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March 2018 E-Cast
Message from Leadership Florida President, Wendy Spencer
Dear Members,

Spring is finally here and there are many exciting things around the corner for Leadership Florida. This is a very active season for all of us! I am pleased to announce you will soon receive your 2018 Leadership Florida Directory in the mail! The Directory is truly one of your greatest membership benefits, and we hope you use it to reconnect with old friends and build new relationships with fellow members in your region. Keep reading to get an exclusive look at the new cover!

Please look for these upcoming events and deadlines:

  • Details of the 2019 “Before You Vote” Debates will be announced on April 3
  • Cornerstone and Connect Class Applications “go live” on our website in early April
  • Opportunity to serve! The Willingness to Serve Forms are due Monday, April 9, 2018
  • The 24-hour Giving Challenge: May 1, 2018 (see details in this E-Cast)
  • The 36th Annual Meeting: June 14 – 17, 2018 in Sarasota. Registration will open in mid-April – very exciting plans developing! 

I would like to stress that there is still time for you to get more involved with Leadership Florida through volunteering. The Willingness to Serve form is a great Leadership Florida tradition that allows you to volunteer in the areas in which you desire to help our organization and impact the future of Leadership Florida. Please take a few moments to declare your interest by completing the 2018-2019 Willingness to Serve form found on this link: http://www.leadershipflorida.org/willingness-to-serve .    

Remember, the more we put into this organization we love and believe in, the more we will receive from it. Don’t miss out on your chance to help us lead our members—and the organization—to new heights, sign up now!

Warmest regards,

Wendy Spencer
President and CEO
 
Get Excited! The 2018 Leadership Florida Directory is here!
Watch your mailbox for your copy of the 2018 Leadership Florida Directory!
Leadership Florida Executive Class X
 A Special Thank You to Leadership Florida Executive Class X Chair, Senator George LeMieux and Board Chair, Beth Kigel for all your time and effort spent making this class session great! We appreciate all your hard work.
We are happy to share with you the new members of Leadership Florida’s Executive Class X! Earlier this month, the Executive Class convened in Tallahassee for a two-day session. During their time in the Capital city, they gained a better understanding of Florida’s history, economy, government and political dynamics. The class was warmly welcomed to the state Capital with a special reception hosted by the Northwest Region. 

Members experienced dynamic speakers who discussed a wide range of topics including the current political environment, futuristic concepts, smart cities and workforce needs. Please join us in welcoming the 2018 Executive Class X to the Leadership Florida family! You can view the new members below and read the press release announcement by clicking HERE.

For a special video recap of the two-day session click HERE!

Member Quotes:
  • "Thank you so much for including me. I am honored to have met every one of you and am awed by your accomplishments and insights. I can't wait to see what great things happen next!"
  • "Each session gave me greater insight into each of the topics that were covered. It also opened up my knowledge about working more effectively with the state of Florida. I was able to make new relationships with other executives that could foster other opportunities."
  • "It was one of the best events that I have personally been involved with."
  • "The program was well organized and informational. It was a great privilege to be included."
Senator Jeff Brandes
Senator, District 24
St. Petersburg
Rogan Donelly
President
Tervis Tumbler
Venice
Albert "Al" E. Dotson, Jr.
Partner
Bilzin Sumberg
Miami
Mayanne Downs
President & Managing Director
GrayRobinson
Orlando
Jason Emmett
President
Duffy's Management
Lake Worth
Dr. Donald E. Fennoy, II, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Palm Beach County
West Palm Beach
John E. Fenton
President & CEO
Patriot Rail
Jacksonville
William "Bill" M.B. Fleming, Jr.
President
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach
Ken Lawson
President & CEO
VISIT FLORIDA
Tallahassee
Beth Neuhoff
Chief Executive Officer
Neuhoff Media
Jupiter
Cissy Proctor
Executive Director
Department of Economic Opportunity
Tallahassee
Harry Sideris
President - Florida
Duke Energy
St. Petersburg
Tom VanOsdol
President & CEO
St. Vincent HealthCare
Jacksonville
Laura VanTil
President
The Kessler Collection
Orlando
Thank you to our sponsors for making this program possible!

The Giving Challenge
The 2018 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation. Every member can #BeTheOne to make a difference by making an investment in Leadership Florida as we continue to strengthen our mission. Here is how!

