Women's Inspired Leadership

REALTORS® ASSOCIATION MAKES HISTORY

THE GIRL SCOUTS EXPERIENCE

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION PLEDGE

ORLANDO: PERFECT SOCCER HOST

4BUSiNESS ®

Orlando's Leadership Connection

MARCH 2021

4BUSiNESS ®

WOMEN’S INSPIRED

LEADERSHIP

Awards 2021

PAM NABORS

President and CEO CareerSource Central Florida

Ladies

FIRSTS

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CONTENTS WOMEN’S INSPIRED LEADERSHIP

Honorees 12

Spirit of Progress

16

Spirit of Innovation

18

Spirit of Collaboration

20

Spirit of Mentorship

22

Spirit of Engagement

24

Spirit of Advocacy

4BUSiNESS ®

WOMEN’S INSPIRED

LEADERSHIP

Awards 2021

Pam Nabors | CareerSource Central Florida

Kirstie McCool | GuideWell Innovation

Marcie Golgoski | WESH-TV Channel 2

Lena Graham-Morris | HORUS Construction Services

Leticia Diaz | Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law

Deborah Beidel | UCF RESTORES

26

Spirit of Entrepreneurship

28

Women’s Inspired Leadership Awards

REALTORS® ASSOCIATION MAKES HISTORY

Verbelee Nielsen-Swanson | Oxford Eyes

2021 Nominees and Sponsors

THE GIRL SCOUTS EXPERIENCE

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION PLEDGE

ORLANDO: PERFECT SOCCER HOST

4BUSiNESS ®

Orlando's Leadership Connection

MARCH 2021

4BUSiNESS

ON THE COVER Pam Nabors

INSIDEFF MARCH 2021

WOMEN IN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

34

Amanda Norvell

35

Nicole Roach

36

Wendy Romeu

NBC Sports Group

GolfNow

Alluvionic

Ladies

FIRSTS

Honoring Women’s History Month FIRST TWO WOMEN TO JOINTLY WIN THE NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY (2020)

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna Charpentier and Doudna received the honor for developing the CRISPR-cas9 molecular scissors, making it possible to target a section of DNA to repair or disable genes “My wish is that this will provide a positive message to the young girls who would like to follow the path of science, and to show them that women in science can also have an impact.”

— Emmanuelle Charpentier

Read More on Page

FOLLOW US►►►

®

Photography by Julie Fletcher

WOMEN’S INSPIRED

LEADERSHIP

Awards 2021

PAM NABORS

President and CEO CareerSource Central Florida

Ladies

FIRSTS

Celebrating Trailblazers $4.95

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MARCH 2021 | i4Biz.com

#i4biz

30

4BUSiNESS Orlando's Leadership Connection

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHTS

38

Making History Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association Marks 100 Years and All-Female Leadership Team

41

Good Finds Central Florida Rack Up Fabulous Deals and Feel Good, Too

42

The Girl Scout Experience Citrus Council Activities Offer Lessons in Business and Life

44

CareerSource Central Florida Interns Help Translation Company Speak as One

BEST PRACTICE

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

52

The Business of Diversity

54

The Business of Sports

46

Let’s Make This the Year of the People

7

From the Editor and Publisher

8

Business Briefs

57

Signs of the Times

58

Business Seen

62

Downtime

64

Watercooler

Romaine Seguin | UPS Global Freight Forwarding

48

TECHNOLOGY

How to Improve Network Security for a Remote Workforce Davia Moss | Next Horizon

50

Orlando: World-Class Host for the World’s Most Popular Sport

DEPARTMENTS

Guest Expert Columns

LEADERSHIP

Calling Orlando’s Business Leaders to Take Action

Unique Experiences for Your Day Off

MARKETING

What Marketers Can Learn From the Movies Meaghan Branham | i4 Business

Stuff You Didn’t Know You Wanted to Know

i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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4 SPOTLIGHTING SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONALS

4BUSiNESS Orlando's Leadership Connection

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Diane Sears MANAGING EDITOR Meaghan Branham COPY EDITORS Susan Howard, APR Terry Godbey DIRECTOR OF ENCOURAGEMENT Donna Duda PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Julie Fletcher JulieFletcherPhotography.com ART DIRECTOR Tanya Mutton SidekickCreations.com

The professionals working to create a more sustainable Central Florida across industries are preserving our present and protecting our futures.

CONTRIBUTORS Meaghan Branham, Tim Giuliani, Terry Godbey, Key Howard, Keith Landry, Davia Moss, Pam Nabors, Diane Sears, Romaine Seguin, Jason Siegel

In our April issue, i4 Business will spotlight your stories: WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU DO, AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. Build your relationship with our audience and yours with this special section spotlight.

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Keith Landry Keith@i4biz.com

• • • •

Each profile will be:

Published in our print and digital editions of i4 Business Published on i4biz.com Shared on our social media channels Spotlighted in our Special Sections newsletter

Coming April 2021! i4biz.com Tel: 407.730.2961

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MARCH 2021 | i4Biz.com

i4 Business is a participating member of:

i4 Business Advisory Board This Month's Featured Advisory Board Members

Thank You We’d like to thank our Advisory Board members for keeping their fingers on the pulse of our community and helping us bring you the best stories from around Central Florida.

Judi Awsumb, Awsumb Enterprises Jim Bowie, University of Florida Incubator Program Jackie Brito, HR Asset Partners Cari Coats, Accendo Leadership Advisory Group Andrew Cole, East Orlando Chamber of Commerce Laura Dorsey, Florida Black Chamber and National Cultural Heritage Society Stina D'Uva, West Orange Chamber of Commerce Carol Ann Dykes Logue, University of Central Florida Business Incubator Program Susan Fernandez, Dignitas Technologies Lena Graham-Morris, HORUS Construction Mark Allen Hayes, Stockworth Realty Group Gwen Thompson Hewitt, United Negro College Fund Vicki Jaramillo, Orlando International Airport Chris Leggett, Central Florida International Trade Office Yolanda Londono, Harvard Group International Catherine Losey, Losey PLLC law firm Laureen Martinez, Orlando Economic Partnership Yog Melwani, Align Commercial Real Estate and Indian American Chamber of Commerce Davia Moss, Next Horizon Hope Edwards Newsome, Virtus LLP Rob Panepinto, Florentine Strategies Bill Reidy, LotLinx Inc. Jerry Ross, National Entrepreneur Center Romaine Seguin, UPS Global Freight Forwarding Jason Siegel, Greater Orlando Sports Commission Mary Shanklin, Fifth Estate Media Marni Spence, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) Robert Utsey, Gilbane Building Company

Hope Edwards Newsome Hope Edwards Newsome is a managing partner with Virtus LLP, a law firm specializing in corporate, financial services, private equity and public finance. She previously served as general counsel and chief compliance officer for Triloma Financial Group.

She has provided guidance to firms throughout Central Florida for more than 16 years. She also serves as secretary and general counsel for ATHENA Orlando Women’s Leadership, which allows her to offer her expertise to professionals throughout the community.

Carol Ann Dykes Logue As site manager of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubator at Research Park, Carol Ann Dykes Logue uses her expertise in technology, business, information research and communications to empower local entrepreneurs and connect them with resources throughout the community. With a background in both biology and education, a master’s degree in library and information science, and extensive experience in business aspects such as market analysis and commercialization, she assists small businesses throughout Central Florida.

Robert Utsey

Robert Utsey is the senior manager of business development at Gilbane Building Company in Orlando, celebrating 150 years as a family-owned business with more than 45 locations worldwide. Utsey has held leadership roles on many community nonprofit boards, including founding co-chair of the Orlando Economic Partnership, where he supports the recruitment of new businesses to the region. During his four decades in Central Florida, Utsey has been actively engaging in workforce and economic development initiatives and organizations that focus on youth leadership.

i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

5

4BUSiNESS ®

4BUSiNESS Orlando's Leadership Connection

Orlando's Leadership Connection

SPOTLIGHTING CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS

SUBSCRIBE Visit i4biz.com or send $24.95 for a one-year (8 issues) or $39.95 for a two-year (16 issues) subscription to: i4 Business, 121 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 1500, Orlando, FL 32801. Please include name, mailing address, city, state, ZIP code, phone number and email. Please allow 4-6 weeks for subscription to start.

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BACK ISSUES Back issues may be purchased for $4.95 each by calling 407-730-2961.

Real estate and construction professionals are creating the Central Florida we are proud to call home.

In our May/June issue, i4 Business will spotlight your stories:

WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU DO, AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS. Build your relationship with our audience and yours with this special section spotlight Each profile will be: • Published in our print and digital editions of i4 Business • Published on i4biz.com • Shared on our social media channels • Spotlighted in our Special Sections newsletter

Coming May/June 2021! i4biz.com Tel: 407.730.2961

6

MARCH 2021 | i4Biz.com

REPRINTS Reprints and commemorative plaques may be ordered from Meaghan Branham with i4 Business, 407-730-2961. No other companies offering similar products or services are affiliated with i4 Business.

CONTRIBUTE Send press releases, article submissions, announcements and images to press@i4biz.com. Please provide 2-3 months advance notice for requests for event announcements and/or coverage.

i4 Business® is published eight times a year by i4 Business, LLC, 121 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 1500, Orlando, FL 32801 Tel. 407-730-2961 i4biz.com The contents of i4 Business® magazine, i4biz.com and any other media extensions related to the brand, including advertisements, articles, graphics, websites, web postings and all other information (“contents”) published, are for informational purposes only. i4 Business® and all other affiliated brands do not necessarily endorse, verify, or agree with the contents contained in i4 Business®. i4 Business® makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness, timeliness, or usefulness of any information contained or referenced. i4 Business® shall not be held liable for any errors or omissions. ©2021. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is prohibited

without written permission from the publisher.

From the Editor and Publisher

Our ‘Small World’ Is Big on Connections

W

hen I hear people say, “It’s a small world,” I can’t help but smile. After living in Central Florida for 36 years — that’s right, I’m not really 29 — I still think of the old ride at Walt Disney World and the song it played that you could never get out of your head. I loved it, and it was just my speed as far as roller coasters go. If you don’t get that joke, then you might be new here.

I read somewhere that everybody on this planet is separated by only six other people. Six degrees of separation. Between us and everybody else on this planet.

— Monologue from Six Degrees of Separation, 1990 play by John Guare

Take a look at our i4 Business TV Channel

It is truly a small world. I found myself thinking about that phrase many times as I read the nominations for this year’s 2021 Women’s Inspired Leadership Awards. I was delighted when I saw the selections our committee made, choosing just seven honorees from about 60 nominations. I could trace connections from people I know to almost every one of the nominees.

One is my next-door neighbor.

Another used to be my boss.

Another hired some of the team members from my former eye doctor’s office. Another has become a friend and sits on our advisory board, and another was nominated by someone I worked with on a major project a couple of years ago.

What this told me is that we’re all interconnected here in Central Florida. If there’s someone you’re not acquainted with but would like to know, there are probably far fewer than six degrees of separation between you, to quote Hungarian playwright Frigyes Karinthy.

He introduced the concept in 1929 that was popularized in 1990 by American playwright John Guare before it was turned into a party game about actor Kevin Bacon.

If you’ve lived here a long time, you know exactly what I’m saying. This is not a small town, but sometimes you get that warm and cozy feeling as if it were, even as our metropolitan statistical area continues to grow. If you’re not from here, just wait. This phenomenon will happen to you, too.

That’s what i4 Business is all about: serving as Orlando’s Leadership Connection. We cover the people, projects and priorities shaping Central Florida. So it is a pleasure this month to introduce seven women who are making things happen. We’re honored to bring you their stories.

And as Orlando’s Leadership Connection, we want to applaud something really important happening in our community. I’m talking about Orlando Economic Partnership’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pledge. Sure, the pledge is just words. But signing the pledge is an action — and that’s a start toward creating real change. It’s not enough to just tolerate or accept our differences. We need to embrace them.

You can read more about the pledge and how to take it on behalf of your organization in a column on Page 52. Tim Giuliani, president and CEO of the Partnership, discusses how our collective voices make a difference, why more than 70 of Orlando’s CEOs and top executives launched a “Sign the Pledge” initiative, and what kind of work is happening in Central Florida around DEI. The subject of our cover story, Pam Nabors, president and CEO of CareerSource Central Florida, also addresses the pledge in a column on Page 45, sharing why she believes it’s important.

Many of us have been passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion for years, and it’s refreshing to see so much activity around it. I have signed the pledge on behalf of i4 Business.

What a positive way to start 2021. Let’s celebrate our small world in all its diversity.

Have a great month!

Editor and Publisher

i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

Business Jet Maker Building Sustainable Campus on Space Coast

Aerion, the makers of a supersonic, carbon-neutral jet that will be able to fly 1,000 mph, has broken ground on a state-of-the-art $300 million campus and global headquarters near Melbourne International Airport that will manufacture, test and customize the aircraft, which will go into service in 2027. The 110-acre campus is expected to bring 675 jobs to Brevard County with an average annual wage of $105,000.

Aerion plans to begin manufacturing 300 of the AS2 business jets starting in 2023. The Aerion Park campus is being built by design, engineering and construction firm Haskell and will incorporate the company’s new global headquarters plus an integrated campus for research, design, production and

Business

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interior completions of aircraft. Aerion is currently headquartered in Reno, Nevada.

The AS2 private jet is designed to deliver carbon-neutral flight, and the company is committed to making its campus the most environmentally sustainable of its kind in the aerospace sector. The campus will be powered by clean energy, using the latest in photovoltaic solar technology to generate power for manufacturing. The grounds will include electric vehicle charging stations, rainwater reuse equipment, and local sourcing and recycling of materials.

“We only get a few chances in our brief careers to be involved in something that’s really revolutionary and important to the world, so the entire Haskell team is deeply excited about this partnership

Innovation

and the challenging objective to create the most sustainable manufacturing facility in the world,” said Paul Raudenbush, senior vice president of planning and development for Haskell’s infrastructure and transportation delivery group.

“We’ve been working with Aerion for several years on the mission to create this transformative product and we couldn’t possibly be more aligned on the objectives of sustainability and the application of so many new technologies in facilities, manufacturing and transportation,” he said. “This site will incorporate more sophisticated requirements than any site recently developed, so it’s perfectly located in Florida’s Space Coast region.”

Education

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Blockchain Innovation Lab Launches in Oviedo Three Central Florida-based organizations have joined forces to launch a unique international initiative focused on developing blockchain technologies and creating new companies that use them. Plans were announced during a launch event February 12 by Neoware Studios, Global Blockchain Ventures and the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.

The Blockchain Innovation Lab, nicknamed Blockchain iLab, is a nonprofit that is working in concert with a $100 million venture capital fund to create a central hub for blockchain technology innovation. It is housed in Seminole County at the Oviedo Mall.

On its website, the organization described its mission as “a global consortium of public and private organizations providing mentorship, resources and funding for blockchainrelated startups and the development of blockchain technologies. Our central mission is to network together blockchain industry leaders including educational institutions, capital formation groups and technology innovators to foster the growth and development of blockchain startups that contribute to the growing emergence of Web3.”

It describes Web3 as a progression from Web 1.0, the original format of the internet, which was mostly read-only,

and Web 2.0, which saw the growth of social media. Web3 is “the next major iteration of the internet, which promises to break free from centralized information to create platforms through technology such as blockchain and smart contracts that no single entity controls.”

