Each Leadership Orlando Class develops its own 'personality" and the members of Class 84 have added an extra-curricular social component to their collective experience.

On Wednesday night, participants were hosted by classmate Michael Forde, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the Orlando Magic, in the Hardwood Suites at Amway Center for the Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks basketball game. Although our team was defeated, the Leadership Orlando class members came out on top!

In addition to game tickets, the class enjoyed a bounty of refreshments through the generous hospitality of Michael and his team. Thanks, Michael!

Lynn Ivanek, Habitat Greater Orlando, and Jim Wilbour, Lincoln Tech, invited their class members to an Orlando Solar Bears Game/Lincoln Tech sponsored/Habitat Greater Orlando Fundraiser that also resulted in complimentary Solar Bears tickets for an additional game on February 21, 2013.

During the holiday season, Jeff Thompson at First Baptist Church of Orlando, invited his classmates to be his guests at a performance of the annual "Singing Christmas Trees" and the class also toasted with holiday "cheer" at a gathering in Winter Park, organized by class members Wes Naylor, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, and Malvina Gasco, The Boeing Company.

Other class members have stepped up during our monthly sessions as well. Class Chair Adrian Jones and Todd Andrus, LEGOLAND Florida, hosted our Orientation Session in Polk County and provided park tickets to class members. Brian Nadeau, Vice President of Aquatica, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, and his team provided a reception and park entry as part of our MS&T session at the Orange County Convention Center.

In March, class members John Lewis, CEO of LYNX, and Jerry Henderson, TSA's Federal Security Director, will be part of the presentation team at our Leadership Orlando session on Regional Transportation.

Classmate Tom Hope, Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications for Rollins College, will provide an overview and history of Rollins at our final session in April on Leadership & Board Service. He is also providing sponsorship dollars for the Graduation Reception for Class 84.

Leadership Orlando is not only about what you get out of it, but also what you put into it, and these class members are examples of the generous participation that makes the experience so rich and so strong. Whether you have resources to offer, or you are able to "show up" when these opportunities arise, your active engagement is important to the relationships that you are building now, lasting long after the program is completed.

If you've been looking for the 'right' time to participate in Leadership Orlando, or if 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. Take time to learn about the issues and participate in the community conversations that are helping to guide our future.

Class 85 begins in March 2013, with Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, 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. Enrollment Deadline is Friday, February 22, 2013.

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 2013 Leadership Team