Pensacola CPA among six appointed to state Board of Pilot Commissioners

FLORIDA — A Pensacola man is among six people appointed Friday to the state Board of Pilot Commissioners.

Sheldon Bernau, vice president at Synovus Trust Company in Pensacola, was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

The other new appointees named by DeSantis are Robert Benson of Broward County, Bruce Cumings of Fort Lauderdale, Thomas “Jason” Hodge of Jacksonville, and Brian Seuter of Nassau County. DeSantis also reappointed Michael Jaccoma of Miami, DeSantis’ office said in a statement.

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

According to the Florida Department of State, the Board of Pilot Commissioners is responsible for licensing and regulating harbor pilots.

The board meets regularly to consider applications for licensure, to review disciplinary cases, and to conduct informal hearings relating to licensure and discipline. The board engages in rulemaking to implement the provisions set forth in its statutes and conducts other general business, as necessary, the Department of State said on its website.

Gov. DeSantis’ office provided the following information on the appointees:

Robert Benson
Benson is a retired partner with Crow Horwath LLP. He is a Florida certified public accountant and is a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County and the Construction Association of South Florida. Benson earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pace University.

Sheldon Bernau
Bernau is the vice president and senior relationship manager at Synovus Trust Company. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Northwest Florida Bar Association Foundation. Bernau earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from Pensacola Christian College and a master’s degree in accountancy from the University of West Florida.

Bruce Cumings
Cumings is a harbor pilot with Port Everglades Pilots Association. He is a retired veteran of the United States Naval Reserve and received numerous accolades, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medals. Cumings is a First-Class Pilot and is a member of the Broward Navy Days board, the Reserve Officers Association, and the Council of American Master Mariners. Cumings earned a bachelor’s degree in nautical science from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and a master’s degree in international relations from Salve Regina University.

Thomas “Jason” Hodge
Hodge is a sales and marketing manager with SSA Atlantic. He was previously a senior port operations manager for A.P. Moller Maersk and an operations manager for Hamburg Süd, Inc. Hodge is a member of the Propeller Club of Jacksonville.

Brian Seuter
Seuter is a harbor pilot with Checkmate of Amelia. He is a veteran of the United States Naval Reserve. He holds a United States Coast Guard Unlimited Masters License and is a member of the American Pilot Association, the Florida Harbor Pilots Associations, and the Master Mates and Pilots Union. Seuter earned a bachelor’s degree in marine transportation from Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Michael Jaccoma
Jaccoma is a harbor pilot for Biscayne Bay Pilots. He currently serves as Vice Chairman on the Board of Pilot Commissioners and has been actively engaged in the piloting profession in the state of Florida since 1988. Jaccoma is a United States Coast Guard Licensed Unlimited Master with a First-Class Pilot Endorsement for the Port of Miami. He earned a bachelor’s degree in nautical science from Maine Maritime Academy.