Ken and Linda McGurn

Ken and Linda have been involved in real estate since the early 70’s. They have done land development, redevelopment, renovations, and new construction. They are most known for the redevelopment of downtown Gainesville. They have been active investing in and mentoring startup companies. Conservation has been a big part of their developments which include generating two megawatts of solar power. They have served on numerous volunteer boards. Linda came from a military family and Ken spent nine years with the Army. They met in spy school. Two weeks after a blind date in 1971, they were engaged and soon married. They have travelled extensively to every state, more than 140 countries, and all continents. They have travelled to exotic places from Katmandu to Timbuktu. In the military, Ken jumped out of perfectly good aircraft, including being a test paratrooper jumping from the massive C-5 Galaxy. He has also bungeed, including one from 144 feet “into” a river in New Zealand. He has flown weightless in the “Vomit Comet.” None of those activities were of interest to Linda. Both ski and both are certified scuba divers. They are recognized for their support of higher education and their philanthropy including major support for the university’s Earth’s Systems Initiative and Biodiversity endowment. They have been long-time supporters of the Machen Opportunity Scholarship Fund. They have created the McGurn Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fund and the McGurn Fellowship Program for Media Integrity and the Fight Against Disinformation.

LINDA C. MCGURN

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES AND MEMBERSHIPS

Member Florida Bar Association
Member Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association
Certified Public Accountant State of Florida – Inactive
Co-Chair UF Foundation $4.6 Billion Campaign (2019/2020)
Life Member UF Warrington College Business Advisory Council and past Chair Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Working Group
Life Member and Past Chair University of Florida Foundation Board
Member Class XVII Leadership Florida
Past Director Florida Capital Bank
Past Director Florida Bank
Past Director University of Florida Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Board
Past Co-Chair Innovation Gainesville
Past Chair and Treasurer Gainesville Downtown Owners and Tenants, Inc. Board
Past Chair Gainesville Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Board
Past Chair Gainesville Downtown Redevelopment Agency
Past Chair City Commission Downtown Advisory Board
Past Vice-Chair Gainesville Annexation Commission
Past Treasurer Sustainable Alachua County, Inc.
Past Chair Gainesville Local Grace Commission
Past Chair Downtown Owners’ and Tenants’ Association Board
Past President Planned Parenthood of North Central Florida, Inc. Board
Past President Thomas Center Associates, Inc. Board
Past President Gainesville Women’s Forum
Past Vice-President Florida Women’s Alliance
Past Co-Chair Chamber “Innovate Gainesville”
Former Member Prevent Blindness Florida Board
Former Member University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting Steering Committee
Former Member Keep Alachua County Beautiful Board
Former Member Gainesville Civic Ballet (DANCE ALIVE!) Board
Former Member United Way Cabinet
Former Member Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Former Member Matheson Historical Center Board of Directors
Member Order of the Coif Law Honorary Association
Member Phi Kappa Phi National Honorary Fraternity
Member Beta Alpha Psi National Accounting Honorary Fraternity
Member Beta Gamma Sigma National Honorary Fraternity

EDUCATION

1978 – J.D. in Law with High Honors from the University of Florida.
1974 – Attended University of Florida Master’s Program in Accounting.
1973 – B.S.B.A. in Accounting with High Honors from the University of Florida.
1970 – Attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

KENNETH R. MCGURN

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES AND SERVICE

State Registered Real Estate Broker – Inactive
State Certified Community Association Manager
State Certified General Contractor – Inactive
Director Cavidyne, LLC
Member Federal Reserve Business Inflation Expectation Panel
Executive Board Emergent 1 – Tech Start-Up Company Investment Group
Life Member UF Warrington College Business Advisory Council
Past Co-Chair S.C.O.R.E.
Past Member Florida Green Building Coalition
Past Member 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness – Chaired Two Committees
Past Chair Alachua/Bradford Region 9 Workforce Board (2007-2009)
Past Chair Gold Standard Multi-Media (Medical Software Company)
Past Chair University of Florida Real Estate Advisory Board
Past PAC Chair State Home Builders Association
Past President Board of Directors Florida State Museum of Natural History
Past President Gainesville Apartment Association
Past Chair Alachua County Community Development Block Grant Board
Past Chair Downtown Redevelopment Agency
Past Chair Downtown Redevelopment Authority
Past Chair Downtown Redevelopment Advisory Board
Past Chair Alachua County Housing Finance Authority
Past Chair Boy Scouts North Florida Council Finance Champaign Committee
Past Chair Gainesville Builders Association PAC Committee
Past Chair Several Chamber of Commerce Committees
Past Vice-President Alachua County Arts Council
Past Member United Way Executive Board
Past Director National Home Builders Association
Past Director Gainesville Builders Association
Past Director Alachua County Early Learning Coalition
Past Director Neuronet, LLC
Past Director Stage Tally, LLC
Past Director Sporting Odyssey, LLC
Past Director CCP Fund1 (Real Estate Investment Fund)
Past Director University of Florida Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Board
Past Entrepreneur in Residence UF Business College
Twice Past President Gainesville Chamber Orchestra Board
Twice Past President Gainesville Real Estate Exchangers
Past Owner and Publisher of The Business Journal

