THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS: The Legacy of The Bubble
PARTNER PROFILE: Orlando Repertory Theatre
THE BUSINESS OF ART: Global Peace Film Festival
UP CLOSE WITH Glen Gilzean
4BUSiNESS
®®
SEPTEMBER 2020
Orlando's Leadership Connection
BUILDING A FUTURE Public Schools Construction Lifts Community During Crisis
TANGELO PARK PROGRAM Orlando Solution to National Issue
VIBRATION MONITORING
Who's Watching Those Noisy Pile Drivers?
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DoYourPartORL.com
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CONTENTS
INSIDE⊲⊲ SEPTEMBER 2020
FEATURES
12
Building a Future
18
Vibration Monitoring
20
The Tangelo Park Program
PARTNER PROFILE A Passion for Production
&
32
Public Schools Construction Lifts Community During Crisis
Chris Brown Executive Director at Orlando Repertory Theatre
Bill "Roto" Reuter President at R-Squared Solutions
Just Part of a Day's Work for Universal Engineering Sciences
An Orlando Business Solution to a National Crisis
WHEN YOU INVEST IN A SCHOOL, YOU INVEST IN A HEALTHY I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THERE TO BE AS MUCH TALENT IN IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES AS THERE IS BEHIND EVERY GATED COMMUNITY. — Harris Rosen
FOLLOW US►►► #i4biz
ECONOMY AND A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. —Pam Gould
Pg 12 THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS: The Legacy of The Bubble
PARTNER PROFILE: Orlando Repertory Theatre
THE BUSINESS OF ART: Global Peace Film Festival
UP CLOSE WITH Glen Gilzean
4BUSiNESS
®®
Akheem Mitchell at Rollins College
SEPTEMBER 2020
20
Orlando's Leadership Connection
BUILDING A FUTURE
Photography by Julie Fletcher
Public Schools Construction Lifts Community During Crisis
TANGELO PARK PROGRAM Orlando Solution to National Issue
VIBRATION MONITORING
Who's Watching Those Noisy Pile Drivers?
$4.95
2 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
ON THE COVER Grace High
4BUSiNESS Orlando's Leadership Connection
SPOTLIGHT
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
34
50 Up Close with
Glen Gilzean BEST PRACTICE Guest Expert Columns
38
LEADERSHIP
Higher Education is About More Than Textbook Learning Romaine Seguin | UPS International
40
Use Your Platform for Good by Aligning With a Cause
LEGAL
Tax Implications of Your Organization's Structure
Pete Schoemann | Nelson Mullins
44
DIGITAL MARKETING
Now's the Time to Leverage Digital to Forge a New Path to Your Customers Davia Moss| Next Horizon
46
54
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Lessons Learned From Virtual Sales Training Bill Reidy| PWRhouse Consulting
'The Bubble' Will Leave a Legacy Long After Final Scores Are In
The Business of Nonprofits When Crisis Calls, Who Responds?
The Business of Art
Global Peace Film Festival Connects Causes and Context
56
The Business of Chambers of Commerce
58
The Business of Education
MARKETING
Meaghan Branham | i4 Business
42
53
The Business of Sports
A Different Kind of Health Plan
‘Reach for the Stars’ is More Than a Motto for UCF and Its Work
DEPARTMENTS
7
From the Editor and Publisher
8
Business Briefs
62
Downtime
64
Watercooler
i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 3
4BUSiNESS
4BUSiNESS Orlando's Leadership Connection
Orlando's Leadership Connection
SPOTLIGHTING FINANCIAL PROFESSIONALS The November 2020 edition will include a special marketing section spotlighting the achievements and offerings of financial professionals throughout the Orlando region.
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Diane Sears DIRECTOR OF ENCOURAGEMENT Donna Duda MANAGING EDITOR Meaghan Branham PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Julie Fletcher ART DIRECTOR Tanya Mutton - Sidekick Creations COPY EDITOR Susan Howard, APR CONTRIBUTORS Meaghan Branham, Andrew Cole, Mary Deatrick, George Diaz, Dorothy Hardee , Shelley Lauten, Carol Ann Dykes Logue, Davia Moss, Todd Persons, Bill Reidy, Diane Sears, Peter Schoemann, Romaine Seguin, Jason Siegel ADVERTISING Diane Sears Diane@i4biz.com
i4 Business is a participating member of:
This invaluable marketing tool will spotlight many of the top financial professionals in Central Florida through comprehensive full-gloss color profiles in our print and digital editions.
| FINANCIAL
PROFESSION
ALS
Trisha Delatte TITLE: VP Treasur y Sales Manage r COMPANY: Axiom Bank YEARS IN AREA:
The spotlight will also be published online at i4biz.com and promoted through our social media channels, in addition to our Special Edition FP newsletter.
T
risha started at Axiom Bank in May 2016, responsibilities where her primary are growing and deposit relations maintaining commer hips. She has deposit cial tailored to the relationship experien individual needs ce of the business clients. This includes deposito commercial and small to electronic treasury ry accounts in addition services. She began career as a teller her 24-year banking at a small bank on the Naval Air Pensacola, FL. Since then, she Station in has held several increasing respons position ibility at various s with banks and credit The best advice she ever received unions. — you can be you want to be whomever — has influenc ed her entire professi Because her top onal life. priority is to be a difference maker, pride in demons she takes trating a positive spirit and helping achieve their goals. people ◆
42]NOVEMBE R2017
i4Biz.com
www.i4biz.com/financial-professionals advertising@i4Biz.com 4 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
7
YEARS IN INDUST RY: 24 WEBSITE: www.A xiomBanking.c om
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 Becca Bides, Visit Orlando Jim Bowie, University of Florida Incubator Program Jackie Brito, HR Asset Partners
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, as well as 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.
Cari Coats, Accendo Leadership Advisory Group Andrew Cole, East Orlando Chamber of Commerce John Davis, Orlando Regional Chamber 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 Hewitt, United Negro College Fund Vicki Jaramillo, Orlando International Airport Karen Keene, ATHENA Orlando Women's Leadership and Dean Mead Attorneys at Law Shelley Lauten, Consultant
Catherine Losey The founder of Losey PLLC, Catherine Losey represents companies from a diverse range of industries on workplace issues. In both her experience with Losey PLLC and previous work as counsel and a commercial litigator, Losey has worked to use her knowledge to help her clients understand and navigate policies and potential risks. Her knowledge of legal, compliance and technology issues lends itself to an invaluable skill set for businesses and their leadership.
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, Triloma Financial Group Rob Panepinto, Florentine Strategies Bill Reidy, PWRhouse Consulting 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)
Jim Bowie Jim Bowie is the associate director of incubation services at UF Innovate. He formerly served as manager of the University of Central Florida Business Incubator in Kissimmee/Osceola County and the interim manager of the UCF Life Sciences Incubator, getting it open in Lake Nona. Bowie has more than 14 years of coaching experience including running the Columbus Regional Technology Incubator in Columbus, Georgia. As an adjunct professor with the University System of Georgia, his specialty areas included sales, management and professional persuasive communications.
Robert Utsey, Consultant
i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 5
4BUSiNESS Orlando's Leadership Connection
SPECIAL SECTION
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
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Central Florida’s young professionals are setting a precedent for innovation, industry and inclusion with creativity and collaboration. In our September issue, i4 Business will spotlight your stories: who you are, what you do, and what the future holds. In telling each of your stories, we build your relationship with our audience, and get closer to the heart of what makes our community one of a kind.
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Each profile will be: ə Published in our print and digital editions of i4 Business ə Published on i4biz.com ə Shared on our social media channels ə Spotlighted in our Special Sections newsletter
COMING October 2020
Daniel Haddad
YOUNG PROFE
SSIONALS
Manager of Power Plan t Engineering
Orlando Utilities
Commission
"
— Daniel Hadd
ad
Setting an Example
team through empowerment. “I want them to be their absolu te best, and it’s my job to provide them with the opportunity to do that,” Hadd ad said. Now, in his 11th year at OUC, and with three children of his own, he works to keep the company movin g forward, all while upholding the same respe ct for employees and their famili es that his father valued so much . “We are alway s striving to improve and adapt to changing times, but we remain steadf ast in the sense that employees are valued over the bottom line,” said Haddad. “I don’t see that changing anytim e soon.” ◆ i4Biz.com | OCTO
BER 2018 | 33
Contact Meaghan Branham, meaghan@i4biz.com or 407-730-2961 i4Biz.com 6 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
REPRINTS Reprints and commemorative plaques may be ordered from Meaghan Branham with i4 Business, 407-7302961. 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 monthly by i4 Business, LLC, 121 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 1500, Orlando, FL 32801. Tel. 407-730-2961 | i4biz.com
Creating an atmosphere whe re my team has the ability to succ eed is my favorite part of what I do.
Long before Danie l Haddad began his engin This stayed with eering career, him, and he was learning the while earning ins and outs a mechanical of the industry engineering degre from his father e at the , who worked at University of the Orlando Central Florid Utilities Comm a, Haddad becam ission (OUC – e an OUC coThe Reliable One) op student, a role that led Haddad’s childh throughout to a position as ood. a full-time seized opportuniti “He always engineer upon es to teach his graduation. me about ‘how things work’ in all areas of life, “Every role I’ve but held has in terms of engin especially prepared me in some way eering and problem solvin for my curren g,” said Haddad. t one,” he said. “There are oppor tunities to Those learning grow your abiliti opportunities es led to an intere and taking those in every role, st in the field opportunities of engineering will prepare you , and in OUC for something as an employer. else someday “[My father] that you will often spoke about never be able to predict.” fortunate he was how to work for a company that That “something valued his commitment out to be his curren else” turned to his family above t position his job,” recall as manager of ed Haddad. power engineering, where plant he leads his
yp
Back issues may be purchased for $5.00 each by calling 407-730-2961.
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. © 2020. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from the publisher.
From the Editor and Publisher
It’s Time to Come Clean: We’re Looking for Your Help
L THE GREATNESS OF A COMMUNITY IS MOST ACCURATELY MEASURED BY THE COMPASSIONATE ACTIONS OF ITS MEMBERS.” — Coretta Scott King
Take a look at our new i4 Business TV Channel
ike many businesses, we took a major hit from COVID-19. It forced us to rebrand and reinvent i4 Business. I want to thank all of you who’ve praised our new mission and fresh design. I especially want to thank community leaders who’ve been donating their time and expertise to help us succeed or partnering with us for their organizations’ marketing campaigns.
We’ve brought you a Q&A with Glen Gilzean, president and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League, who’s making big changes in our community through his leadership. During his photo shoot for our Up Close on Page 34, our photography director, Julie Fletcher, was especially intrigued by his cool boots. To see those, visit our i4 Business Facebook page.
You might be wondering how you can help. That’s easy. Purchase a subscription. When our new leadership took over the magazine, we realized our subscription list was woefully outdated. Everyone is still enjoying delivery, but not everyone has been invoiced in a timely manner. We are working to fix that. Subscription orders have already begun pouring in, and we thank you for your support.
We also take you behind the scenes of an aspect of Interstate 4 construction that drives us all insane: the pile drivers you hear pounding in your head and chest. They take some monitoring. Find out how Ken Derick from Universal Engineering Sciences handles that kind of work in the Page 18 article by Todd Persons.
You’ll notice a full-court press in our marketing in the next few months. Hopefully some of it will make you smile and persuade you to buy a gift subscription for a colleague, a rising star in your organization, your mom or dad, your son or daughter, or your pet parrot. We’re not proud, and every little bit contributes to our mission of bringing you fresh insight you won’t get from other news sources. You can subscribe at www.i4biz.com/subscriptions. Speaking of full-court press, we’re thrilled to bring you an insider’s look at “The Bubble.” This phenomenon that has taken place all summer at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex is important for all of us here in Central Florida, whether you follow professional sports or not. Find out why on Page 50 in The Business of Sports by Jason Siegel, CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. We’re also excited about some facts we learned that connect two of our region’s jewels: the University of Central Florida and Kennedy Space Center. Learn more from Carol Ann Dykes Logue, co-director of UCF’s innovation districts and incubation program, in The Business of Education on Page 58.