Blockchain is the record-keeping technology behind the Bitcoin network, but its uses are being expanded beyond the finance field. It differs from traditional databases, which store information in tables, and structures data into chunks or blocks that are chained together and create an irreversible timeline that cannot be altered or erased.

Local Partners Collaborate to Study Barriers to Black-Owned Businesses A new project that aims to strengthen Black-owned businesses and the local community has received financial support for its efforts to conduct a study into systemic barriers in Orlando and Orange County. The Enterprising Black Orlando Initiative has received a commitment of $50,000 from the Central Florida Foundation and $25,000 from Wells Fargo.

“Central Florida Foundation believes that we must all work together to build a community where everyone feels at home,” said Mark Brewer, president and CEO of the Central Florida Foundation. He cited the economic and health challenges of COVID-19 along with the racial inequity protests of 2020 as factors that made this a critical time for this work. Black and minority businesses and households play a critical role in Central Florida’s economy, but they are also largely underfunded and under-represented, an article on the foundation’s website said.

The initiative resulted from a yearlong partnership between Wells Fargo, and the Central Florida

Tourism

Community Collaborative, an alliance between the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, BBIF Florida and the Central Florida Urban League.

“The initiative provides an opportunity to apply proven best practices that help close the wealth gap in Black businesses and communities in Orlando,” said Glen Gilzean, president and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League, on behalf of the Central Florida Community Collaborative.

The Collaborative is partnering with the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative at Prosperity Now for technical assistance to implement a nationally proven racial economic and wealth equity model. The goal is to strategically engage public and private entities to identify the causes and consequences of structural economic inequity and design solutions in partnership with community members and leaders.

Prosperity Now has implemented this strategy in 15 cities and 11 states since 2015, and this will be its debut in Florida.

Growth

Glen Gilzean Photography by Julie Fletcher

Inspiration i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

UCF Hires ‘High-Energy’ New Athletics Director and Head Football Coach The University of Central Florida has named a new vice president and director of athletics: Terry Mohajir, who previously served as vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics at Arkansas State University. Mohajir, pronounced mo-hodge-er, is one of 13 members of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, and he was named one of the top five non-Power 5 athletic directors in the nation by Stadium.

“Terry is a high-energy leader who has demonstrated success in raising a school’s national profile by hiring high-quality coaches and developing outstanding facilities that enhance the experiences of student-athletes, fans and donors,” said UCF President Alexander Cartwright. “Most importantly, he cares deeply about student-athletes’ success in

competition, in the classroom and after they graduate.”

After a national search, UCF introduced Mohajir on February 10 to replace Danny White, who accepted an offer in January to become athletic director at the University of Tennessee and quickly hired UCF’s head football coach, Josh Huepel, to lead the Tennessee team.

UCF has named Gus Malzahn to take over as head coach. Malzahn, who spent the past eight seasons as head coach at Auburn University, previously worked with Mohajir at Arkansas State.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to build on the tremendous momentum UCF’s talented student-athletes, coaches and staff have established with the enthusiastic support of Knight Nation

Terry Mohajir

Gus Malzahn

and so many generous donors,” Mohajir said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that together we will continue to construct the best athletics program in the country by providing exceptional resources and services to our students. I’m ready to Charge On with Knight Nation.”

Founder of Lowndes Law Firm Dies

Longtime Central Florida attorney, developer and philanthropist John Lowndes died February 12 at age 90. He was a founding shareholder in Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed P.A., now known as Lowndes, with offices along Lake Eola in downtown Orlando and in Melbourne and Mount Dora. He also was a partner with

Sports

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Orlando homebuilder Greater Construction Corp., which was sold to nationally traded Meritage Homes Corp. in 2005.

“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of John Lowndes, one of Orlando’s greatest supporters — both through his efforts and influence in many of the major developments and the growth of Orlando and as a generous philanthropist through his investments in our arts and culture organizations throughout the community,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said. “He has left a lasting legacy in our community through his hard work, dedication and passion for generations to come and helped shape the Orlando of today for all of us.”

Lowndes was known as a donor and supporter of several local organizations, chairing the boards of the Orlando Museum of Art, the Friends of the Mennello Museum of American Art, AdventHealth Winter Park, the Winter Park Health Foundation, the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Business

Leadership

Administration, and the UCF Foundation. He and his wife of 37 years, Rita, were especially dedicated to the Shakespeare Theater in Orlando, and the Shakespeare Center is named after them.

“We are heartbroken to learn of the loss of our longtime advocate and friend John Lowndes, said Jim Helsinger, artistic director of Orlando Shakes. “His unwavering support of the arts in Central Florida allowed Orlando Shakes to thrive. Among his many accomplishments, he will be remembered for making our theater’s move to our current home possible.”

Spirit Airlines to Expand at MCO Miramar-based Spirit Airlines is planning to move part of its operations from its headquarters in South Florida to Orlando International Airport (MCO) starting in June. The move will bring 75 jobs to Orlando, with plans to increase that number to 100.

Spirit started serving MCO in 1993 and is the second-busiest carrier there, supporting about 1,200 workers and 500 contractor jobs in Central Florida.

The airline handled 3.98 million travelers through MCO in the fiscal year that ended in September 2020.

Technology

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Chopra Global Partners With Lake Nona on New Spa A whole-health company founded by Dr. Deepak Chopra has forged a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Lake Nona Performance Center (LNPC) to create the Chopra Mind-Body Zone and Spa, a dedicated 5,500-square-foot space inside Lake Nona’s destination sports, performance and fitness center scheduled to open this summer.

“Chopra Global and Lake Nona have a long and rich partnership guided by our common mission of promoting health and wellbeing,” said Chopra Global Vice President of Partnerships Jaime Rabin. “We’re incredibly excited to expand that partnership with the new Chopra Mind-Body Zone and Spa specializing in the lifechanging benefits of whole health and practicing the connectivity of mind, body and spirit. The programs at LNPC will serve as a model for us moving forward as we look to continue the expansion of our physical brand presence.”

The Lake Nona Performance Club is a joint venture partnership

between Lake Nona and Integrated Wellness Partners, a subsidiary of Signet LLC. It will offer state-ofthe-art equipment and programs driven by the latest technology.

The Chopra Mind-Body Zone will offer yoga and meditation classes and specialty options such as aerial yoga, barre, Reformer Pilates and unique mind-body assessments based in Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems.

The Chopra Global operations at Lake Nona will be led by an expert team with oversight from Chopra, who recently announced plans to become a Lake Nona resident. “I feel that Lake Nona is going to be the leader in the world that will create a movement for what I’ve longed for all my life: a critical mass of people who will engage in personal and total transformation for a more peaceful, just, and a more healthy and enjoyable world,” Chopra said. “But to get there, we have to take care of ourselves first.”

Second Harvest CEO Announces Retirement Dave Krepcho, the CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, has announced he will retire from his position at the end of the year. Second Harvest is the region’s largest nonprofit, with an annual budget of nearly $123 million. The board of directors is conducting a national search for a successor.

Krepcho has led the organization since 2004, and during his tenure

the organization has maintained more than 550 community partnerships and distributed more than half a billion meals. The nonprofit saw a dramatic increase in clients in 2020 because of the number of jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, with its daily average number of meals provided doubling from 150,000 to 300,000 in the past 12 months.

WANT TO SHARE YOUR NEWS? Do you have some news you’d like us to share with the community? Please be aware that we work two to three months in advance of our publication date. Submit press releases and announcements to press@i4biz.com.

Finance

Community

Health i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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COVER STORY

SPIRIT of PROGRESS 4BUSiNESS ®

WOMEN’S INSPIRED

LEADERSHIP

Awards 2021

PAM NABORS President and CEO CareerSource Central Florida

BY TERRY GODBEY Photography by Julie Fletcher

E

ven before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived early last year, the nonprofit CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF) had been working toward a vision for how it wanted to connect Central Floridians to careers and develop skilled talent for businesses.

“We wanted to create what we call a Sherpa experience,” said President and CEO Pam Nabors. “Sherpas help people climb mountains, but they don’t climb the mountains for them. That’s been our North Star, to assist on the career journey and inspire talent.”

That assistance includes free career screening and counseling; job placement; skills training and education programs; paid internships; and talent acquisition for businesses.

Nabors, who has been at the helm of CSCF for more than eight years, is no newcomer to leading through crisis.

She was a director at Capital Workforce Partners in Hartford, Connecticut, during the Great Recession in 2008.

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“Many people, particularly in Connecticut, were greatly impacted by the financial crisis. I was excited about all the different ways the workforce development system could help them. My career has aligned with my desire to be able to contribute, particularly when people are experiencing difficult circumstances.”

Pre-pandemic, in addition to developing the Sherpa experience, Nabors and her team had begun to explore virtual services and had created a Customer Contact Center 1-800 phone line so they could reach and engage with more job-seekers and businesses, build relationships and improve service, all of which would help CSCF climb the steep mountains ahead.

“We all knew by the end of February that an extraordinary emergency was coming,” Nabors said. “I’m proud of my leaders and my team because we flipped the switch very quickly to convert all our services to virtual platforms by March 16.”

The agency, which is state and federally funded, arranged to have its 250 employees work from home. It also placed its new Customer Contact Center at the forefront as it prepared for record-high unemployment. The phone line was supplemented by call center employees from the Orange County Convention Center.

“I wouldn’t want to say we just snapped our fingers,” she said. “It was based on a lot of earlier work and the collaborative relationship we have built with the community. I love living and working in Central Florida because the collaboration and energy here is very motivational.”

Eventually, with Central Florida’s hospitality, restaurant and tourism industries taking the biggest wallop, at least 150,000 people lost jobs in those industries including thousands from Walt Disney World. Osceola County, in particular, was significantly affected because many tourism employees live there. Central Florida’s unemployment rate topped out at 22.6% in May 2020.

In December 2020, it hovered at 6.9% —

COVER STORY

Pam

Nabors

We really have become as essential a workforce as grocery store workers because thousands of people turned to us for help when the economy was shuttered.

— Pam Nabors

i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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COVER STORY

versus the pre-pandemic 2.5% rate of December 2019.

The need was tremendous in CSCF’s five-county region of Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Sumter counties, but the agency was up to the challenge.

Since its fiscal year began in July, the organization has served more than 35,000 residents, a 50% increase from the same time frame the previous year.

It has also placed more than 2,400 people into jobs and put another 753 into paid internships throughout Central Florida.

In addition to switching to a virtual model, CSCF achieved success by: o Extending its hours initially to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Friday. o Launching Help is Here in Orange County to expand its outreach to the growing number of displaced workers and ramp up career services, especially internships, which were paid with $7 million in CARES Act funds from Orange County and federal emergency grant dollars.

Help is Here served more than 2,500 people in Orange County and has been expanded to the other four counties. o Concentrating its paid internships in businesses that were directly helping with the COVID crisis, for a double win. For example, Feed the Need Florida, which was launched in March and led by the nonprofit 4Roots and 4 Rivers Restaurant Group, received interns to help distribute meals to needy families. The hope is that internships will turn into regular jobs. o Creating virtual workshops and virtual job fairs to help people improve their resumes, search for jobs and interview for employment.

CSCF also created workshops for businesses that needed help finding talent in a virtual environment, especially for the growing number of jobs in essential areas such as transportation and deliveries, health care, and grocery and other retail. o Providing basic support and an empathetic ear for people frustrated in their attempts to obtain unemployment benefits through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). Although CSCF could not accept claims or make determinations about eligibility since it is not part of the DEO, Nabors said her team was able to reset PINs, hand out paper applications and give general advice.

CSCF helped thousands of struggling businesses, especially small ones, fill open positions. “We could train truck drivers and immediately put them to work,” she said. And health care companies were keen on hiring hospitality workers because of their advanced customer service skills. “There is a lot of alignment between hospitality workers’ skills and those sought by the health care industry.”

Nabors’ first job in the workforce development field was nearly three decades ago in Cocoa at

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Brevard Community College, now Eastern Florida State College, as a career counselor and industry trainer. She had just earned a master’s degree in personal psychology, now called industrial organizational psychology, at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.

In that role, she did everything from writing people’s resumes to teaching Kennedy Space Center engineers how to write better memos. She managed her first grant, which helped space industry employees laid off during downsizing in the early 1990s. She spent a total of 10 years there and at Brevard Workforce before moving to Connecticut in 1998.

Then, in 2012, she was chosen to lead CareerSource Central Florida, which was then called Workforce Florida. “The agency was in the midst of extraordinary transition, but there was such opportunity,” Nabors said. “If you could write a dream job for me, this was it.

I knew the organization with its resources could give much back to the community, and that’s truly been realized in the last year. That is the power of workforce development — connecting people who have talent to businesses that need that talent. It’s an incredible honor and privilege to be able to serve in this way.”

Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, she is a huge fan of the Buffalo Bills football team and said she misses her hometown’s Buffalo chicken wings, beef on weck — Pam Nabors sandwiches and sponge candy … but the snow? Not so much. “I miss it for four or five minutes on Christmas.”

She lightens the mood at the office with her recall of decades of song lyrics starting with the 1960s. “My team jokes because I can belt out a song based on any cue or anything we’re talking about. There’s always a song line I can add to the conversation.”

Nabors said she’s optimistic about the economic future but intends to keep her focus on finding opportunities for displaced tourism employees until that sector rebounds.

She urges people rebuilding their careers to take the first step: Reach out for help and network. “Often what happens is you find the little key that unlocks the very first door. You get a little positive feedback, and then it’s easier to go to the next one and the next one. Celebrate the small things, the little keys you’re able to turn so you can move through doors toward new opportunities.” ▯

If you could write a dream job for me, this was it.

I knew the organization with its resources could give much back to the community, and that’s truly been realized in the last year.

WOMEN'S INSPIRED LEADERSHIP HONOREE

SPIRIT of INNOVATION 4BUSiNESS ®

WOMEN’S INSPIRED

LEADERSHIP

Awards 2021

KIRSTIE MCCOOL Executive Director GuideWell Innovation

BY DIANE SEARS Photography by Julie Fletcher

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or Kirstie McCool, it’s no coincidence that “innovation” has been part of her job title in the two most recent positions on her extensive resume.

The concept has been part of her ever-growing expertise all along, even if the word has not.

As someone who wanted to be a marine biologist as a kid, McCool has always wanted to do something that matters to the world. But even though her career has revolved around STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — some might be surprised at her strong position on the definition of innovation.

“When you hear the word innovation, especially in the world of tech startups, it’s often correlated with cool technology and the creation of new products,” she said. “Over the last 10 years or so, my view of what innovation means has been transformed. I think of innovation these days as a mindset. It’s a mindset around how you can transform things that are way bigger than just a product or a cool technology.”

Today McCool serves as executive director of GuideWell Innovation, where

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she helps identify, mentor and validate rapidly accelerating innovations and organizations that help people and communities achieve better health.

GuideWell Innovation is part of GuideWell and its family of companies including health insurer Florida Blue.

McCool’s career has included several notable positions: president and CEO of the International Business Innovation Association, executive director of Starter Studio/Firespring Accelerators, founding director of the UCF Venture Lab, and executive director of the Winter Park Angels.

She is based at the GuideWell Innovation Center that opened in 2016 in Orlando’s Lake Nona Medical City.

Under her watch, GuideWell Innovation launched an annual well-being challenge that has focused on critical “drivers of health” including food security and, more recently, the intersection between COVID-19 and health equity in light of race.

“These are complicated social problems, and an innovation mindset is the way we’ll begin to unravel novel approaches we can leverage to make the world a better place,” McCool said.

