Pinellas County’s Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) remains deadlocked in its search for a permanent CEO after members split 5–5 between interim CEO Michael Mikurak and contender Glenton “Glen” Gilzean Jr.
The pause follows scrutiny surrounding both finalists.
Mikurak has been accused by the board’s former chief financial officer, Robbi Stivers – who applied for the CEO role but was not selected – of misusing public funds and retaliating against him. Stivers was later dismissed after multiple complaints were filed against him. Stivers has called those complaints unfounded, retaliatory actions by Mikurak.
Gilzean, meanwhile, has faced questions tied to nearly $9.9 million in spending over two months during his time as Orange County’s supervisor of elections. He has denied wrongdoing.
The board has said the claims involving both candidates are under review, contributing to the delayed vote.
In an interview with the Catalyst, Mikurak rejected the retaliation claim.
“This is not a vendetta,” he said. “Everyone needs to know that.”
He described the dispute as a human resources matter involving documented complaints that required legal review before action was taken.
“We have reviewed the allegations [made by the CFO, Stivers] and have absolutely shown that they are not true.”
Mikurak’s case for the job centers on tenure and operational continuity. First appointed to the JWB governing board in 2013, he later served as Chair, Vice Chair and Finance Committee Chair.
Today, as Interim CEO, he oversees a $132.2 million impact budget, 79 employees and a strategic plan focused on early childhood development, school readiness, school success, prevention of child abuse and neglect and strengthening community capacity. JWB-funded programs collectively serve nearly 80,000 children and families each year.
“Our funds come from taxpayers to provide the highest quality of health and welfare so children can become the best version they can be,” he said.
Under his interim leadership, JWB has expanded Parent ProTech, a free online platform designed to help parents navigate social media, gaming platforms and emerging technology.
“Parents don’t know what they don’t know,” Mikurak said. “Technology is expanding so quickly, and children are not mature enough to understand what’s happening.”
He also points to Sleep Baby Safely, aimed at reducing infant sleep-related deaths, along with continued investment in prevention-based programs that intervene before crises escalate.
Before joining JWB leadership, Mikurak spent more than 30 years in business strategy and supply chain management, including a stint as an international consulting partner at Accenture working with Fortune 100 companies. He has held multiple patents and served on several local health and child-focused boards.
He argues that background brings discipline to a public agency entrusted with taxpayer dollars.
“If selected permanently, we need to continue strengthening our controls,” Mikurak said. “We need to identify every dollar we spend, how we spend it and what value it creates.”
With the board evenly divided and the allegations still under review, a final decision is expected in April.