Quarterly Meeting of the State Committee of Vendors

Draft

Friday, March 6, 2026

Chairman, Sead Bekric called the meeting to order at 8:31 am. Vice Chairman, Kurt Ponchak called the role.

The following individuals were present:  Sead Bekric, Chairman; Sead Bekric, Vice Chairman

District Representatives: Alton Palmore, District 1 Alternate; Patrick Martin, District 2; Jim Gaudette, District 3; Darryl Brinton, District 4; David Stevens, District 5; Phil Hubbard, District 6; Jose Quintanilla, District 7; Jim Warth, District 8; Mike McCrea, District 9; Antonio Gonzalez, District 10.

Bureau of Business Enterprise Staff:  Alan Risk, Bureau Chief; Dario Turnquest, Compliance Officer; John Ahler, Business Analyst; Greg Coon, Marketing; Brian Ashworth, Region 1 Business Consultant; Bernie Kaiserian, Region 2 Business Consultant; Alecia Brown, Region 5 Business Consultant; Yusnay Torrens, Region 6 Business Consultant; Angela Elgaard (via Teams), Region 7 Business Consultant; Mary Ellen Harding, Administrative Services Consultant; Andrea Mendez, Administrative Assistant III

Florida Division of Blind Services Director: Trina Travia (via Teams)

District Alternates/Licensed Vendors: Mark Turner, District 3 Alternate; Orlando Ramirez, District 4 Alternate; Kathy Warth, Licensed Vendor; Colton Knight, Licensed Vendor

Guests: Ed Birmingham; Nicky Gacos; Terry Smith, Ed Birmingham

Agenda adopted without objection.

December 2025 Committee Meeting minutes were approved without objection.
Special Committee Meeting January 21, 2026, were approved without objection.
Nominations and Election Minutes of January 28th and 29th 2026, were approved without objection.

Opening Remarks (Chair: Sead Bekric)

Officer Reports:
Motion: All documents that need a signature coming from the State Licensing Agency to vendors are in an accessible format.
Motion by Mike McCrea second by Jim Gaudette.
The motion passed unanimously in a voice vote.

Kurt Ponchak resigned from the Grievance Board immediately.

Motion: Mr. David Stevens, as the ranking member, be approved to become the chair of the Grievance board.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak, second by Jim Gaudette.

Phil Hubbard objected to the motion.

Jim Gaudette moved the motion to be postponed until March 6, 2026. Second by Phil Hubbard.

Roll Call Vote:
District 1 - Yes
District 2 - Yes
District 3 - Yes
District 4 - Yes
District 5 - Yes
District 6 - Yes
District 7 - Yes
District 8 - No
District 9 - Yes
District 10 – No
Vice Chair – No
Chair – No
Motion passed 8-4.

BEP Updates: Alan Risk, Bureau Chief

Motion: To do a district-by-district audit by consultants on all active and deactivated card readers.
Motion by Patrick Martin. Second by Phil Hubbard.
Voice vote: Unanimous in favor of the motion.

Division Updates: Trina Travis, Interim Director

Orientation & Mobility Training: Adam Long, District 2, Assistant District Administrator

Motion: Committee accept the staff recommendation for Type II selection protocol.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Phil Hubbard.
Question called by Phil Hubbard. Second by Jose Quintanilla.
Voice vote to end discussion carried unanimously.
Voice vote on original motion carried unanimously.

Compliance Officer Report: Dario Turnquest

Training and Recruiting Report: Mary Ellen Harding

Marketing & Site Development Report: Greg Coon

Business Analyst Report: John Ahler

Motion: To postpone the strategic planning portion of the meeting until the June meeting.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Jim Warth.
Voice vote: Motion carried unanimously.

Motion: Accept changes to the Policies and Procedures Manual for submission to the Randolph-Sheppard Administration.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak second by Jim Warth.
Voice vote: Motion passed unanimously.

Standing Subcommittee and Work Group Reports:

Dario Turnquest opened the floor for nominations for nomination of Selection Panel candidates.
Motion: To accept nominations for selection panel member.
Motion by Patrick Martin. Second by Darryl Brinton.

Selection Panel Nominations:
Patrick Martin nominated Valarie James.
Alton Palmore nominated Lilian Pemberton.
Ponchak made a motion to close nominations. Second by Patrick Martin.
Roll Call Vote:
District 1 - Pemberton
District 2 - James
District 3 - Pemberton
District 4 - James
District 5 - Pemberton
District 6 - Pemberton
District 7 - Pemberton
District 8 - Pemberton
District 9 - Pemberton
District 10 – Pemberton
Vice Chair – Pemberton
Chair – Pemberton
Pemberton was elected in a vote of 10-2.

Motion: To allow the Promotion and Transfer Subcommittee to discuss term limits and other improvements for selection panel members.
Motion by Darryl Brinton. Second by Kurt Ponchak.
Voice vote passed unanimously.