“These sorts of things don’t get solved

by one company or one person. It takes a village to solve them. Bringing in and connecting innovators who are all working on the problem is the way it’s going to get solved.”

McCool’s history with strategic thinking goes back to her childhood, when she and her brother were what she calls “definitely nerds,” spending hours playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. Willie McCool would go on to become an astronaut with NASA, tragically losing his life as the pilot aboard the space shuttle Columbia when it exploded on Feb. 1, 2003.

“Willie was my soulmate as a child,” she said. “He was four years older than me and an amazing big brother.”

His death came about a month after his sister finished winding down an Orlando-based tech company she had co-founded, DigitalOwl. She became the family’s spokeswoman, fielding media inquiries while dealing with her grief.

Early in their careers, he was a test pilot and Naval Academy graduate. She was working as a computer programmer at Martin Marietta, which would later become Lockheed Martin, building complex black box systems that went into airplanes and missile systems.

WOMEN'S INSPIRED LEADERSHIP HONOREE

“I used to joke all the time, ‘Yeah, you’re like Mr. Top Gun pilot dude, but when you hit those little buttons that fly your airplane, there’s something going on back there magically, and guess who built that stuff,’” she said. “I would tease him about how his little sister made him a hero.”

McCool credits their intellectual curiosity to their mother, who raised the two through the challenge of a divorce before remarrying a man who would adopt them and take them around the world as he served in the military. McCool was in college in Texas when her parents moved to Orlando.

Her mother took a position as a founding faculty member at what is today the University of Central Florida (UCF) Rosen School of Hospitality.

McCool transferred to

UCF and graduated with a computer science degree and later an MBA. It was a job McCool secured as she was dealing with her brother’s death that would change the trajectory of her career. She was volunteering at the brandnew UCF incubator, where she also served on its inaugural board of directors.

“That’s when I got my first exposure to coaching and mentoring entrepreneurs.

I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so much fun,’ learning about all these amazing ideas and helping the baby companies that were in the incubator begin their growth journeys.

So what started off as me just volunteering ended up being a full-time job to launch UCF’s Venture Lab. I loved mentoring a new generation of entrepreneurs and innovators, and that’s what I’ve done ever since.” ▯

Kirstie

McCool Employees need to have permission to be innovative, and be incentivized to do so — not just that they’re allowed to think out of the box but that they’re expected to.

— Kirstie McCool

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SPIRIT of COLLABORATION 4BUSiNESS ®

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LEADERSHIP

Awards 2021

MARCIE GOLGOSKI Executive Producer of Special Projects WESH-TV Channel 2

BY MEAGHAN BRANHAM Photography by Julie Fletcher

T

give? That meant modernizing how we Twentywenty minutes minutes into theinto last the hourlast of its Day of“We Giving liveprogramming here and are on members April 21,of2020, WESH-TV Channel 2 hit its target: $1.1 million are collecting withever an in online donated inhour less than hours.

The event, benefiting the community, Second Harvest but it takes Food Bank moreof than Central Florida, raised thedonations most money one of its24Day of Giving givingallcomponent and changing our day for theprogramming organization. Iton wasApril also one largestshe amounts said. “You raised have during to want theto pandemic bring across television stations nationwide 21, of the that,” model a bit. The goal was to bring the owned by 2020, Hearst, WESH 2’s Channel parent company. people together. Our goal is to be the WESH-TV 2 program to a place where we could community’s resource for information. To hit its target: $1.1 million donated stabilize theProjects food drive component but Behind the24 scenes andThe at the helm, where you be acan good usually facilitator find her, of that wasinformation, Executive Producer of Special Marcie Golgoski, in less than hours. event, also grow the monetary donation side of whose determination to connect members of her youcommunity have to be guides involved.” incredible feats like this one. benefiting Second Harvest Food things through collaboration.”

It was that desire, paired with her Bank of Central Florida, raised the Partnering with many from of their In her 12 years theone station, she has overseen healthy andcuriosity, coordinated that stories led Golgoski informing to work Central Florida about everything elections most money everatin day for existing sales clients, team members to natural disasters to local also breaking journalism.

Golgoski, In herthe jobtwo as adecades teller ofsince stories shehas always been inextricably linked to doing the organization.

It was one news. of Butinfor at WESH 2 reached out to begin her part. began, she has worked up and down the the largest amounts raised during leveraging those relationships. For a Eastern Seaboard, from her home state of the pandemic across all television day, have WESH would uppeople a food drive “We live here and are members New York buttoitBaltimore takes more to Washington, than that,” she D.C., said. “You to 2want to set bring stations nationwide owned by of the community, at that eachinformation, business, broadcasting live. In together.WESH Our goal2’s is to be thecompany. community’s resource before for landing information. in the welcome To be awarmth good facilitator of of you have to be Hearst, parent return, that organization would make a involved.”

Central Florida at WESH 2.

Behind the scenes and at the helm, donation. For those who couldn’t host Since 2012, Golgoski has also been where you can usually find her, was WESH 2 at their location, was It was that desire, her healthy curiosity, running athat 35-year led institution Golgoski toatwork the station: in journalism.

In the two decades sincethere she began, Executive Producer ofpaired Specialwith Projects another option: They D.C., would challenge she hasGolgoski, worked up and down the Eastern Seaboard, the Share fromYour herChristmas home stateFood of New Drive York to Baltimore to Washington, before landing Marcie whose determination schools to put on their own food drives, in the welcome warmth of Central Florida at WESH 2. in partnership with Second Harvest. to connect members of her community matching a dollar for every pound of Each year, beginning on Giving Tuesday guides incredible feats like this one. foodChristmas they raised up to $10,000.

Since Golgoski also been a 35-year lasting institution for two weeks at thebetween station: the Share Your Food Drive in partnership In her2012, 12 years at thehas station, she running and was an added benefit tothe that withoverseen Second Harvest.

Each year, beginning on Giving Tuesday and lasting for two weeks betweenThere Thanksgiving and Christmas, Thanksgiving and Christmas, the station has and coordinated stories option, Golgoski “Itkick-start was also aits station hasCentral coordinated and promoted the drive. it was Golgoski’s knack for questions thatsaid: would hasBut coordinated and promoted the asking drive. the right informing Florida about great way to give our schoolkids and second life. from elections to natural But it was Golgoski’s knack for asking the everything our business community partners a right questions that would kick-start its disasters to local breaking news. But for connection and way come together.”

“We reevaluated: make our goalsecond matchlife. how people want to give? That meant modernizing howawe aretocollecting Golgoski, her job as a How tellerdo of we stories has In 2020, the effects of the COVID-19 donations with an online giving and changing “We reevaluated: our model How a bit. do Thewe goal make was to bring the program to a place where we could always been inextricably linked component to doing pandemic exacerbated the problem stabilize monetary donation of things through collaboration.” ourthe goal match how peopleside want to her part.the food drive component but also grow

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WOMEN'S INSPIRED LEADERSHIP HONOREE

of hunger. As people began losing their jobs, many found themselves suddenly without the means to feed themselves and their families, and the need for food increased in Central Florida by 90%. Meanwhile, consumers who had money began panic buying in excess, leaving grocery stores with no food left over to donate.

Second Harvest was forced to buy what it needed to feed the hungry. The food bank’s costs were soaring.

In response, Golgoski organized the Day of Giving Fund Drive in April 2020, with the goal of raising $1 million by the end of the month.

Beginning on April 21, the station worked with partners of Second Harvest that would allow WESH 2 to film from their locations and tell the stories of the people who turned to them — all while making sure they responsibly

handled social distancing and hygiene rules, keeping everyone safe.

The broadcast began that day at 5 a.m., live from Second Harvest, and then from the distribution sites themselves.

Videos showed people lining up for blocks, shared their stories, and encouraged viewers to donate by phone or online. After nearly 14 hours of programming, WESH 2 reached its goal of $1.1 million.

It’s the stories, Golgoski believes, that are the catalysts for such incredible achievements, and she takes care with each one she tells.

“I’m always struck by people who trust us to tell their story,” she said. “They are opening their heart and their soul on some really tough issues. There is no greater honor, especially when the stories are so deeply personal.” ▯

Marcie

Golgoski YOU PUT IN THE HARD WORK SOME DAYS, AND YOU REAP THE REWARDS ON OTHERS. BUT IT’S ABOUT BEING PART OF A TEAM. IF YOU’RE NOT A GOOD TEAM MEMBER, YOU’RE FAILING YOURSELF AS WELL AS OTHERS. — Marcie Golgoski

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SPIRIT of MENTORSHIP 4BUSiNESS ®

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LEADERSHIP

Awards 2021

LENA GRAHAM-MORRIS Vice President HORUS Construction Services

BY TERRY GODBEY Photography by Julie Fletcher

F

amily and career are intertwined for Lena Graham-Morris, who comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and represents the third generation of her family in HORUS Construction Services, where she is vice president.

Her father and her uncle founded the company in Florida in 2001 after working in the drywall business for decades with her grandfather and a great-uncle. “They wanted to take the business to the next level,” she said.

Through the years, Graham-Morris has worked as a fashion stylist and celebrity makeup artist, once applying makeup to former President Barack Obama. She has worked in television as a host and in production, and she has been a business consultant. All along, she has been mentored about the family business.

She learned much from her father, James Graham Jr., now head of operations. She also learned from her grandparents and her aunt, but she has been an especially avid pupil of her uncle, Jonathan Graham, who is the company president. “I have always admired his brilliant mind. And to work side by side with him, watching him negotiate,

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advocate, form partnerships and bridge gaps, has taught me everything.”

The multimillion-dollar construction company has about 50 employees with headquarters in Tampa and offices in Orlando, where Graham-Morris is based, Deerfield Beach and Gainesville, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina. HORUS Construction is working on several major projects including a surgical hospital at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

Graham-Morris joined the company eight years ago, not knowing whether the move would be permanent. But several years in, she said, her uncle told her: “You are the person I want to pass the company to.” So she decided to put aside her consulting work and leave her director position at the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida to focus on HORUS Construction. “I wanted to learn everything he knows.

“We have a legacy. My grandfather started this to make a living. My uncle kept it going because he wanted to dominate. I want to continue the legacy and change the playing field when it comes to women in construction.”

Women made up 10.9% of the construction workforce in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For Black or African American men and women, the number was only 6%.

Two years ago, Graham-Morris took her family’s emphasis on advocacy, education and paying it forward and established HORUS Academy, a 501(c)3 that allows HORUS Construction, along with its business partners CORE Construction and Barr & Barr, to mentor small minority businesses and subcontractors. It formalizes the mentoring work she and both companies have been doing all along. “I wanted to give it life and legs and a name,” she said.

“For me, mentorship never stops.

Even if we hadn’t created HORUS Academy, I would always be helping minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses. I’ve been an underserved business. I understand that we’re more than just our bank balance.

We have character, innovation and drive, but we sometimes lack resources or a seat at the table.”

For each new construction project, HORUS Construction and its partners hold a kickoff event to share details and goals, and they identify and begin developing minority subcontractors, whom they call protégés. These protégés participate in workshops and webinars,

WOMEN'S INSPIRED LEADERSHIP HONOREE

and they are included in meetings, planning and day-to-day activities.

They receive hands-on and technical assistance to coach them through the procurement process, bonding and insurance matters, the importance of accurate estimating, and the finer points of invoicing and dealing with finances.

Graham-Morris is also the founder of Entreprenista Enterprises, where she offers limited business VIP mentoring for women and a trademarked productivity planner called Kiss My Sass.

In June, she will become president of the board of directors of the National Association of Women Business Owners chapter in Orlando.

“Mentoring is a continuing process. We are mentored and supported, and we pass down what we have learned to those whom

we mentor. It’s a cycle of building the community and building businesses.

“This is the best way I can explain what we’re trying to do with our mentoring at HORUS Academy,” she said. “I once heard a woman speak at a conference. She said that when she was young, the children at her Black school were given books with pages torn out. When she complained to her father, he told her to write what she thought should have been on the missing pages and tape those new pages into the books. He told her, ‘That way, when the next student gets the book, he will have something to read.’

“With small businesses, sometimes we don’t have a book with all the pages. But it’s our responsibility to start writing in the book, to not rip out any pages and to pass it along to the next person.” ▯

Lena

Graham-Morris MENTORING IS A CONTINUING PROCESS. WE ARE MENTORED AND SUPPORTED, AND WE PASS DOWN WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED TO THOSE WHOM WE MENTOR. IT’S A CYCLE OF BUILDING THE COMMUNITY AND BUILDING BUSINESSES. — Lena Graham-Morris

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LEADERSHIP

Awards 2021

LETICIA DIAZ, Ph.D., J.D. Dean and Professor of Law Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law

BY KEITH LANDRY

L

eticia Diaz was destined to become a champion of diversity and inclusion.

She moved to the United States from Cuba with her parents when she was 3. They left behind everything they owned and bolted to Miami without a dollar in their pockets for a chance to live in freedom.

Growing up as a Cuban American, she felt the searing rejection of not being included time and time again. Those painful experiences at a young age helped shape how Diaz thinks and leads today.

Diaz is the dean and a professor of law at the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, where she has held the top spot since 2007. She is the first Cuban American woman to serve as dean at an American Bar Associationaccredited law school.

Diaz makes a point to take a stand for diversity and inclusion in all she does. She says shaping a diverse student body and faculty are two of her top priorities.

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“They are extremely important. You can only have true inclusivity if you are surrounded by real-world diversity,” Diaz says. “We have to embrace each other’s backgrounds and cultures. It is only through diversity that we can learn so much about each other, and then we can make a positive impact on society.

We have to continue our quest to diversify the legal field. You cannot have true representation without diversity and inclusion.”

Diaz understands the obstacles and challenges many of her students face and the sacrifices their families make.

She watched her parents leave behind a comfortable life in Cuba to start a new life in the United States. Her father was in his last semester at the University of Havana School of Law, but he gave up his career goals so he could work double shifts to take care of his family.

Her grandfather was a judge in Cuba.

At Barry Law School, there is a small courtroom Diaz donated, dedicating it to her father and grandfather. It reminds her every day of the sacrifices her family made to give her the

opportunity to have a better life.

As Diaz strives for diversity and inclusion at the law school, the numbers tell part of the story. Of 670 students enrolled as of October 2020, 191 were Hispanic, 102 were African American and 33 were Asian. Enrollment is about 60% female and 40% male.

“When I became dean, our student population was less than 30% diverse,” Diaz says. “Today, I am super proud to say we are about 50% diverse.”

Several national publications have recognized Barry Law School for its efforts. U.S. News & World Report magazine ranked it eighth in the nation for diversity among law schools. PreLaw magazine gave Barry University an A+ ranking for its diversity in 2020 and ranked it sixth for diversity among law schools.

Diaz says the campus experience teaches students why inclusion matters.

“Our students don’t just learn about the concepts of inclusivity in a textbook.

WOMEN'S INSPIRED LEADERSHIP HONOREE

Social justice and truth are part of our mission. They are involved with this while they are in school. When they graduate, they become judges and politicians or they run private practices. They make a positive difference because of the values they learned at Barry Law School. They give back to the community, and much of it starts at Barry Law School. They learn to serve in law school, and they carry it with them.”

Some of the students learn to give back by working with Barry’s immigration clinic, helping noncitizens who cannot afford an attorney navigate a complex immigration legal system.

Other law students represent young defendants in the juvenile justice system. And others volunteer to prepare income taxes for free to help Orlando families who cannot afford an accountant.