And in our cover story, we explore the population growth that has led to a boom in school construction. Even during the pandemic, as new home purchases soar, construction on new schools has continued, keeping people employed. We especially thank the family of our young cover model for helping us illustrate why these new schools are so important for our future. The cover story is by our new managing editor, Meaghan Branham. She has been working with our art director, Tanya Mutton, and our copy editor, Susan Howard, to update our look, streamline our processes, improve our content and make my life easier. Please join our whole team in congratulating Meaghan on earning her new title. And thank you for being part of Central Florida’s top leadership and allowing us to share your stories in print, on our website, in our social media and on i4 Business TV. Have a great month!
Editor and Publisher
i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 7
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Gary Sinise Foundation
Taps Central Florida to Launch First Chapter To expand its mission of supporting active-duty military, veterans, first responders and family members, the Gary Sinise Foundation is setting up chapters across the country — starting with the first one, which was launched in August in Central Florida. Named after its founder and chairman, actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, the foundation selected Central Florida because it is home to the third-largest veteran population in the country. Additionally, the foundation has long had a presence in the region through its Snowball Express initiative, which takes the children and families of fallen military heroes on an annual trip to Walt Disney World Resort during the holidays. “Serving, honoring, and raising the spirits of our nation’s defenders and their families is the very heartbeat of everything we do at GSF,” Sinise said. “And while I believe we can never do enough for them, we can always do a little more. With the launch of our first chapter, and with the support of our great team in Orlando, the Central Florida Chapter will expand this deep personal mission and call to action to ‘do a little more’ for our nation’s heroes.”
Photo credit: Gary Sinise Foundation Actor and philanthropist Gary Sinise greets participants at the annual Snowball Express event, where his foundation brings the children of fallen heroes and their surviving parents and guardians to Walt Disney World during the holidays.
Karen Connors, tapped to serve as president of the Central Florida Chapter, had this to say: “It truly takes a village, and we couldn’t do this without the support of so many of our community members, including all of our local military, veterans, first responders, and their families. We are so grateful for all that you do to protect our community.” Sinise is best known for his roles in films like Forrest Gump, Of Mice and Men, and Apollo 13, and TV shows including “CSI New York” and “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.”
Photo credit: Gary Sinise Foundation Karen Connors
UCF, MCO Explore Idea of New Campus on Airport Property The University of Central Florida is looking at the possibility of partnering with Orlando International Airport for a hightech campus. University officials pitched the idea in mid-August to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which operates the airport known as MCO for its designated call letters. The proposal could pose a win-win by placing a new campus concept on airport land that would focus on digital twin technology and helping the airport diversify its business model
Business 8 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
that relies heavily on business and leisure travel, both hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The two sides discussed only the preliminary concept and not details such as cost, timing and operation. “The vision for what we are calling the UCF-MCO Partnership is to develop a digital-twin campus that would be a model for the nation in this emerging technology,” Beverly Seay, UCF's board of trustees chair, said during the presentation.
Innovation
Education
BUSINESS BRIEFS
3 Community Leaders Announce Retirement On a very busy Thursday, August 20, three Central Florida leaders announced they will be retiring in the coming months. Their departures will leave three top spots open for new leadership. Sandy Shugart, president of Valencia College, will retire June 2021 after more than 20 years at the helm. He announced his decision at Valencia College’s annual Academic Assembly, which was held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Serving as the fourth president of Valencia College, being a part of this extraordinary team of faculty and staff, serving each student in Rich Maladecki, president and CEO of the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, will retire at the end of February 2021 after almost 30 years in the position. “I was looking to retire by this December, but because of COVID-19, I will stay a month or two to launch the 2021 year,” he said in an article in the Orlando Business Journal. “Working 43 straight years is a fun
George Aguel, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, announced his retirement but had not yet set a date, saying he wants to spend more time with his family. A search for his successor is already underway for the tourism marketing organization he has led since 2013.
Tourism
a meaningful way and impacting our community has been a privilege beyond measure,” Shugart said in an email to employees. The chair of Valencia College’s board of trustees, Tracey Stockwell, praised Shugart’s leadership: “I know that I speak for the entire board of trustees when I express our deep appreciation to Dr. Shugart for his positive impact on the students and community during his time ... I look forward to the next chapter and being off the clock.” The organization has begun searching for his successor and expects to conduct interviews in October, he said. Under Maladecki’s leadership, the association helped build Central Florida’s tourism industry to a record level of $75 billion before the pandemic.
Under Aguel’s leadership, the region welcomed a record 75 million visitors in 2019, increasing from 57 million before his tenure. An article in the Orlando Business Journal quoted him with this advice for his successor:
Growth
20-plus years of service at Valencia College. There is much to celebrate as we reflect on Dr. Shugart’s tenure at the college. This includes unparalleled graduation rates, the creation of DirectConnect to UCF, the most successful transfer program in America, and providing exceptional leadership to the college, which was awarded the first Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.”
“WORKING 43 STRAIGHT YEARS IS A FUN TIME ... I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT CHAPTER AND BEING OFF THE CLOCK.” — Rich Maladecki
“The secret to this job is recognition that it represents an incredibly dynamic industry that's incredibly diverse with hotels, theme parks, restaurants and shopping. We never want to forget we are a membership organization — we promote and advocate.”
Inspiration
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Orange County Suspends Work on Convention Center Expansion Work has been halted on the most recent expansion of the Orange County Convention Center. Contracts tied to the $600 million project are suspended or canceled as the region struggles with a lack of business and leisure tourism because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Records show the county has spent about $12 million in design and preparation work for the expansion and will save $18.5 million in additional design costs by pausing the project. Plans had called for adding 1 million square feet of exhibit, ballroom and meeting space to the complex’s existing 7 million square feet. The county originally had planned to delay construction but continue with the design. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings explained the rationale in a memo to county commissioners: “Initially, we intended to complete the design to have a 100% set of drawings. However, I have looked at the additional cost required to reach that milestone against a backdrop of significant uncertainty of when to proceed with the project. Additionally, we are unaware of the design changes that may be needed to successfully complete and operate in the post-pandemic environment.”
Orlando Sentinel to Vacate Building The Orlando Sentinel has announced it is vacating the Orange Avenue building it has occupied downtown since 1951. Staff members who have been working remotely since the outbreak of the pandemic could continue to do so.
Orlando Sentinel 1951
“After careful deliberation, we have decided to permanently vacate our Orange Avenue office,” Publisher and General Manager Nancy Meyer said in an email to employees. “This decision was not made lightly or hastily. Instead, amid a pandemic that prevents us from safely returning to the office for an undetermined period of time, the company decided to formally close the Orange Avenue office on October 30, 2020.” The property is owned by Miami-based developer Midtown Opportunities, which bought it in 2014 from a spinoff owned by the Sentinel’s parent company, Tribune Publishing, which was emerging from bankruptcy. The Sentinel was scheduled to lease the building until June 30, 2023, but has been involved in a rent dispute since remote work began earlier this year. The building opened in 1951 as the home and printing facility for the Orlando Morning Sentinel and the Orlando Evening Star.
Business 10 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
Innovation
Education
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Affordable Elderly Housing Developments Under Way Local leaders have been exploring the challenges of a lack of affordable housing in Central Florida. Two projects under way are aiming to bridge some of the gap. Developers have broken ground on a $23 million, 110-unit building for elderly affordable housing near Mall at Millenia. The first phase of Madison Landing is planned for completion in 2021 and will include a pool, picnic pavilions, a bocce ball court, indoor activity and exercise rooms, a central great room and health care services space. A second phase is planned for the future. About 90% of the first phase will be reserved for households making 60% of the county’s area median income, or AMI. The remaining units will be for households making less than 33% of that AMI. As of April 2020, that median family income was $68,100. By providing affordable housing, developers qualify for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and other incentives. A Miami artist has been commissioned to design a mosaic for the outside of the building, a trademark of high-rises developed by American Residential Communities. Winter Park Construction, the general contractor, is working on its fourth affordable housing project with the developer, including Madison Crossing II, a similar seven-story development completed in 2017. Winter Park Construction is also working on another affordable senior housing project in Seminole County, this one with Redding Development Partners. The Georgetown Square Apartments are near completion with 90 units on 3.2 acres near downtown Sanford. Of those apartments, 28 will be reserved for Section 8 housing and the remainder for residents earning 60% of AMI.
Orlando One of Top 10 Cities Where Rents Are Declining Orlando ranked fourth on the list of top 10 cities where rent prices have declined the most during the pandemic. The Central Florida area followed San Francisco, New York and San Jose. Miami came in at fifth on the list, followed by Washington, D.C., Austin, Charlotte, Boston and Houston. Prices of homes sold have continued to increase because of a lack of inventory. However, rents have decreased for two reasons, according to research by Apartment List quoted in The Washington Post. The first is that the pandemic has kept people from moving. The second is that the economic fallout from COVID-19 has spurred people to search for more affordable housing, so landlords with vacancies are offering lower rents to compete for tenants. Central Florida, with a high dependency on tourism, has seen workers laid off, furloughed and let go, leading to one of the highest unemployment rates in the state and the nation. “New household formations are also likely to slow as people opt to live with friends or family members,” the article read. “The search for affordable housing means competition for apartments at the lower and middle range of the market is likely to remain high, while luxury apartment buildings may experience higher vacancy rates.”
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.
Tourism
Growth
Inspiration i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 11
COVER STORY
BUILDING A FUTURE
12 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
COVER STORY
PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTION LIFTS COMMUNITY DURING CRISIS By Meaghan Branham
In the past several months, “right on schedule” is a phrase many of us have had to learn to live without. So many things were brought to a screeching halt in the first months of 2020, it’s hard to believe anything could have avoided the universal pause button created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The construction continued by Orange County Public Schools, however, has proven the exception – and, in the process, has done its part to help keep the economy and local hopes afloat.
two middle schools are set to open in 2022 and 2023. Since Gould joined the school board in 2012, the west Orange district has seen the opening of 11 schools in addition to those eight that are in the works. To the surprise of some, 2020 did not slow down the momentum. “All those dollars are encumbered,” Gould explained, “so we were able to
keep that construction going throughout the year. We don’t start a school until we know we have those dollars, and the schools we have in progress right now are doing a lot to help the community through these times.”
At the Helm Gould has served as one of eight board members setting policy for the nation’s eighth-largest school district, which has
Starting in 2014 and planned through 2021, construction in the Orange County school district is projected to contribute $2.27 billion in total economic output within the county. The activity is especially visible in southwestern Orange County, which is seeing a boom in new home sales and an influx of new residents, creating a need for more schools. Horizon West alone accounted for about half of all the residential construction permits issued in Orange County for the first seven months of 2020, just over 900. As of August, two high schools were in the middle of construction for 2021 openings and two elementary schools and a middle school were in design. “Next year we’ll have those [high schools], and the following year two elementaries and a middle school. We just opened a middle school this past year and are opening two new middle schools by 2023,” said Pam Gould, District 4 representative and vice chair of the Orange County School Board. Horizon West Middle School opened in 2019 along with two elementary schools: Castleview and Water Spring. This year, Summerlake and Sunshine elementary schools opened in District 4. The next
Pam Gould at Summerlake Elementary School.
i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 13
COVER STORY
more than 210,000 students. Board members serve four-year terms and earn about $45,000 a year. The rapid residential growth that has contributed to the need for these new schools also created extra interest in the August 18 election for the District 4 seat Gould has held for two terms. Gould won 48.3% of the vote, falling shy of the 50% needed to retain her post. This means she faces a runoff in the November 3 election against Prince Brown, who brought in 30.9% of the vote. The third candidate, Danya Gaut, is out of the running but had secured 19.8% of the ballots cast. Gould, who lives in Windermere, is the CEO of Shepherd’s Hope, a nonprofit that provides free health care to low-income residents who have no insurance. She has two adult sons who attended school in west Orange County. Brown, who lives in Horizon West, is a public health advisor with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He is also a former officer in the U.S. Navy, a youth football coach, and a school volunteer. His wife is a schoolteacher, and the couple have three children in Orange County public schools.
