Although faced with the cancelation of this year’s face-to-face competition in Anaheim, CA due to the pandemic, Webber International University’s (Webber) Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) shined during the organization’s annual National Leadership Conference (NLC) held (virtually due to pandemic concerns) in June 2021.
0 Comments
T. Michael Stavres, Winter Haven Deputy City Manager recently received the Credentialed Manager designation from ICMA, the International City/County Management Association. Internationally, there are only around 1,300 local government management professionals currently credentialed through the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program; Deputy City Manager Stavres is the only manager/deputy manager in Polk County with the ICMA-CM credential. To receive the prestigious ICMA credential, a member must have significant experience as a senior management executive in local government; have earned a degree, preferably in public administration or a related field; and demonstrated a commitment to high standards of integrity and to lifelong learning and professional development. T. Michael Stavres is qualified by more than 25 years of professional local government executive experience, with 20 of those years with the City of Winter Haven where he began as the Director of Leisure Services (what is now known as Parks, Recreation & Culture). Highlights of Deputy City Manager Stavres’s ICMA membership and professional career include serving in local government roles for the cities of Winter Haven, Lakeland, Temple Terrace, St. Petersburg, and Orange County, and working in various volunteer capacities with the Florida Association of City/County Management; Florida Recreation & Park Association; and Florida League of Cities. Deputy City Manager Stavres has also made significant contributions to a number of other organizations, including Polk State College, Public Education Partnership of Winter Haven, Cypress Junction Montessori Charter School, All Saints Academy, and Girls Inc. ICMA’s mission is to advance professional local government through leadership, management, innovation, and ethics and by increasing the proficiency of appointed chief administrative officers, assistant administrators, and other employees who serve local governments and regional entities around the world. The organization’s 13,000 members in 27 countries also include educators, students, and other local government employees. For more information regarding the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program, contact Jenese Jackson at ICMA, 777 North Capitol Street, N.E., #500, Washington, D.C. 20002-4201; jjackson@icma.org; 202-962-3556. On Wednesday evening the City Commission had several presentations addressing current and upcoming capital projects in the City of Winter Haven. These are just a snapshot of a few projects, as there are numerous in various stages of planning, design and construction. We wanted to write up a quick synopsis for you to share in the excitement of many of these quality of life and transportation improvement projects! One thing that I wanted to point out, especially related to the transportation and road infrastructure projects is how skillful our Public Works team is partnering with the Florida Department of Transportation to pay for the majority of these projects, saving the tax payers millions of dollars.
The 10th Annual Polk Emerging Leaders Awards were held on August 19th. While the event itself was a little different this year following COVID protocols, it was nonetheless a night to celebrate and honor the work that young professionals are doing to improve Polk County. The 2021 winners are: Lauren Jensen, Dr. Andy Oguntola, Brian Yates, Sara Beth Reynolds and Dr. Michelle Henne. We also honored Katie Worthington Decker with the Polk Emerging Leaders Visionary Award for all of her work to start these programs and give opportunities for the young professionals of Polk County to be recognized for their commitment to their communities. Read the rest of this post to see how these individuals are making an impact in their communities. Polk State College was selected from a competitive field of community colleges across the country to receive $50,000 to transform the future of students in the community. Funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) and led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the Metallica Scholars Initiative was designed to directly support students while also elevating the importance of career and technical education. This work is highlighted at a global level by leveraging the influence of Metallica who continue to speak out on the dignity of professional trades and community colleges that prepare students. The Metallica Scholars Initiative is now in its third year and has fundamentally improved the earning potential for students who become Metallica Scholars. Polk State College continues to prioritize careers in Computer Numeric Control (CNC) Machining through the Metallica Scholars program. Metallica Scholars will be showcased to promote varying skilled trade pathways as a means to economic development. LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is hosting the ultimate festival for fans of music and fun this Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 4 through 6, at LEGO® VIDIYO™ MUSIC FEST. This one weekend-only, family-friendly event features a special performance by LEGO® VIDIYO™ superstar, DJ L.L.A.M.A and will be packed full of musical experiences including interactive VIDIYO™ games, live entertainment, and awesome prizes. The exciting line up of activities kicks off at the Main Stage, with dance-offs featuring some of today’s hottest music, VIDIYO™ inspired games, and viewing screens packed with VIDIYO™ content created during the event at BeatBit Studio. Citizens Bank & Trust announced today that an agreement is in place with Hillsboro Bank to acquire its Valrico and Dade City offices. The offices are located in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties, respectively. This move will represent the first expansion outside Polk County, Florida for Citizens Bank & Trust. “For over one hundred years, Citizens Bank & Trust has proudly served the residents of Polk County,” said Greg Littleton, President and CEO of Citizens Bank & Trust. “As a family-owned bank with a long and rich history, we share Hillsboro Bank’s culture of providing exceptional customer service. We look forward to welcoming these Hillsboro Bank