Professors also educate Barry University law students

about inclusion and social justice. “We have a cultural competency graduation requirement,” Diaz says. “You have to take a module on that before you can graduate. These programs include social justice and community service.”

Diaz praises the university’s faculty and students for making inclusion a priority on campus. She says students have advocated and worked hard to bring about diversity through workshops and forums that led to difficult but necessary conversations about racism after the death of George Floyd by police last summer.

Diaz says her work is challenging but satisfying.

“Inclusion defines who I am. I believe we will achieve harmony only when everyone truly embraces and not merely tolerates people who are not like them. When we only tolerate each other, we are not being inclusive, and to me that’s totally unacceptable.” ▯

Leticia Diaz

THINGS CHANGE IN SOCIETY, AND WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING SELF-ANALYSIS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. — Leticia Diaz

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DEBORAH BEIDEL, PH.D., ABPP Founder and Executive Director UCF RESTORES

BY MEAGHAN BRANHAM Photography by Julie Fletcher

O

n an October morning in 2006, a man walked into a one-room schoolhouse in the Pennsylvania Amish community of Nickel Mines armed with a semiautomatic handgun, a shotgun, a rifle, two knives, a stun gun and 600 rounds of ammunition.

Before taking his own life, he shot 10 young girls, ultimately killing five of them. The wounded children were taken to a clinic in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where Deborah Beidel was working.

“I spent the next week trying to work through this horrific event,” said Beidel, who today serves as founder and executive director of UCF RESTORES, a nonprofit clinical research center and treatment clinic in Orlando. “But there were moments of resilience that amazed me, and those moments convinced me that I would spend the rest of my career serving survivors of trauma, doing what I can to understand and help them.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Beidel, who holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology

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from the University of Pittsburgh and is certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology, already had ample experience in her field when she found herself called specifically to the treatment of those affected by trauma.

In 2007, Beidel relocated to the University of Central Florida (UCF), where she could not only conduct her research, but could put her findings into practice. She assembled a unique model of treatment that would prove to deliver remarkable results, founding UCF RESTORES. A research grant from the U.S. Department of Defense provided Beidel and her team with the funding to get started.

As the program approaches its 10-year anniversary, the team now offers cutting-edge treatment to first responders, veterans, active-duty military, survivors of sexual assault and mass shootings, and others. UCF RESTORES’ unique intensive outpatient program includes daily one-on-one sessions with a licensed mental health clinician over the course of three weeks, as well as group therapy to address concerns often associated with PTSD, such as depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.

Clinical trials of UCF RESTORES’ treatment approach show 76% of first responders and 66% of individuals with combat-related trauma no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD after just three weeks of intensive treatment. The relapse rate is 1%.

The university’s reputation as a leading center for modeling, simulation and training also offers a unique advantage for the development of another part of this approach that Beidel believes contributes to her organization’s positive results: virtual reality (VR).

The use of VR at UCF RESTORES allows clinicians to present the sights, sounds and even smells representative of the traumatic event most closely tied to a patient’s PTSD. This helps rewire the patient’s thinking so the sensory triggers are no longer vividly associated with that traumatic event.

VR has been integral to the program’s success, but the software used until this point has been provided by a third party and is not fully customizable. So, Beidel and her team decided to take it a step further, developing a system of their own. Now in clinical trials, the tool allows clinicians to easily program scenarios for any type of trauma.

WOMEN'S INSPIRED LEADERSHIP HONOREE

Beidel and her team have continued to seek out ways to help people.

When COVID-19 hit, an event Beidel describes as “globally traumatic,” they quickly put together a Facebook Live series to share their expertise with anyone looking for guidance, covering topics from sleep habits to substance use. The program also launched a single-session consultation model for essential workers, realizing a one-time consultation could help break down existing barriers to mental health care.

“For certain occupations, having PTSD is a real stigma and they don’t want to talk about it,” Beidel said. “But there are events our first

responders and our military witness from which no one with a heart should be able to just walk away. How do you walk away from 49 dead and 53 wounded in a nightclub?”

She was referring to the Pulse nightclub shooting in downtown Orlando, and UCF RESTORES has treated victims’ families and first responders of the June 2016 tragedy. “What we have to understand is that there is nothing wrong with witnessing life’s most horrible events and admitting you were affected by them,” she said. “But we also have to understand that it doesn’t mean you are broken.

“We continue to make new discoveries and get the word out there that you can get your life back. People can experience something horrible and then use that event to inspire them to make the world a better place.” ▯

Deborah Beidel

ADVOCACY IS LIVING AND BREATHING YOUR CAUSE. IT’S NOT A JOB, IT’S NOT A CHORE — IT’S MY HEART. —Deborah Beidel

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Awards 2021

Verbelee Nielsen-Swanson Founder and Owner Oxford Eyes

BY DIANE SEARS Photography by Julie Fletcher

W

hen Verbelee NielsenSwanson was cleaning out her late mother’s estate a few years ago, she found her own first pair of eyeglasses: blue cat-eye frames she had started wearing in fifth grade.

Her mom had held onto them over the years. Nielsen-Swanson smiled about the memory and then donated the glasses — not realizing she’d soon wish she had them back.

Nielsen-Swanson is the founder and owner of Oxford Eyes, a boutique eyewear shop that opened in 2018 in the Lake Ivanhoe district of Orlando. She now counts 22 pairs of eyeglasses and 10 pairs of sunglasses in her personal collection.

“Eyewear is an expression of you, and it’s the first thing people notice, the first accessory,” she said. “It serves your interest to get it right. This has been heightened with COVID because most of us are in meetings virtually, and if we’re not then we’re out and about and everyone is wearing a mask. So what you really see is the eyes and the eyewear.”

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Nielsen-Swanson is passionate when she talks about her business. She likes to quip: “A face is like a work of art. It deserves a great frame.”

How she came to start this new venture after retiring from a career in health care administration at what is now the AdventHealth hospital system is a tale of several coincidences. To her, it seems like it was just meant to be.

She had been a longtime patient at Swanson Sowers Lee & Yager, P.A., an optometry practice her father-in-law, Dr. Reynold Swanson, co-founded on Marks Street in Orlando. As the practice morphed over 50 years and the last of the partners sold to an ophthalmologist, the practice and the optical store connected to it were changing focus. NielsenSwanson stopped by one day to have a pair of eyeglasses adjusted, and she heard the news.

She didn’t want to see the shop’s talented optical team split up. Plus, where would she get her eyeglasses? She had an idea. She and her husband, Bob Swanson, had been traveling around the world

as new retirees and had visited optical boutiques that carried unique frames not available in Central Florida.

“That seeded the idea that there was a need and a gap here,” she said. “And of course, this shop had the most amazing team, and the community needed them, with their experience, their passion and their great relationship.”

So she hired two opticians and an eyewear specialist from the Marks Street location, and today they help customers choose glasses according to face shape, prescription requirements and personal style. In fact, specialist Lisa Sarles has at least 30 pairs of eyeglasses herself.

Nielsen-Swanson has a theory behind that: “You need an eyewear wardrobe.

You don’t have one pair of shoes.”

Opening and furnishing the shop allowed Nielsen-Swanson to put to work another of her passions: interior design.

Named after both an aunt in Alabama and a Southern flower, she had double-

WOMEN'S INSPIRED LEADERSHIP HONOREE FEATURE

majored in interior design and business in college, followed by an MBA, with plans to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

“My mother was an amazing woman, and when we moved here from South Dakota she opened a furniture store and went on to become a licensed interior designer.

She always had the heart of an entrepreneur, and it was fun watching her working and envisioning and creating spaces that were functional and beautiful and reflected the personality of the user.”

Nielsen-Swanson chose the name Oxford for her store because of its location in College Park, where the streets are named after academic institutions, and because of connections to her life, including a year she spent in England in college.

“Oxford University stands for substance, learning, growing, academia,” she said. “I knew that going into

business was going to be a learning experience. It also kind of fit with the aesthetics we wanted to build. We have a lot of books in our décor.”

She chose its location because of her dedication to Ivanhoe Village Main Street, where she chairs the economic vitality committee and serves as presidentelect of the board. She’s also involved in other community organizations, serving as president of Florida Executive Women and as co-chair of the Harbor House domestic violence shelter’s annual fundraiser, the Purple Door Luncheon. That’s when she’s not picking out new inventory for the shop.

So what is her favorite style? “I’m consistent at least,” she said. “It’s still the cat eye.

It’s a classic yet it’s bold and it has a bit of fun and spunk and sass to it. I just recently got a cat eye in almost the same shade as my very first pair.” ▯

Verbelee

Nielsen-Swanson EYEWEAR SHOULD NEVER BE ORDINARY, IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE EXCEPTIONAL. IT SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO EXPRESS YOUR STYLE AND YOUR PERSONALITY. — Verbelee Nielsen-Swanson

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Congratulations, Nominees

Candidates for the 2021 Women’s Inspired Leadership Awards were women nominated from throughout Central Florida whose accomplishments are making a difference in the community.

Karen Arnon

Hernon Manufacturing Inc.

Natalie Arrowsmith

NextHome Arrowsmith Realty

Judi Awsumb

Awsumb Enterprises

Amy Calandrino Beyond Commercial

Kathy Chiu

DeepWork Capital

Teresa Crofts Maple Street Inc.

Julia Dennis

ShuffieldLowman

Mayanne Downs GrayRobinson, P.A.

Jennifer Englert

The Orlando Law Group

Amber Folk Clark Health

Sheena Fowler

Orlando Economic Partnership

Tanisha Gary

African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida

Olive Gaye

GenCare Resources Healthcare

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Bernadette Girvin

Amanda Norvell

Roseann Harrington

Miracle In The Green

Heidi Isenhart

Senior Resource Alliance

Isabella Johnston

Deborah Colangelo Robinson

Gambin Financial Group

Orange County Government ShuffieldLowman

GolfPass

Ify Nwobi

Karla Radka

Intern Pursuit

Universal Orlando Resort

Isis Jones

Maria Isabel Sanquirico

Full Sail University

Maureen Karkovice

Friends of Fisher House Orlando

Jessica Kendrick Kendrick Law Group

Wendy Kurtz

Elizabeth Charles & Associates LLC

Raegan Le Douaron WeCare tlc

Catherine Losey Losey PLLC

Vickie Martin

Eleven 11 Communications

Adrianna Sekula

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

Cyndi Shifrel

Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals

Gina Solomon

Adult Literacy League

Mayra Uribe

Orange County Commission

Chassity Vega

Greater Orlando Builders Association

Brandy Waelti

Christian HELP Foundation Inc.

Strategic Accounting & Consulting

Mary Moltzan, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Advanced Recovery Systems

Josann Newell

WOW Legacy Group

Charlan Brock Architects

Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce

Allison Walsh Secily Wilson

4BUSiNESS ®

WOMEN’S INSPIRED

LEADERSHIP

Awards 2021

Sponsors

i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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Ladies

FIRSTS

In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we take a look at some of the women who have shaped history and are leading the way into the future.

AVIATION

FIRST WOMAN TO FLY SOLO ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN (1928)

Amelia Earhart

Set records and wrote bestselling books before disappearing on flight around globe in 1937 “Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.”

FIRST WOMAN AVIATOR TO FLY SOLO AROUND THE WORLD (1964)

Jerrie Mock Flew in a single-engine Cessna from Columbus, Ohio, in trip that took 29 days and 21 stopovers “I thought of the crowd back in Columbus. I thought of the sponsors who had risked their money on a flying housewife. Those people believed in me.

How could I let them down?”

MILITARY FIRST WOMAN TO WIN CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR (1917)

Dr. Mary Walker Abolitionist, prohibitionist and surgeon held prisoner by Confederates during the Civil War “Let the generations know that women in uniform also guaranteed their freedom.”

FIRST FEMALE FOUR-STAR GENERAL IN U.S. MILITARY (2008)

Ann Dunwoody Received fourth star in the U.S. Army in a ceremony at the Pentagon after many career firsts “Today, what was once a band of brothers has truly become a band of brothers and sisters.”

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MILITARY CONT. FIRST BLACK FEMALE TACTICAL FIGHTER PILOT FOR THE U.S. NAVY (2020)

Lieutenant Junior Grade Madeline Swegle Swegle completed her training in July 2020, making her the first Black female tactical fighter pilot to earn her wings “It would’ve been nice to see someone who looked like me in this role; I never intended to be the first. I hope it’s encouraging to other people.”

AERONAUTICS FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE (1963)

Valentina Tereshkova Soviet cosmonaut and engineer whose solo mission aboard Vostok 6 orbited Earth 48 times “One cannot deny the great role women have played in the world community.

My flight was yet another impetus to continue this female contribution.”

FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE (1983)

Sally Ride U.S. astronaut and physicist whose mission aboard Challenger included using robotics arm “For whatever reason, I didn’t succumb to the stereotype that science wasn’t for girls.”

FIRST FEMALE SHUTTLE PILOT (1995) AND COMMANDER (1999)

Eileen Collins On Discovery to Russian space station Mir and on Columbia to International Space Station “I don’t think of myself as being a woman and having anything to prove.”

SPORTS

BUSINESS AND COMMERCE

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO WIN AT WIMBLEDON (1957)

Althea Gibson

FIRST WOMAN TO WIN A NOBEL PRIZE (1903) AND WIN TWICE (1911)

Marie Curie

Won 11 Grand Slam tennis tournaments and was inducted into tennis and sports halls of fame

For physics with husband Pierre and Henri Becquerel, and later for chemistry

“I have never regarded myself as a crusader. I don’t consciously beat the drums for any cause…”

“We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.”

FIRST WOMAN INDUCTED INTO WORLD FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME (2013)

FIRST WOMAN TO WIN A PULITZER PRIZE (1921)

Mia Hamm American pro soccer player who won Olympic gold and FIFA Women’s World Cup twice each “My coach said I ran like a girl. I said if he could run a little faster, he could too.”

FIRST WOMAN TO OFFICIATE AT A SUPER BOWL (2021)

Sarah Thomas Thomas was also the first full-time female referee in the NFL “When I get on that field, knowing the impact that I’m having not just on my own daughter, but young girls everywhere, it’s remarkable.”

FIRST WOMEN ON THE COACHING STAFF OF A WINNING SUPER BOWL TEAM (2021)

Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar Assistant Defensive Line Coach Locust and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Javadifar helped coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their second-ever win in SuperBowl LV “There’s a blessing and a curse to media coverage in regard to women coaches because what it looks like sometimes is that we’ve just sprung up out of nowhere, whereas there’s hundreds of women that are at various levels of football.”

— Lori Locust FIRST WOMAN TO PLAY IN A POWER 5 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL GAME (2020)

Sarah Fuller The goalkeeper for the Vanderbilt women’s soccer team made her debut as kicker for the Commodores when she opened the second half of a November 28, 2020, game at Missouri

Edith Wharton For The Age of Innocence, her book about New York high society during the 1870s “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

FIRST WOMAN TO WIN NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE (1931)

Jane Addams Recognized as founder of social work profession and first woman public philosopher in U.S. “Old-fashioned ways which no longer apply to changed conditions are a snare in which the feet of women have always become readily entangled.”

FIRST WOMAN CEO OF A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY (1963)

Katharine Graham CEO of The Washington Post during the era that included reporting the Watergate scandals “The thing women must do to rise to power is to redefine their femininity.

Once, power was considered a masculine attribute. In fact, power has no sex.”

