UCF Foundation Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the appointment of a new board chair, welcomed a distinguished new emeritus board member and publicly introduced three new committee advisors on Jan. 16

Stuart Heaton, Board Chair

Stuart Heaton has been elected as board chair for the remainder of fiscal year 2025, succeeding Brian Butler. Heaton assumes this prestigious role alongside the appointment of Loretta Corey as a new emeritus member.

“I am incredibly honored to even have been considered for this role,” Heaton says. “This is an exciting time to be involved with the foundation, and I am looking forward to collaborating with our board, committee members and the community at large.”

Heaton, who has been an integral member of the foundation board since 2021, previously held the position of vice chair from 2023 to 2025 and currently chairs the investment committee. He is the executive vice president and partner at Elevation Financial Group, as well as a licensed attorney with an extensive 30-year career spanning both the private sector and in-house roles.

Heaton earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton; a law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles; and a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. He and his wife, Carolyn, are proud parents of five, including Geoffrey Heaton ’17 and Christopher Heaton, who are both UCF Knights — one a graduate and the other a current student.

Loretta Corey, Emeritus Board Member

Loretta Corey, a trailblazer as a first-generation college graduate, devoted her talents to education, notably serving as director of the career program and student council at Benjamin Middle School in North Palm Beach, Florida. In this role, she played a key part in guiding countless students through their college preparation, often bringing them to UCF for campus visits and coordinating opportunities for UCF admissions staff to engage directly with the students.

Corey and her family have been deeply involved with UCF for more than two decades, with all three of her children proudly graduating from the university. In recognition of their enduring commitment to UCF, she and her husband, Michael, received the prestigious John C. and Martha Hitt Honorary Alumni Award in 2017.

“Loretta is a perfect example of someone who has taken their own experiences and accomplishments and has used them to create a path for young people so that they, too, can thrive through the power of education,” says Rod Grabowski, senior vice president for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO at UCF Foundation Inc. “UCF is very fortunate to count Loretta Corey among our emeritus foundation board members.”

The Roles of UCF Foundation’s Newest Committee Members

UCF Foundation’s newest committee members join their respective committees because of the additional expertise and perspective they bring to their roles. Advisors serve a two-year term from the date of their appointment by the board chair.

Members of the audit committee provide oversight to UCF Foundation’s financial reporting process, and systems of internal controls regarding finance and compliance, as well as the independence and performance of the foundation’s independent auditors.

Members of the finance and facilities committee provide oversight and recommendations for the foundation’s finances and real estate in support of UCF.

Audit Committee Members

Peter Counce ’99 ’10MBA has been appointed as an advisory member to the foundation’s audit committee. Over the past 12 years, Counce has made significant contributions to Greenberg Traurig, initially serving as director of financial planning and analysis. His career also includes notable roles as a manager at Deloitte and as director of internal audit at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Before his tenure at Greenberg Traurig, Counce built a strong foundation in internal audit through several esteemed positions, further solidifying his expertise and leadership in the field.

Counce has extensive family ties to UCF, with his wife, Jaime Kawa Counce ’07, and his sister, Amy Counce Smith ’98 ’04MA, both UCF alumnae.

Carrie Hall ’86, a proud UCF alumna, has been appointed as an advisory member to the foundation’s audit committee.

Hall lives in Georgia, where she recently retired from EY, one of the world’s largest professional services networks. In 2016, she was inducted into the UCF College of Business Hall of Fame.

Hall’s distinguished career also includes previous service on the UCF College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board and the Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting Advisory Board. With more than three decades of experience as a certified public accountant in both Georgia and Florida, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, guiding a global network of professionals spanning North, Central and South America, as well as Israel. Through her visionary approach, she has spearheaded efforts to deliver comprehensive solutions that foster sustainable growth and create a lasting competitive advantage for clients across generations.

Finance and Facilities Committee Members

Sarah Matin ’04, a distinguished UCF alumna, has been appointed as an advisory member to the foundation’s finance and facilities committee.

Matin, a former UCF student-athlete, returns to campus occasionally to share her experience —and golfing tips — with students.

Currently a water quality manager at Southeast Advanced Drainage Systems Inc., Matin has built a distinguished career with several prominent engineering firms. Notably, during her time at Rinker Materials, she earned recognition from the American Concrete Pipe Association for her outstanding contributions to the concrete pipe industry and for her involvement in both local and national organizations, extending her influence beyond her main professional duties. In addition to her impressive career, Matin currently chairs the Public Policy and Practice Committee for the American Society of Civil Engineers, further solidifying her leadership within the civil engineering community.

“As UCF Foundation welcomes new leadership and committee members, it is clear that the collective expertise, commitment and passion of these individuals will continue to strengthen the foundation’s mission,” Grabowski says. “With Stuart Heaton at the helm, Loretta Corey’s enduring legacy and the addition of talented advisors, the foundation is poised for a future of continued growth and impact, ensuring UCF’s students and community benefit from unwavering support and vision.”