News

The yearlong transformation of the Orlando Regional Chamber, along with the establishment of the Central Florida Partnership, is something that we have chronicled regularly and in many different communiqués to our members and to the community at large.  But, still, the recent announcement of an “Open House” to meet our new Chamber President, Leslie Hielema, has prompted inquiries about 25 year veteran, Jacob V. Stuart.

Leslie Hielema and Jacob Stuart

Make no mistake . . . Jacob is not going anywhere!  In fact, he has been doing double duty as President of the Orlando Regional Chamber and President of the Central Florida Partnership for the last 10 months.  He is, in fact, very much looking forward to relinquishing the first and focusing on the second as soon as Leslie Hielema assumes the reins of the Chamber on November 3.

The Central Florida Partnership is America’s Newest Regional Partnership – and is a platform where regional leaders can learn to better collaborate, cooperate and coordinate – resulting in improved communications throughout the Central Florida Region. The Central Florida Partnership is where positive ideas are advanced on behalf of our region – ideas that matter most to the millions of people who live, work, learn and play in Central Florida.

The Central Florida Partnership is focused on four primary Lines of Business (Strategic Business Units): Regional Entrepreneurship (Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce), Regional Research and Resolves (myregion.org – A Regional Development Program), Regional Leadership (Leadership Orlando) and Regional Public Policy Advocacy (BusinessForce).

“Regional Entrepreneurship,” spearheaded by the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, a “Five-Star” Chamber – the highest level of achievement awarded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – is positioned to serve the growing needs of businesses throughout the Central Florida Region. Working with others, the Orlando Regional Chamber works to showcase programs, activities, and educational opportunities for business owners and business leaders answering the call of entrepreneurship throughout Central Florida.  

myregion.org is an important avenue by which the Central Florida Partnership focuses on “Regional Research and Resolves.” By identifying and examining the changing demographics and powerful trends that are shaping the Central Florida Region – myregion.org is helping to identify the issues and challenges that affect our future. By encouraging our communities to work more closely together as a region, myregion.org is making the Central Florida Region stronger and more competitive.

Developing regional leaders is important to the future success of the Central Florida Region. This is why “Regional Leadership” is a primary Line of Business for the Central Florida Partnership. With over thirty years of proven success, Leadership Orlando, America’s largest “Community Leadership Program,” continues to be a positive example of how we can encourage, cultivate and recruit emerging leaders to better serve the Central Florida Region.

Affecting positive change in the Central Florida Region requires strong “Regional Public Policy Advocacy” – this is another important Line of Business for the Central Florida Partnership. BusinessForce, the “Political-Action-Arm” of the Central Florida Partnership, encourages thoughtful conversations about the opportunities and challenges facing the Central Florida Region and, too, by encouraging and supporting candidates for public office. As a result, BusinessForce is helping to guide civic, political and business leaders when it comes to their ability to make better decisions about the future of the Central Florida Region.

As you can see, there is plenty of work to go around.  Jacob Stuart is not retiring; he is not changing careers.  In fact, he is guiding the Central Florida Partnership, right along side the Presidents and Volunteer Chairs of each of its lines of business.  Their focus is clear - regional in scope and global in context – and they will work in support of each other to advance the regional goals and priorities of the Central Florida Partnership. 

For more information, visit www.centralfloridapartnership.org.

Central Florida Partnership - Ideas to Results
Improving Central Florida’s economic vitality and quality of life by focusing on transportation, public policy advocacy, regional leadership, entrepreneurial growth and regional planning.  

About the Central Florida Partnership
Click here to learn more about the Central Florida Partnership.
Click here for the Central Florida Partnership Board of Directors.