JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Gator Bowl Sports announced today its leadership for the upcoming year. David Boree, president of W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc., will take the reins as the 2016 chairman of Gator Bowl Sports.

Mr. Boree has more than 30 years of experience in both project design and construction, and began his contracting experience as a laborer working for W.W. Gay in the summers. Mr. Boree serves as a supervisor and proctor for the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) in the areas of Test and Balance. He is past president of Northeast Florida American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning (ASHRAE), Northeast Florida Engineering Society and State Chapter of NEBB. He served as a board member of the Association of General Contractors (ACG), Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI), PACE Center for Girls, Catholic Charities, Jacksonville University Council and the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

In addition to serving as chairman of Gator Bowl Sports, Mr. Boree’s current civic involvements include board member of Downtown Jacksonville Rotary Club, University of Florida Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board, University of North Florida Engineering Advisory Council and Northeast Florida Executive Board of Boy Scouts of Florida.

Mr. Boree received the State of Florida “Young Engineer of the Year” Award, issued by the Florida Engineering Society and the National Association of Professional Engineers. He graduated from the University of Florida where he earned his Mechanical Engineering degree. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Florida, Georgia, Texas and Arkansas. He is a certified Mechanical, Plumbing, Solar and Pollutant Storage Contractor. He has one daughter, Danielle. His hobbies include boating, fishing, scuba diving, golf, a variety of sports and snow skiing.

Chairman Boree will preside over all three Gator Bowl Sports entities, the Jacksonville Sports Council, TaxSlayer Bowl and JAXSPORTS Charities.

Serving as chairman-elect of Gator Bowl Sports is David Long, president of Miller Electric Company, where his primary emphasis is corporate client development, labor relations and company expansion.

A North Florida native, Mr. Long began his career at Miller Electric out of high school in 1975 as a construction wireman, then entered the National Electrical Contractors Association/International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (NECA/IBEW) Electrical Apprenticeship in 1977. After apprenticeship graduation in 1981, he worked as a service technician, foreman and general foreman, becoming field supervisor of large accounts in 1985. He began his management career in 1991 as an estimator before being promoted to assistant project manager, project manager, senior project manager, and vice president of the Corporate Services Division in 2002. As vice president of the Corporate Services Division, he led the expansion of the company beyond its roots, and opened branch offices throughout the Southeast. This expansion allowed Miller Electric to grow not only geographically, but his leadership added many corporate accounts to the company portfolio. During this period of time, Mr. Long also graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Nova Southeastern University. He was promoted to senior vice president in 2004 and to president in September 2012.

Today, Mr. Long is one of the primary license holders in the company. He currently holds electrical contracting licenses in 40 states, including Washington, D.C.

Through his involvement in the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Mr. Long is seen as a leader in the electrical contracting industry. He served as governor of NECA North Florida Chapter, the National Workforce Development Committee for NECA, and the National Joint Apprenticeship Committee. He currently serves as the NECA National Workforce Development chairman and District Three vice president. He is co-chairman of the National Training Alliance and the NECA Labor Relations Board. Mr. Long was awarded the Coggeshall Award in 2012. This award was established in 1956 as a result of a bequest to NECA by Allan Coggeshall to honor a member of the association for making an outstanding contribution to the progress of the industry in the Technical and Training Service field. Mr. Long was inducted in the Academy of Electrical Contracting in 2013.

Outside the industry, he has served as president and board member of National Leukemia Society, and executive board member of Dreams Come True Foundation. He is also a trustee of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of United Way Tocqueville and a Rotarian. Mr. Long also serves as trustee of the Trinity Baptist College Board.

2016 Officers of Gator Bowl Sports:

Chairman: David Boree, president, W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc.
Chairman-Elect: David Long, president, Miller Electric Company
President/CEO: Rick Catlett, Gator Bowl Sports
Secretary: Scott McCaleb, President – Vulcan Lands, Inc. – Vulcan Materials Company
Treasurer: Scott Keith, regional president, BB&T
Immediate Past Chair: Heather Duncan, regional director of External Affairs, AT&T Florida