News

In preparation for the New Year, Jeffrey Q. Jonasen, Perez, Bruce & Jonasen LLP, Chair of the Central Florida Partnership, has appointed the "Volunteer Leadership Team" for 2012. The appointments, confirmed at the Board of Directors meeting on December 14, include not only Jonasen's successor in 2013, but also the Chairs of the Central Florida Partnership's four primary Lines of Business: Orlando, Inc., myregion.org, BusinessForce, and Leadership Orlando.

Following Jonasen for a two-year term as 2013-2014 Chair of the Central Florida Partnership, will be Aaron J. Gorovitz, Shareholder in the law firm of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. With 25 years of experience in commercial, residential and mixed use real estate projects in Central Florida, he has worked with a cadre of business and community leaders, standing out because of his quiet strength and unwavering commitment to what matters most to residents and visitors who live, work, learn and play in Central Florida.

At Orlando, Inc., Waymon Armstrong, CEO of Engineering & Computer Simulations, will begin his term as 2012-2013 Chair, accepting the mantle of leadership from Marty Rubin, CEO of Smart City. Armstrong is the 2010 National Small Business Person of the Year, and leads an organization that delivers innovative PC based game technology through advanced distributed learning environments. Since 2007, ECS has used virtual world technologies and has become a leader in delivering virtual world solutions to its customers.

Kathleen Gallagher McIver, RE/MAX Town & Country Realty, takes the reins as 2012-2013 Chair of myregion.org from her predecessor, Laura Boisvert, Regional Vice President of Progress Energy. McIver is a native of Orlando and a 2nd generation realtor, growing up in a family owned real estate business and serves our region in volunteer capacities at the Metro Orlando EDC, the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center, and Pathways to Home, an initiative helping homeless children in Seminole County.

Leading BusinessForce for the final year of his two-year term is Jay Galbraith, Vice President State and Industry Affairs for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. During 2011, he has led the BusinessForce Board of Directors in "setting the table" in preparation for the critical 2012 election cycle.

Joining the team for Leadership Orlando is Adrian Jones, General Manager of LEGOLAND Florida, who will serve as Chair of Leadership Orlando Class 84, beginning in September 2012. As a new leader in the Central Florida Region, he will serve in his capacity alongside Class 82 Chair, Trey Carlson, NASA-Kennedy Space Center, and Class 83 Chair, Yolanda Cade, AAA.

In addition to those who will lead the Central Florida Partnership's Lines of Business, a number of other Task Forces will be guided by new leaders as well:

Mark Brewer
Community Foundation of Central Florida, Inc.
2012 Chair, Central Florida Roundtable for Community Based Organizations

Michelle Chandler
ShenkelShultz Architecture
2012-2013 Chair, Central Florida Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC))

The Honorable Sam Johnson
Polk County Commission
2012-2013 Chair, Central Florida Congress of Regional Leaders

Yet to be appointed are the Chairs and Members of the Central Florida Transportation Corridors "Task Force" and the Chair of CEO Access, both programs that will be activated during 2012.

Central Florida Partnership - Ideas to ResultsThe Central Florida Partnership is a collaborative of business and civic leaders committed to procuring a better tomorrow for Central Florida's seven counties - Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia. We are thoughtful leaders united by a single, guiding principle - that we have both the power and the responsibility to make change happen.

Working together, through four lines of business – Orlando, Inc. (Regional Entrepreneurship), BusinessForce (Regional Public Policy Advocacy), myregion.org (Regional Research & Resolves) and Leadership Orlando (Regional Leadership) – the Central Florida Partnership is moving "Ideas to Results."

About the Central Florida Partnership
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