John T. (Tom) Herndon, Executive Director
Email: tom-herndon@comcast.net | Phone: (850)/644-9309

Tom Herndon serves as Executive Director of the Claude Pepper Foundation and Executive Director of the Claude Pepper Center. In a state government career that spanned 32 years, Tom Herndon served at the highest levels of management in Florida government including key positions in the Executive Branch, the Legislature and the Cabinet. A Florida native, Mr. Herndon started his government career working as a child abuse counselor in his hometown of St. Petersburg. He ended his public service as the Executive Director of the Florida State Board of Administration (FSBA), managing $125 billion dollars of the State’s investments and pension fund assets. The breadth of his public service to Florida is truly unique in that no other senior state official has served in as many powerful and high profile positions for both Democratic and Republican administrations. He also enjoys the rare experience of having served as a senior official in all three aspects of Florida’s fiscal system. His unique and intimate understanding of Florida’s planning and budgeting process is unparalleled. He has served on the Board of Directors numerous national organizations including the National Association of State Budget Officers, Council of State Planning Agencies, National Association of State Tax Administrators, Council of Institutional Investors, National Association of State Investment Officers, and was twice appointed by the NYSE to the Pension Manager’s Advisory Board.

Larry Polivka, Ph.D., Scholar in Residence
Email: lpolivka2@fsu.edu | Phone: (850)/645-7835

Larry Polivka serves as Scholar in Residence of the Claude Pepper Foundation focusing his efforts on issues relating to long-term care and retirement security. Throughout his career Dr. Polivka has made many important contributions in the areas of gerontology education, research and service. He has spent over 30 years informing students, researchers, policy makers and the public about critical aging issues including long-term care, affordable health care, and economic security for America’s older adults. Dr. Polivka served as Associate Director and Associate Professor in the School of Aging Studies, College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Florida from 2003 to 2009 and as Director of the Florida Policy Center on Aging from 1992 to 2009. He also served as a Consultant to the U.S. Administration on Aging and as Assistant Secretary for Aging and Adult Services, Policy Coordinator for Health, Human Services and Public Safety in the Florida Governors Office from 1986 to 1989 and as Staff Director of the Governor’s Committee on Aging. Dr. Polivka has written numerous reports, invited articles, book chapters, book review essays, technical papers, journal articles, newspaper articles and has presented at a host of professional meetings. He has also served on numerous committees and advisory councils including the White House Conference on Aging, American Society on Aging, National Council on Aging and Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. Dr. Polivka has received many awards and honors from the American Society on Aging, The Gerontological Society of America and most recently is the recipient of the 2009 Clark Tibbits Award on February 27, 2009 at the Annual Association for Gerontology in Higher Education Conference. The Clark Tibbits Award is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of gerontology and geriatric education by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.