Lars Hafner is an innovative and passionate professional with a career in education and politics. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Lars aspired to become a successful leader in both education reform and politics in the state of Florida. He served as the former President at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Prior to that, he served as Vice President and Provost at St. Petersburg College. During his time at the State College of Florida, he was able to work on issues such as commitment to the community college mission, motivations in sustainability, as well as receive technology upgrades for the school. His leadership skills were unparalleled in his aim in working in tandem with both state and local governments on different issues such as policy, budgetary issues, and workforce. Lars Hafner also spent twelve years serving as a State Representative for the State of Florida. He currently works as a political analyst Tampa Bay’s CBS affiliate, Channel 10.