customers to the Citizens Bank & Trust family and developing new business and personal relationships within both communities.” The American Red Cross of Central Florida has partnered with LEGOLAND® Florida Resort to help neighbors rebuilding their lives after disasters. From August 5-September 5, 2021, one-day tickets to LEGOLAND® Florida Theme Park can be purchased for $47 through an exclusive online offer -- a savings of 50 percent off the gate price -- and $10 from every ticket will be donated to Red Cross disaster relief. For more than 100 years, the Red Cross has been serving its neighbors after disasters strike. Across the country each year, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters -- the majority of which are home fires. Large disasters like hurricanes, floods and wildfires are also increasing in frequency and intensity. Joe Barrer has been named head coach of the Lakeland Magic, the team announced today. Barrer becomes the 2nd head coach in franchise history after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the team. “We are very excited to announce Joe Barrer as our new head coach,” said Assistant General Manager Adetunji Adedipe. “His contributions to our team over the last four years have had a tremendous impact on the organization’s success. His incredible knowledge of the game and unique ability to lead has us confident and excited about the future of the Lakeland Magic.” Allen & Company announced a generous corporate gift of $1 Million to fund the Allen & Company Family Lawn, set to open in 2022. Allen & Company’s longstanding heritage of personalized customer service spans more than 85 years. Allen & Company is passionate about engaging with community projects and making a profound impact to support communities in which they live. “Partnering with Bonnet Springs Park is one of the most exciting opportunities along the I-4 corridor, and perhaps even the state and region. We believe the experience, inclusion, and vision of this magnificent park will further elevate and invite growth and excitement to our community. Making a profound and positive difference in the lives and communities we serve has been a core value since our founding in 1932 by J. Everett Allen. Our affiliate company, LPL Financial, in sharing with our values, continues to support and honor those efforts. The Bonnet Springs experience embodies how we honor this core value,” shared Michael Walker, Vice President, Regional Operations. During this two-day-only special event, families can meet LEGO® Policeman, see the firefighter stilt walkers, help build a LEGO City mosaic, and learn the best ways to stay safe and become a hero too! WHEN: Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8 WHAT: Presented by the National Fire Protection Association, this entertaining and informative event teaches kids about fire safety with a variety of fun activities in the theme park, including information from NFPA’s annual Fire Prevention Week theme about kitchen fires – all included in regular day admission. The recent cyber-attack on the Colonial Pipeline infrastructure which transports 45 percent of the oil consumed on the east coast of the US caused long lines at the pump, rising prices per gallon, and the president announced a temporary state of emergency. This is a serious wake up call to our companies to the devastation of a ransomware cyber-attack.
Six rides, six themed playscapes, a water play area and even more oinktastic experiences have been revealed for the World’s First Peppa Pig Theme Park. These all-new attractions will create an unforgettable day of adventure at the new standalone theme park, opening in 2022, just steps away from LEGOLAND® Florida Resort. Designed to be the ultimate day for little ones, the new theme park combines interactive rides and themed play grounds with character shows and an indoor cinema for quieter moments. Every corner of the charming new park is crafted with preschoolers in mind, from their first roller coaster rides with their parents and free fair games for the whole family, to an all-terrain course where they will pedal tricycles through a sensory-rich trail and a colorful splash pad that celebrates “muddy puddles” jumping fun! Through every experience, families will snort, giggle and create their family’s first theme park memories together with Peppa and her friends. Blost post by: The Florida Chamber Foundation Thank you to all who participated in the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2021 Workforce Needs Survey. More than 1,100 responses from business and industry leaders and HR professionals across Florida helped us understand the skills that are important to today's workforce and played an integral role in the overall research for the Florida Workforce Needs Study. As a follow up to the release of the Study, a first-of-its-kind statewide analysis identifying top career areas, skills gaps and opportunities in the Florida workplace, we are happy to present you with phase 2 of the rollout, the Lakeland Metro Skills Report. This report completes and evaluates the balance between skillset supply and demand in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro market. Dr. H. Keith Wade Named to Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners for 20217/26/2021 The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has named Dr. H. Keith Wade, President & CEO at Webber International University (Webber), headquartered in Babson Park, Florida, to the Board of Examiners for the 2021 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Baldrige Award is the nation’s highest honor for organizational innovation and performance excellence. Appointed by the NIST Director, examiners are responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the Baldrige Award, as well as other assessment-related tasks. The examiner board is composed of leading experts competitively selected from industry, professional, trade, education, health care, and nonprofit (including government) organizations from across the United States. AdventHealth returned to “yellow” status in response to the latest surge in COVID-19 cases, the health system announced on today’s AdventHealth Morning Briefing. The move means that new elective surgeries that require inpatient stays will be deferred, and each campus’ chief medical officer will review all cases that require a stay in the Intensive Care Unit. Surgeries that are already scheduled, pediatric surgeries and procedures at outpatient surgery centers will not be affected.
