'Well-deserved': Florida Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb receives prestigious award

Florida Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb was one of 13 individuals to recently be honored with the 2023 Horatio Alger Award, which highlights his professional and personal successes.

The 76th annual Horatio Alger Award's induction ceremonies were held from March 29 to April 1 in Washington, D.C.

From being both a student and all-star basketball player at Florida A&M University Developmental Research School to currently being the managing director and Northeast segment head for JPMorgan Chase, Lamb’s achievements take a variety of forms.

But the Midway, Florida native ties many of his accomplishments back to the value of education — a factor that the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, a nonprofit educational organization, considers significantly.

“From a young age, my parents instilled in me a belief in the power of education and the importance of giving back to others,” Lamb, 46, said in a prepared statement. “I’m thrilled to be joining this outstanding organization which will allow me to continue to pass that message on to Horatio Alger Scholars, who will undoubtedly become the leaders of the next generation.”

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The association is named after Horatio Alger Jr., a renowned author who was known for overcoming adversity through perseverance and basic moral principles, according to the organization’s website.

Upon being awarded, Lamb became a lifetime member of the association along with other business, civic and cultural leaders across North America.

His managing director position with JPMorgan Chase comes after his previous position of being the company's global head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2020.

Before joining the worldwide financial services form — which has assets of $4 trillion — Lamb spent over 13 years with Fifth Third Bank in both Tampa, Florida and Cincinnati, Ohio, where his last position with the company was head of retail banking.

While the Horatio Alger association celebrates the life accomplishments of notable individuals with the award every year, it has the goal of encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education.

Lamb, a University of South Florida graduate with a bachelor’s in accounting and master’s in business administration, was also recognized for his long-lasting commitment to education.

He was appointed to USF’s board of trustees in 2014 and served as chairman in 2016 before being appointed to the Board of Governors by Governor Ron DeSantis in March 2019. He was later named vice chair under Syd Kitson and succeeded Kitson as chair in January 2022. His term ends in December.

Lamb’s commitment to education is also shared by his father Eugene Lamb, who serves as chairman of Tallahassee Community College’s Board of Trustees.

Eugene Lamb expressed how happy both him and his wife Deloris Lamb are that Brian was recognized for the prestigious honor.

“We’re just so proud of our son,” Eugene Lamb told the Tallahassee Democrat Tuesday. “He’s using his God-given gifts to the utmost. We know a lot of contributors to it come from home, FAMU high school, the University of South Florida and from experience. When you put all of that together, it's easy for him to use his talents because he’s gifted.”

During a recent Board of Governors meeting at FAMU, Vice Chair Eric Silagy — who is retiring this month as CEO of Florida Power & Light — presided over it in Brian Lamb’s absence as it was being held on the same week of the Horatio Alger Award induction ceremonies.

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Silagy says Brian Lamb is a “passionate advocate of the power of higher education.”

“He is an impact player, much like he was on the basketball court,” Silagy said in a release. “While I know he never expects recognition for his hard work and commitment to helping others, it’s nice to see him receive this well-deserved national award.”

Board of Governors member Alan Levine believes that Brian Lamb is the embodiment of the Horatio Alger Award’s values, which include personal initiative, perseverance, leadership, commitment to excellence, community service, and the vision to achieve a better future.

“His leadership within our State University System has left an indelible mark on the hundreds of thousands of students who benefit from his tireless leadership,” Levine said in a release. “I’m proud to serve under his direction and more proud to call him a friend and an inspiration.”

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb earns Horatio Alger Award