Jim Seneff

James M. Seneff, Jr. is the founder and executive chairman of CNL Financial Group. Mr. Seneff founded CNL in 1973 and was the firm’s chief executive officer until January 2011, when he appointed a new chief executive officer to manage the firm. As executive chairman, Mr. Seneff is actively engaged in the business, serving as chairman of the board and overseeing CNL’s executive committee. Mr. Seneff is also chairman of the board of Global Growth Trust, Inc., Global Income Trust, Inc., CNL Lifestyle Properties, Inc., CNL Healthcare Trust, Inc. and executive chairman of CNLBancshares, Inc. He is the former chairman of National Retail Properties, Inc., Trustreet Properties, Inc., CNL Retirement Properties, Inc., and CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

Mr. Seneff is a recipient of the 2010 Horatio Alger Award, a member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, and serves on the Horatio Alger Association Board of Directors. He is a resident member of The Florida Council of 100, a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that seeks to promote the economic growth of Florida. He is a member, and former chairman, of the Governor’s Council for the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, a member of the Boy Scouts of America Scouting Heritage Society, and is a Trustee of the United Arts of Central Florida, Inc. Mr. Seneff is chairman of the Board of Governors of The Geneva School, a Christian classical school, and participates in a number of other nonprofit organizations involved in Christian ministries.

Mr. Seneff served on the Florida State Commission on Ethics and is a former member and past chairman of the State of Florida Investment Advisory Council, which advises the state of Florida retirement system. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Orlando Health, and a former member of the Board of Overseers of the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. Mr. Seneff served on the Florida State University Foundation’s Board of Directors and is the former vice chairman of the Board of Directors for the Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center.

Mr. Seneff was recently named one of Real Estate Forum’s 65 Real Estate “Legends & Icons” who have helped shape the commercial real estate industry. In March 2012 he was awarded the John C. Whitehead Legacy Award by PathNorth. His work in philanthropy and economic development has been recognized with the James B. Greene Award, presented by the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission; the Jewish National Fund’s Tree of Life Award; The Junior Achievement Spirit of Achievement Award; the Lifework Leadership Legacy Award; and the Marilyn Mennello Visionary Award, presented by the Mennello Museum of American Art. In 2006, he was designated the Business Leader of the Year presented by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Educators and was inducted into the Florida State University School of Business Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of the 2007 Industry Leader of the Year Award from the University of Florida Bergstrom Real Estate Center and is a member of their Hall of Fame. In 2008 he was named Outstanding Philanthropist by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He lives in Winter Park, Florida, with his wife, Dayle, and has five children and eight grandchildren.