FIRST WOMAN MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE (1967)

Muriel “Mickie” Siebert Known as The First Woman of Finance, she joined 1,365 male members on the exchange “Do not be afraid to go into uncharted territories. You might find some pretty good things there.”

“At the end of the day, they treated me like an athlete, and that’s the best I could ask for.’’

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BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CONT.

FIRST WOMAN DEPICTED ON A U.S. COIN (1979)

Susan B. Anthony Social reformer and women’s rights activist who worked with Elizabeth Cady Stanton “There never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.”

ENTERTAINMENT

POLITICS FIRST WOMAN TO ORGANIZE WOMEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT (1848)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton American suffragist, social activist and abolitionist who fought for voting and other rights “We hold these truths to be selfevident: that all men and women are created equal.”

FIRST WOMAN TO RUN FOR U.S. PRESIDENT (1872)

FIRST WOMAN TO WIN GRAMMY FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR (1962)

Judy Garland American actress, singer and dancer who won for her live recording Judy at Carnegie Hall “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”

Victoria Woodhull A leader of the women’s suffrage movement who campaigned but was not taken seriously “Why is a woman to be treated differently?

Woman suffrage will succeed, despite this miserable guerrilla opposition.”

FIRST WOMAN IN CONGRESS (1916)

Jeannette Rankin FIRST WOMAN INDUCTED INTO ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME (1987)

Aretha Franklin American singer, songwriter, pianist and civil rights activist known as “The Queen of Soul” “Women absolutely deserve respect.”

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO WIN THE GOLDEN GLOBE CECIL B. DEMILLE AWARD (2018)

Oprah Winfrey Called the “Queen of All Media,” she was North America’s first black multibillionaire “Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism.”

Suffragist and anti-war politician elected to the U.S. House as a Republican from Montana “Men and women are like right and left hands; it doesn’t make sense not to use both.”

FIRST WOMAN IN THE CABINET (1933)

Frances Perkins Sociologist appointed Secretary of Labor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, serving till 1945 “The accusation that I am a woman is incontrovertible.”

FIRST WOMAN ELECTED TO LEAD A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (1960)

Sirimavo Bandaranaike FIRST WOMAN TO SWEEP ALL FOUR MAJOR GRAMMY CATEGORIES (2020)

Billie Eilish Eilish was only 18 when she took home Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Record of the Year in one night at the 2020 Grammy Awards “I’ve always done whatever I want and always been exactly who I am.”

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Elected prime minister in Sri Lanka as the first nonhereditary female head of government “As a woman and mother, I call upon the nations of the world to desist from violence in their dealings with each other.”

POLITICS CONTINUED

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FIRST WOMAN TO RUN FOR U.S. VICE PRESIDENT ON A MAJOR PARTY TICKET (1984)

Geraldine Ferraro Attorney who joined former Vice President Walter Mondale on the Democratic ticket “If you don’t run, you can’t win.”

FIRST WOMAN MAYOR OF ORANGE COUNTY (1990)

Linda Chapin The position was called Orange County Commission Chair at the time and elected countywide “If you want to accomplish something, the best advice I have is to show up.

Just show up.”

FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE (1997)

Madeleine Albright Czechoslovakian-born U.S. diplomat, she served until 2001 under President Bill Clinton “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”

FIRST WOMAN ON U.S. SUPREME COURT (1981)

Sandra Day O’Connor

FIRST WOMAN MAYOR OF ORLANDO (1992)

Glenda Hood Held the post until 2003 and served as Secretary of State for Florida from 2003 to 2005 “We need to reach out and support younger women and let them know, ‘You can do all of the above.’”

Former state senator from Arizona, she was appointed by President Reagan and retired in 2006 “The power I exert on the court depends on the power of my arguments, not on my gender.”

FIRST WOMAN ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO BE ON A MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY PRESIDENTIAL TICKET (2020)

Kamala Harris Before being inaugurated as vice president in January 2021, then-U.S. Senator Kamala Harris was also the first African American, Asian American, person of South Asian descent, and person of Indian and Jamaican ancestry to be nominated on a major party presidential ticket “My mother would look at me and she’d say, ‘Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last.’”

FIRST IRANIAN-AMERICAN ELECTED TO CONGRESS (2020)

Stephanie Bice After serving in the Oklahoma state Senate since 2014, Bice was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives “It’s important to me to continue to improve and rethink how government works to solve problems.”

FIRST WOMAN POLICE CHIEF OF ORLANDO (2007)

Val Demings Served in the department 27 years, four as chief, and now serves in the U.S. House “My mother would not allow me to get caught up in the stereotypes or to feel sorry for myself or wish I was richer or a different color or a different gender.

She let me see the strength in me. She said, ‘Nobody defines you; you define you.’”

FIRST WOMAN ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT (2012)

Dr. Barbara Jenkins She and the district have continued to receive numerous awards during her tenure “If there are more women making the decisions, then I think you’ll see more equality or at least that wage gap start to dissolve. If we have more females coming into power, you will continue to see more change.”

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WIB

WOMEN IN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Amanda Norvell

Vice President Direct-to-Consumer Products & Services NBC Sports Group

ON THE FOREFRONT BY MEAGHAN BRANHAM

A

manda Norvell says “That might look like digging into business savvy is our user data with the team to in her bloodline: “It glean some new insights that can comes from growing help improve performance or our up with entrepreneurial parents members’ experience. It could mean who owned and operated small ideating on how we can apply a businesses for most of their lives.” business model or approach from Norvell eventually another industry gravitated toward a to ours. Or it could company with that mean learning from same startup spirit, my team and the “Any day I get to learn landing at NBC Sports amazing leaders I something new, to Group in 2012 after get to work with on stretch and grow, is a years of experience in how to approach or good day to me.” the field of marketing solve a problem, be — Amanda Norvell and communications. it business or people Since then, she has management.” served as director of As a lifelong sports emerging marketing, fan and player, vice president of Norvell has a unique marketing for GolfNow and more, insight into the value of her team. all before her current role of helping “I am inspired inside my career to build, launch and oversee NBC simply by the opportunity I’ve been Sports Digital’s direct-to-consumer afforded,” she said. “I am inspired golf membership, GolfPass. by the people I get to work with on “I love being on the forefront of a daily basis who push me to be business and am always looking better and do better — both in my to learn something new,” she said. work and in life.” ▯

Eagle Scouts have been leading positive change in their communities for more than a century.

That tradition continues with the historic inaugural class of Female Eagle Scouts. Help celebrate the leadership accomplishments of the inaugural class as we highlight the positive impact Scouts make in communities every day.

To learn more, visit: Scouting.org/bethechange

Central Florida Council Congratulates the inaugural class of Female Eagle Scouts!

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

A COMBINATION OF PASSIONS BY MEAGHAN BRANHAM

A

s a child, Nicole Roach jumping at the chance to combine had a pretty good idea two of her passions into one role. of who she wanted to “The appeal of marketing, for me, be. “I had this image was always the ability to tell the of myself being a businesswoman customer a story. I love marrying in a big city. Looking back, I the technical sides of customer realize I wanted the relationship elements that came management with being a strong (CRM), automation woman in business: and optimization leadership, with marketing “Our end result mentorship and strategy and is thoughtful and constant selfbranding.” measurable, which development.”

As she navigates Now, after more her realized helps us continue to than a decade in dream of being a learn and develop.” her industry, the businesswoman in — Nicole Roach senior director the big city, Roach of consumer has found the marketing at reality of it to be a GolfNow has welcome challenge earned the title — and even and then some. more rewarding She manages brand strategy, than she had expected. “In the consumer engagement, digital business world,” she said, “it takes performance and creative. persistent drive, self-growth and The lifelong sports fan started adaptability to achieve goals and at GolfNow nearly six years ago, be an effective leader.” ▯

WIB

Nicole Roach

Senior Director, Consumer Marketing GolfNow

Julie Fletcher PHOTOGRAPHY

Specializing in commercial, portraits, products and real moments

JulieFletcherPhotography.com i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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WIB

WOMEN IN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Wendy Romeu President and CEO Alluvionic Inc.

SIDEKICK Creations

sidekickcreations.com 307.202.3920 PROUD DESIGNER OF i4 BUSINESS MAGAZINE

THE PERFECT FIT BY MEAGHAN BRANHAM

W

hen Wendy Romeu small business, I leverage our founded Alluvionic team’s expertise and Alluvionic’s in 2013, she had two unique discriminators, like our decades of experience SBA 8(a) certification, to create under her belt. With her own solutions for our clients and build company, she set out to share her great partnerships.” project management know-how, a The Melbourne-based company field she describes as has grown its diverse her “perfect fit,” using portfolio of clients “I always wanted to her skills to assist exponentially, and help others. Through clients in reaching it’s that continuous mentorship and process and system evolution that keeps implementation Romeu, her team and collaboration, I do goals and achieving Alluvionic’s clients that each day at cybersecurity moving forward.

Alluvionic.” compliance using “I’m inspired by — Wendy Romeu best-in-class project our focus on doing management tools the right things for and in-house expertise. the right reasons,” Romeu said.

“My experience led me to “We treat our internal team, create Alluvionic, providing worldvendors and partner families with class project management, process the utmost trust and respect. improvement, product development That is the guiding principle that and cyber solutions with integrity, drives our work environment and professionalism and unmatched allows Alluvionic to contribute communication,” she said. “As a positively to our clients, employees rapidly growing, woman-owned and community.” ▯

WHEN YOU NEED TO SHOW YOUR BRAND STORY

HIRE A SIDEKICK

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

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LOOKING TO SCALE YOUR BUSINESS?

Don’t Do It Without This Book!

Author Nancy G. Allen

With over 20 years experience coaching leaders on business growth, Nancy G. Allen is your go-to resource. – Diane Sears

The Decision to Scale is a resource for all business leaders.

The book focuses on three key areas: personal, business, and company development.

AMONG THE TOPICS COVERED: • Understanding what makes a successful president • Using mind mapping to generate new ideas • Identifying new business trends • Creating an excellent capabilities statement

• Forging strategic alliances • Embracing the power of delegating • Crafting a strategic plan • Using action plans for success

Nancy G. Allen is the President & CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council of Florida and is an international speaker, coach, and consultant. www.wbecflorida.org

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

MAKING HISTORY

BY MEAGHAN BRANHAM

ORLANDO REGIONAL REALTOR® ASSOCIATION MARKS 100 YEARS AND ALL-FEMALE LEADERSHIP TEAM

C

elebrating its 100th anniversary is enough to make this year an unforgettable one for the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association (ORRA), which serves more than 18,000 Realtors in Central Florida and is the eighth-largest association of its kind in the nation. But this is not the only milestone the organization is recognizing in 2021. ORRA has a groundbreaking team at the helm for its big birthday: its first all-female executive board.

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President Natalie Arrowsmith has served on the board of directors since 2013, but stepping into the top role at this time feels especially remarkable.

“It is the 100-year anniversary, and we want to show the community that we care about them and that we are giving back,” she said. “I want to spend this year celebrating the community.”

She realizes the importance of playing such a significant part of history for the

association. “It’s humbling,” she said. “I grew up in a time when girls were told they couldn’t do things, only boys could.

This is our first all-female line for our executive board. I’m very honored to be able to serve during this time period.”

Serving alongside her on the executive board are President-Elect Tansey Soderstrom, who will succeed Arrowsmith in 2022; Treasurer Lisa Hill; and Secretary Juliana Boselli-Neves. The women were inaugurated on January 9, 2021.

“In the past, women have been among top producers in our industry, while the

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT leadership, in general, has been mostly made up of men,” Soderstrom said. “Now it really feels like we’ve come into our own.”

The Team

NATALIE ARROWSMITH

TANSEY SODERSTROM

The four leaders have a lot in common: They are all business owners, professionals and mothers. Their paths to ORRA’s executive board, however, have been decidedly unique.

Arrowsmith started her real estate career after moving from her home state of Florida to the picturesque town of Clyde, North Carolina, in the Great Smoky Mountains about 20 miles from the popular travel destination of Asheville.

“I knew a lot of Florida people who were moving up to the mountains during that time to buy a property and thought, ‘I can do this.’” She worked for other firms before eventually moving back to Florida and starting her own. Ten years after operating Arrowsmith Realty in Apopka, she joined the NextHome franchise system and today operates NextHome Arrowsmith Realty.

Soderstrom was still in high school when she earned her real estate license, but her interest in the career started long before then. As a child, she helped her mother, a real estate agent, by addressing envelopes and hanging marketing materials on neighborhood doors. Soderstrom founded Stirling International Realty in 1989 and acquired the Sotheby’s franchise in 2004, where she was the broker until starting The Real Estate Firm of Orlando in 2013.

Soderstrom has been active as a volunteer in the profession and the community, building an extensive resume of service in leadership positions throughout the years.

Hill describes how she found her way to real estate as fate: She began as an office manager for a commercial and residential firm, where the work piqued her interest. “I asked my boss, ‘If I get my real estate license, would you train me as an appraiser?’”

He said yes, and six weeks later, she had her license.

Hill went on to own an appraisal business for 20 years. In 2008, she switched to sales and has been a broker associate ever since, currently with Keller Williams at the Parks. ORRA recognized her as its 2020 Realtor of the Year.

Boselli-Neves started her career soon after relocating from Brazil to the U.S. for college, where she met a couple who owned and operated a large restaurant chain. She spent her first eight years in real estate on the business development and commercial side with them, laying the path for her next steps. “I fell in love with the business, but when I had my daughter, I decided I wanted to get my real estate license,” she said. “That’s how I started on the residential side.” Now she serves as owner and broker of Glasstone Group Inc.

Lifting Each Other Up

The women’s paths intersected at ORRA, where their shared beliefs in servant leadership and teamwork have brought them together. They point to the camaraderie and support the association provides its members. i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

In 2007, when the Great Recession made her doubtful about the future, Arrowsmith turned to another group: the Women’s Council of Realtors. “They uplifted me and brought me back into real estate and helped guide me into opening my own brokerage,” Arrowsmith said. “They also taught me the importance of the association and that it advocates for you and provides the services you need.”

While ORRA offers practical tools, courses, and events to keep its members continuously improving, it’s that feeling of having such an incredible group of peers and friends on your side that resonates most with each of these leaders. They all speak about the mentorship of the association leaders who came before them.

“I always looked up to our leaders and almost worshipped them,” Hill said, laughing. “Because I never pictured myself being in that position. But I had a few really great mentors who are past presidents of ORRA who gave me that push.”

Navigating Uncertain Times

LISA HILL

JULIANA BOSELLI-NEVES

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The association has been especially helpful for its members as the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, the leaders explained.

“What’s great about ORRA is our ability to move in tune with the times,” Soderstrom said. “The pandemic has triggered new work and new ways to get things done, and our leaders have quickly acknowledged these trends and been able to run with them.”

The support members give each other is not only on a professional level but also personal — which has been important during the pandemic, Arrowsmith said. “To be able to call other moms and other women in my industry and say, ‘I’m losing my mind right now, and I need your help,’ and here are some of the strongest women I’ve ever met in my entire life saying to me, ‘I’m crying every day, too.’ It was this inspiration of, ‘You don’t have to be perfect.

You can be human and still lead and be a strong woman.’”

Boselli-Neves summed it up this way: “The association has brought friends to me. Not just colleagues, but friends that I can count on.”

ORRA seems to breed a special kind of leadership, which attracted all four women to the association.

“What I saw and what made me impressed from the leadership at ORRA was that everyone was a servant leader,” Boselli-Neves said. “I’m a big proponent of that.