Motion: To accept the Training, Retraining and Upward Mobility Subcommittee’s recommendation to choose, along with the State Licensing Agency, proctors for students completing training at the Center.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Patrick Martin.
Kurt Ponchak recalled motion.

Motion: To make Excel training mandatory for students at the Center.
Motion by Patrick Martin seconded by Phil Hubbard.
Patrick Martin removed motion.

Motion: Authorizing Budget Subcommittee’s involvement in the budget process to establish a plan for the 2026 - 2027 fiscal year with the agency.
Motion: David Stevens. Second by Kurt Ponchak.
Motion passed unanimously.

Motion: Reimbursement process evaluation and improving upon it by the December 2026 meeting.
Motion by David Stevens. Second by Kurt Ponchak
Voice vote: Motion passed 11-1.

Motion: Placement of equipment guidelines in cooperation with the State Licensing Agency and a timeline for replacement.
Motion by David Stevens. Second by Kurt Ponchak.
Voice vote: Motion passed unanimously.

Motion: Authorization from Committee to work on public relations list.
Motion by Jose Quintanilla. Second by Kurt Ponchak
Voice vote: Motion passed unanimously.

Motion: Move all remaining agenda business from Friday to Saturday.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Hubbard.
Voice vote: motion passed unanimously.

Saturday March 7, 2026

District Representatives: Alton Palmore, District 1 Alternate; Patrick Martin, District 2; Jim Gaudette, District 3; Darryl Brinton, District 4; David Stevens, District 5; Phil Hubbard, District 6; Jose Quintanilla, District 7; Jim Warth, District 8; Mike McCrea, District 9; Antonio Gonzalez, District 10.

Bureau of Business Enterprise Staff:  Alan Risk, Bureau Chief; Dario Turnquest, Compliance Officer; John Ahler, Business Analyst; Brian Ashworth, Region 1 Business Consultant; Bernie Kaiserian, Region 2 Business Consultant; Alecia Brown, Region 5 Business Consultant; Yusnay Torrens, Region 6 Business Consultant; Angela Elgaard (via Teams), Region 7 Business Consultant; Mary Ellen Harding, Administrative Services Consultant; Andrea Mendez, Administrative Assistant III

District Alternates/Licensed Vendors: Mark Turner, District 3 Alternate; Orlando Ramirez, District 4 Alternate; Kathy Warth, Licensed Vendor; Colton Knight, Licensed Vendor

Motion: To make the policies and procedures manual with respect to the Type II panel to be consistent with Florida Administrative Code.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Patrick Martin.
Voice vote: Motion passed unanimously.

Motion: To make the net profit for micro markets 25%.
Motion by Jim Warth. Second by Patrick Martin.
Kurt Ponchak made motion to end debate. Second by Jose Quintanilla.
Motion withdrawn by Jim Warth.

Motion: Define micro markets as non-highway vending.
Motion by David Stevens. Second by Darryl Brinton.
Voice vote: Motion passed 8-4.

Motion: To not accept the Policies and Procedures Committee’s Code of Conduct recommendation.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Jim Gaudette.
Voice vote: Motion passed 11-1.

Motion: If there is any vending machine that does less than $100 per month and the agency wants to keep it in place to have that machine excluded from the 80/20 requirement.
Motion by Patrick Martin. Second by Jim Gaudette.
Voice vote: Motion passed 6-5.

Motion: To accept Embassy Suites proposed dates for fiscal year 2026-2027 subject to the hotel providing rates within the state limits.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Jose Quintanilla
Motion passed unanimously

Motion: To form a workgroup to gather more information to form a for profit and not for profit 501c3 or 501c6.
Motion by Patrick Martin. Second by Kurt Ponchak
Vote passed unanimously.
Chair appointed the following to the workgroup:
Patrick Martin (Chair)
Orlando Ramirez
Phil Hubbard
Jim Warth

Motion: The committee recommend a workgroup be formed to evaluate the RSVP system.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Jim Warth.
Motion passed unanimously.

Chair appointed the following to the workgroup:
Colton Knight (Chair)
Jim Gaudette
Kurt Ponchak
Adam Gaffney
John Ahler

Motion: Have the Biennial Planning workgroup and Training, Retraining Subcommittee plan an annual meeting in 2026 - 2027 fiscal year for training purposes and sharing ideas contingent upon receiving budget authority increase.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Patrick Martin.
Voice vote: Motion passed unanimously.

Motion: The committee to form a workgroup to work on maintenance for State Licensing Agency owned rest areas and include consultants in the workgroup.
Motion by Kurt Ponchak. Second by Patrick Martin
Voice vote passed unanimously.

Chair appointed the following to the workgroup:
Phil Hubbard
Jim Warth
Orlando Ramirez (Chair)
Kurt Ponchak
Bernie Kaserian
Brian Ashworth

Meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

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