Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board Changes Again as Vice Chair Departs

Posted: Tuesday February 18, 2025 1:15pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Charbel Barakat is no longer serving on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) board, where he had held the position of Vice Chair. His departure marks the latest change in the board's leadership, and the district has since updated its website to remove his name from the listed members.

Charbel Barakat is pictured center at a CFTOD meeting in 2024

Barakat, a former Jeopardy! champion, was appointed to the board by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 1, 2023, replacing Michael Sasso, who resigned after less than four months in the position.

In his place, new appointees John Gilbert and Scott Workman have been added to the board, both with terms expiring on February 26, 2027. The Chair position remains open, with Alexis Yarbrough expected to assume the role pending confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Despite their terms expiring soon, Bridget Ziegler and Ron Peri remain listed as board members, with their seats officially set to expire on February 26, 2025.

Updated CFTOD Board List

Open – Chair (Presumably to be filled by Alexis Yarbrough) – Term expires 2/26/27
Brian Aungst, Jr. – Term expires 2/26/27
Ron Peri – Term expires 2/26/25
Bridget Ziegler – Term expires 2/26/25
John Gilbert – Term expires 2/26/27
Scott Workman – Term expires 2/26/27

The removal of Vice Chair Charbel Barakat marks another shift in leadership within the state-controlled oversight district. Barakat, who was added to the board midway through 2023, served for less than two years before being removed in the latest restructuring.

With the Vice Chair seat now vacant and the Chair position still open, CFTOD leadership continues to transition under Governor DeSantis' appointees. The district, which replaced the Reedy Creek Improvement District in 2023, remains responsible for governing infrastructure and services within Walt Disney World property.

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castlecake2.05 hours ago

Yah it’s terrible there too, and what it looks like is happening is people are coming on to property via Osceola pkwy then cuttingg up to buena Vista to get across to western way. It’s normal now for the left turn onto BVD from world drive to back all the way up onto Osceola. Orlando has a traffic problem which is turning into a traffic problem for Disney as people cut through property to try to get around it. I think western way was approved to become three lanes each way though?

LAKid5313 hours ago

You should see Western Way at 4 PM.

MisterPenguin15 hours ago

I'd prefer not to say.

TheCoasterNerd16 hours ago

Knowing him, it's a joke

Advisable Joseph17 hours ago

Have you heard of "scrivenor's errors" before, is this a joke flying over my head, or did a secretary or paralegal throw a memorable temper tantrum? I found "scrivenor" in the OED as a variant of "scrivener," if that's what you're referring to.

castlecake2.017 hours ago

Curious if the district had been seeing the insane traffic problems every night as people cut through property to try to get to 192/old lake Wilson, it’s becoming a real mess as people take Osceola and Buena Vista drive going on to Workd dr trying to save some time

MisterPenguin18 hours ago

They tried that before, but the scrivenor would prefer not to fix any errors.

DCBaker18 hours ago

Here's a look at the agenda for the CFTOD Board of Supervisors meeting next week, which includes an item about District support for the Sunshine Corridor study:

tissandtully30 days ago

Yeah, apparently she should be done on Feb. 26th, but who knows what Ronnie has in mind.

JoeCamel30 days ago

She still there? Thought she was busy with her OF

tissandtully30 days ago

Glances over at Bridget.....

lazyboy97o31 days ago

You’re so out of touch with the times. Institutional knowledge isn’t based. The terms are clearly part of the facade of propriety. The posts are minor patronage and an example of “new” ideas of executive power. People can rotate through and they get to pad their resume because the board only needs to exist, not overtly act, at this time. So long as Disney remains compliant anyone can provide the rubber stamp. Who has remained is quite telling.