The Department of Chemistry Leadership Board was established in the Spring of 2011 to provide guidance and support for the Department’s continual drive for excellence. The Board, made up of business, academic, and community leaders, adopted the mission statement: “To offer leadership and guidance, to provide financial strength, and to achieve national acclaim as a top 10 Department of Chemistry.”
Robert O. Kincart
A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc.; American Communications, Inc.; The Kincart Group
Biographical Info
Rob graduated from UF in 1972 with a B.S. in Chemistry. Post graduation, he worked as a research chemist with Glidden-Durkee and Roux Laboratories, but quickly moved into management roles with Kerr-McGee Chemical and, later, with Asgrow/The Upjohn Company in the agricultural chemical industry. Kincart, who was recognized in 2005 as the UF Chemistry Department’s outstanding alumni, also served as the first hazardous materials chemist on the nation’s first fire department haz-mat team out of Jacksonville, Florida circa 1975. Today, as a result of his career-long dedication and expertise in dealing with hazardous materials and their affect on the environment, Kincart is Polk County’s sole honorary Fire Chief.
In 1980, Kincart was a founding partner in Resource Recovery of America, Inc., one of the first environmental services companies in Florida to provide assessment and remediation of contaminated sites. The company was subsequently sold and in 1987 he founded A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. which is headquartered in Bartow, Florida. Today, the firm employs nearly 100 professionals, including scientists and engineers and serves clients nationwide. He is very proud that they have been awarded the Best Place to work in Florida for 2010 and 2011. In addition to these business ventures, in 1995, he co-founded American Communications, Inc., a wireless telephone provider and in 2000 founded The Kincart Group, a real estate investment and development firm.
Kincart encourages employees to get engaged in the community and models the way for “giving back” through his own active involvement. He is a Rotarian, serves on numerous non-profit boards and is also president-elect for the Bartow Chamber of Commerce. He is also the co-chairman of the inaugural Polk County School Board Environmental Career Academy.
Rob resides in Lakeland with his wife, Laurel; their black lab Kacey; three children and six grandchildren. He loves UF, is a Bull Gator and has endowed the Kincart Scholarship in Chemistry at UF.