  • Between noon on May 1 and noon on May 2, Leadership Florida will be one of 625 nonprofits to participate in the 2018 Giving Challenge.
  • You will receive a link in advance of the Challenge. If you participate, The Patterson Foundation will match your contribution up to $100. For example, if you make a tax-deductible contribution of $100, your donation will be doubled for a total of $200 to support Leadership Florida.
  • Minimum $25 donation to receive the match. 100 percent tax-deductible.
Movers & Shakers
Awards & Recognitions
Madeline Pumariega
Cornerstone Class XXXIII
Alex Price
Connect III and 2017-18 Connect Board Chair
  • Madeline Pumariega, Leadership Florida Cornerstone XXXIII, will soon be inducted into the Miami Dade College Hall of Fame.
  • Alex Price, Leadership Florida Connect III and 2017-18 Connect Board Chair, has been nominated for the Outstanding Male Volunteer Award by the Florence Fuller Child Development Centers.
Appointments & Selections
Mike Freed
Cornerstone Class XXXIII
Maryam Borrego
Connect Class V
  • Mike Freed, Leadership Florida Cornerstone XXXIII, has been selected as a 2018 Ultimate Attorney by the Jacksonville Business Journal.
  • Maryam Borrego, Leadership Florida Connect V, has been appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Florida Commission on Human Relations.
Community Involvement/Work
Alvin Kennedy
Connect Class VIII
Mary Snow
Connect Class VIII
Barzella Papa
Cornerstone Class XXVII
Lesley Cox Banis
Connect IV
  • Alvin Kennedy, Leadership Florida Connect VIII, helped raise over $13,000 to rent out a theater in Jacksonville to show the movie Black Panther. The screening was put on for over 450 kids in the area through Alvin's DirectlyTo nonprofit, as well as other organizations.
  • Mary Snow, Leadership Florida Connect VIII, together with the City of Coral Gables and others is bringing a beautiful umbrella sky feature to her area.
  • Barzella Papa, Leadership Florida Connect XXVII, and Lesley Cox Banis, Leadership Florida Connect IV, worked with their organization, The Community Foundation of North Central Florida for its third annual Amazing Give event. Their leadership led to 88 nonprofits participating, and brought in over $1,000,000 in donations in a 24-hour period. 
Leadership Florida Job Board
Send us your company’s job openings! Leadership Florida would like to help your company secure rock star talent to join your team. As members send us word of exciting new available positions, we will be posting them to our website, promoting them on social media and sending them out in our monthly E-casts. We hope you enjoy this added membership benefit.

City Year Miami is actively searching for the next great leader to serve as its Executive Director! To view the job description click  HERE, and apply here:   https://cityyear.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CityYear/job/Miami-FL/Executive-Director_R2256

Please send any jobs you would like advertised to Rachel Pratt at rpratt@leadershipflorida.org .
Catching Up With Classes
Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVI
Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVI
Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVI held its fourth session in Tallahassee this month. Members gained firsthand knowledge of how Florida's state budget is created, took a deep dive into learning how the legislative process works, and heard discussions on issues impacting Florida's unique ecosystem. The class also had memorable "but for" experiences from venturing out to the Bradfordville Blues Club to escaping to the coast for a short canoe trip and guided tour of an oyster farm.

Speakers Included:
  • Tony Carvajal (Leadership Florida Cornerstone XXVII), Executive Vice President, Florida Chamber Foundation
  • Dominic Calabro (Leadership Florida Cornerstone IV), President and CEO, Florida TaxWatch
  • Vincent S. Long (Leadership Florida Cornerstone XXVIII), County Administrator, Leon County
  • Chief Justice Jorge Labarga, 56th Chief Justice of Florida, Florida Supreme Court
  • Cissy Proctor (Leadership Florida Executive X), Executive Director, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

Member Quotes:
  • “This session exceeded my expectations. I have been to Tallahassee many times, but most of what we did I had never done. Wonderful!"
  • "The session was more than I expected! Tallahassee is beautiful and historic and not just our state Capital. Thanks so much for the experience!"

Upcoming Leadership Florida Cornerstone Session Dates: 
  • Miami—The Conrad, May 9-12, 2018
  • Sarasota—The Ritz-Carlton (Annual Meeting), June 14-17, 2018
Upcoming Events
  • Saturday, March 31, 2018: Northeast Region's Day at the Clay County Fair (Click HERE to view the invitation)
  • Tuesday, April 3, 2018: Gold Coast Region's Recruitment Information Mixer. Click HERE to view the invitation)
  • Wednesday, April 11, 2018: East Central Regional Recruitment Mixer (Click HERE to view the invitation)
  • Thursday-Saturday , April 12-14, 2018: Connect Class VIII's Fourth Session in Miami
  • Thursday, April 19, 2018: Gulfstream Region's Wendy Spencer Birthday Bash! (Click HERE to view the invitation)
Facebook Groups
Leadership Florida's New Regional Facebook Groups are now open for you to join!

We ask that each of you go to your regions Facebook group and request to join right now. Being a member of your region's Facebook group lets you in on the latest and greatest happenings within your region, and helps you stay engaged. We want to make sure you are always in the know, so join now!

Thank you to our sponsors who supported the above programs