Prince Brown
Brown says his priorities include allocating funding from the budget to update facilities. He is passionate about making sure there is enough school space to accommodate all of the families moving into the area. “If I am elected, I will make sure that decisions are made for the best educational outcomes for our students, teachers and parents,” he said. “We will have smart growth to ensure that a quality educational experience is always at the forefront for 14 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
IF I AM ELECTED, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE FOR THE BEST EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS — Prince Brown
COVER STORY
our students. We will plan for students first when making construction decisions for OCPS.”
‘Success Begets Success’
SUCCESS BEGETS SUCCESS, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO LAUNCH THAT, AND CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN A HUGE WAY OF DOING THAT BECAUSE YOU GET A FRESH START. — Pam Gould
The direct and indirect economic impact of the constant construction and attention to Orange County schools is immense today and is expected to continue well into the future. And in the wake of COVID-19, it is taking a new form. “As with any other business, the better the school system, the more investors you see. And the quality of the buildings has a lot to do with this,” Gould said. “We’ve been able to renovate schools in need of restoration, and as we did, we saw more investors pop up, more volunteers, more philanthropy, more partnerships from businesses. “This raises all boats,” she said. “Success begets success, but you have to have a way to launch that, and construction has been a huge way of doing that because you get a fresh start.” Funneling money toward the growth and maintenance of public schools doesn’t just help the students — it helps the entire community. There are the more obvious impacts, such as the utilization of local vendors and an emphasis on patronizing diverse suppliers. “When you think about it, everything you find in a grocery store you’re going to find in a school,” Gould said. “The same applies to hardware, furniture and school supply stores. The list really goes on and on. It touches almost every retail aspect you can think of.” Then there are the jobs created. Construction, maintenance and staffing all require a robust team to keep things running smoothly, with the building projects supporting an average of 1,930 jobs per year. And for every school that opens, more positions are created. Even when current staffers are given the opportunity to relocate to these new facilities, positions then need to be filled at the schools they’re leaving. Beyond those immediately measurable impacts, the ripple effect continues. This might include costs many don’t immediately associate with building a school, like fertilizer for landscaping, but it extends even further into, as Gould puts it, “the fabric of the economy: its health, well-being and sense of community.”
Fast Growth Horizon West has been in the top five growth areas in the U.S. for several years, and the expansion of the school system shows no sign of slowing down. The schools being built should reflect that growth, Brown said. “Our community has one of the i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 15
COVER STORY
highest growth rates in the nation, but unfortunately the focus has not been on smart growth,” he said. “We have known this growth has been coming for years, but our students and teachers are in overcrowded schools where the answer is just to add more portables.” He said in an Orlando Sentinel interview, “The quality of Orange
County schools is a big part of not only the desire to live in these areas, but also, from a general perspective of the quality of life, for that desire to build a place to live, work and play.”
Gould pointed out that other west Orange communities are growing, too, including Sand Lake, Winter Garden and Ocoee. As high-quality schools near those areas bring new families to the district, Central Florida’s culture, business and community continue to thrive. Theme parks, restaurants and leisure activity businesses have expanded over the years to accommodate not only out-oftown visitors but also the locals.
“It’s amazing to see these new amenities pop up in such a small span of time,” Gould said. “Even our attractions benefit because people like to play at home.”
Room for Potential A 2015 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that if all students in the U.S. could be brought up to basic mastery as defined by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) would increase by $32 trillion, or 14.6%. And while the impact of COVID-19 on future projects still remains to be seen, the possibilities these completed and in-progress projects hold for the students who will learn in them each day are expanding. “I think this gives us a chance to look at education in a new way,” Gould said. “Are there other ways we can deliver adequately, consistently? There has never been a one-size-fits-all approach to education, although historically the system has tried to make it that way. We recognize that one set formula 16 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
cannot empower every student to reach their full potential. Now we get to ask how much more flexibility we can put in, how the way we build our schools will be affected.” Brown’s campaign website echoes a similar sentiment: “Absolutely everything the Orange County School Board does should be an investment that is ‘laser focused’ on giving the students and staff members of Orange County the very best opportunities for success in a safe and secure environment,” the site reads. The physical structures reflect this attitude of adapting to fit the needs of the students. They’re built with an eye on what kinds of spaces work best for certain programs, from technical to vocational, from experiential learning to creative spaces for the arts. It’s about making the space come alive, making room for all the potential and possibilities these students bring to their communities. Orange County’s new schools continue to be built in innovative ways that bring reliable income to the community, all while delivering a finished product. Inside and outside of their walls, these spaces are designed to expand to fit the potential of all students, to give them — and the community — room to grow.
“WHEN YOU INVEST IN A SCHOOL, YOU INVEST IN A HEALTHY ECONOMY AND A HEALTHY COMMUNITY,” GOULD SAID. “IT BECOMES CYCLICAL, BECAUSE YOU’RE ALSO INVESTING IN GREAT STUDENTS WHO WILL BECOME GREAT LEADERS AND GREAT ENTREPRENEURS.” T
We’re With You
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PEOPLE
KENNETH “KEN” DERICK Senior vice president for Orlando-based Universal Engineering Sciences LLC Photography by Julie Fletcher 18 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
PEOPLE
VIBRATION MONITORING
Just Part of a Day’s Work for Universal Engineering Sciences BY TODD PERSONS
W
hen the Beach Boys sing about “Good Vibrations,” they remind us of shimmering sun, cool ocean water and the joys of a lazy summer. Then there’s the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Summer in the City,” where in growing metropolises like Orlando, you are regularly bombarded by the rhythmic “thump, clang, thump, clang” of a pile driver doing what its name implies, compacting soil and pounding columns into the earth to support roads, bridges and new high-rises. These are all sounds of progress, but still … If those incessant sounds and sometimes even faint physical aftershocks are annoying at best, and are feeding your migraine at worst, they could also be a serious headache for developers and builders, creating potentially damaging vibrations. For R. Kenneth “Ken” Derick, M.S., P.E., who is senior vice president for Orlando-based Universal Engineering Sciences LLC (UES), those sounds and vibrations may not be music to his ears either. But they represent a strong segment of business for the 56-year-old geotechnical engineering consulting firm where Derick has worked for more than a quarter of a century. Derick is a friendly, outgoing man who likes to joke that he is in the “shaky soil business.” But he is serious when he describes the importance of the science of controlling the impact to the earth made by the body blows delivered by drilling and compacting machines. Unless carefully harnessed, the “thump, clang, thump” can radiate
through the trembling earth doing unwanted damage to neighbors surrounding the project’s epicenter. It is why vibration monitoring is expected to represent an increasing part of business for fast-growing UES, which started in Central Florida and today has 1,600 employees working from 30 offices nationwide.
“Building inside a city’s core requires both care and precision,” Derick said. “If our client is constructing a building between two existing structures, UES’s job is to monitor construction vibrations that are created to make sure they are within specific guidelines and don’t have a negative impact on the neighbors.” The science of vibration monitoring and soil testing has become more technically exacting in recent years, Derick said — not only in order to avoid causing collateral damage to adjacent structures within the crowded core of a burgeoning metropolis, but also to protect the developer or builder from potential legal problems. Derick gave a Central Florida example. “We were monitoring the construction site for a client when the adjacent company claimed the vibrations from our client’s project had damaged its computer system, skewing national data being produced by its mainframes. We were able to show that we were well within the safe vibration limits permitted.” Sensitive testing equipment with names like Vibroflot, Helitech and
Fluke may sound foreign to most but are tools of the trade for a professional in the vibration monitoring business whose job it is to virtually anticipate, before it actually happens, that there might be some damaging shaking going on. “We almost have to know where cracks may appear before they appear,” Derick explained. Derick knows a lot about building in tight places. UES has been involved in a number of prominent projects in downtown Orlando, including 55 West residential tower, the Amway Center arena, and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, among others. The company also worked on shoring up the football stadium at the University of Central Florida, commonly known as the “Bounce House.” The stadium still rumbles a bit when thousands of fans jump in unison, but it is not going anywhere. More good vibrations. On a personal level, Derick spreads positive vibes in the community, devoting some of his personal time to working with prison inmates in ministry-based counseling programs. His private life is filled with golf, fishing, traveling and just being “a family” with his wife, Grace, five adult children and “a very old beagle.” The master engineer, whose career has spanned 45 years, added an important factoid about building on soil in a downtown environment: “There are many layers of compacted soil in a city center, perhaps centuries of structures that are built and replaced over and over again. The subsurfaces of those sites have unique histories revealing structures that were prepared correctly and built right and some that were not. That is why everyone needs to be careful how structures are built, from below the ground on up.” ■ i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 19
PHILANTHROPY
THE TANGELO PARK PROGRAM
An Orlando Business Solution to a National Crisis By Mary Deatrick
A
s impoverished neighborhoods nationwide are gripped with recent turmoil and the demand for much-needed change, residents and leaders of the Orlando community of Tangelo Park reflect back to 1993, when their once-underserved community was at a similar crossroads, in despair and in desperate need of hope. Now retired, Dr. Robert Allen was the Tangelo Park Elementary School principal from 1991 to 2006. “When I started there, the school facility was already about 40 years old,” he said recently. “We had little or no parent or business involvement.” Tangelo Park was characterized as a low socioeconomic community with drug problems, a highly transient population, poor school attendance, declining test scores and a high level of high school dropouts.
Hotelier Harris Rosen
“On my first day as principal driving into Tangelo Park, I witnessed several young men on corners near the school participating in drug buys,” Allen said. “I frequently observed police foot and car chases in front of the school from my office window. I made it a point to arrive at the school early in the morning so that the PE teacher and I could check the sports field to look for discarded drug items or stolen and abandoned cars. It was not unusual for me to be called by the police at least two to three times a week after midnight to report to the school because of break-ins and theft of school property and equipment.” With years of established rampant crime and too few students graduating, and even fewer finishing college, there was little reason for the 3,000 Tangelo Park residents to believe there could be a better life.
20 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
PHILANTHROPY
I’VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THERE TO BE AS MUCH TALENT IN IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES AS THERE IS BEHIND EVERY GATED COMMUNITY. — Harris Rosen Fast-forward to 2020. This spring, every Tangelo Park high school senior graduated. Almost all of the 24 grads have plans to attend college. For many years now, the modest but well-kept homes in this revitalized suburb, where children now play freely in front yards, have painted a picture of pride in the neighborhood. As one mother stated, if anyone tries to sell drugs to the children in Tangelo Park, that person is run out of the community.
become an outstanding community with a little help from our business partners,” Allen said. Enter Harris Rosen, president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. By the spring of 1993, Rosen’s success with his collection of Orlando hotels had motivated him to give back to the community that had so richly rewarded him. Orange County Commissioner Mable Butler led him to Tangelo Park, 10 minutes from his International Drive hotels.
