Allan Bense
Encyclopedia
Allan G. Bense is a businessman from Panama City, Florida. He is a partner in several companies with interests in road building, mechanical contracting, insurance, general contracting, golf courses, and farming.
Bense holds a BS
and an MBA
from Florida State University
.
He served in the Florida Legislature from 1998 through 2006. He was Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2004 through 2006.
He is a member of the following Boards and Councils:
Bense is also on the Board of various local charities and is Chairman of the Board of the Bense Family Foundation, which annually makes significant contritbutions to numerous state and local not-for-profit causes.
Bense served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 until 2006. He chose to honor his earlier committment to serve only 8 years and then return to his businesses and family back home.
Bense was born in Panama City
and the youngest child of Herbert and Bette Bense. Both of his parents died at the age of 45, and Bense worked his way through Junior High School, High School, and College as a janitor, waiter, mechanic, salesman, and more. He began his business career deeply in debt after college.
Bense married his wife Tonie Johnson Bense in 1975 and they have three children, Courtney Weatherford, Jason Bense, and Taylor Bense. Courtney is a full time mom and acitve in several volunteer groups in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Her husband, Will Weatherford, is a member of the Florida House of Representatives and will become Speaker of the House in 2012. Jason Bense is a Partner with Allan Bense in a rapidly growing construction business, and Taylor Bense is a recent graduate of the distinguished Berklee College of Music
in Boston
, Mass. and is working in the music industry in Times Square
, New York City.
In addition, Bense's older sister, Dr. Judy Bense, is President of the University of West Florida
, one of Florida's 11 Public Universities.
Bense holds a BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
.
He served in the Florida Legislature from 1998 through 2006. He was Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2004 through 2006.
He is a member of the following Boards and Councils:
- Board Member - Gulf Power Company [ subsidiary of Southern Company ( SO; NYSE ) ]
- Chairman of the Board - Florida Chamber of Commerce
- Chairman of the Board - James Madison Institute ( Think Tank )
- Board Member - The Florida State University Board of Trustees ( FSU )
- Board Member - Foundation for Florida's Future ( Jeb Bush Think Tank )
- Immediate Past Chairman - Florida Council on Military Base & Mission Support
- Immediate Past Chairman and current Board member - HCA Gulf Coast Hospital
- Past Chairman - Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission
- Immediate Past Vice Chairman and current Board Member - Enterprise Florida, Inc. ( The Governor is the honorary Chairman )
- Board Member - Florida Council of 100
Bense is also on the Board of various local charities and is Chairman of the Board of the Bense Family Foundation, which annually makes significant contritbutions to numerous state and local not-for-profit causes.
Bense served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 until 2006. He chose to honor his earlier committment to serve only 8 years and then return to his businesses and family back home.
Bense was born in Panama City
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
and the youngest child of Herbert and Bette Bense. Both of his parents died at the age of 45, and Bense worked his way through Junior High School, High School, and College as a janitor, waiter, mechanic, salesman, and more. He began his business career deeply in debt after college.
Bense married his wife Tonie Johnson Bense in 1975 and they have three children, Courtney Weatherford, Jason Bense, and Taylor Bense. Courtney is a full time mom and acitve in several volunteer groups in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Her husband, Will Weatherford, is a member of the Florida House of Representatives and will become Speaker of the House in 2012. Jason Bense is a Partner with Allan Bense in a rapidly growing construction business, and Taylor Bense is a recent graduate of the distinguished Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Mass. and is working in the music industry in Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
, New York City.
In addition, Bense's older sister, Dr. Judy Bense, is President of the University of West Florida
University of West Florida
The University of West Florida, also known as West Florida and UWF, is a mid-sized public university located in Pensacola, Florida, United States. UWF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. The University of West Florida is a Research University, which specializes in...
, one of Florida's 11 Public Universities.