EDUCATION

1981 – Ph.D. Real Estate. Minors in Finance and Economics from the University of Florida. Thesis: Seasonal Fluctuations in the Price of Existing Single Family Houses.
1973 – M.A. Real Estate and Urban Land Planning from the University of Florida. Thesis: The Cost of Growing (A Study of Municipal Services), showing the costs of urban sprawl.
1972 – B.S.B.A. in Management with Honors from the University of Florida.

MILITARY SERVICE

1963 Private E-1 – Basic Training Ft. Jackson, South Carolina
1964 Private E-2 and PFC E-3, Army Security Agency (ASA) Ft. Devens, Massachusetts
- Morse Code Intercept Operator Training
- Communications Security Training
1965 Republic of Vietnam (age 19) Communications Security (ASA)
- Specialist E-4
- One week in Saigon, three weeks in the field
- Went thru two coups and was there when the embassy was car bombed
- E-5 Buck Sergeant
1966 2nd Lieutenant Infantry Officer School Ft. Benning, Georgia
1966 507th ASA – Attached to HQ 3rd Brigade 82nd Airborne Division Ft. Bragg, N.C.
1966 Paratrooper School, Ft. Benning, Georgia
1967 Chemical Biological Radiological Warfare School Ft. McClellan, Alabama
1967 Jungle Survival School Ft. Sherman/ Ft. Gulick, Panama (Jungle Expert)
1967 1st Lieutenant
1968 Division Ready Force Commander
1968 Promoted to be the youngest Captain in the military (age 22)
1968 National Security Agency, Ft. Meade, Maryland (Cryptology)
1968 Intelligence Officer I.G. Farben Building Frankfurt, Germany
- Compartmented Projects Officer (Ultra-Limited Access)
1968 Duty Officer when Russians Invaded Czechoslovakia
1969 Air Force Survival School (Russian Law – in case of capture)
1969 Commander of a one-of-a- kind spy plane (C7) detachment Rhine Mein, Germany
1970 Legal Traveler (spy) on the ground in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Israel
1971 ASA Attached to the 20th Special Forces Group Jacksonville, Florida
1971 Counter Intelligence Training Ft. Bragg, North Carolina
1972 Agent Handler Training Ft. Huachuca, Arizona
1972 Military Intelligence Officer Advance Course
Clearance Top Secret Code Word with a 10 Year Travel Restriction
Medals A few but too few to mention