Today, if a police officer is spotted in the neighborhood, it is most likely to represent the department for one of the many community organizations such as the YMCA, Baptist Church, civic associations and the University of Central Florida and feeder public schools that are on the board of the Tangelo Park Program. A committed community and business collaboration established in 1993, the Tangelo Park Program encouraged residents to think beyond the geographic borders of the neighborhood. And it’s the springboard that instilled the community’s significant reinvention. “We all shared — and continue to share — the same vision that the Tangelo Park community had some of the brightest minds, most talented students, supportive parents and the potential to
As the first college graduate in his family, Rosen firmly agreed that education could be the defining factor to drive change. He immediately committed to fund scholarships for every high school senior from Tangelo Park — beginning with those graduating that year. The full scholarships included room and board, books and tuition for any Florida-based vocational/technical school or two- or four-year college. In 2017, Rosen added three annual scholarships to the private Rollins College in Winter Park.
Akheem Mitchell at Rollins College
“I’ve always believed there to be as much talent in impoverished communities as there is behind every gated community,” Rosen said. “To make change happen, we had to do something drastic. We needed to establish a new paradigm in which a business is FF i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 21
PHILANTHROPY accountable and truly becomes a community partner in deed, not just word and a check. I can say from firsthand experience that with this commitment, the business, as well as the community, will be deeply rewarded.”
A parent resource center supported by a diversely populated board has immersed the community in a culture of learning. Rosen also funds an alternative spring break that allows students from Ivy League school Cornell University in New York to stay for a week at Rosen Shingle Creek while learning about and contributing to the program.
Today, 438 Rosen scholarships have been awarded, producing 224 college and 15 vocational school degrees. Based on a study by Lance Lochner, Ph.D., of Western Ontario University, the program returns $7 for every $1 invested. Another benefit: Crime has decreased 78%. According to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings: “As Orange County sheriff, I was involved with the Tangelo Park Program and observed as it evolved to result in less crime than most other communities in Orlando. I began to refer to it as a 'quiet oasis.' This was a remarkable transformation, considering how much crime and drugs there were at the onset of the program." With the newfound security comes a freedom to focus on more productive outlets like school. The youth are so instilled with the value of education that the Rosen scholarships are now a safety net, with many students earning their own scholarships through academic achievement.
“Knowing that I had the opportunity to receive a full scholarship to attend college definitely encouraged me to study harder in school,” said Tia Anderson, who graduated from Florida A&M University this year with a doctor of pharmacy degree. “The Rosen scholarship gave me an opportunity in life that many do not get the chance to experience. It gave me an opportunity to network, to find myself away from home, and to ultimately come back and help those in my community.” In 1993, Rosen also established childcare centers in homes throughout the neighborhood. He paid the salaries for the newly created jobs and equipped each center with computers and other supplies, providing free learning environments for the children, who are ages 2 to 4. The majority of these preschoolers demonstrate superior readiness skills, giving them a boost to success as they enter public school. 22 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
TODAY,
438
ROSEN SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN AWARDED, PRODUCING
224 COLLEGE AND
15 VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DEGREES
Akheem Mitchell will enter his sophomore year at Rollins College this fall. “I was in fifth grade when the Cornell students visited our classroom and I came to understand how this scholarship could secure my future,” he said. “And I realized that someone I
didn’t even know cared enough to give this to me, which made me even more grateful and motivated. My mother is so joyful that I’m able to focus on studies without stressing about money, too. I’ve always wanted to go to law school to become a criminal defense attorney to help those who are wrongly accused or fined, and now I know I can live my dream.” As the former Tangelo Park Elementary principal, Allen praised the philanthropic efforts. “The Rosen Tangelo Park Program provided the spark needed for the betterment of the community and families by providing the best education possible for all students.” Rosen believes his $13.5 million commitment over the course of the program has been money well spent. He has always encouraged other businesses to follow his lead in adopting an underprivileged community. But in 2017, he doubled down on his commitment and adopted his second community, the urban Orlando Parramore neighborhood, providing the same kinds of resources — although five times greater. “College graduates can expect to earn a million dollars more in their lifetimes and a high school graduate $500,000 more when compared to non-grads,” Rosen said. “In today’s world, programs like ours are more needed than ever and can help solve this national crisis. Imagine what our country would be like if businesses everywhere simply adopted one neighborhood each like Tangelo Park. We would change America one community at a time.” ■
i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 23
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PARTNER PROFILE
Chris Brown
Bill “Roto” Reuter
Executive Director at
President at
Orlando Repertory Theatre
R-Squared Solutions
A PASSION FOR PRODUCTION
T
By Meaghan Branham Photography by Julie Fletcher
en years into his time at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, Executive Director Chris Brown has a clearly defined vision for the next 10. But he couldn’t have known just how it would be tested. With the help of his own team and that of R-Squared Solutions, the theater survived the onset of the COVID-19 crisis as an example for the rest of the community.
University. He spent years working on Broadway before family considerations brought him back to Central Florida.
“My passion was always for production. I grew up building sets and creating the world of the stage,” Brown said. He followed that passion through school, earning a bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of Central Florida (UCF) and a master’s from Yale
Finding Opportunity
32 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
He’s been with The Orlando REP, as it’s affectionately nicknamed, ever since. From his first role as production manager to his work as general manager and now in his current position, Brown has believed in the mission of The REP and the possibilities it holds. “I was drawn to it because I knew the company so well. I love the company, I love the mission: to create experiences that enlighten, entertain and enrich our audience’s lives.”
The pandemic has created a new landscape for every type of business, even nonprofits like the theater. But Brown looks at the challenges of COVID-19 as opportunities to think in
new ways: “We have been presented opportunities through this to reevaluate our work and reorganize it through our lens of impact. Our impact is on teaching kids about empathy and building up their character, helping kids find their voice and building a better tomorrow through the tool of theater.” The REP sits in a unique position. As a performing arts theater for young audiences, it doesn’t rely solely on its productions for revenue but can expand to educational and developmental programming. When operations changed overnight, pivoting to the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Brown and his team were ready. They started virtual camps almost immediately. Without constant stage productions, they found new time to dive into research and
PARTNER PROFILE
Chris Brown & Bill "Roto" Reuter development that has been vital to the creation and implementation of programs that will fuel The REP’s programming and mission for years to come.
creation and other forms of production. “But we’re moving forward. We never wanted to sit and wait.”
put their groundwork to the test. But as Brown explains it, the consultation with Reuter was a key factor in keeping The REP from losing its way during the crisis.
“The folks around the country who are struggling the most are the ones who are trying to get back to what they used to know,” Brown said. “When we shut our doors on March 13th, we told the staff: ‘We are not going to throw stuff online. We are going to play a longterm game here.’”
“We have been presented opportunities through this to reevaluate our work and reorganize it through our lens of impact.”
Reuter conducted a SWOT analysis for The REP, analyzing the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. He helped get everyone on the same page to understand the theater’s competitive advantages.
The REP closed its fiscal year at the end of June as one of only two local arts groups that did not furlough their fulltime staff. It also did not make changes to its employee benefits or payroll.
— Chris Brown
“We have kind of had to throw out job descriptions,” Brown laughed, because roles have shifted to digital and content
Setting the Stage When Bill “Roto” Reuter, president of consulting firm R-Squared Solutions, met with Brown and his team two years ago, they couldn’t have known that this year’s pandemic would be the crisis that would
“That process helped us get to a place where we could develop a true strategic plan,” Brown said. “That’s what Roto’s really good at. When you have the foundation to build off of, you don’t have to go through the discovery again. We’ve already had those conversations, so now we can adapt a little easier. We’re less concerned with what we’ve been doing for years and we’re more ready to move forward.” ■ i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 33
34 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
UP CLOSE Glen Gilzean With
By Meaghan Branham
President and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League Glenton Gilzean Jr. started his first nonprofit at age 26. Educate Today represented the first of many times Gilzean would create a space for those voices in the community that don’t otherwise have a platform, providing a safe environment for disadvantaged youth to continue their education after school. Shortly after, he moved to Step Up for Students, where his skills were put to use as vice president of family and community affairs. In 2016, he joined the Central Florida Urban League, where he quickly gained recognition for his work. While the circumstances of life and work this year have required a lot of adaptation, they have also led Gilzean and his team to look to new ways to amplify voices and provide opportunities for those they serve. Here, he talks about his experience leading through the recent revolution in the fight for civil rights, the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what everyone in the community can take away from this unique moment in time. What did you want to be growing up, and why?
From a young age I enjoyed helping people, so it makes sense that growing up I wanted to be a doctor. In the community, and in the media, it is always a highly regarded position, synonymous with success and family.
What inspired you to start Educate Today?
While working at the Florida Department of Education, I would often hear parents complain about the large amount of homework their children had to complete. Even students who attended after-school programs had two or three hours of work once they returned home. Educate Today combined the safety and fun of other after-school programs with a high-quality, academic setting where students could complete their daily studies.
In your role at Step Up for Students, you worked to give young people and families access to the right educational path for their needs. What kinds of roadblocks to the right path are often in the way, and how do we clear them away?
Education does not exist in a bubble; it competes for funding with other interests like health care and transportation. Often, people — especially politicians — cannot agree on the best way to distribute funds, which leads to a lack of resources and money for our schools. Students must come first. Clearing the path means advocating for legislation that helps minority and lowincome students get the education they deserve so they can be successful.
What brought you to the Central Florida Urban League?
I saw an opportunity to expand my advocacy to include
the families of the students I had been working so hard for. I can fight for a child to get a great education, but at the end of the day they still have to go back to the same poverty-stricken community. Overcoming the challenges of living in a low-income neighborhood is an uphill battle. The Central Florida Urban League has a broad reach that allows me to help not only the child, but also the entire family and neighborhood. By focusing on the three E’s — education, employment and entrepreneurship — we have created a road map for ending generational poverty.
What challenges did you face when you came on board as president in November 2015? How did you overcome them?
When I joined the Central Florida Urban League, the organization was $1.2 million in debt and on the verge of closing. I basically worked for free for nine months because there was no money to pay my salary. I leveraged all the relationships in my network for investments in the organization. I promised to show them a return on investment with the number of students receiving tutoring services and adults obtaining job-training skills.
What kinds of challenges has the COVID-19 pandemic created for the education sector? How does this particularly impact underprivileged communities?
COVID-19 has shifted education to an almost entirely virtual model, which doesn’t work well for everyone. For children of color living in low-income neighborhoods, school is sometimes the safest environment. Schools provide social and emotional growth and can also be the only source to meet a child’s nutritional needs. The pandemic has disrupted the health and safety of our most vulnerable students.
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UP CLOSE
What are some steps being taken to find solutions?
The Central Florida Urban League is looking at new ways to provide educational programming for students that would give families more options when it comes to schooling. We are also developing initiatives that provide parents and caregivers advancedskills training to obtain jobs they need in order to better support the family as a whole. We are proud to be the first Urban League in the country to offer a Microsoft Office Specialization Certificate, a program that will lead to better employment opportunities for our community.
What kinds of programs does the Central Florida Urban League offer, and how have you adapted them in the wake of COVID-19?
In addition to our efforts with education and employment, we are working with community partners and financial institutions to protect and foster entrepreneurship. A recent study reported that more than 40% of Blackowned businesses have closed or will close due to the pandemic. We know that schools and Black businesses are the major anchors of Black communities, so the Urban League is working with the Black Business Investment Fund and the 36 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
African American Chamber of Commerce to address the dire needs of Black businesses.
How does technology intersect with education in Central Florida, and what kinds of possibilities can it present?
Research shows that individuals who possess a Microsoft Office Specialization Certificate earn about $17,000 more than their counterparts. During the pandemic, a majority of layoffs from high-growth industries, including health care and construction, were due to the fact that employees could not work from home. We need to create a talent pipeline by developing the skill sets needed for jobs of the future so people can support themselves and their families.