We’re all competitors, but all working toward the same goal: to better the industry. The next step is nurturing the next batch of leaders.”

All four take their role during this time in history very seriously. They know they are paving the way for members who, like them, may decide in the future to get into leadership in ORRA. But they are also paving the way for the next generation of women in the profession.

After all, this supergroup of agents wasn’t planned: It’s a byproduct of a growing number of women working their way to top leadership roles in real estate.

“I think it will open doors for a lot of women,” Hill said, “and I hope we can empower them to make their move up the leadership ladder.” ▯

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

GOOD FINDS CENTRAL FLORIDA RACK UP FABULOUS DEALS AND FEEL GOOD, TOO

BY KEITH LANDRY

I

magine scoring a great deal on designer brands for yourself or a friend while helping people find jobs or improve their careers. The Good Finds Central Florida website is a place where that happens every day.

Shop deals. Find steals. Do good. It’s a winning trifecta that benefits our community. Goodwill Industries of Central Florida operates the online site, which combines “gently loved” current fashions with social entrepreneurship. It offers people an elite bargain-shopping experience from their homes or wherever they are with cell phone in hand. They will find more than 400 designer brand items to choose from, all at bargain basement prices.

When people donate items to be sold at goodfindscfl.com or purchase the items, that money supports Goodwill’s mission of helping people find jobs and move their careers forward.

The nonprofit provides employment tools, job training and placement programs that help people find meaningful work.

Goodwill’s vocational training, youth programs, and disability and veterans’ services continue to be especially helpful during the pandemic since many workers have lost their jobs.

“In addition to shopping in our 30 Central Florida retail stores or on ShopGoodwill.com/Orlando, visiting GoodFindsCFL.com provides a unique experience for our customers to find generously donated designer treasures to purchase that directly benefit our local community,” said Kim Praniewicz, vice president of marketing and mission advancement for Goodwill Industries of Central Florida.

What will shoppers find? They won’t even have to click past the home page to find deals on designer bags and purses. They can choose from more than 100 deeply discounted totes, purses and satchels from Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Dooney & Bourke, Coach and other luxury brands.

The site also offers deals on women’s shoes, sandals, necklaces, bracelets, designer eyeglass frames, cosmetic cases, credit card holders, zip wristlets and more. Let’s not leave out the guys. There are also items that empower men to score deals while giving back to the greater good: designer wallets at deep discounts, Coach crossbody bags, backpacks and more.

For shoppers looking to purchase a birthday present, the website has a Gift Ready section with more than 50 items that are brand new with tags still on them, new and in the original boxes, or in pristine condition, all ready to be gifted. Just purchase and plug in the mailing address, and the gift gets mailed to the person being celebrated.

All sales are final unless something in an item’s original online description was inaccurate. Items purchased online before 1 p.m. Monday through Friday are shipped out the same day, and those purchased at later hours are shipped the next business day. Shipping is complimentary Good Finds Central Florida empowers online bargain hunters to help Goodwill Industries of Central Florida build lives that work, while helping shoppers feel good and look fabulous. ▯

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL FLORIDA launched Good Finds Central Florida in 2018 to showcase brand-name items it receives as donations. The site offers an online boutique shopping experience from the comfort and convenience of home. Shop from a variety of brand-name and designer purses, accessories and jewelry from Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Dooney & Bourke, Coach and many more luxury brands, at up to 60% off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Sales benefit Goodwill’s job training and placement programs to help people find meaningful work.

Visit www.goodfindscfl.com for more information.

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

THE GIRL SCOUT Experience Citrus Council Activities Offer Lessons in Business and Life

BY DIANE SEARS

F

or the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, 2020-21 was supposed to be a time of big happenings and major announcements. And it has been — just not in the way anyone had envisioned.

The council, which encompasses six counties in Central Florida, was supposed to host 15,000 to 20,000 attendees for the Girl Scouts USA conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando in October 2020. The event was canceled because of the pandemic. The council was supposed to welcome visitors into the first phase of its new women’s history museum in downtown Orlando, which held its ceremonial opening March 12, 2020. It was shuttered the next day because of COVID-19. The council was planning to launch a new app in August 2020 to help its members communicate, and it did — moving the schedule up to April 2020. But that technology joined another form of electronic communication that became essential: the video Girl Scout troop meeting via Zoom.

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Through it all, those proud to call themselves Girl Scouts have smiled and adapted to the world around them.

High school student Ana Tew has taken that one step further. She has been documenting the experience as one of the council’s Media Girls. The program teaches the girls how to film what’s going on and get comfortable in front of a camera.

Tew recently took on the role of director during the biggest event of the year for the Girl Scouts of Citrus. She led the team documenting “Mega Drop,” the day thousands of boxes of Girl Scout cookies are distributed to members for the traditional annual cookie program that starts in January.

As a senior Girl Scout who has been part of the group since kindergarten, Tew has worked on more projects than she can recall. This was one of her favorites, the teen said in an interview on i4 Business TV. “I got the chance to direct for the video that is now on the Girl Scouts page on Instagram,” she said. “I am technically

a mentor since I’ve been in the program for so long, so I now help the younger girls learn how to use the cameras and direct and make scripts and storyboards, which is really cool.”

Nationally, the Girl Scouts typically sell almost $ 1 billion a year in cookies, and the Citrus Council accounted for more than $8 million of that figure in 2020. The cookie program experience is an essential part of being a Girl Scout for many reasons, said Maryann Barry, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council.

“The data tells us what the girls take out of this is leadership development and being comfortable talking to different people, making pitches and doing all those things they’re going to need in their business life,” Barry said in the interview on i4 Business TV. “In addition, no matter what path a girl chooses to take, she needs to know how to balance her checkbook and manage her money.”

This year, the girls are getting the added experience of inventory management because their cookie sales are being conducted through the new

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

app. Additionally, the council initiated a partnership this year with Grubhub, an online and mobile food delivery app, to allow consumers to order boxes of cookies along with their takeout meals.

That means the girls will be learning how to run a digital business, along with new types of marketing — although some will still uphold the tradition of selling cookies at stations outside grocery stores and other venues, with pandemic-safe measures in place such as masks and contactless transactions.

“It’s an interesting thing: When I speak to girls, and I’ve spoken with thousands over the years, I ask them, ‘What’s your favorite thing about Girl Scouting?’ I would say 65% to 70% of the time they tell me selling cookies,” Barry said. “I see what it does for them.

And they do embrace it, they love it. We’re so excited that we’re able to push through the COVID-19 challenges so the girls can have the experience.”

Participating in the program as a Media Girl while selling cookies herself has been fun, Tew said. After the program wraps up every year, she stays busy with other Girl Scout activities.

In one project she especially enjoyed, she and other Girl Scouts made bracelets with encouraging words on them for girls in foster homes. “Because they were in Christian foster homes, we packaged them with Bible quotes on them. We gave them to the girls to give them a sign of hope and a message of, ‘You can get through this, you can do this.’”

The Citrus Council spans the counties of Brevard, Volusia, Seminole, Lake, Orange and Osceola. Its membership of 18,000 includes about 6,000 adult leaders and 12,000 girls.

Each member can tailor her experience to her own interests — a feature Tew appreciates.

“Girl Scouts is a very empowering experience,” she said. “It’s an experience where you get to learn life skills, like how to survive in your environment and how to count money. You get the knowledge to make the world a better place.” ▯

To see the entire interview with Maryann Barry and Ana Tew, visit YouTube.com and search for i4 Business TV.

HOW Business Leaders Can Help SEND a bag with a few boxes of Girl Scout cookies to your customers, especially if you’re in a profession like real estate or auto sales.

APPRECIATE your employees with a box of their favorite Girl Scout cookie variety to help ease the stress of the pandemic.

REWARD clients for dedication for your business during these trying times, especially if you’re in a service like printing or custodial.

SHOW your support for developing young women as future leaders by purchasing cookies and donating them to front-line pandemic heroes.

FIND a seller: https://www.citrus-gs.org/en/cookies/ find-cookies.html

i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Interns Help Translation Company

Speak as One

BY TERRY GODBEY

M

elina Torrico was adapting to change just like everyone else last year. When COVID-19 hit Central Florida, she shuttered the office of her translation company, The Global Voice USA, and her three employees began to work from home. She helped her three children settle into virtual schooling, and her work/home life fell into a routine.

Then came more change for the CEO: The Orlando company she founded 11 years ago, which interprets and translates more than 200 languages and dialects, began picking up more work than it could handle. “We went in the opposite direction of so many small businesses during the pandemic, and it was overwhelming,” Torrico said.

Global Voice works with insurance companies on workers’ compensation cases.

An employee might, for example, translate for patients who speak little or no English during doctor and physical therapy appointments.

Translations are conducted in person or over the phone through FaceTime or Zoom.

Torrico had the translations covered but needed to hire more people with customer service experience who could help the company manage the extra work by scheduling appointments, calling insurance companies and entering data for invoices. She needed those employees to be able to work flexible hours from

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their homes, but many candidates she had talked to could not do so because they had children at home attending virtual school. “It was hard for them to work with our schedule,” she said.

A friend recommended she reach out to CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF), a nonprofit that connects people to careers and helps businesses find talent. She called the organization in mid-August and explained what she needed, and CSCF began sending her resumes. “Working with CareerSource was such a quick and easy process,” Torrico said.

She was impressed with the candidates and began interviewing them. “They were qualified and experienced and had everything I was looking for,” she said. “What’s more, they were available 40 hours a week to do whatever we needed.” She hired two women, who began working for her in September, and later hired a third.

Torrico said she was stunned when CSCF frosted the cake by telling her the new hires would be interns and the agency would pay their salaries through its Help is Here program, which was funded by $7 million in CARES Act funds from Orange County. “I said, ‘Oh my goodness.

That’s amazing!’ Never, never, never in a million years did I expect that.”

Each intern was hired for 12 weeks, and Torrico requested and received an extension for another 12 weeks. All three have performed well,

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION she said. “We are definitely thinking about hiring them permanently once the internships end.”

She is grateful that her company continues to grow.

“We can handle a lot more work, and handle it well.” She sees great things ahead, including reopening an office at some point.

“The tagline of my company is ‘Many languages, one voice,’” Torrico said, “and we really love helping patients.”

She said her interns share the company’s passion for the work. “It’s not just about a paycheck for them. They really want to make a difference.

“I was born in the United States, but my parents are from Bolivia and not 100% fluent in English, so they needed my help with certain things, and I grew up in that kind of environment. Our work is more than just translating. We have a greater purpose of helping people of many cultures.” ▯

BY PAM NABORS

Recently, I joined dozens of leaders across Central Florida in signing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Pledge promoted by the Orlando Economic Partnership. Signing it signifies an organization’s commitment to advancing racial and social justice, cultivating economic equality and removing barriers for those individuals and businesses long affected by racial inequality to embark on pathways toward full participation in the economy.

Taking the pledge also signifies my individual commitment to learning and educating myself on how best to support and advance policies that lead to social justice for all.

For CareerSource Central Florida, the DEI pledge is a natural validation of what we stand for as a workforce development board. Our organization is reflective of this community in many ways. Our staff and board members are diverse demographically, ethnically and geographically. For years, we’ve championed a Trust Creed with principles that strive to create a culture of “Outrageous Trust.” But like many other companies, we were silent about the challenges marginalized and vulnerable communities face in access to economic prosperity.

Over the past year, in response to social and racial issues such as the deaths of George Floyd and Breanna Taylor at the hands of police, CareerSource Central Florida has further elevated important conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. A core value of this company is for all staff to be authentic and feel safe in a welcoming environment. As part of our annual all-staff event, we invited a DEI expert to guide sensitive and emotionally charged conversations around race relations. Our staff responded with great engagement and requested more opportunities to discuss equity issues. This year, the Valencia College Peace and Justice Institute is working with us to roll out a series of workshops and sessions aimed toward greater engagement across the entire organization in DEI language and principles.

MELINA TORRICO

It’s important to also consider that people look internally at the unconscious bias they may bring to conversations and actions regarding race, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation and age. There is so much more to do in order to achieve real equity and inclusion, but it starts with us as individuals being willing to honestly examine our perceptions and keep our ears and doors open. ▯ i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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BEST PRACTICE

Romaine Seguin

is president of UPS Global Freight Forwarding, where she oversees air, ocean and rail freight forwarding, as well as brokerage and supplier management, for the 220 countries and territories UPS serves around the world. She can be reached at rseguin@ups.com.

Leadership LET’S MAKE THIS THE YEAR OF THE PEOPLE

The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.

— Oprah Winfrey

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W

e’ve just entered the Year of the Ox, which started with the Chinese New Year on February 12. According to Chinese astrology, those born under the sign of the Ox, which occurs every dozen years, are known to be calm, patient, methodical and trustworthy. The hard work, positivity and honesty of the Ox sound like good traits for all of us to embrace this year.

We will not soon forget 2020, which coincided with the Year of the Rat. After everything families, communities and employees went through last year, most of us were glad to see it go. We went through a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, working and educating remotely, social unrest, a divided U.S. and government shutdowns.

I propose we make 2021 the Year of the People. It can be a year of family well-being, a year the community shines, and a year of health and prosperity for the people at your place of business. All of these entities can

create harmony and make the world the world a calmer place to live.

So how do we get started with the Year of the People? I will address that from an employer perspective, but these ideas can be used with communities and families as well.

What is the intent and purpose of the Year of the People? The key is to achieve total engagement.

Why do you want to make the effort to get everyone involved? Because people feel valued in an endeavor if they can contribute in even a small way. Research in the Harvard Business Review shows that when people feel valued, they are 43% more effective.

The personal moments are the ones people remember. Each human being has a value that needs to be recognized. Research shows productivity increases 20% when leaders focus on who people are and not just what they do.

Engaged employees need to work in a place of creativity and a cognitive environment where freedom, safety, trust and growth are part of the fabric. Here are some ways to establish that type of culture at your organization and put the emphasis on helping individuals thrive:

RAPIDPS.COM RAPIDPS.COM RAPIDPS.COM RAPIDPS.COM RAPIDS.COM Set up a mentoring platform or process for one-onone sessions. This works best if you match mentors and mentees by community and employee needs, even when the parties do not know each other well.

The value of mentoring for both of the parties is that it helps them grow their knowledge, expand their network and focus on their career. It is an opportunity for sharing personal and professional thoughts to improve key metrics that are driven in your business unit. One piece I enjoy in the mentoring process is bridging generation gaps by pairing seasoned veterans with emerging leaders. There is a better appreciation of how each views a business challenge or professional success.

Have fun contests with small prizes. This can be done whether you’re working together physically or your team is interacting virtually. You can create a holiday contest with a Zoom background screen, or history lesson with the best background screen that illustrates what you learned. Through this whole process of working remotely, I’ve come to realize you can learn so much about someone by examining the person’s background screens. As a prize, I’ve sent team members a handwritten note with a $50 Visa gift card.

The prize does not have to be this large — it can be $5 or a personal Zoom session with you. The point is to create a fun way of recognizing and involving team members.

Avoid the concept of “group think.” Each person needs to be heard independently whether you’re all gathered at a table or plugged into a virtual meeting.

Group think is what gets organizations into serious situations that could lead to legal actions or even closure. As a leader, you must make a purposeful effort to avoid group think. You can even consider discussing it at the beginning of the meeting. This concept, unfortunately, was one of the factors that led to the horrific disaster on January 28, 1986, when the space shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members. The engineers knew the O-rings did not seal properly when the temperature dropped, but management all together thought the O-rings aboard the shuttle would be fine despite the cold weather at launch. Because the group thought it was safe, the engineers, who spoke up about the risks 12 hours before launch, later reversed their position and went along with the group. The group had the power. I have attached a link to read more about the concept of group think: www.history.com/news/how-the-challengerdisaster-changed-nasa.

