in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. She founded the company with her husband in 2009 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Prior to entering the franchise industry, she practiced corporate law in Charlotte, North Carolina, specializing in commercial real estate and development. Since then, she has continued to use her legal knowledge to advise other franchisees and business owners on a variety of matters by serving on the International Franchise Association Board of Directors.

Ms. Crowell earned a Bachelor of Science in commerce from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She maintains her law licenses in both Florida and North Carolina.

Laura L. Johnson is the founder and CEO of Coton Colors Company, a multi-channel designer and manufacturer of home décor and gift products with a national and international presence. She has more than 30 years of experience leading a high-growth business, building a strong brand identity and driving strategic expansion across retail, eCommerce and wholesale markets. Under her leadership, Coton Colors has been recognized as a four-time Inc. 5000 honoree for rapid growth and innovation.

She is actively involved in leadership and mentorship through Vistage Florida and the Female Founder Collective. She is also a dedicated partner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, designing exclusive products to support fundraising and awareness initiatives.

Laura L. Johnson is the founder and CEO of Coton Colors Company, a multi-channel designer and manufacturer of home décor and gift products with a national and international presence. She has more than 30 years of experience leading a high-growth business, building a strong brand identity and driving strategic expansion across retail, eCommerce and wholesale markets. Under her leadership, Coton Colors has been recognized as a four-time Inc. 5000 honoree for rapid growth and innovation.

She is actively involved in leadership and mentorship through Vistage Florida and the Female Founder Collective. She is also a dedicated partner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, designing exclusive products to support fundraising and awareness initiatives.

Robert Antoine was a senior partner in the Deloitte & Touche Banking & Capital Markets Practice until his retirement in 2019. During his more than two decades with Deloitte, he advised U.S. and foreign institutions on a broad array of regulatory issues, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance, and supported many large financial statement audits across industries. As part of his work in Deloitte’s Federal Practice, he served many of the largest federal government agencies. Prior to joining Deloitte, Mr. Antoine held several executive positions in risk and financial management in the financial services industry.

Mr. Antoine is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor. He earned his accounting degree from the University of West Florida and holds a Master of Business Administration from Western New England College. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Florida Institute of CPAs.

Bonnie J. Davenport has served as the president and founding principal of BKJ, Inc. Architecture, a Tallahassee-based commercial architecture firm, since 2011. A member of the American Institute of Architects and a Certified General Contractor, she also holds a certification from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. She has worked on numerous successful projects across Florida, building her reputation as a leader in our local community.

She is former chair and current member of the Urban Land Institute-Capital Region and serves on other local boards.

Ms. Davenport graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in design and a master’s degree in architecture.

William “Eric” Grant serves as a vice president at CivicPlus, a leading provider of innovative software and services to local governments across the United States. With extensive leadership experience in the technology and public sector services industries, Mr. Grant brings strategic insight and operational expertise to his role. He also serves on the advisory board of Ascend Capital Group, an investment banking firm based in Washington, D.C., where he provides guidance on strategic initiatives.

Prior to CivicPlus, Mr. Grant was president and CEO of Municipal Code Corporation, a company specializing in municipal code publishing and technology solutions, until its acquisition by CivicPlus. He joined the company in 2007 as vice president, was promoted to president in 2012 and later assumed the role of CEO in 2019.

Mr. Grant’s career began with service in the United States Marine Corps. He served with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001.

A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor, Mr. Grant also attended the United States Naval Academy and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, establishing a strong foundation in legal, strategic and international affairs.

Deeply committed to community service, Mr. Grant serves on the board of the Charlie Ward Champions Ranch, an organization dedicated to empowering future generations.

Ashbel “Ash” C. Williams is vice chair at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. With $3.7 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025, the firm is a global leader in investment management. He served as executive director and chief investment officer for the Florida State Board of Administration prior to his retirement in 2021. There, he managed more than $250 billion in assets, including those of the Florida Retirement System, the fifth largest public pension fund in the United States.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a trustee of the National Institute for Public Finance and serves on the board of the Economic Club of Florida. He is on the investment committees of the Florida State University Foundation, Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the investment advisory board of the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho.

He received his bachelor’s degree in management and a master’s degree in business administration from Florida State University and completed post-graduate programs at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.