Our Trustee Program

Ben Sadler Florida Crystals Corporation

Ben Sadler is a native Floridian, having returned from a 20-year sojourn to South Carolina for college, law school, military service, and starting a family. He is employed as real estate counsel to Florida Crystals Corporation and its affiliates. Ben graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC, and attended law school at the University of South Carolina. Prior to entering active military service after the events of 9/11, he practiced law in Beaufort, South Carolina. Upon discharge from active duty, he returned to civilian life as in-house counsel for one of the largest power providers in South Carolina, focusing on real estate and economic development. Ben returned to his native Florida in 2018; in addition to spending time with his wife and three children, he is a member of the vestry at Holy Trinity, is active in his son’s Boy Scout Troop, and assists with his children’s rowing practice in North Palm Beach. He retired from the reserve components as a judge advocate major.

Tim Sargent Safe Harbor Marinas

Timothy (Tim) Sargent began his career with Arthur Andersen LLP as Tax Account Manager where his responsibilities included tax planning and compliance for both domestic and foreign corporations, and trust management for high-net-worth individuals. In 2004, he joined the privately held Huizenga Holdings company, serving as Chief Financial Officer of the Rybovich Boat Company, a super yacht marina and refit facility based in West Palm Beach, Florida. From 2011 to 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Tim to serve on the governing board of the 18-county South Florida Water Management District. Following the acquisition of Rybovich Boat Company by Safe Harbor Marinas in 2021, Tim was named Chief Operating Officer for Safe Harbor’s newly created International Division, which will be headquartered in Riviera Beach, Florida on the Rybovich Safe Harbor campus.

Jon E. Schmidt LEED AP Schmidt Nichols

Mr. Jon Schmidt is an award-winning landscape architect and LEED-accredited professional. He founded Jon E. Schmidt & Associates in 2000 with a strong focus on landscape architecture and site planning. After a tremendous amount of growth within the firm’s urban planning department, Jon E. Schmidt & Associates became Schmidt Nichols Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning in April 2017. On a daily basis, clients contact Schmidt for his expert analysis in implementing a plan for development opportunities with regard to historic preservation, transfer of development rights, and design standards for an economically viable project. Schmidt’s expertise in all aspects of entitlement, due diligence, site analysis, design, master planning and public representation has been applied to a wide range of projects, such as mixed-use, equestrian, industrial, institutional and multifamily developments. His community involvement is widespread throughout Palm Beach County. He sits on the Palm Beach County Planning Congress, as well as the Palm Beach County Development Review Officer Oversight Committee. Most recently, he was named the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches’ 2018 Small Business Person of the Year.

Dr. Debra Schwinn Palm Beach Atlantic University

Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, an accomplished higher education leader, innovator, scientist and physician, became president of Palm Beach Atlantic University May 4, 2020. Faculty, staff and students soon became thankful for the new president’s medical expertise as she led PBA through the challenges of COVID-19. The university not only survived, but thrived, adding numerous degree programs and developing plans for robust future growth. Dr. Schwinn also instituted “Wordship,” a university-wide emphasis to craft respectful words (spoken and written) that will build people up – not tear them down. Prior to joining PBA she served as associate vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. She also held leadership positions at Duke University Medical Center and the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Schwinn earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster in her native Ohio and her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. She is married to Dr. Robert Gerstmyer, a religious scholar. They live in West Palm Beach and have two adult children.