John W. Saputo Named to New College of Florida Board of Trustees
Owner of Gold Coast Eagle Distributing Replaces Outgoing Board Member Robert M. Johnson

(April 17, 2008) -- New College of Florida announces the appointment of John W. Saputo to the New College Board of Trustees. The appointment, which was made by Florida Governor Charlie Crist, takes effect immediately and runs through January 6, 2013.

Saputo (pictured at left) is the owner of Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Sarasota and a decorated member of the U.S. Marine Corps (retired).  He replaces outgoing board member and former State Senator Robert M. Johnson, who had served on the board of New College since it became the independent honors college of the state of Florida in 2001.

“We are thrilled to welcome an individual with John Saputo's business, military and community service background to our board," stated New College President Mike Michalson in announcing the appointment. "I look forward to working closely with him and other board members as we chart a continued path of excellence for New College. At the same time, we honor the many years of service provided to New College by outgoing board member Bob Johnson.” A major figure in New College's history, Johnson began his affiliation with the school in the early 1970s and played an important role in helping the College join the State University System in 1975. He helped procure funding that resulted in the construction of the Jane Bancroft Cook Library on campus, the Heiser Natural Sciences building, Pritzker Marine Biology Research Center and, most recently, five new residence halls.

John Saputo served with distinction during the Persian Gulf War and was one of only 300 members of the armed services to be awarded a Bronze Star with Combat V for Valor in 1992. In 2004, he was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal by the United States Central Command for his service during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also has earned three National Defense Medals, a Humanitarian Relief Medal for his work assisting cyclone victims in Bangladesh in 1991, Achievement Medals from the Navy Marine Corps and the United States Army, and a host of other distinctions. He retired from the United States Central Command in 2005.

A third generation beer wholesaler, Saputo's business career has been equally as accomplished as his military service. Since purchasing his first beer distributorship in 1977, his companies have earned the distinction of "Wholesaler of the Year," twice by Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. and once by Grupo Modelo S.A.B de C.V. (Corona). His Carolina Eagle Distributing Company of eastern North Carolina was rated as Anheuser Busch's number one distributorship for customer satisfaction in 1996. Since purchasing Sarasota's Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in 1996, Saputo has led the company to a 69.4% market share in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Under his leadership, Gold Coast has supported more than 300 charities in Sarasota and Manatee counties through cash and in-kind donations.

In addition to his service on the New College of Florida Board of Trustees, Saputo is a member of the board of directors for the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Suntrust Bank and the Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Boat Race and Festival. He is a member of the Argus Foundation, the Committee of 100 (Sarasota) and the National Beer Wholesalers Association, and serves as Vice President of the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association.

For more information on John Saputo or the New College of Florida Board of Trustees, contact the Office of Public Affairs at (941) 487-4150 or email publicaffairs@ncf.edu.

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