Business Seen

GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS COMMISSION’S 2021 SPORTYS

Jon and Betsy Hughes, the owners of Track Shack, won the Chairman’s Award of Excellence during the 2021 SPORTYS: Greater Orlando’s Night of Champions, hosted by the Greater Orlando Sports Commission with presenting sponsor Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute. The awards honor sports business professionals whose contributions and impact have been vital in making Greater Orlando a premier sports destination. Recipients in 12 categories were named from 52 finalists during the event, which aired live June 19 on WKMG-TV News 6. As a bonus, presenters backstage got to get a close look at the Vince Lombardi Trophy that was awarded in February 2021 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jason Siegel, president and CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission

Jeff Hayward, president of Heart of Florida United Way (fourth from right) and the production team at WKMG-TV News 6 Jason Siegel and Jamie Seh, sports director at WKMG-TV News 6, film the opening segment of the show

Chris Carmody, partner at GrayRobinson, and his son Jason Siegel takes a selfie with Mike Bianchi and Brandon Kravitz from 96.9 The Game

Caesar Lopez, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Orlando City Soccer Club Jason Siegel with Dan Malasky, chief legal officer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Faron Kelley, vice president at ESPN Wide World of Sports and chair of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission board of directors

Recipients

• Chairman’s Award of Excellence – Jon and Betsy Hughes, Track Shack

• Best in Business Operations – Doug Patterson, Orange County Public Schools

• Best in Communications & Public Relations – Casey Tanous, Full Sail University

• Best in Corporate Partnerships – Amy Wise, 2022 Special Olympics USA Games

• Best in Facility Operations – Craig Borkon, Orlando Venues

• Best in Gameday & Team Operations – Tom Ward, Track Shack Events

• Best in Marketing – Jade Mallard, Amateur Athletic Union

• Best in Sales – Brooke Smoley, University of Central Florida Athletics

• Best in Social Responsibility – Delise O’Meally, Institute for Sport & Social Justice

• Best in Sports Media – David Steele, Orlando Magic

• Sponsorship Activation of the Year – Orlando Health and Orlando Pride, Ad Astra Jersey Launch

• Executive of the Year – Faron Kelley, ESPN Wide World of Sports Trey Dyer, sales and member advisor, Rose DiDonato, membership advisor, and Jo Newell, vice president, Orlando Regional Chamber, with chamber members Alex Goetz and Cody Brown

Dan Malasky, Catriona and Mike Harris of Uproar PR, and Jason Siegel

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer introduces an award winner during the show

ORLANDO REGIONAL CHAMBER AWE IMPACT FORUM

The Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce and its All Women Empowered (AWE) program hosted the 2021 AWE Impact Forum on August 19 at the Orlando Museum of Art. The inaugural collaborative event was designed to raise awareness of the regional resources that help propel women forward. It included an expo with about 20 exhibit tables and a keynote speech by Quibulah Graham, corporate director of diversity and minority business development at Orlando Health, who shared personal stories about leading teams through the COVID-19 pandemic and the Pulse nightclub tragedy.

AWE audience at Orlando Museum of Art

Orlando Regional Chamber team members Nicole Bell, Trey Dyer, Jo Newell, Joe Horan and Rose DiDonato

City of Orlando Minority and Women’s Enterprise exhibit table Wendy Kurtz, board chair, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce

Diane Sears of ‘i4 Business’ at Women’s Business Enterprise Council of Florida exhibit table

AWE Keynote Speaker Quibulah Graham Cari Coats, Accendo Leadership Advisory Group Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

ATHENA PowerLink exhibit table

AWE Impact Forum Keynote Orlando Health exhibit table

Checking in for AWE at Orlando Museum of Art Heart of Florida United Way exhibit table

Jason Middleton, Eryka Washington and John Classe from Reedy Creek Improvement District and Greg Mason from Orlando Economic Partnership Jo Newell, Vice President, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce

EAST ORLANDO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EXPO 2021

More than 250 people turned out for the annual East Orlando Chamber of Commerce Expo, which was held August 26 at the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando near the University of Central Florida. Almost 60 exhibit tables and displays filled the atrium, which housed the sold-out exhibit space.