What might education look like moving forward? What kinds of resources are needed? As we move forward, I believe education will become more customized to individual learners’ needs instead of remaining fixed to a system. Right now, money goes from state governments to local governments to be disbursed among educational institutions. In the future, I see educational funding going directly to families who can then choose from a variety of providers and services to educate their children.
In light of the recent surge in protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, what has it been like to lead through such a pivotal moment for equality and civil rights?
It is truly a humbling experience. I see myself as a bridge builder, someone who can move between all the different groups affected by this struggle and come up with solutions and plans for lawmakers. It has been rewarding to see our communities and allies come together to uplift the Black community.
How have you adjusted to the new normal?
Like many of us, we are spending a lot more time on Zoom calls and leveraging technology as best we can. Change is always a challenge, but we took time to regroup, look critically at our processes, and figure out a stronger infrastructure going forward.
And finally, what is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
My momma said to me, “Baby, ain’t nobody goin’ to hire you if you can’t read, and ain’t nobody goin’ to invest in you if you don’t have work experience.” I knew then that education and employment were the keys to entrepreneurship. If we can work on these three goals for the Black community, we can end generational poverty. ■
Expand Your World!
Join Girl Scouts To learn more about your local Girl Scout Council and how to get involved, call us at 407-896-4475 or visit us at www.Citrus-GS.org.
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 HIGHER EDUCATION IS ABOUT MORE THAN TEXTBOOK LEARNING
E When attending college, you are the boss, gatekeeper and motivator in your own learning process. — Romaine Sequin
ducation has always been an important part of my professional and personal journey. Before I started working for UPS, I seriously thought about being a schoolteacher. When I look back at my career, that makes sense. It seems I’ve always been in roles where I was teaching employees. As a leader, you’re constantly teaching or at least serving as a role model. Employees watch how you behave, communicate and handle tough situations. They learn what to do and also what not to do. When I was in high school, I came home in March of my senior year and informed my parents I was going to be
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attending college in August two hours away from home. My parents asked, “Why?” My mom didn’t graduate from high school, and my dad did but didn’t continue his studies after that. I was the first person on both sides of my family to go to college. I was fortunate enough to receive an athletic scholarship for all four years. I did not pay a dime, and my books were even paid for. Needless to say, my parents were thrilled. Advanced education is not for everyone after high school, for so many reasons. I am the oldest of five children and only two of us graduated from college. All of us are successful in different ways. When people get ready to leave high school, what road
should they choose to travel the next several years? Should the choice be to start working immediately, pick a trade to obtain specialized skills, or attend college? There are many circumstances that will influence the decision of an individual who is leaving high school. In this article, I’ll focus on higher education. Does a college degree make you a better leader? Not necessarily, but it does give you the ability to obtain experience to become a leader. I get asked the question all the time from newly promoted management employees, some with a degree and some without: Does a college degree give you more opportunity for future advancement? Again, not
necessarily. I flip the question and ask, “Who has children?” Most of the hands raise. Then I then ask, “Do want your kids to attend college?” The answer is a resounding yes. Here are some reasons I argue for people to attend college if possible: 1.
You need to be a role model for your family, community and employees. It is more difficult to expect your children to attend college if you did not.
2.
You obtain different experiences from college communities, cultures and campus life. Many of us know the same group of students, parents and neighborhoods for over a decade before we finish our high school education. Then you leave a comfortable environment and arrive somewhere completely different. This experience is just as important as the books you read and the degree you obtain. It provides personal and professional growth.
3.
You learn higher-level habits of self-discipline. When attending college, you are the boss, gatekeeper and motivator in your own learning process. This is critical because it is so easy to procrastinate on a project or a deadline for a paper or a test. Operating in this environment takes strict discipline
every day. This is where students miss out if they are not disciplined from day one. 4. You learn how to make clear and concise decisions. There are so many moving parts to campus life, and time is moving so quickly during this part of one’s life journey. Decisions made early on create a foundation that lasts long after the diploma is received. Yes, I know not everyone graduates, but I firmly believe that if a tragedy, financial hardship or any other unforeseen situation does not occur, the decision-making will help you cross the diploma line. You will have learned how to handle budgeting, class and degree selection, living arrangements and choices about who you study and socialize with. You will have had an opportunity to seek as much input as possible from family, professors and mentors. As a leader at UPS, I often refer back to these four points: role model, experiences, self-discipline and decisionmaking. Through my 37-year career, I have relied heavily on these skills. I reflect back, and college was and is the foundation of my success. I will be retiring from UPS eventually, and I am committed to continuing my support of higher education by becoming an adjunct professor at a college or university. ■
DID YOU KNOW 92%
of U.S. adults read magazines
Americans of all ages read magazines — especially younger adults.
91% of adults 94% of those under 30 95% of those under 25
Source: MPA – The Association of Magazine Media
i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 39
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 USE YOUR PLATFORM FOR GOOD BY ALIGNING WITH A CAUSE
Life’s most urgent question: What are you doing for others? — Martin Luther King Jr.
I
n recent years, brand accountability and transparency have become more important than ever, especially as people begin to associate the brands they rely on with their own identity and ethics. There has also been a sharp increase in “cause marketing,” which involves campaigns designed to both do good for the community and increase profitability. In the past year especially, with the COVID-19 pandemic and the call for racial justice through protests and other efforts worldwide, people want to feel they are making a difference wherever they can. Statistics are proving again and again that this drive to make a difference
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extends to the brands and companies they choose:
85% of Americans expect companies to help address racial inequality — up from 81% in 2018. Porter-Novelli 2020 COVID-19 Tracker
68% of respondents said they want brands to donate to programs that provide direct support for medical workers. SheerID 2020
53% feel “purposedriven” companies have fared better during the coronavirus pandemic. Porter-Novelli 2020
Close to seven in 10 consumers surveyed (69% globally, 67% in the U.S.) listed societalfocused concerns as to why trusting a brand they buy is important. 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report The number of consumers who say they would switch from one brand to another if the other brand were associated with a good cause has climbed to 87%. Cone Cause Evolution Survey People are looking for companies that bring them value by connecting with their
own values. Cause marketing can give you an edge over competitors who might not be using their platform to do good.
Why Cause Marketing Works 1.
Amplify your impact. Not only does cause marketing give you a chance to make a difference in an area that interests you, it also allows you to multiply that impact by giving others a platform for their own generosity. Create a new product to bring awareness to the cause, select an existing product to raise money through a portion of the proceeds, or simply create a place on your website where someone might be able to make a donation. People will be grateful that you’re making a difference and they get to be a part of it.
2. Increase community presence. There’s strength in numbers, and that’s especially true when it comes to creating change. Partnering with a local nonprofit to create volunteer opportunities, teaming up with another company to host an event, or picking a local charity to receive a portion of the event proceeds adds momentum to the cause and helps to get your brand in front of more people. 3.
Gain audience trust. Before they become customers, your audience members first need to trust you. Just like a trustworthy person, a trustworthy brand is one that practices consistency, reliability, transparency and accountability. There have been countless
articles written and surveys conducted on how to build consumer trust, and for good reason. Audiences want to be able to trust your product, your voice and your team to show up and deliver. One of the most rewarding ways of doing that is to make a difference for a cause they care about. 4. Increase employee retention. According to a June 2018 Forbes article, many employees are more likely to feel fulfilled at work — and therefore more likely to stay — if they feel they are working with a sense of purpose. Having a higher purpose and making a difference count for much more than some employers realize when it comes to motivating your team. Creating a reputation of compassion and action is also likely to draw potential employees who are just as excited and determined as you are to work for the cause.
Remember, audiences can tell when brands aren’t being genuine. Choose a cause you truly care about and let people know. Not only will your audience respond, but you will feel more inspired and excited to do a bit more good in the world. ■
DID YOU KNOW
Consumers immerse themselves in magazine content both in print and digital editions.
51.5 minutes
48.3 minutes
*primary print readers
*digital edition readers
*Subscribers/newsstand buyers and other members of their households. Source: MPA – The Association of Magazine Media
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BEST PRACTICE
Pete Schoemann is a partner in the Orlando office of the law firm Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel and a member of the firm’s corporate group and tax team. Since 1999, he has specialized in corporate and tax law. He can be reached at peter.schoemann@ nelsonmullins.com.
Legal TAX IMPLICATIONS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION’S STRUCTURE
W Millions of dollars may hinge on your decision. — Pete Schoeman
hether you are at the formation stage, in growth mode, or you are considering a sale of your business, it is always the right time to consider the income tax implications of your organizational structure. Your structure could be as simple as a sole proprietorship or as complex as a multi-tier set of partnerships and corporations, or any number of options in between. Millions of dollars may hinge on your decision. For this article, we will consider three entity types in the middle of the above spectrum: partnerships, S corporations and C corporations. (Limited liability
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companies may be taxed as partnerships or either type of corporation.)
C Corporations
Advantages. C corporations remain the simplest of the three entity types to administer. There is no flowthrough income to track and report. In addition, one low flat rate of 21% applies to taxable income. Also, on a sale of C corporation stock, the qualified small business stock exclusion may shield a significant portion of tax on gain and, to the extent not shielded, capital gains rates normally will apply (as opposed to the sale of a partnership interest, which may have an ordinary income component). Another benefit many overlook is the ability to implement incentive stock
options, ESOPs, and other qualified plans. Disadvantages. Despite the above, most small to midsize businesses are not C corporations, primarily because two levels of tax apply: After the 21% corporate level tax, there is a tax on dividends. In addition, unlike S corporations and partnerships, C corporations pay Florida corporate income tax. Beyond the multiple levels of tax, C corporations generally cannot distribute appreciated assets tax free. This makes it difficult to split up a C corporation tax free.
S Corporations
Advantages. S corporations are more difficult than C corporations to administer, although allocating profits and
losses is simple — they must be allocated pro rata based on ownership percentage. There is normally only one level of tax, at the shareholders’ tax rate, although it could be as high as 37%. Depending on several factors, the qualified business income (QBI) deduction of up to 20% may apply, possibly reducing the top tax rate to 29.6%. A significant reason why many choose the S corporation over partnership is to pay employment tax only on reasonable compensation, as opposed to on all of the profits of the business. As with C corporations, capital gains rates apply on the sale of stock, as long as no election is made to treat the sale as an asset sale. Disadvantages. S corporations are rigid, in that special allocations of profits and losses are not permitted. Only U.S. citizens and residents, certain trusts and estates, and certain tax-exempt entities can be shareholders, and only one class of stock is permitted, although voting and nonvoting shares are permitted. Also, the same issue identified above for C corporations applies on distributions of appreciated property.
Partnerships
Advantages. As with S corporations, only one level of tax applies and the QBI deduction may be available. Unlike S corporations, partnerships offer flexibility in ownership, special allocations of profits and losses, and disproportionate distributions. Importantly, unlike for S corporations, liabilities are included in partnership interest basis, allowing partners to potentially use higher amounts of losses than with an S corporation, which is especially useful in longterm real estate projects.
Disadvantages. With such great advantages comes a high level of complexity. Partnership tax expertise is required to draft the partnership agreement and to ensure the allocations are respected. On exit, unlike a stock sale, a partnership interest sale is taxed similar to an asset sale, potentially subjecting a portion of the gain to tax at ordinary rates.
Switching
What if circumstances change — for instance, you want to add an investor that is not qualified to be an S shareholder? Can you change your tax status? Yes, but be careful. For example, if you convert a corporation directly to a partnership, a significant tax might apply, as if the entire business were distributed in a taxable liquidation. Careful planning is required to ensure you avoid the tax traps on a change. As the above discussion shows, there is a great deal to consider when it comes to the tax implications of choosing your tax entity. Each situation is unique. The above discussion is a general discussion and does not replace a review by a qualified tax advisor. ■
DID YOU KNOW
The audience for print and digital magazines increased by 3.3 million adults from 2016 to 2017.
