» Ty Handy, 47, a Florida native and current president of Vermont Technical College at Randolph Center, has been selected president of Northwest Florida State College at Niceville. Handy succeeds 22-year President Bob Richburg, fired in April 2009 after being indicted on criminal charges related to suspected use of school construction funds to benefit a political supporter of former House Speaker Ray Sansom. Handy has a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Memphis and an MBA from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Larry Robinson

» President Barack Obama has nominated Larry Robinson, vice president for research at Florida A&M University, to serve as assistant secretary of commerce. The U.S. Senate must confirm his appointment.

» Gov. Charlie Crist has appointed Susan Story, president and CEO of Gulf Power Co., and Mark Kaplan, vice president of Mosaic, to the state Board of Education.

» Tim Kerigan is the new executive director of Gulf County Tourist Development Council.