This year is a time for a kinder, gentler, warmer and firmer approach to our employees, communities and families. Yes, I did say firmer. What I mean by this is that everyone needs structure at the same time as peace and understanding. We need to embrace the Ox’s traits of hard work, positivity and honesty. It’s all about being good to ourselves and each other during the Year of the People. ▯

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i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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BEST PRACTICE

Davia Moss

is vice president of operations and client services at Next Horizon, a Sanford-based IT and digital marketing agency that provides holistic technology solutions for businesses looking to improve sales, increase agility and optimize productivity. She can be reached at dmoss@nexthorizon.net.

Technology Mobile devices pose one of the greatest threats to remote network security.

— Davia Moss

Next Horizon provides holistic technology solutions for businesses looking to improve sales, increase agility and optimize productivity. From digital marketing and IT to building bespoke business applications, Next Horizon uses its 40-plus years of experience and award-winning talent to provide technical business solutions for its clients.

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HOW TO IMPROVE NETWORK SECURITY FOR A REMOTE WORKFORCE

A

ccording to Upwork, a leading freelancing platform, nearly half of the U.S. workforce is currently working remotely. Businesses have been forced to pivot to a remote workforce to keep their employees, clients and customers safe until there is a universally distributed vaccine.

While the transition from office to remote has been difficult for some businesses, it has opened up new territory — one that sees increased profit margins, a larger talent pool and a lot less network security. More than one in five employees are expected to be working remotely by 2025 — a number that is exciting for workers and business owners but presents nightmares for IT professionals.

Lurking Threats

Home networks are, in fact, some of the least protected networks. From weak passwords to networks that are open to the public instead of locked,

there are many ways for hackers to penetrate private information with ease. This should make employers moving to a remote workforce think twice about their security measures.

The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued advisories warning that the threat of network security breaches, vishing (deception or “social engineering” through voicemail), smishing (deception through texts and instant messages) and phishing schemes targeting remote employees are at the highest levels ever seen.

There are ways you can protect your organization in this kind of business atmosphere:

Virtual Private Network

The first step to protect your remote workforce is to ensure each employee has a virtual private network, or VPN. A VPN not only bypasses geographic restrictions on streaming sites and other locationspecific content, but it encrypts all user traffic.

Encryption ensures that all of your online activity is indecipherable to anyone who intercepts it.

Employee Training

Knowledge is power. You should implement remote network security training that teaches your employees

about cybersecurity statistics and common threats such as phishing attacks. Ensuring that your employees understand the telltale signs of a cyber attack will reduce the risk of a network security breach.

While training seminars and tech-related white papers have the potential to lead to glazed-over eyes and a lack of enthusiasm, there is another alternative that could keep employees engaged. Running an unannounced security simulation is a good way to keep your employees in the know and on their toes.

No ‘Remember Password’

One seemingly basic aspect of cybersecurity poses a major risk for remote workers: passwords. Ideally, your employees should use all allowed character types — uppercase and lowercase letters as well as numbers, punctuation and special characters.

It’s equally important for remote employees to use different passwords for each of their accounts. If an employee uses one password to log into multiple accounts, it would take just one compromised instance for a hacker to take over.

While convenient, the “remember password” function is a potential network vulnerability. This option should always be turned off when employees log into company information systems, websites and applications from personal devices.

Network Firewall

Firewalls act as a line of defense to protect your company’s information. They create a custom barrier between your employees’ devices and the network by allowing only certain points of access. This helps to defend against malicious entry and can stop data leaking from personal devices.

Modern operating systems and routers often have firewalls that are built-in — but urge your employees to confirm they are enabled.

Not-So-Smartphones

Mobile devices pose one of the greatest threats to remote network security. Many smartphones, tablets and laptops automatically search for the nearest Wi-Fi connection available.

If your device swaps to a new network, you no longer have the predefined protections that your VPN provides. Remote employees who decide to bring their work on the go must check that they are using the secure VPN. You should also consider using mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM). These solutions can help manage and secure mobile devices and applications through the remote implementation of cybersecurity measures, including encrypting data, scanning for malware and wiping data on stolen devices.

Take Good Care

Your business is vulnerable to crime — so act like it. As remote work becomes more standardized, it is essential for companies to enforce the necessary infrastructure and security guidelines to minimize exposure to remote network security breaches. You’ve worked hard for your organization. Don’t leave your business and your livelihood vulnerable to cybercrime. ▯

i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

49

BEST PRACTICE

Meaghan Branham

is the managing editor for i4 Business, where she oversees the company’s digital media strategy, handles client relationship marketing for the print and digital magazines, and serves as one of the publication’s lead writers.

A native of Brevard County, she splits her time between Central Florida and Nashville, Tennessee.

Marketing WHAT MARKETERS CAN LEARN FROM THE MOVIES

Storytelling has become an integral part of marketing in every industry in the past two decades, largely thanks to the rise of content marketing.

— Meaghan Branham

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W

ithin 24 hours of its release, the trailer for the Marvel Studios film Avengers: Endgame had been viewed more than 289 million times, according to a Variety.com report, breaking the record previously held by its prequel, Avengers: Infinity War. You might remember the day, too, when every conversation from Twitter to Instagram to around the watercooler seemed to be stuck on the trending trailer.

It was marketing gone viral.

We might not always think of movie trailers as a form of marketing, though. Since the first trailer made its debut in 1912, they have been part of our pop culture experience — clips to quote with friends or scenes we can’t wait to see on the big screen. But that’s exactly where their power lies. People seek them out, consume them readily, share them with friends, and rely on them to figure out what they’ll see and when they’ll see it. And the conversion rate is

undeniable: According to a 2014 study by Unruly, one in three moviegoers claim they would buy a movie ticket after watching a trailer or ad online.

Marketers can learn a lot from movie trailers. Here are just a few of those lessons:

1

Hook your viewer. What keeps you from hitting that little “Skip Ad” button on a YouTube video? A strong hook.

Like the best movies, the best movie trailers pull you in right from the start. Whether it’s striking visuals, interesting dialogue or a familiar face, trailers capture and then keep an audience’s attention. In your industry, take a cue from Hollywood to make sure you cut through the noise of a newsfeed and get your audience to stop scrolling long enough to hear you out.

2 3 4 5

Reach your audience members where they are.

When you go to see a horror movie, do you ever spot a theme in the previews the theater rolls before it starts? How about when you see a comedy or an Oscar-worthy drama? Chances are, the films being advertised beforehand have something in common with the one you’re about to watch. Through studying demographics, targeted marketing and strategy, movie marketing campaign pros know how to get their content to their intended audience. This can be an extremely effective campaign strategy in your own work. Study common themes among audience members, their “tribes of interest” and where they spend the most time, such as print magazines, Instagram or Facebook. Then work to get your content in front of them.

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Appeal to emotions. Careful editing, music choices or a skillfully delivered line just at the right moment can elicit strong reactions from viewers, and it’s those emotional responses that ultimately determine whether or not they will see the product itself.

“Emotional marketing” is a technique that employs the same idea, relying on forging a connection with your audience through storytelling and transparency.

This often goes hand in hand with the next movie trailer tip.

Tell a story. In a 2014 interview with FastCompany.com, Hollywood trailer creator John Long mused: “Anybody with an editing system on their computer can take a movie and crush it down to two and a half minutes, but that wouldn’t necessarily be an artfully delivered piece.

A great trailer is its own mini-story.” Storytelling has become an integral part of marketing in every industry in the past two decades, largely thanks to the rise of content marketing. Tell your story, or the story of a customer experience, or even a story meant to tug at the heart and linger in the mind. Video can be especially useful for this, but it also works in print and online.

Create interest through testimonials. Movie trailers are almost always full of testimonials. For the Blumhouse Productions horror film series Paranormal Activity, that came in the form of actual audience reactions spliced into the footage itself. For others, it comes in the form of an accolade, usually touting a particular recognition or nomination they have earned. Some even include excerpts from reviews or five-star ratings to pique interest. In your own marketing, leverage positive reviews, recognitions and feedback to generate trust and interest.

We might not always turn to the movies when we consider revamping our marketing strategy, but it may be time to start turning to Hollywood film experts for what they do best: Sell stories.

Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel offers the strength and resources of attorneys and professional staff with experience in a range of services to meet all the legal needs of a growing company. Then, when you are ready to exit, Nelson Mullins has the experience to guide you through your acquisition.

For general business or acquisition questions, call: Doug Starcher 407-839-4208 Pete Schoemann 407- 839-4225 Matt Armstrong 407-839-4258 In Florida, known as Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel, Attorneys and Counselors at Law 390 North Orange Avenue | Suite 1400 Orlando, FL 32801 nelsonmullins.com | 407.839.4200

i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT

The Business of

DIVERSITY

By Tim Giuliani

Calling Orlando’s Business Leaders to Take Action

TIM GIULIANI is the president and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership, a public-private, not-for-profit economic and community development organization. The Partnership represents seven Central Florida counties as well as the City of Orlando and hundreds of the region’s top private businesses. (www.orlando.org)

I

t’s taken many lifetimes of work by heroic civil rights leaders to try to end racial injustice in America. While there has certainly been some progress, the events we’ve witnessed across this country in the past year make clear that their work is by no means done — and our work is not done.

In the months since the death of George Floyd at the hands of police, I’ve spent a great deal of time listening to and engaging in deep conversations about race in our country and our community. I’ve observed firsthand the activism motivated by the outrage and have a better understanding of the strong need to change things and make them better.

But how?

I believe the answer lies in our ability to harness the power of our collective voices and take this journey together. At the Orlando Economic Partnership, we are focusing our efforts on improving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) inside companies and within our communities, and on being an ally on issues important to our region.

To do that, we must examine our region and be honest about the challenges we face. The data lays out our reality. The research shows African American neighborhoods are lacking opportunity to fully participate in our economy. Black neighborhoods in Orlando have the lowest opportunity rankings, and their residents are at least twice as likely to have no high school diploma, five times more likely to be of working age without a car, 2.5 times less likely to have internet service and, perhaps most telling, on average have a net worth of $17,800 versus $215,000 in white neighborhoods.

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How can this be? How have we blocked the path for so many to pursue health, education and prosperity? An even harder question to answer is why have we done so? The result of this inaction is clear: We have denied opportunity to the next generation of innovators, inventors and entrepreneurs — limiting the opportunities of individual lives, families, neighborhoods and our own regional economic success.

In recent months, our law enforcement, business community, public sector, nonprofit and religious leaders have come to the table and taken steps to reform policies while engaging residents most impacted by racial injustice and bias.

There are examples of this throughout our region.

In mid-January, the corporate community announced its commitment to make positive change when more than 70 of Orlando’s CEOs and top executives launched a “Take the

INDUSTRY INSIGHT Pledge” initiative, the first of its kind in our region. The purpose of this pledge is to focus on corporate culture and to nurture an environment that raises the growth potential of residents by creating opportunities for those long affected by racial inequality while ensuring pathways for participation in our local economy.

To accomplish this, the Partnership engaged Orlando’s business leaders across varied industries and from diverse backgrounds to form a task force to address critical hurdles. The result of the task force’s work: A plan to pursue a portfolio of programs and collaborative engagements that align with the pledge and are aimed at strengthening our collective DEI efforts and results.

The portfolio includes educating our business community on how to focus on skills-based hiring as opposed to overemphasizing credentials, working with more than 50 Black-owned businesses this year alone and over 400 minority-owned businesses in the past year as they seek ways to navigate and survive current economic conditions.

We are advocating for and supporting legislation that increases internet access for underserved communities, actively featuring sites and buildings in underinvested neighborhoods in our economic development efforts. We’re also publishing a prosperity scorecard to understand disparities and underscore the reality of our challenges and opportunities. To continue to move the needle in these areas, we’ve hired a DEI expert to help establish accountability and provide businesses with a toolkit to help them improve their efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion.

The time is now to create a strong record of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Central Florida region. DEI is critical to the expansion of our community’s “Broad-Based Prosperity,” which helps to retain and attract talent, drives innovation, and creates access and opportunity for all.

So I ask you now to join our effort and take bold action: “Take the Pledge” by visiting Orlando.org/DEI. If we all commit to making the issues surrounding racial inequality a core focus of our region’s economic growth and recovery, we will build a better future for our region. It will take time — but together, we can accomplish this once and for all. ▯

THE PLEDGE WE will educate ourselves, review examples and share insights through partner organizations such as nonprofits and educational institutions into the history of systemic racism throughout our region and the barriers it continues to present today.

WE will create opportunities for sessions to listen to those affected and marginalized by these barriers to learn how we can help, with follow-up on actionable areas focusing on what’s working, what needs improvement and where we can be most effective.

WE will identify, support and collaborate with specific nonprofits and other partner organizations that work tirelessly in marginalized and vulnerable communities, asking for careful review of work in marginalized sectors in our region, and identify the work still to be done.

WE will use our power, influence and position to amplify unheard voices and endorse policies that lead to racial justice and opportunities for all.

WE will improve the employment, training, wage equity, growth potential, advancement, support and success of black and brown people in our workplace, workforce and marketplace, and commit to ways that minority-owned businesses are intentionally included in pipeline opportunities. We will pledge to remove barriers, diversify our talent pool and create upward mobility employment opportunities through implementing skills-based hiring as an innovative hiring practice.

WE will continue ongoing conversations with CEOs and executive leaders to collectively address issues of social injustice, racism and biases in our communities and organizations, confirming within organizations DEI is a strategic imperative with demonstrated commitment and actions.

WE acknowledge the critical importance of accountability to our community and pledge to collaborate in annual efforts to track and report our contributions to the collective (regional) goal of creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive business community.

WE will support efforts to implement effective community-based models that improve conditions within vulnerable communities throughout Central Florida, using our voices and position to amplify and elevate examples of success.

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT

The Business of

SPORTS

By Jason Siegel

Photography by Mark Thor, Orlando City SC

Orlando: World-Class Host for the World’s Most Popular Sport

JASON SIEGEL is president and CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. Longtime Orlando sportswriter George Diaz contributed to this article.

T

he different tiers and leagues of soccer can be confusing to the average eye...

Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League, the U.S. Open Cup, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup — among others — are all playing matches and tournaments in any given year.

But there is no confusion about one thing: Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, along with the City of Orlando, are welcoming destinations for all levels of play. The weather is great, we have plenty of hotel space and numerous world-class facilities, and our ability to collaborate can mitigate any logistical challenge, including an international pandemic.

Our footprint starts in the heart of the city — downtown Orlando — and stretches from there.

In just 60 days from late December to late February, Central Florida hosted the final seven matches of the Concacaf Champions League tournament in Orlando, the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) 280-team youth showcase in Seminole County, spring training camp for the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), two friendly matches for the USWNT vs. Colombia, the season opening match for the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) vs. Trinidad & Tobago, and the entire SheBelieves Cup tournament featuring the women’s national teams from Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the U.S.

Phew.

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Top: Concacaf Champions League final between the Los Angeles Football Club and Mexico’s Tigres UANL in December 2020 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando Left: Trophy presented to the Tigres Right: USMNT vs. Trinidad & Tobago

INDUSTRY INSIGHT Not to mention that while all of this was happening, we continued to pursue events like this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup tournament, a friendly match with the Mexican National Team as part of its annual MexTour, and, of course, our conversations with FIFA to bring the World Cup to Orlando in 2026.

