Leadership Orlando -  A Civics Lesson for the Real World

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-five years of proven success, Leadership Orlando, America’s largest “Community Leadership Program,” continues to encourage, cultivate and recruit emerging leaders to better serve the Central Florida Region. Working together with the Orlando, Inc., (Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce) (Regional Entrepreneurship), BusinessForce (Public Policy Advocacy), and myregion.org (Regional Research), the Central Florida Partnership is moving “Ideas to Results.”

Leadership Orlando is a community leadership program designed to connect and engage community leaders across the Central Florida Region examining the challenges and opportunities that will shape our future. Since 1975, Leadership Orlando has been an innovator in the way that it delivers cutting-edge experiences, explores timely and controversial topics, and enlists top-notch faculty to guide its community conversations.

To accomplish that purpose Leadership Orlando classes meet for a series of nine day-long sessions over eight months. While the curriculum may change based on current developments in the region, Leadership Orlando sessions always emphasize the People, Place, Purpose and Possibilities that our community has to offer.

A sampling of the Leadership Orlando curriculum includes:

• The Central Florida Region boasts the highest concentration of Modeling, Simulation and Training related activities in the nation. We are home to the UCF's Institute for Simulation & Training, the National Center for Simulation, significant modeling and simulation activities for all four branches of the armed forces, and hundreds of entrepreneurs and emerging businesses who develop systems and technologies supporting a variety of industries including the military, government, healthcare, public service (firefighters and police), entertainment/attractions and the private sector.
• For over 20 years, Team Building initiatives have been an important element of the Leadership Orlando Program. Most recently, we have selected a variety of fun, high-quality programs offering a host of innovative, customized team building activities, games and challenges. For some participants, these have included a track of initiatives that focus on building social capital and corporate philanthropy, and for others, participation in the Astronaut Training Experience at the Kennedy Space Center.
• Imagine Central Florida as a place where people come not only to see Mickey Mouse, but to be healed of incurable diseases . . . where medical miracles are performed everyday . . . where the finest doctors are trained . . . where scientists discover the keys to longer healthier lives. Imagine a Medical City known as a world leader in medical excellence. Leadership Orlando focuses on Central Florida and its potential as a global destination for cutting-edge medical research, medical treatment and medical tourism.
• In a collaborative effort by the Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center at Rollins College and Leadership Orlando, we have designed an innovative session that "tests" participants' knowledge of the region since joining Leadership Orlando, provides an introduction to Nonprofit Board Service, and explores new ways to "get connected" in service to our region.
• Tapping into the expertise of the Orlando, Inc., (Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce), a “Five-Star Chamber” – the highest level of achievement awarded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – we explore the growing needs of businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the Central Florida Region, with the goal of establishing the Central Florida Region as a the best entrepreneurship system.
• By identifying and examining the changing demographics and powerful trends that are shaping the Central Florida Region – myregion.org is helping to identify the issues and challenges that affect our future. The leadership team of myregion.org will assist Leadership Orlando participants in understanding how its contemporary research and strategic priorities can shape our future.
• Affecting positive change in the Central Florida Region requires strong “Regional Public Policy Advocacy.” BusinessForce is making a positive difference by sharing important regional conversations, encouraging and supporting candidates for public office, and helping to guide civic, political and business leaders about the future. Leadership Orlando’s Public Policy Session provides interaction with elected officials, briefings on legislative priorities, and opportunities to engage in the elections process.

The program fee is $3,500 for chamber members and that includes everything. (program costs, meals, receptions, and graduation) Payment plans are available if that is of interest.