65% of readers take action after seeing a print magazine ad
Source: MPA – The Association of Magazine Media
i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 43
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.
Digital Marketing NOW’S THE TIME TO LEVERAGE DIGITAL TO FORGE A NEW PATH TO YOUR CUSTOMERS
Stopping advertising to save money is like stopping your watch to save time. — Henry Ford
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F
rom mandatory business closures to social distancing orders, pandemic safety practices have made our customers less mobile. Businesses are grappling with how to get back to full speed in this tricky environment. People may be more out of sight, but don’t let that plague your business. They’ve overwhelmingly turned to digital tools to keep some semblance of normalcy. Here are some emerging digital trends to consider. Adopting them will help you keep pace with the evolving needs of your customers and differentiate you from your competition.
Customer Convenience
Take time to consider how your less-mobile customers have changed their day-to-day behaviors, needs and wants. In the business-to-consumer (B2C) space, trends show consumers are looking to make home improvements while others have flocked to sports and outdoor products to “recreate responsibly.” Consumers are also purchasing groceries and meals online and using home delivery service. Remember to use social media and website analytics to gain insight on where your customers are, what devices and sources they are coming to you from, and where they
seem to be spending time to get information about your products and services. Next, examine how your products and services could best align with those evolving behaviors, needs and wants. For example, customers in the business-to-business (B2B) space are relying on company e-commerce sites since air travel and physical meetings have been limited. Businesses are forced to re-create the old face-to-face sales interactions across alternate mediums. You may want to consider creating ways to enhance your virtual meetings, or create a portal for clients to access tailored pricing, for example.
DID YOU KNOW The play button is the most compelling call-toaction on the web. — Micheal Litt CEO of Vidyard Staying Connected
Right now, the average American spends 10½ hours each day consuming media, with almost 5½ hours spent watching video. Make sure you are ready to engage your customers where they are — online. Consider replacing that clunky website riddled with outdated information with simple navigation and access to information that customers are looking for. Engage your new and loyal fans on their favorite social media sites with relevant content that’s interesting to them. Experiment with new tools to help re-create that personal experience. For example, since most companies are not accepting in-person visits from vendors right now, I am experimenting with a tool that sends a video message via email or virtual meeting calendar invitation. Recently, after sending a video introduction from
our team to a new client contact, we got this response: “Even masked up like the digital superheroes that you all are, you made a human connection with this video … to the point where I was actually waving back at my monitor watching this!”
Chart a New Route
Customers’ needs and expectations are changing. They are gravitating to brands that understand them and meet them where they are. The good news is that you have control over how you connect your brand with your customers. It’s time to snap out of the pandemic hunker-down mode and chart your new digital route to your customers. Experiment with new ideas. Be nimble. Move quickly to keep pace with the evolving needs of your customers. This will be sure to differentiate you from your competition. ■
More than 180 print magazines have thrived for more than 50 years. (Only 11 TV programs can say the same.)
54
print magazines have flourished for more than 100 years Source: MPA – The Association of Magazine Media
i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 45
BEST PRACTICE
Bill Reidy is president of PWRhouse Consulting, an authorized Sandler Training center and sales force development company in Orlando. He can be reached at www.pwrhouse. sandler.com, bill.reidy@ sandler.com or 443-418-6033.
Business Development LESSONS LEARNED FROM VIRTUAL SALES TRAINING
Many organizations allocate most of their training time to product/ service training, and not enough to skill training. — Bill Reidy
If you have salespeople in your company, chances are they have sat through quite a few virtual sales training meetings these past few months while the world has been practicing social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sales professionals and leaders we work with tell us their top three complaints about virtual sales training meetings are: They’re often disappointed they don’t learn anything new. They get bored on the calls because the training is not interactive enough.
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It’s hard for them to retain the material because it’s presented to them only once and not reinforced in the future. However, there is a specific formula for conducting an effective virtual sales skill training meeting. The formula takes pressure off the sales leader and spreads the responsibility for the effectiveness of the training to the participants as well. It’s important to remember that there is a difference between product/service training and sales skill training. Many organizations
allocate most of their training time to product/service training, and not enough to skill training. Professional golfers, on the other hand, are constantly learning about new equipment and trying it out, but the majority of their time is spent honing their skills. If pro golfers can improve their skills, so can experienced salespeople. There are five components of an effective virtual training formula: 1.
Topic. The sales leader chooses one skill topic, such as “Questioning strategies.” When training begins, the
the questioning strategies to see if those do, in fact, help them zero in on the real objection. The prepared sales leader may even supply the “prospect” with common smokescreens, but also the real objection to make the roleplay more realistic. Sales leaders should also visit each breakout room to provide feedback if needed. 5.
sales leader walks the team through the agenda for the training, which includes roleplay. Some salespeople have anxiety or fear about roleplay, so this gives them a heads-up that it is going to happen and time to prepare. 2. Customization. Get each individual sales team member to share his or her “gap” with regard to the training topic. At Sandler, we call this “pain.” It could sound like this: “Write down a time when you received a prospect objection and thought you had handled the objection but didn’t end up closing the deal.” In this example, salespeople sometimes forget how to handle a prospect’s objections or don’t have the skills needed. Using this type of question at the beginning of the meeting helps to establish challenges specific to the team member, external changes in the marketplace, or possible competition that will require improvement in sales skills. After participants share what they wrote, the sales leader may ask for some clarification, but most importantly, should guide each
salesperson to discover the impact of the skill gap using his or her own response. 3.
Instruction. Many sales managers typically rely on instruction for their entire sales training meeting. However, it works much better after the salesperson’s “pain” has been shared. In this case, the sales leader might share a list of common prospect smokescreen objections. Those are objections the prospect gives to the salesperson but are usually not the real and honest objections. They would then share a list of various questioning strategies salespeople can use to dig deeper, when they receive smokescreens, to discover the true objection.
4. Practice. Provide time for the salespeople to practice the specific skill. Roleplay allows the development of a sales skill to be practiced in a “safe” environment, drastically improving the likelihood of success in the field. Using web conference software breakout rooms, the salespeople can pair up and practice giving each other objections and using
Sharing. The training is wrapped up with a segment for “lessons learned/action plan.” The salespeople are asked to quickly share their biggest lesson learned from the training and what they will commit to putting into action in the coming week.
If the sales leader has the discipline to keep the training topic focused, all of this can be accomplished well within an hour. Some sales leaders attempt to run training in 30 minutes or less. Depending upon the topic, this can work, but too often vital components are skipped, like failing to get each salesperson’s “pain” out on the table or recapping with lessons learned at the end of the meeting. Salespeople tell us the “lessons learned” portion of training is often their favorite. They learn from each other in that segment and also internally reinforce new beliefs, develop team chemistry, and generate the important “light bulb” moments. After adopting this formula for conducting an effective virtual sales training meeting, most sales leaders will find that salespeople are much more engaged and learn far more than in previous virtual trainings since they are active participants. So take a back seat, facilitate the learning and let the process and the salespeople do the work. You’ll love the results! ■ i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 47
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INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Sports
The Business of
JASON SIEGEL is president and CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. Longtime Orlando sportswriter George Diaz contributed to this article.
‘The Bubble’ Will Leave a Legacy Long After Final Scores Are In
A
s COVID-19 ravaged amateur and professional sports throughout the world in the summer of 2020, Central Florida once again found a magical secret sauce to become an international destination:
The Bubble
Simply put, this is all remarkable. It was impossible to imagine just a few months back, when COVID-19 placed an obstacle at every turn. When the credits roll at the end of summer, the number of people to recognize will be endless: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and MLS Commissioner Don Garber. League officials and team owners. The players and their leadership at their associations. The Walt Disney Company and leadership at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Elected officials with Orange and Osceola counties and the City of Orlando, with Mayors Jerry Demings and Buddy Dyer leading the way. The Florida Department of Health in partnership with Orlando Health and AdventHealth. All of you please take a bow.
ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World has become home to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Soccer (MLS). With eyes from all over the world upon us, Central Florida is now the epicenter of sports, refusing to be part of the collateral damage of COVID-19.
And then there’s the supporting cast of staff on campus: ground crews and hotel staff and operations personnel and photographers and clock operators and sportswriters and barbers and chefs and bus drivers and airport officials.
The cumulative effect will leave a legacy that will be remembered in sports history. Once the NBA Finals are over in October, the media value and associated exposure of the two leagues playing games and matches featuring international sports superstars over the course of three-anda-half months will exceed the media value of the Summer Olympics.
Remember, all of this was imagined and executed in four months starting with Utah’s Rudy Goebert testing positive for the coronavirus on March 11, the day America’s sports scene hit the pause button. Paused but not stopped. MLS restarted on July 8. The NBA restarted on July 30.
Standing ovation, Disney. Standing ovation, Orlando. You’ve earned it.
“After the league decided to suspend operations, every idea was on the table for safe and healthy ways to bring us back, which led me to ESPN Wide World of Sports that belongs to our partners at Walt Disney World Resort,” Leitao said. “With 17 fields and an entire hotel complex, the infrastructure was there to accommodate all our needs. After a lot of discussion, we felt it could work. Everybody really looked to putting this together, and at the end of the day, it was a big success.
Our hometown Orlando Magic embarked on their most meaningful part of the season in mid-August as they began the playoffs facing the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. And our Orlando City Soccer club just wrapped up a magical, pixie dustinfused run to the finals during the 35-day “MLS is Back” tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Both spent a significant period inside what will be forever known as “The Bubble.” 50 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
‘It Could Work’ Credit the leadership of Alex Martins, CEO of the Magic, and Alex Leitao, CEO of City Soccer, for making it happen.
“There was a lot of pride to do that here in Orlando as the eyes of the soccer world were on our city, and that was something I thought would be important for everybody here in the community. The only thing I wanted was to come back in a safe way, and the fact that we did that here in Orlando, with the idea that we brought and we talked about, it was great.”
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Orlando Magic team members and Coach Steve Clifford head to The Bubble.
When asked about the decision to move forward with the soccer tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports, MLS Commissioner Garber had this response: “We had such uncertainty as to when we would be able to return to our stadiums ... as you know, we only had two games to kick off our 25th season. We have a close relationship with Disney, we knew that they were not having guests come to the parks, so several months ago we engaged with Disney and with leadership at ESPN to talk about, ‘Is this something we can put together?' Lots of hard work, lots of difficult discussions, with so many different constituents.” The NBA would follow suit as it set up The Bubble at Disney’s expansive property. It’s a quarantined environment spread out over four hotels and three arenas, with some 1,500 people moving and interacting while keeping social distancing protocols in place.
“It was a bit overwhelming to see,” Silver told Sports Illustrated. “To see our players together playing basketball, that what we had worked through over many months on paper, on our computer screens, had come to life, I’d say it was moving to me.” The NBA 2.0 reorg hasn’t come cheap — the total cost will be around $170 million — but it has worked, and the league is moving along briskly heading into the playoffs. Players, initially leery of a lockdown, have settled into routines. “Months ago, there was a lot of trepidation and there were a lot of people concerned about how it would work and the safety of it,” Martins said. “There were a lot of discussions that had to take place with the players association to ensure the players felt comfortable. But I will tell you this: The league has done a spectacular job.” i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 51
INDUSTRY INSIGHT Martins has been privileged to be one of the few people to get a firsthand look at the three Disney venues hosting games. The most jarring aspect of it was playing with no audience. “Literally, beyond the teams that are playing and the referees and the scoring crew, the ball boys, et cetera, it’s varied from game to game, but it’s been as few as 10 or 20 people in the building watching the game,” he said. “So, when you’re used to having tens of thousands of people cheering and watching the game, it’s really, really surreal.”
