Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis named three new board members to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, including a new chairwoman.
According to an official statement from DeSantis’ office, Alexis Yarbrough was named chair of the board of supervisors, alongside the additions of board members John Gilbert and Scott Workman.
The board, which replaced Walt Disney World‘s formerly autonomous Reedy Creek Improvement District, oversees permits and other approvals for 25,000 acres primarily owned by Disney and its subsidiaries in both Orange and Osceola counties.
The composition of the board is significant because The Walt Disney Company has announced plans to invest $17 billion in the Walt Disney World Resort. The board is likely to vote on matters that are crucial for the progress of these projects.
Yarbrough is the chair of the Broward College District Board of Trustees and has previously served on the Fourth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission. Gilbert is the executive managing director at Stream Realty Partners, and Scott Workman owns Workman Transportation and Workman Travel. He has been active in the transportation industry in Orlando for over 25 years.
The district includes four theme parks, two water parks, a sports complex, 179 lane miles of roadways, and over 40,000 hotel rooms. Stephanie Kopelousos has been the district administrator since 2024.
These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
