News

"One of the things I appreciate most about Leadership Orlando - especially as compared to my experiences with Chamber-sponsored leadership programs in two other major cities - is the breadth of the types of leaders who participate," says Dr. Phyllis VanDyke Thompson, P.V.T. Enterprises, Inc."

Thompson continued, those whom you actively recruit run the gamut within the "99%" as well as the "1%." In my opinion, it is the friendships you are spawning in the Leadership Orlando program, and other Central Florida Partnership programs leading to genuine partnership among that mix of paradigms, that is making Central Florida cutting edge!  That vision for engaging the breadth of leadership types that has gotten Leadership Orlando to this point today is a core part of what I find so exciting about Central Florida now and so encouraging for our future!  

It is my understanding that Leadership Orlando 'broke the mold' decades ago when it transitioned from the traditionally-based community leadership programs that were exclusive in their participant selection, to the one here that promotes inclusiveness of professionals, industry sectors, and demographics, embracing newcomers and life-long residents alike.

My Leadership Orlando classmate, Jason Schrago, CNL Commercial Real Estate, and I stumbled onto a mutual connection from Nashville playing "who do you know?" while standing in line at the Leadership Orlando "Daytona International Speedway" outing.  "Certainly no other city's program can match that as a high speed networking spot and I'm sure Jason joins me in supporting our Tennessee colleague's application -- we both started emailing him on the spot to recommend Leadership Orlando as a great opportunity to get to know Central Florida better, and instantly become part of a wonderful network of business leaders.  

I do appreciate all you all are doing to make this a sustainable reality.  It makes recommending Leadership Orlando easy and I'm unapologetically discriminating about my 'dot-connecting' recommendations, Thompson concludes. 

If you have been looking for the "right" time to participate in Leadership Orlando, or know someone who should be in the room for these discussions, now is indeed the perfect time to be a part of America's largest Community Leadership program, Leadership Orlando. Preparing for the future of our region is up to each of us. Now is the time to learn about the issues, participate in the difficult conversations and help in guiding our future.

Class 83 begins in April, with Yolanda Cade, Managing Director of Public Relations for the American Automobile Association (AAA) serving as Class Chair. The online enrollment form and the full schedule may be accessed at www.LeadershipOrlando.org. Should you have questions, contact Kathy Panter at 407.835.2499 or via email at Kathy.Panter@ideastoresults.org.

About Leadership Orlando
Developing regional leaders is important to the future success of the Central Florida Region. That 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 recruit, cultivate and encourage emerging leaders to better serve the Central Florida Region.

Working together with Orlando, Inc., (Regional Entrepreneurship), BusinessForce (Public Policy Advocacy), and myregion.org (Regional Research & Resolves), the Central Florida Partnership is moving "Ideas to Results."

Click here to learn more about Leadership Orlando
Click here for a listing of the 2011 Leadership Team