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

2024 2024 Florida Trend Florida’s 500 Most Influential Leaders – Legends (Ken and Linda)
2023 Florida Trend Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders (Ken and Linda)
2022 Florida Trend Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders (Ken and Linda)
2021 Community Foundation of North Central Florida Legacy Donor Award (Ken and Linda)
2021 Florida Trend Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders (Ken and Linda)
2019 Co-Chairs of UF Foundation 4.6 Billion Dollar Capital Campaign
2019 Gator 100 S. Clark Butler Pinnacle Award (Ken and Linda)
2017 Gainesville-Alachua County Recognition – Art in Public Places (Ken and Linda)
2016 University of Florida Foundation – Lifetime Volunteer Award (Ken and Linda)
2016 Gainesville Sun – Spirit of Gainesville Community Service Award (Ken and Linda)
2016 ‘The Links, Inc.’ Certificate of Appreciation
2015 Gainesville Sun’s Entrepreneurship Honoree
2012 University of Florida “Distinguished Alumni” (Ken and Linda)
2012 Santa Fe College “Women of Distinction” (Linda)
2012 Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year (Linda)
2011 Appreciation of Support “Making Strides” Against Breast Cancer
2011 Florida Trend Magazine 2011 “Must Know People” in Gainesville (Ken and Linda)
2010 SEBC Grand Aurora Award for Parking Garage Solar Voltaic Project
2010 SEBC Aurora Award for Solar Voltaic Energy Home
2009 Matheson Historical Society for Significant and Lasting Contributions to History of Alachua County (Ken and Linda)
2009 Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award for Work Force Board (Ken)
2008 Girl Scouts of Gateway Council “Women Who Make a Difference” (Linda)
2007 University of Florida CEI Gainesville Entrepreneur of the Year (Ken and Linda)
2007 Alachua Conservation Trust’s Conservation Stewards of the Year (Ken and Linda)
2006 Catholic Charities Spirit of Charity
2005 National Alliance to Save Energy 2005 Energy Value Housing Award
2001 South Eastern Building Conference (SEBC) Gold Aurora for Best Commercial Project
2001 SEBC (11 Southern States) – Aurora Award for Best Redevelopment
2001 SEBC – Aurora Award for “Best Water Wise” Development (Conservation)
2001 SEBC – Aurora Award for Best Office/Commercial Park
2001 Masonry Association of Florida “Outstanding Masonry Multifamily Project for 2001”.
2001 National Home Builder’s Energy Value Housing Award
2000 Gainesville Sun Newspaper’s “50 People Who Made a Difference in North Central Florida Over the Last Century” (Ken and Linda)
2000 Governor Bush’s Sustainable Florida Initiative Award (Ken and Linda)
2000 Keep Alachua County Beautiful Chairman’s Millennium Gold Award for the people who made the most difference in the county over the millennium (Ken and Linda)
2000 Gainesville City Beautification First Place Award for Union Street Station Building
2000 Insite Magazine “Gainesville’s 20 Most Interesting People” (Ken)
2000 Alachua County Commission Appreciation of Volunteer Service (Ken)
2000 Gainesville City Commission Appreciation of Volunteer Service (Linda)
1999 Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award (Linda)
1999 North Central Florida Boy Scout
1999 Continuous Support of Downtown Festival and Art Show (Ken and Linda)
1998 Governor’s Chiles “Florida Finest” Award for Contribution to the Community (Linda)
1998 North Central Florida Boy Scout Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Support
1998 Gainesville Builder’s Association for Outstanding Volunteer Support (Ken)
1997 United Way Appreciation of Volunteer Support (Ken)
1997 Friends of the Gainesville Mounted Patrol Appreciation of Support (Ken)
1997 Hippodrome State Theater for Contribution to the Arts
1997 CEO Business Person Volunteer of the Year (Linda)
1996 United Way Appreciation of Volunteer Support (Linda)
1996 YMCA Appreciation Award
1996 Hippodrome State Theater for Exceptional Support
1996 First Place Beautification Award – City of Baytown, Texas
1995 Gainesville Sun Newspaper’s Business People of the Year (Ken and Linda)
1995 City Commission Proclamation “Linda McGurn Day” November 13, 1995
1995 Chamber of Commerce’s top volunteer of the year (Ken)
1995 City Commission First Place Award for Downtown Landscape Project (Linda)
1994 Appreciation of Service Gainesville Chamber of Commerce (Ken)
1994 Historic Gainesville Preservation Award for Renovation of the Opera House
1994 Gainesville City Beautification Award for Historic Opera House Renovation
1993 First Place Beautification Award – City of Baytown, Texas
1992 Redevelopment Agency and City Commission Award for Outstanding Renovations
1991 Hippodrome State Theater for Exceptional Support
1990 Stop Children’s Cancer, Inc. Appreciation Award
1989 Alachua County Mental Health Association Appreciation of Support
1989 City Commission Award for a Unique Joint Community Project
1989 Business Gainesville Magazine Real Estate People of the Year (Ken and Linda)
1988 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Certificate of National Merit
1988 Alachua County Arts Council and Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding Support
1988 City Beautification Award for Sun Center East Most Beautiful Atrium Design
1988 Local Architectural Institute of America Award for Outstanding Design
1988 City Beautification Award for Downtown Sun Center West office building
1988 City Beautification Award for Downtown Arlington Square Apartments
1987 Neighborhood Housing Services Neighborhood Preservation Award
1987 City Beautification Award for the Downtown Sun Center East building
1987 City Commission Award for Outstanding Renovations of the Sun Center
1986 City Commission Award for Outstanding Renovations of the Florida Theatre
1984 Alachua County Coordinated Child Care Award for Major Program Assistance
1983 City Commission Award for Outstanding Renovations at 108-112 South Main Street