GRAVITTE:

Key Communicator and Community Leader

Shannon Gravitte grew up in Fairfax County, VA, outside of Washington, D.C., and dreamed of working in politics on Capitol Hill. She realized that dream early in her career and has since made smart, sometimes risky, career moves that gave her some balance while raising three children and a business acumen that she brings to her current position as Vice President of Government Advocacy for AdventHealth.

I“’ve landed in a place where I can marry all my skill sets to really shape an industry where I feel most at home and alive because healthcare is so critically important to everyone. We must constantly be sharing our stories, our challenges, but also sharing how we want to be a part of solutions in healthcare because it is a very complex industry,” Shannon explains. As a journalism major, storytelling and communication became the keys to her success. “I grew up watching C-SPAN. Most people find that the most sleep-inducing activity you could imagine but I was enthralled by it,” she admits.

At 25, she was hired as press secretary for Congressman Bill McCollum and recalls the exciting work that was mixed with long hours. “After I had my first child, Samantha, in 1997, I was afforded the opportunity to work from home on Mondays and Fridays which at the time was quite rare. That was a game changer,” she says.

When Bill McCollum ran for U.S Senate, he asked Shannon to come to Florida and run the communications for the campaign. After he lost the election Shannon thought she would move back to Virginia but landed a role in government relations and community affairs for Universal Orlando. It gave her a great opportunity to get to know the Central Florida community. This was in the aftermath of 9/11, so she used her skills to ensure the solvency of the hospitality industry when travel fears were at an all-time high.

During her time at Universal, she had another child — her son, Carter — and again was looking for some balance. She had formed a great relationship with former City of Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood who had been tapped by Governor Jeb Bush to lead the statewide task force on domestic security. Glenda offered Shannon a contract position as a strategic consultant. “I had flexibility to raise my very young children and also lead some interesting and impactful work,” she adds.

After advising Bill McCollum with another political race, she opened the Florida office of Public Strategies (now Hill+Knowlton), where she applied her political campaign prowess to business in the private sector.

Shannon worked there for four years before taking her biggest career risk — running for Orange County Commission in 2008. She lost the election but says, “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that provided me with the unique perspective of how well-intended elected officials can be disrupted by outside influences and political pressures. That was a monumental shift in my life and my career.”

“I now had my third child, Molly, and opened up my own consulting firm; again,

I was looking for some flexibility but also something new and different,” she continues. But after a while, she realized she was becoming type cast as a political strategist when she wanted to continue her professional growth as a public affairs strategist.

So, her next big leap of faith was into the transportation industry as Vice President of Government Affairs for Mears Transportation during a time when the industry was being disrupted by ride share technology. She had little experience in the industry but understood the critical role government advocacy played in ensuring the sustainability of a business in distress. “While that was something that I never would have envisioned me doing, it was an incredible learning experience. The only thing constant in the world of advocacy is change. If you’re not at the table you’re on the menu — meaning if you’re not at the table trying to shape positive change, others are going to do it for you and you’re probably not going to be happy with the results,” Shannon says.

Her history of relationship building led her to her current position with AdventHealth, where she navigates the intersection of business and politics for one of the largest healthcare systems in the country. “The healthcare industry is heavily regulated, and my role is to ensure lawmakers (one of our key stakeholders) understand our business as they are passing legislation that impacts not only our business but the patients we serve,” she explains.

Relationships and mentorships were key throughout her career and Shannon pays it forward through formal mentoring with Valencia Horizon Scholars — Take Stock in Children Program as well as mentoring women and men, personally and professionally, within AdventHealth and beyond.

Her best piece of advice: “If you’re good at what you do, honest, not afraid to take risks and learn from mistakes, you’ll go far. Be yourself, lead with purpose, and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable as a leader — this always leads to respect and trust, and nothing is more important.”

Shannon will share more of her story as a keynote speaker at the Orlando Women’s Conference being held Thursday, September 14 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

WHAT IS A WOMEN’S HEALTH NAVIGATOR?

A health navigator is a specially trained registered nurse whose job is to make life easier for each and every woman through expert clinical assistance and educational, emotional and spiritual support. All calls are confidential; anyone can self-refer; and insurance is not required to talk or meet.

AdventHealth for Women’s health navigators provide complimentary services that help you coordinate your overall care and answer any questions you may have. These services include:

• Finding a care provider

• Answering your health care questions

• Assistance with scheduling annual office visits and screenings

• Resources and support for you and your family

• Coordination of care among multiple providers and facilities

To contact the Health Navigation Team, call 407-720-5191 or visit HerHealthNavigator.com

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Cheese Dream

If you think there is nothing better than a nibble of artisan cheese, Annie Thornton has created your fantasy shop in Winter Park featuring globally sourced nuggets and chunks in a wide variety of flavors. And complimentary tastings are part of the experience along with knowledgeable advice and an assortment of cheese accompaniments including honey, jams, crackers, spreads, wine and craft beer. A Midwesterner who loves her cheese, Annie decided to open Simply Cheese after a pandemic career realization that she was hungry for more. She passionately studies and plans to sit for the Certified Cheese Professional Exam. simplycheesefl.com