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Bruce Vickers has had the privilege of serving as your Tax Collector for eight years after being elected in August 2016, following a 15-year tenure within the Osceola County Tax Collector's office. His extensive experience provided him with a strong foundation in office operations, staff management, and customer service. Prior to his election, Bruce held various administrative positions, including roles such as Incentive Merchandising Coordinator at Tupperware Headquarters, Supervisor of the Criminal Court Clerk Division at the Osceola County Clerk of Courts, and Administrative Office Manager at Good Samaritan Retirement Village. Bruce's educational background includes graduating from Osceola High School and attending Florida Baptist Schools & Seminary (now Emmaus Baptist College). He advanced his expertise by completing training with the Florida Department of Revenue and earning his Certified Florida Tax Collector designation. He is now invited annually to teach certification classes for Tax Collectors and their staff. Additionally, Bruce received an Executive Leadership Certification from the State of Florida Tax Collectors Association in collaboration with Valencia College and participated in the 2012 Osceola Leadership program sponsored by Community Vision. Bruce previously served on the Board for the Osceola County Education Foundation and currently sits on the Board of Directors for both the Osceola County Council on Aging and the Florida Tax Collectors Association. In August 2024, he is set to assume the role of President of the Florida Tax Collector Association, representing all 67 counties. Previously, he held positions as Education Chair, Second Vice President, and Vice President of the Association, playing a pivotal role in legislative efforts at the Capitol in Tallahassee.
Committed to community service, Bruce actively encourages his staff to engage in philanthropic endeavors. Together, they have participated in initiatives such as the Council on Aging’s March for Meals, donations to support the Meals on Wheels pantry and the Senior Santa program, as well as contributing essential household items to families in need through local grant programs. Annually, they also support the Osceola Education Foundation’s Gift for Teaching and participate in events like The American Heart Association’s Walk and the Pink on Parade breast cancer walk.
Outside of work, Bruce prioritizes family and church involvement. Married to his wife Bobbie, he is the father of 21-year-old Seth, who serves as a deputy for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. Both Bruce and his family are active members of their church, where Bruce has served in various capacities, including director of Vacation Bible School, Treasurer, Sunday School Teacher, and Music Director.
Bruce's tenure as Tax Collector has been marked by a commitment to enhancing citizen convenience. Since in office, he has introduced services such as concealed weapon permitting, CFX toll violation clearances, Tourist Development Tax Audit and Florida birth certificate issuance, with services now available by appointment as well as walk in, streamlining processes and saving citizen’s time. Notably, in response to the growing population, he collaborated with the County to replace the Poinciana Branch with a larger facility in Campbell City, which opened in September 2020. This new office can accommodate three times the number of citizens that the Poinciana office could and has significantly expanded services to include road testing, written testing, birth certificates, HAZMAT fingerprinting and concealed weapon permitting, which were previously unavailable in the area. The layout of the Campbell City office has also been adopted as a model for other offices throughout the state. Continuous evaluation of best practices, organizational performance, and customer service remains fundamental to future growth, underscoring Bruce's dedication to serving citizens with integrity, knowledge, respect, and pride. Under Bruce's leadership, the Osceola County Tax Collector Office has consistently won the Excellence Award and, since 2020, the Legacy Award for Financial Operations from the Florida Tax Collector Association, a recognition given to only two counties in 2020. This combination of hands-on experience, recognition for outstanding service, and leadership within the industry uniquely qualifies Bruce to continue serving effectively in this office.
BRUCE VICKERS BIOGRAPHY
