Head of the Class

2012's trio of class chairs brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Leadership Orlando.

Based on the Regional Priorities of the Central Florida Partnership, the curriculum of the Leadership Orlando program has, for the last five years, highlighted outstanding regional assets and issues important to our region’s future.

This regional approach is also employed when selecting our class chairs, who lead each group of business and community leaders through their paces as they explore Central Florida during the eight month program. During 2012, leaders from Brevard, Seminole and Polk counties will bring their unique experience and expertise to Leadership Orlando class members who represent public, private and civic organizations across the seven-county region.

 

Trey Carlson

With his responsibilities already underway as the chair of Leadership Orlando Class 82, Trey Carlson, master planner for the NASA-Kennedy Space Center, has provided VIP access and information to class members at the Space Center, LEGOLAND Florida, The B.I.G.* Summit, I/ITSEC (the world’s largest modeling, simulation and training conference) and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Four sessions remain for Class 82, when participants will visit the “Medical City” at Lake Nona and Daytona International Speedway, discuss regional imperatives that affect public policy, and examine leadership and board service expectations for continued service to the community as they conclude their Leadership Orlando experience.

Leadership Orlando sessions also include cutting-edge, forward-thinking content and a heralded faculty, as participants build strong and lasting relationships with their peers.

 

Yolanda Cade

Ready to get started, Yolanda Cade, managing director of public relations for the American Automobile Association, will lead Class 83 when it begins in April 2012, during the same year that AAA celebrates its 110^th anniversary. Shaping her organization's public image, national public relations and strategic communications efforts, Cade oversees AAA's national PR in Washington D.C. and at its headquarters location in Heathrow, just north of Orlando, and is responsible for managing all aspects of communicating public policy, national business line and advocacy activities to the public, media and AAA's 52 million members.

Needless to say, she brings much to the table as we develop the curriculum for Class 83.

 

Adrian Jones

Later this fall, Leadership Orlando Class 84 will begin with a new leader to Central Florida at the helm: Adrian Jones, general manager of LEGOLAND Florida, the region’s newest family attraction. Working with Carlson, Jones made it possible for Class 82 to visit LEGOLAND just days before the official grand opening in October 2011, giving class members a sneak peek at the transformation of the former Cypress Gardens into Merlin Entertainments' newest park, the second of its kind in the United States. Geared specifically toward youngsters ages 2 through 12, LEGOLAND allows “big kids” to enjoy it too, as evidenced by our Leadership Orlando participants.

With our ears to the ground, the Leadership Orlando Team is looking for new adventures and opportunities on the hottest topics, in order to engage in relevant conversations with regional leaders that will add substance and “shine” to our curriculum in 2012. If you’ve been looking for the right time to “play your part” in Leadership Orlando, visit www.leadershiporlando.org.

Tags: central florida partnership, leadership, Orlando