A Magical Experience And while we’re handing out accolades, it’s important to understand why Orlando works. We have a community of elected officials and business and tourism leaders who understand how to collaborate and work together. In this case, it’s about providing a safe environment for a return to professional and amateur play. The world knows about our world-class international airport, theme parks, attractions and hotel capacity of 125,000 rooms. Our visitors also know there’s a common thread that runs through the fabric of our host community that screams, “You will have a magical experience when you visit Orlando, Florida.” It’s that brand equity and how the world views Orlando that makes us a top international destination for families, thrill seekers and life enthusiasts — and in this case, our extended sports family. What they didn’t know was whether a tournament could work here four months into a pandemic. Outside of The Bubble at Disney, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) held its volleyball tournament at the Orange County Convention Center, the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) held its Arnold Palmer Invitational Junior at Bay Hill, and World Wrestling Entertainment set up camp at the Amway Center for the next three to four months. Now they know. It has worked. “I’m really glad we pushed forward with this and ran it,” AAU President Roger Goudy said. “Because even though it went off without a hitch and the kids and parents seemed extremely happy, I think we learned some things where we could refine it a little further.” AAU hosted 10,000 participants, friends and family at the OCCC in mid-July. “Everyone came in with a mask on and realized how important that is in the process right now,” OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester said. “Unless you were playing, you were required to wear a mask. And the most enlightening thing was that no one came in and said, ‘I won’t do it.’ They realized how important it is in the world today.” Orlando dared to do the impossible during an international health crisis. As always, it opened its arms to the world and said, “Come on down, we are ready for business. Now let’s have some fun … safely.” It was far more complicated than that, of course. It took the work of thousands of people to make it happen. Through it all, The Bubble hasn’t popped.
Standing ovation, Disney. Standing ovation, Orlando. You’ve earned it. ■ 52 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Nonprofits The Business of
SHELLEY LAUTEN is a longtime Central Florida advocate, most recently serving as the CEO of the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness. She’s been a small business owner, a regional convener and a corporate leader and believes it takes all sectors of a region working together to generate growth and prosperity for all.
When Crisis Calls, Who Responds?
I
n its most recent 211 Crisis Assistance report, the Heart of Florida United Way of Central Florida reported that nearly 5,000 assistance calls related to COVID-19 had been received since January, along with more than 500 eviction assistance calls in one week alone in mid-August.
ɟ The family of five whose parents have both been furloughed through no fault of their own. ɟ The small business owner whose business has been shuttered for three months, who can’t make payroll and needs to navigate the complexities of government grants or loans and find other ways to keep the company afloat. ɟ The single parent who has missed three rent payments, with eviction looming.
How does a community respond?
According to the Florida Nonprofit Alliance, more than 18,000 nonprofit organizations are poised to assist those in the seven-county Central Florida region, which includes the counties of Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia. These organizations employ nearly 136,000 people, with revenues totaling more than $23.8 billion. Does the size of this sector surprise you? Our goal for this recurring series is to shine a spotlight on not only the work, but also The Business of Nonprofits. We’ll explore: ɟ The differences and similarities between nonprofit and for-profit business.
Now, more than ever, the nonprofit sector of our community is needed to support and enhance both the economic prosperity and quality of life of the people and businesses of Central Florida. During this current economic downturn, consider just some of the ways nonprofit organizations are called upon to do what either the private sector or government sector cannot or will not do:
ɟ Profiles of leaders making a difference and the impact they have in their neighborhoods, their counties, the region and the state. ɟ How the private sector and government sector can help these organizations build better communities — what they need to survive and thrive in these uncertain times. T
Total Nonprofits by County
Avg. Hourly Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
$2,806,742,390
$23.49
$48,861
9,583
$1,241,474,273
$23.27
$48,400
6,617
58,178
$8,106,665,046
$28.43
$59,131
Osceola
1,057
4,487
$270,190,56
$24.30
$50,542
Polk
2,522
17,652
$2,542,600,216
$22.47
$46,732
Seminole
2,025
9,370
$6,033,299,874
$28.19
$58,638
Volusia
2,179
20,360
$2,834,779,979
$24.58
$51,136
18,357
136,263
$23,835,682,340
$28.32
$51,920
Nonprofits
Employment
Revenue
Brevard
2,496
16,633
Lake
1,461
Orange
County
Totals
Source: Florida Nonprofit Alliance Data Dashboard, www.flnonprofits.org i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 53
Art
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
The Business of
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 lead writers.
Global Peace Film Festival Connects Causes and Context
D
eer hunting in the United States decreased by nearly half after the 1942 film Bambi showed the animated fawn’s mom taken out by a poacher. More than 50 years later, in 2004, director Morgan Spurlock ate only McDonald's food for a month and chronicled his health journey in Super Size Me, leading the restaurant chain to remove the “Super Size” option from its menu. And in 2015, Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy credited “the power of film” for the change in honor killing laws in Pakistan following the release of her film depicting the subject, A Girl in a River. Since its founding in 2003, the Orlandobased Global Peace Film Festival (GPFF) has zeroed in on this power of the moving image to make activism more accessible for people who want to make a difference. “For most film festivals, the heart of the festival is when the lights go down,” said Nina Streich, executive director of the GPFF. “But for us, it’s when the lights come up and the audience is asking, ‘Is there something I can do about that issue?’ We are about connecting those dots.” Film submissions come in from all around the world. This year’s festival, which runs September 24 through October 4, includes projects from the Russian Federation, Australia, Mozambique, Italy, Spain, Israel, Canada and the U.S. The selected films are those that engage, inform and educate audiences and, most importantly, can
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“For most film festivals, the heart of the festival is when the lights go down, But for us, it’s when the lights come up and the audience is asking, ‘Is there something I can do about that issue?’ We are about connecting those dots.”
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Global Peace Film Festival Masquerade Warfare complement the goals of community partners and causes. By bringing the issues to life through film, making them more alive and immediate for the audience, these projects create empathy that inspires action. The festival’s partners have included local chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Amnesty International, Farmworker Association of Florida, Global Hope Network International, the League of Women Voters, the Interfaith Council of Central Florida, Greater Orlando Human Trafficking Task Force, and many more, coming together to provide resources and encourage follow-up engagement after screenings.
Moving It Online
In 2019, the festival counted more than 7,000 attendees. Screenings featured Q&As with filmmakers and subjects, as well as supplementary in-person events that included art installations, an opening night gala at Enzian Theatre and a MYgration short film contest at Orlando’s FusionFest. This year, things will look a bit different, Streich said. A smaller, more carefully curated collection of films will be available online through a virtual festival, and in-person events will be limited, with safety precautions taken in the wake of COVID-19. Figuring out how to draw people into a virtual festival took some troubleshooting, Streich said. But after operating the nonprofit for nearly two decades, funded through grants and partners such as United Arts of Central Florida, Streich is accustomed to adapting to survive. The GPFF usually holds eight to 10 other screenings throughout the year in addition to the festival. But when COVID-19 forced the organization to cancel the three that were planned for the spring of 2020 and switch to streaming films online, it adapted. “The virtual experience is very different from the live festival experience,” Streich said. “With so much choice online, you are
This year’s festival is scheduled for September 21 through October 4. The schedule is available online at www.peacefilmfest.org, along with passes that range from $20 for five tickets to $100 for a full virtual festival pass.
more likely to be inspired to watch something when you’ve heard the filmmakers explain the subject and their interest in it themselves. We found something interesting with the first couple of Q&As with the filmmakers we did for those online screenings: Although few watched the film before the sessions, a lot of people wanted to watch after them.” With that in mind, the festival will put the emphasis on creating context through more interaction and engagement with the people behind the films and community organizations. “We want to serve the film festival, the filmmakers and the audience,” Streich said. “So rather than just throwing as many films as possible up, we are looking to be more measured. We are working with each of the filmmakers to learn about the subject of the film so that we can present to our audience enough context to draw them to it.” In the past three years, GPFF has worked with the Downtown Arts District on an exhibit for CityArts. This year the exhibit will be at CityArts Downtown Orlando at 39 South Magnolia Avenue from September 17 through October 11, featuring “Bombshell: Masquerading Warfare,” an installation by local artist and couturier Ben Van Beusekom. A screening of the FusionFest MYgration short films will take place at Enzian Theater on September 29. Other in-person events are still in the works and will be announced shortly before the festival’s opening date. “Things change so quickly now,” Streich said about the unique struggle of planning a festival in the midst of a pandemic, but she won’t let that stop the show from going on. “Everyone can make a difference. It’s what you do, and what you don’t do.” The organization is determined to keep doing so its audience can do the same. ■ i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 55
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Chambers
The Business of
of Commerce
A Different Kind of Health Plan
DOROTHY HARDEE is the chamber administrator and an implementer of creativity and collaboration, partnering with members to grow personal and professional brands, as well as elevating chamber visibility with unique and timely topics and events. She can be reached at Dorothyh@eocc.org or 407-277-5951.
ANDREW COLE is the president/CEO of the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce. He is driven to help businesses thrive by connecting them with the right clients, products and services. He can be reached at Andrew@eocc.org or 407-277-5951.
T
wo years ago, the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce formulated group benefit plans for its members. This past June, the chamber implemented another benefit to assist our business members and their employees during this pandemic. These benefits were launched from the needs of members who could not afford insurance plans for their employees. The original health benefits consisted of telehealth and supplemental health plans. Now the chamber is also offering a direct primary care plan allowing members and their employees access to in-person doctor visits, urgent care visits, discounted prescription drugs and telehealth. As we reach half a year of the COVID-19 nightmare, many businesses are teetering on the brink, trying to decide which expenditures make sense to continue. So, you ask yourself why you should consider membership in the East Orlando Chamber. As businesses are looking at ways to save money, and to retain and attract employees, the chamber’s direct primary care plan offers a group rate of $77 a month per person, with pricing individuals would find hard to beat. The chamber partnered with Joe Filice, president of Avalon Insurance Services, to provide members some of the most unique benefits around. In fact, this move makes our organization the first chamber in the state to offer an affordable package for any size business.
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“When employees start asking about benefits, business owners tend to get nervous, thinking more about being on the hook for some money. But at the end of the day, you are actually lowering your payroll taxes and workers comp, which saves you money in the long run.” — Joe Filice Avalon Insurance Services
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
What’s in the Plan
How It Works A company that leverages this opportunity for its employees can benefit from a reduction in its payroll taxes. Additionally, because these benefits are voluntary, a business is exempt from having minimum employee participation, from making contributions to the employee plan, and from adhering to an open enrollment schedule that sets a certain deadline each fall for employee registration. Filice, who is the plan administrator, explained the value of this program to small businesses, especially now when money is tight and businesses are seeking to hire top talent to fill their needs: “These are interesting times for everyone. The need for health care may have come up in your workplace, especially if you don’t currently provide benefits. These discussions are happening now with the individual open enrollment season quickly approaching. You can implement the chamber plan during any month, and employees can go live whenever they choose.” Another important distinction is the tax advantage. Everything the employee contributes comes off that individual’s taxes. When employees contribute and have fees deducted from their paychecks, they not only pay lower taxes, but this lowers the company’s payroll, payroll taxes and workers compensation insurance obligation. “There are a lot of things to talk about when talking to business owners because they don’t always consider this option in the beginning,” Filice said. “When employees start asking about benefits, business owners tend to get nervous, thinking more about being on the hook for some money. But at the end of the day, you are actually lowering your payroll taxes and workers comp, which saves you money in the long run.” If you take advantage of a voluntary plan through payroll deduction, there is a tax benefit. “When employees elect coverage, that coverage comes out of their paychecks,” Filice said. “When that coverage comes out of their paychecks, you are lowering your payroll, ultimately lowering your payroll taxes and workers comp. By offering the voluntary benefits, it isn’t costing you anything out of pocket, and it allows the employees to enroll themselves and family members at a level they desire. It is definitely something to consider, especially now during these trying times.”
