Mr. Chapman is a veteran businessman with deep roots in the Florida citrus industry. He was an executive with Tropicana for over 20 years. After the freezes in the late 1980s, he decided to move with his family south to Hendry County and join Southern Gardens Citrus as Vice President and General Manager.
His wife, Donna, is an elementary school teacher at Country Oaks and children, Kyle and Lindsay, are graduates of LaBelle High School, Edison State College, and FGCU.
Tris Chapman demonstrated his remarkable work ethic from the very beginning of his career as he worked his way up Tropicana’s corporate ladder from laborer to Director of Citrus Processing Operations while attending college at night and on weekends.
Tris Chapman demonstrated his remarkable work ethic from the very beginning of his career as he worked his way up Tropicana’s corporate ladder from laborer to Director of Citrus Processing Operations while attending college at night and on weekends.
He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida (USF) in Social and Behavioral Sciences in 1980 and an MBA from USF in 1990. He is a firm believer in the ‘Best Practices’ and ‘Continuous Improvement’ models for success in both business and government.
In 1999, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Chapman to the Florida Citrus Commission where he served two, three-year terms. Chapman recently stepped down after 12 years as a Director of the Florida Citrus Processors Association. He served as that organization’s President from 2008 until 2010; he was a founding member and Vice President of the Hendry-Glades Leadership Board; he has been a Director for Fiberstar Corporation since 2004; he served as a Board member of Hendry County’s two regional planning organizations: FHREDI and SWFRPC, where he is credited with getting the votes to endorse SR-80 expansion and repair of the most dangerous intersection in Florida, US-27/SR-80.
Chapman asked to be appointed to the Hendry County Economic Development Council upon his election to the BOCC in 2008. Chapman believes that economic development is the key to growth and much needed job creation for Hendry County.
In 1999, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Chapman to the Florida Citrus Commission where he served two, three-year terms. Chapman recently stepped down after 12 years as a Director of the Florida Citrus Processors Association. He served as that organization’s President from 2008 until 2010; he was a founding member and Vice President of the Hendry-Glades Leadership Board; he has been a Director for Fiberstar Corporation since 2004; he served as a Board member of Hendry County’s two regional planning organizations: FHREDI and SWFRPC, where he is credited with getting the votes to endorse SR-80 expansion and repair of the most dangerous intersection in Florida, US-27/SR-80.
Chapman asked to be appointed to the Hendry County Economic Development Council upon his election to the BOCC in 2008. Chapman believes that economic development is the key to growth and much needed job creation for Hendry County.
He has directed a great deal of his time and energy to this critical initiative. “I am pleased with the steps that we have taken recently.” Chapman and five other members of the EDC Board hired Gregg Gillman less than a year ago and he is already making a strong impact by marketing Hendry’s attributes to potential clients.
Chapman goes on to say: “I am particularly excited that we are taking giant steps forward with the lifeblood of our community, transportation. The expansion and repair of SR-80, the extension of South Central Florida Express railroad, and the airport expansion, are all well into the planning and/or construction phases.”
Chapman says that the natural gas line installation to be completed in October will also help lead to new business development. “We need these critical infrastructure improvements to breathe new life and new jobs into our community to secure our future.”
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