It’s a lot on our plate, but the Greater Orlando Sports Commission — and our community — are up to the task.

“We take great pride in continuously hosting such large, renowned soccer events at Exploria Stadium,” said Orlando City Soccer Club CEO Alex Leitão. “Since we opened our doors in 2017, our venue and the City of Orlando have proved that we are the soccer capital of the U.S.” As we continue to have an increasing volume of conversations with Leitão and so many other domestic and international stakeholders, it’s obvious that our community can handle just about anything.

“It truly is a testament to the commitment of our club, our partners and our community to continue finding innovative and, most importantly, safe ways to bring the sport of soccer to our city and fans around the world,” Leitão said. “I could not be prouder of all that we have accomplished and will continue to accomplish moving forward.”

Behind the scenes, it’s crucial that we work with multiple partners in the convention and visitors bureau space, venue management teams, airports and hoteliers to ensure our guests have the most positive experience while preparing to compete at the highest level. In these current times, we have to make sure our health care providers and partners are not only working to support the visiting athletic trainers and staffs of our guests, but also to help them navigate through the current pandemic and provide a safe environment for them to work, train and play.

“Orlando has been an excellent destination to hold U.S. Soccer’s camps and games in a highly controlled environment that allows us to execute our medical protocols and enable all of our players and staff members to do what they do best, which is to train and prepare to win games,” said Dr. George Chiampas, U.S. Soccer’s chief medical officer. “The space we have at our team hotel, the quality of training fields, and the cooperation of hotel staffs, local health authorities and the staffs with the Orlando Pride and Orlando City at Exploria Stadium have all combined to help us do something that is very difficult in sports nowadays, which is trying to keep some sense of normalcy during the pandemic.”

And our local venues are proud to play the role of host. “We are honored and humbled that both the U.S. Men’s National Team and U.S. Women’s National Team continue to select Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate as a destination,” said Robert Stanfield, area managing director for Omni Hotels & Resorts. “We are fortunate to have a one-of-a-kind private footprint i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT offering a ‘bubble-like’ setting that is ideal for sports teams. Having the playing fields on property within close proximity to the accommodations is a big advantage.”

Our region’s collective efforts help ensure positive outcomes for events while continuing to build our reputation as a tremendous host community, all of which helps us attract future business.

And successful events translate into positive outcomes when we look at opportunities that drive sports tourism: Ɏ Hosting marquee events drives economic impact through visitation, which generates hotel stays and spending in our community.

preserved an inclusive government that fosters diversity by establishing local programs, ordinances and laws that benefit the LGBTQ+ community.”

Soccer is affordable and accessible.

All you need is a ball and space, making it accessible to nearly everyone and one of the most inexpensive sports to play. Orlando is the definition of accessible, even for those visiting from far away, with 175-plus direct flights available worldwide through Orlando International Airport alone. And while you can certainly spend plenty of money in Orlando if you want to, it’s easy to have a fantastic stay here without breaking the bank — there are 200,000-

for multiple clubs to conduct highperformance training camps, as well as multiple-size venues to compete in. There is also plenty of entertainment off the field for the fans to enjoy. It is a perfect combination of technical excellence and commercial opportunities generating impactful content.”

Philippe Moggio, Concacaf general secretary, had this to say: “We are very grateful to Orlando City SC, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and the mayor’s office for supporting Concacaf to deliver the final matches of our 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

The facilities at Exploria Stadium are first class and all the city’s stakeholders

plus hotel rooms, timeshare units and vacation rentals in the region, many of them affordable.

Orlando is more than just a destination. And our partners certainly understand that. Our “bragging rights” are etched in the rave reviews from those who could not be more pleased with these collaborative efforts.

“We’re thrilled to begin what will be a significant year for the national team by playing our opening match in Orlando,” said Gregg Berhalter, U.S. Men’s National Team head coach. “The city has always been a great host, and the facilities are outstanding for our needs. Orlando has established itself as a great destination for U.S. Soccer.”

Then there’s this from Ricardo Villar, CEO of Florida Cup: “The destination offers all of the key components an organizer seeks in order to run a successful international soccer event. We have great weather and infrastructure

have assisted us in organizing this competition safely, and in a manner that has allowed the teams to showcase some great football to fans across the region. We have seen what a great city this is, and on behalf of everyone at Concacaf and the participating clubs, thank you, Orlando.”

Ɏ Event marketing of our destinations includes broadcasts into millions of homes, not to mention the opportunity for local sports fans to attend in person. Ɏ Amateur and youth sports space can cut down on the drive time and travel time for our local families whose children participate in these events.

But Orlando is more than just an event destination for U.S. Soccer and so many other event rights-holders. They come back to Orlando because of the way this community supports their events and the way Orlando has embraced the beautiful game. Soccer is a sport for all — and if you think about it, there are many parallels between the sport and our city.

Soccer is global — the most popular sport in the world. Orlando is a melting pot, with 1,500 people a week moving to our region. People from all over the country and the world are putting down roots and joining our community, and they are bringing their love of the game with them.

Soccer is an inclusive sport by nature, and the sport has become a vehicle to grow inclusion throughout the world through programs such as Soccer Without Borders and Major League Soccer’s “Soccer For All.” And the City of Orlando is known for its dedication to inclusiveness, posting this on its website: “Orlando is known worldwide for being a welcoming and inclusive city for everybody, regardless of gender, race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation and gender identity. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has

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No, thank YOU. And everyone else, for making the soccer magic happen in Central Florida. ▯

HISTORY

Here’s an interesting question for you: When was the last time you visited Royellou, Florida?

In all probability, your trip was after 1882, when the city fathers changed the name to Mount Dora, ostensibly because the city was — and still is — 185 feet above sea level and lies adjacent to beautiful Lake Dora. It was just a few years before the city became incorporated and elected its first mayor in 1910.

That mayor was John Philip Donnelly, who was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in 1850 and migrated to Central Florida in 1879. An entrepreneur, he invested heavily in much of the surrounding real estate and was known as “Father of the Tangerine” for his successful citrus groves, but basically he was an extremely successful land speculator.

Signs

In 1883, he married Annie McDonald, another successful citrus grower, and their combined wealth gave them the buying power to secure large parcels of land to be resold at phenomenal profit. To their credit, they donated much of their land holdings to the community. The most notable parcel was a large stretch of land abutting Lake Dora, perfect for commercial sites, churches and a cemetery.

In 1882, Donnelly was among a partnership that built the city’s first hotel. After several expansions and modifications, it’s now known as the Lakeside Inn. After President Calvin Coolidge spent some vacation time there with his family in 1930, the popularity of the inn soared and has remained high to this day.

In 1893, he built a Queen Anne-style home for his wife on what is now Donnelly Street. Inducted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, the house is unmistakable with its yellow paint, gingerbread-style white trim and gleaming silver turret. The building now houses the Mount Dora Masonic Temple, F&AM Lodge 238. A plaque along the sidewalk commemorates John Donnelly.

At Donnelly’s passing in 1930, Florida lost a dedicated community servant who kept his eye on his goals and never faltered.

Donnelly Street is one of Mount Dora’s main roads, beginning at U.S. Highway 441 and ending at Charles Avenue just south of downtown. ▯

Times of the

Donnelly Street FBy Key HowardH

Top Left: John Philip Donnelly Top Right: John Philip Donnelly (center) and friends Donnelly House (circa 1900)

Photography by Julie Fletcher Image courtesy of Orlando Sentinel

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BUSINESS SEEN

SEMINOLE COUNTY CHAMBER’S MEET THE PRESS PANEL Photography by GS Katz Adrian Thacker, Proficiency Background Service

Meet the Press panel moderator Alan Byrd, Alan Byrd & Associates; Jeff Levkulich, WFTV Channel 9; Diane Sears, i4 Business magazine; and Martin Comas, The Orlando Sentinel

Robert Gross, Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce, taking the temperature of Brian Stanley, Jet Set Printing

Brandy Waelti, Strategic Accounting & Consulting; Ben Paris, Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce; Mike Kryger, Pegasus Insurance Agency

Alan Byrd, Jeff Levkulich

Diane Sears

Martin Comas

John Gyllin, Seminole State College, and Bryan Beyer, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office

Jerry Muscadin, MyEyeCare

Marcos M.T. Villarreal, Telemundo

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BUSINESS SEEN

As organizations start to venture back to in-person meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Seminole County Regional Chamber of Commerce held a hybrid event on February 4, 2021, at the Lake Mary Events Center that was in person and livestreamed for a virtual audience. The Good Morning Seminole! event featured a Meet the Press panel and included pandemic-safe networking where attendees were required to wear masks, undergo a temperature check at the door and sit at spaced intervals at tables. At least 185 people attended either the live or virtual event.

Anna Tanzilla, Camaraderie Foundation, and Kate Crockett, RB Advisory

Brian Nagel, RealTime Group

Erik DuCharme, Topgolf

Erin Kamalzadeh, Your Business Photographer

Jason Douglas, Topgolf

Marty Traub, Murray Insurance Agency

Matt Rose, Tech Rage IT

Patricia Kahle, Annunciation Catholic Academy

Rebekah Arthur, Seminole County Chamber

Tony Smith, Mowbot of Orlando

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Igniting the Power of Business ... and Tastebuds

Restaurant SPOTLIGHTS

The best ideas and most memorable collaborations happen over great food and drinks, sparking ideas and conversations not only after work, but also on the clock — and today sometimes even via teleconference. We’re spotlighting the local favorites of Central Florida’s eclectic food scene in a new department. It’s our way of helping our business community fuel creativity and innovation … in more ways than one.

4BUSiNESS Orlando's Leadership Connection

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* Stock or provided hi-resolution image will be used. Provided image and logo must be 300 dpi.

This is a templated department in i4 Business Magazine

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FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 407-474-3841 Keith@i4biz.com www.i4biz.com

DOWNTIME

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

By Meaghan Branham

for your day off

ORLANDO Museum of Illusions at ICON Park

Opened in January 2021, the Museum of Illusions Orlando is the 20th location for the mind-bending brand. Since the founding of its first exhibit in Croatia, its collection of exhibits has fascinated and entertained those looking to understand more about how the brain works through fun, interactive experiences that play with perception and stretch the imagination. The museum’s exhibits, which include some custom made for the Orlando location, include an Infinity Room where guests can run free in a seemingly endless expanse, the Reverse Room where gravity gets a break, and the Ames Room where perspective makes guests look miniature. www.orlando.museumofillusions.us

ORLANDO

Dinosaur Invasion at Leu Gardens

Through April 18, guests visiting Leu Gardens can walk among some prehistoric pals. Guy Darrough, a fossil collector who worked in the paleontology field for more than 45 years, has created over 20 life-sized dinosaurs to decorate the Jurassic Gardens of the Orlando staple. Anyone who purchases a daytime garden admission ticket will be able to walk through the exhibit, and guests receive a map to help them find every dinosaur along the way.

www.leugardens.org

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DOWNTIME

CAPE CANAVERAL Planet Play at Kennedy Space Center

Looking for a little space?

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex recently opened Planet Play, an immersive and interactive experience for kids ages 2 through 12. Future astronauts can learn about the solar system through a threelevel playground that weaves through the planets. While kids play, parents can enjoy the nearby lounge serving coffee, wine and beer. To keep everyone safe, masks and temperature screenings are required, and hand sanitizer stations are set up throughout.

VIRTUAL Things to Do DC Guided Tours

International travel may not be in the cards for a bit longer, but that doesn’t have to stop you from seeing the sites.

Virtual guided tours of some of the world’s most beautiful cities and cultural sites have been popping up everywhere.

Thingstododc.com offers tours of the Old City of Jerusalem, the canals of Amsterdam and the monuments of Machu Picchu, to name a few. Many of the tours include lessons in the unique art, history and architecture of each place, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in these worlds without ever having to leave the couch. General admission tickets start at $20.

https://thingstododc.com/ events/guided-tours/ To scan the QR Codes, point the camera app on your smartphone toward the page and follow the instructions on your smartphone screen.

Saigon Temple

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

www.kennedyspacecenter.com/ explore-attractions/all-attractions/ planet-play

THORNTON PARK The Office: A Murder Mystery Parody

Jerusalem

Paris

The shutdown of live productions in the wake of COVID-19 left performers and audiences antsy to get back to theaters. Faced with this dilemma, a few Central Florida performers got creative to bring unique experiences to the community, including this upcoming parody walking tour. The Office: A Murder Mystery Parody will begin in late March and is described as a musical/mystery/walking tour for fans of the beloved sitcom. Following characters from the show around the Thornton Park neighborhood of downtown Orlando, small groups can watch as they solve the mystery of the Scranton Strangler — a bit of plot pulled straight from the show itself — and occasionally burst into song. www.eventbrite.com/e/the-office-a murder-mystery-parody-fri-april-9tickets-138181726263

⊲⊲ FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND SHARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL PLACES TO VISIT: @i4BIZ.COM ⊳⊳ i4Biz.com | MARCH 2021

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WATERCOOLER

Stuff you didn’t know you wanted to know

#4

Orlando’s ranking among the best markets in the U.S. positioned for success for future commercial real estate development, behind Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix.

#1

Orlando’s ranking for apartment real estate in the CBRE study’s four commercial real estate sectors.

Orlando ranked No. 9 for office, No. 10 for industrial and No. 7 for retail.

Source: CBRE Group Inc., Orlando Business Journal

EVERY POSITION OF AUTHORITY WAS A BLACK MAN OR A BLACK WOMAN. IT MADE ME FEEL INVINCIBLE. — Orlando author Lee Chavous about growing up in what he calls a Black enclave in Prince Georges County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.

107

Number of destinations currently reachable by nonstop flights from Orlando International Airport, including 89 domestic and 18 international destinations.

Source: Orlando International Airport

“The time capsule made it

Source: Orlando Sentinel

I’M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD.

25 years, and so did we. Give yourselves a round of applause.”

— Jane Watrel, Orange County spokeswoman, at a ceremony Feb. 2, 2021, unearthing a time capsule from 1995.

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— Declaration first uttered by Phil Simms, quarterback for the New York Giants, after winning the Super Bowl in 1987. This kicked off a tradition now in its 34th year, which Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski continued this year after beating the Kansas City Chiefs on February 7 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.

$15 billion

Amount of home value increases in metropolitan Orlando in 2020, out of $2.5 trillion nationally.

Source: Zillow

$88,200

Average compensation per worker employed

by Cape Canaveral space activity in 2019, according to a NASA study, compared with Orlando’s average annual salary of $46,140.

“WE LOVE THE GLOBAL VISION OF THE LPGA AND ITS ATHLETES WHO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, EVEN BEYOND THE GAME OF GOLF.”

— Rasesh Thakkar, Senior Managing Director, Tavistock Group

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“A C H A N G E O F L AT I T U D E WOULD HELP M Y AT T I T U D E” Missing that feeling of freedom and exploration you can only access through air travel?

As Your Florida Airport of Choice®, Orlando International Airport hears you loud and clear.

Quite honestly, we are in the same boat as you. But we’d rather be on the same plane.

Inspiration

FOR Y OUR N EX T ADVEN T URE PHOENIX

CHARLESTON

MCO. We’re Better Together.

For Travel Safety Tips Visit orlandoairports.net/coronavirus

HONOLULU

NEW ORLEANS