SHERYL ROSA-CRUZ, MD; ELISA BIANCHI, MD; JESSICA NARVÁEZ-LUGO, MD

The Digestive and Liver Center of Florida was established in 2005 promoting a patient fi rst environment by providing compassionate and sophisticated medical care. Throughout the years, DLCFL has expanded within Central Florida having six practice locations and two ambulatory surgery centers (Endo-Surgical Center of Florida and Endo-Surgical Center of Kissimmee). The practice has attracted an exceptional and diverse team of physicians with a broad spectrum of internationally recognized authorities in gastroenterology, hepatology, and colorectal expertise. Amongst the team, we have three physicians we’d like to highlight. Sheryl Rosa-Cruz, MD; Elisa Bianchi, MD; and Jessica NarváezLugo, MD.

Sheryl Rosa-Cruz, MD has a dual board certifi cation in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. She received her medical degree from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Mexico, then fulfi lled her internship year at New York Medical College. After her residency, she had the privilege of being Chief Resident for a year. Dr. Rosa then completed her fellowship in gastroenterology at the VA Caribbean Healthcare Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her specialties include diagnosing and treating GI disorders that include GERD, H.pylori, peptic ulcer disease, IBS, IBD, and more.

Elisa Bianchi, MD is a board-certifi ed general surgeon. She completed her medical training at the University of Illinois. She then completed a colorectal surgery fellowship at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health in New York. Her specialty training encompassed a variety of small bowel, colon, rectal, and anal pathologies that include benign and malignant infl am- matory diseases (Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis). Dr. Bianchi has also studied the robotics technique approach to surgery.

Jessica Narváez-Lugo, MD has a dual board certifi cation in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. She earned her medical degree from Ponce Health Sciences University in Puerto Rico. After completing her internal medicine residency at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System, she pursued an additional year as a training program leader where she became a Chief Resident. Dr. Narváez’s specialties include diagnosing and treating diverticulosis, diarrhea, hepatitis c, abdominal pain, and more.

The female physicians at the Digestive and Liver Center of Florida are also fl uent Spanish speakers. We are grateful for the assorted experiences, passion, and intelligence they bring to the practice.

ELIZABETH GODWIN Senior Manager, Industry Recruitment | Duke Energy

Bringing jobs and businesses to Central Florida is a high priority for Duke Energy. The prominent utility eagerly supports the region’s economic development organizations as they promote Orlando and surrounding communities to corporate decision-makers around the world.

That’s where Elizabeth Godwin is making a di erence. Godwin is senior manager for industry recruitment at Duke Energy. She’s put together a strong track record convincing companies to invest in Central Florida. Her expertise and hard work, for example, helped lead EV battery-maker Microvast to announce the launch of a $25 million R&D center in Lake Mary last year. In just four years with Duke Energy, Elizabeth has played a major role in 12 project wins creating 1,744 new jobs and more than $440.4 million in capital investment.

Godwin was recruited by Duke Energy in 2018 after spending nearly five years on the sta of the Orlando Economic Partnership. She now oversees Duke Energy’s economic development strategy across six counties. Much of her time is spent talking to company o cials about the technical aspects of their power needs – especially how Duke Energy can help them meet clean energy goals. “More and more projects are interested in renewable energy and electric vehicles,” Godwin says. “That’s where we’re bringing custom energy solutions to the table.”

A Texas native, Godwin studied international relations and political economy at The University of Texas. A stint as a research intern at AngelouEconomics, an Austin-based consulting firm, whetted her appetite for economic development. An opportunity at the Orlando Economic Partnership soon opened up. “People thought I was crazy for leaving Austin,” she recalls. “But I really felt like I had the opportunity to do in Orlando what I had seen happen in Austin, and I wanted to be part of that.”

Today, Godwin’s commitment to Central Florida remains steadfast. She serves on several local boards, including the Orlando Economic Partnership. She also volunteers at Young Life West Volusia, a faith-based non-profit providing guidance to local youth. A married mother of three, she is eager to do her part to shape economic diversification and sustainable job creation in Metro Orlando. “The work I do will make a di erence in the community where I am raising my kids,” she says. “That’s what motivates me.”

ELISHA GONZÁLEZ Executive Director | FAIRWINDS Foundation

Financial illiteracy is negatively impacting millions of Americans every day. Without a clear understanding of financial knowledge and confidence, personal financial skills are impacted and — on a national scale — the economy su ers.

Elisha González, Executive Director of the FAIRWINDS Foundation, is driven to changing this narrative. She has been successfully advocating the relationship between financial crisis and overall financial literacy for years. A basic financial education not only promotes financial confidence, it encourages better money management skills, decision-making, and strong budgeting and spending habits. Research confirms that being more literate in financial topics is positively correlated to an individual’s capacity to overcome macroeconomic di culties like COVID-19 or the 2008 financial crisis.

Elisha believes that the investment in financial literacy education collectively impacts and improves our community’s economic well-being. The FAIRWINDS Foundation, the philanthropic arm of FAIRWINDS, provides grants to some of Central Florida’s most economically vulnerable populations, including homeless and at-risk youth, victims of domestic violence, and minority business owners impacted by the pandemic, among many others. Through financial literacy programming, delivered by FAIRWINDS Foundation grantee partners, families and individuals have the information and tools needed to secure and improve their financial health.

Her curating of these collaborations with nonprofit grantee recipients is changing lives every day. In 2021 through its grants, the FAIRWINDS Foundation made measurable impacts, from helping Heart of Florida United Way to secure $3.4 million in tax refunds for disadvantaged families to aiding Prospera USA help small businesses create or retain 2,400 jobs.

Financial literacy programming, delivered virtually, and in person, by this year’s FAIRWINDS Foundation nonprofit grantee’s, has effectively advanced broad-based prosperity. When it comes to the betterment of our community and neighbors in need, Elisha is “all-in!” She is a passionate ambassador who invests in community partnerships proudly representing the FAIRWINDS Foundation. Through these relationships Elisha has built and nurtured, economic empowerment and financial freedom is possible – for everyone.