If your business has a challenging employee population, like delivery drivers, Realtors, contracted 1099 employees or hourly restaurant staff who can’t or choose not to pay fullfledged major health insurance, you can offer voluntary insurance so this doesn’t come out of any company pay. This allows employees to pick the coverage that is applicable and to spend the money they desire to spend, while still not providing any employer cost. “Ninety percent of my job is service,” Filice said. “It’s easy to meet people and sell them something; that’s not the challenge. The challenge is keeping the promise when you sell something. This is where 90% of our focus is: educating people, business owners, their clients and employees so everyone can make the best selection for their needs. We pride ourselves on doing all the service for them. It is what differentiates us from others. We have a national reach with neighborhood service. We want to be an extension of your HR department.” Direct primary care is now available to members and their employees ages 2 to 65, and it accepts all pre-existing conditions. Through a proprietary private physician network (PPN) across the nation, this benefit is breaking down barriers to convenient access to quality medical care with a focus on promoting healthy living while preventing disease. It also includes unlimited direct primary care visits for $10 per visit or $25 for an urgent care fee. Additionally, it includes unlimited telehealth with $0 out-of-pocket cost to your immediate family as well as a prescription plan covering more than 200 medications for between $1 and $10 each. Want to know more about East Orlando Chamber membership and this outstanding benefit? Give the EOCC a call at 407-277-5951 or visit our website at www.eocc.org. ■ i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 57
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
The Business of
Education
‘Reach for the Stars’ is More Than a Motto for UCF and Its Work
I
f you were asked to name key players in the aerospace industry, odds are you would list SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, NASA and a few others. I doubt you would include the University of Central Florida (UCF). You should. It is no coincidence the 50-yard line of UCF’s football stadium lines up on the exact latitude as NASA’s historic Launch Complex 39A. UCF was birthed following President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Shot” speech in 1961 stating the goal “before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” The original proposed name for UCF was “Space University.” Universities are in the business is doing three things: teaching, research and service. Out of countless examples of UCF’s contributions to space, here are just a few.
Teaching UCF students make important contributions through internships, co-op programs, senior design projects or research with faculty members. Others make their mark after they have graduated. ɟ Two alumni are astronauts: Fernando “Frank” Caldeiro and Nicole Stott, who spent 91 days on the International Space Station. ɟ Alum and former Google Senior Vice President of Engineering Alan Eustace set the world free-fall record in 2014 by descending 26 miles from the stratosphere sometimes at speeds of 822 mph. That experiment created new technologies for stratospheric exploration. 58 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
International Space Station Image Courtesy of NASA
CAROL ANN DYKES LOGUE is co-director of the University of Central Florida’s Innovation Districts and Incubation Program, working with innovative companies solving problems on Earth and beyond.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched the Arabsat6A satellite from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Credit: SpaceX
ɟ For five consecutive years, we have been ranked by Aviation Week Network as the top workforce supplier to the aerospace and defense industries. ɟ About 30% of Kennedy Space Center employees are UCF alumni. ɟ Mechanical engineering graduate student Leigh Nash was one of only 10 students awarded an Advanced STEM Training and Research Fellowship from NASA. The fellowship enables her to work with researchers at NASA’s Glenn Research Center on aviation fuel. She has created new optical techniques to more accurately characterize properties of the fuel, leading to ways to dramatically improve performance.
Research UCF’s first research grant was from NASA in 1968. There have been hundreds of space research projects since then. ɟ A UCF experiment was the very first to fly aboard the inaugural flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft. In 2019 alone, UCF experiments flew to space five times aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9, Blue Origin’s New Shepard, and Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo. A number of those experiments were to study space dust — how it behaves, builds up to form planets and rings around planets, and affects objects and instruments in space and on the surface of the moon. ɟ A UCF team and the U.S. Air Force Research Lab have developed a rocket-propulsion system that had long been thought impossible. The rotating detonation rocket engine dramatically improves efficiency to generate more power while using less fuel. This means rockets will be lighter, travel farther and burn fuel more cleanly. ɟ The Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science at UCF develops and makes synthetic soil closely imitating that on Mars, asteroids and the moon. Products that faculty and students produce are used by hundreds
of scientists worldwide to simulate soil impact on engines and instruments during their development and testing before being sent to space. ɟ UCF’s Materials Science faculty and students are working with NASA to develop a process for building structures on Mars with 3D printing. They have developed a process to extract metals from Martian soil and then use those metals in a 3D printer to make parts to build structures. ɟ The National Science Foundation tasked UCF with managing the Arecibo Observatory facility in Puerto Rico. The second-largest single-dish radio telescope in the world, Arecibo operates 24 hours a day on behalf of NASA and other agencies tracking planets and asteroids, searching for life elsewhere, and constantly expanding our understanding of the solar system.
Service Service to the community takes many forms, including STEM education and support of innovative companies impacting the economy. ɟ UCF Ph.D. graduate David Reid started Helicon Chemical Company to continue his groundbreaking work in synthesizing chemicals. The company has created new propellants and rocket fuels, one of which is being used by Rocket Crafters in its 3D printed rocket engine for commercial space use. ɟ Following the discovery by UCF and NASA researchers of a color-changing adhesive tape that detects hydrogen leaks, UCF chemist Dr. Nahid Mohajeri started HySense Technology to commercialize the product. Three years later, the company was acquired by Nitto Denko, which sells the product globally to multiple industries. ɟ Former aerospace engineer Sergie Albino formed ecoSPEARS, today a global company, around a NASA invention to treat PCB-contaminated sediments in the ground, eliminating the need to remove, treat and restore soil. For these reasons and countless more, some say the inaugural SpaceX launch should have had a bumper sticker reading “If you are on board, thank a UCF graduate.” UCF’s founding motto was “Reach for the Stars.” Our hometown university is still doing just that. ■ i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 59
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
RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHTS Listing Includes: IMAGE*
LOGO
Hours and Contact
Short Description
Website
Whatever your specialty, this listing is your chance to show our readers that you are exactly what they’ve been looking for
* Stock or provided hi-resolution image will be used. Provided image and logo must be 300 dpi.
PANDEMIC SPECIAL SINGLE LISTING*
$400 MTH
INCLUDES: Print Listing and Banner Ad on i4biz.com (Available through 2020)
*This is a templated department in i4 Business Magazine
FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel: 407-730-2961 diane@i4biz.com www.i4biz.com
4BUSiNESS Orlando's Leadership Connection
DOWNTIME
Unique experiences for your day off By Meaghan Branham
OVIEDO PINSPIRATION NORTH ORLANDO CRAFT STUDIO
With all the time at home in the past few months, décor DIYs have become a hobby for many of us. For those looking for new projects, or just a new space to create them in, Pinspiration North Orlando has everything you could want. Choose your DIY project and then book your session online. The studio offers everything from guided canvas painting to acrylic pouring to candle making. Show up to the studio ready to get crafty, and they’ll do the rest, providing the space and materials. They even offer a special “Splatter Date Package,” where you and your date can rent out their splatter room and get a little messy throwing paint at the canvas, then admire your work over a couple glasses of champagne.
www.pinspiration.com
Corporate Events at Pinspiration
ORLANDO
POMPEII: THE IMMORTAL CITY ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER
https://my.osc.org/packages
62 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
Frozen in time and then lost to it for centuries, the city of Pompeii has been one of the most fascinating archaeological sites since its rediscovery in the 18th century. Coming to the Orlando Science Center on October 26, 2020, Pompeii: The Immortal City will allow visitors to immerse themselves in the lives of Pompeii citizens in 79 A.D., and to see the destruction of the city on the day of the eruption like never before. The event will include multimedia and interactive experiences, with additional precautions taken including timed-entry tickets, and reduced capacity in the theaters and throughout the exhibit.
DOWNTIME
LAKE BUENA VISTA
CITY WORKS EATERY & POUR HOUSE
WINTER GARDEN
HELLO, DOLLY! GARDEN THEATRE
Miss live theater? It’s back at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden. And though it looks a little different, they are still working hard to bring the community a show to remember. First produced in 1963, Hello, Dolly! is one of the most well-known and beloved musicals of the past century. When a matchmaker travels to New York to make a match for an “unmarried half-a-millionaire,” she decides the best match has to be herself. Social distancing and health precautions will be taken, so everyone can enjoy the show and feel safe. The show will run from August 27, 2020, through September 27. Check out the theater’s website for tickets.
If you’re looking for a new twist on an old favorite, City Works Eatery & Pour House offers a new take on a sports bar. With a menu inspired by gourmet American fare including brunch, lunch and dinner, and over 90 craft beers on tap, the recently opened Disney Springs spot is perfect for an after-work dinner or a lazy Saturday outing. Since reopening in June, the eatery has implemented safety protocols from limited seating to scheduled sanitization of surfaces, so you and those around you can feel safe while you dine. Be sure to make a reservation.
www.cityworksrestaurant.com/ disneysprings
www.gardentheatre.org
To scan the QR Codes, just point the camera app on your smartphone toward the page and follow the instructions on your smartphone screen.
⊲⊲ FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND SHARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL PLACES TO VISIT: @i4BIZ.COM ⊳⊳ i4Biz.com | SEPTEMBER 2020 | 63
WATERCOOLER
Stuff you didn’t know you wanted to know
Snapper, collard greens, Liquid Gold mac ‘n’ cheese
Delivery meal basketball great LeBron James ordered from Orlando restaurant Seana’s Caribbean Soul Food from inside “The Bubble” at Walt Disney World, where the NBA teams are living in isolation as they play out the rest of the season.
$1,000
Order Milwaukee Bucks placed with Sofrito Latin Café from inside The Bubble. Source: Orlando Sentinel
“One of my dreams is to be a Disney boat captain.” Rich Maladecki, on what he might do with his time after his impending retirement from the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, which he has led as President and CEO for almost three decades. Source: Orlando Business Journal
64 | SEPTEMBER 2020 | i4Biz.com
$98,561 Average annual salary for jobs in Florida’s video game industry, which has been booming during the pandemic. That compares with the overall annual wage in Orlando of $46,140. Source: Orlando Business Journal
#1
Ranking of Orlando Utilities Commission in an annual study of most trusted brands in the electric service category. OUC scored a nation-best 752 points, followed by Kentucky Utilities at a close second with 751 among the 140 utilities companies in the survey by behavior and analytics firm Escalent. Source: Cogent Syndicated Brand Trust Index
THE SHOW MUST GO ON AND WILL GO ON! JUST NOT THIS YEAR. — From an open letter to International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions signed by four ride developers before IAAPA canceled its annual expo planned for November 2020 in Orlando because of COVID-19. Source: Orlando Sentinel
“At the lowest point in my life, Habitat was my ray of sunshine.” — Alethia, a client of Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando & Osceola County, who closed on her new home in Orlando in July.
$900.7 million
Record amount of research funding University of Florida faculty earned in fiscal year 2020, despite many activities being paused for two months by the pandemic.
16%
Increase over fiscal year 2019 funding at UF. Since 2011, research awards to the university have increased 45% from $619 million.
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MORE THAN EVER WE ALL SEEK PEACE OF MIND MCO is Here For You Throughout Your Journey
Whether traveling for pleasure, business, or to visit friends or family, Orlando International Airport (MCO) always has health and safety as our top priority. As your hometown airport, we
OrlandoAirports.net
continue to navigate these challenging times along with you and have elevated our health and safety protocols to give you peace of mind when you travel through MCO. We are here to reconnect you when you are ready to set off on your next adventure.
Visit https://orlandoairports.net/coronavirus-covid-19/ for Travel Safety Tips During COVID.
MCO. We’re Better Together.