About 720 people were hospitalized Thursday with COVID-19 in AdventHealth hospitals across Central Florida, a number that is still below the peak of about 900 COVID patients in January. Guest blogger: Mark Wilson with the Florida Chamber of Commerce New data shows that today Florida, if it were an independent country, would be the 15th largest economy in the world. Florida overtook Indonesia and Mexico's economies during the past year. COVID changed the world and the global economy, and the new numbers for 2020 are out, showing Florida's growth compared to the rest of the world. While it may be temporary as other world economies are continuing to rebound from the global pandemic, Florida has moved up two slots from 17th to 15th largest global economy - if Florida were a country. This jump can be attributed to the fact that Florida's economy has recovered more quickly than both the U.S. economy and many countries' economies. Central Florida’s Visitor Information Center (CFVIC) will host a “Back to School Kick-off” event on Saturday, Aug. 7. This free event will take place from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The first 400 students will receive a free backpack (child must be present to receive a backpack) and children ages 5 to 12 will receive a free child’s admission ticket to Bok Tower Gardens (while supplies last). LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is bringing back the spooky, kooky fun of Brick or Treat in October, followed by the jolliest event of all with Holidays at LEGOLAND in November and December. These can’t-miss annual events are included with theme park admission and select annual passes.
Polk County Public Schools will host a virtual job fair for teachers this Wednesday, July 14, from 12 - 2 p.m. Attendees can connect with district recruiters to ask questions and get more information about becoming a teacher. Administrators from more than 20 schools throughout the county will also be available to conduct interviews and make job offers. To register, visit polkschoolsfl.com/jobfair. For more information, contact jobs@polk-fl.net. On Thursday July 15, The Low Payment Kings’ Mahalak Auto Group are celebrating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup Championships. Blake Coleman of the Tampa Bay Lightning has agreed to appear at Posner Park Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM FIAT in Davenport, Florida. “We are pleased and excited that the public can meet and congratulate a player like Blake Coleman at our dealership, who was part of the Lightning’s two back-to-back CUP wins”, said Ralph Mahalak Jr , co-owner. “You don’t want to miss out on this once in a lifetime experience”, added Mike Mahalak , President of Mahalak Auto Group. The Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU) recently designated Polk State College as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) as the College’s Hispanic student population has reached 26 percent and continues to grow. Additionally, Polk State is now eligible for Title V and HSI STEM federal grant funds that support institutions that enroll large proportions of minority and financially disadvantaged students. The College will apply for these funds through the U.S Department of Education to further support its services to students. Knowledge is Power, if You’re Plugged In! As a Tampa Electric customer, we know you don’t have time to think much about your electric utilities. Over here, though, energy innovation is just about all we think about. We want to keep you in the know by bringing you only our most powerful news. Our idea is to launch an email with business energy news called Power Forward, catering exclusively to our valued business customers. Throughout his life Marc Hutek has always served his country and community. The former United States Army veteran has a resume that spans over 30 years in public education serving as a high school principal, adult education director, a deputy superintendent, and now as CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County, a non-profit organization that serves over 12,000 children ages birth to 5 years of age. In all of his posts, he remained committed to making sure thousands of students and children have a better life. Earlier this year his world turned upside down when he was told that he was in complete renal failure and he would need daily dialysis to continue to live. In spite of the grim news he continues to come to work as usual, remaining optimistic even after surviving COVID-19. His commitment to bringing goodness to the world is a constant driving force. |
Upcoming Events |
|