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Rather than focusing on problems or challenges, Richard Gehring, Planning and Growth Management Administrator for Pasco County, suggests the process of 'affirmative inquiry' in regional collaboration efforts across Florida's Super Region.

Gehring joined The Honorable Gow Fields, Mayor of Lakeland; John Schueler, Executive Director of Corporate and Economic Development for the University of South Florida; and George Walton, Vice President/Area Manager for Parsons Brinckerhoff; in a panel discussion on opportunities and barriers to super regional efforts during the Leadership Orlando Session in Tampa Bay on Tuesday, with members of Tampa Bay's CEO Direct Program. Schueler is immediate past chair of the Tampa Bay Partnership and Walton is the chair of myregion.org.

Affirmative Inquiry, or Appreciative Inquiry, is a self defined "asset-based approach" that starts with the belief that every organization (or region) has positive aspects that can be built upon. It asks stakeholders questions like "What's working well?" rather than "What's wrong?"

Florida's Super Region – from the Atlantic to the Gulf – is the 10^th largest economy in the United States, and the 40^th largest economy in the world. By focusing on its assets, and connecting them at the super regional level, imagine the possibilities!

John Slot, Jr., Vice President of North Highland Consulting and a member of the CEO Direct class, pointed out that connections start with a strong base of infrastructure including transportation, water, sewer, and public and private facilities like those that are host to activities like the Republican National Convention (Tampa Bay, August 2012) and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (Orlando, June 2012).

Guiding the discussion were Shelley Lauten, president of myregion.org, and Elisa DeGregorio, senior vice president with the Tampa Bay Partnership. A total of eighty participants from Leadership Orlando Class 82 and CEO Direct Class VII were quizzed on which regional assets are most identified with Central Florida, Tampa Bay or Florida's Super Region, opening some eyes to the strengths of the communities right 'in our back yards.'

A guided tour of USF's Center for Advanced Medical Learning & Simulation (CAMLS) showcased the innovative medical modeling & simulation training that has been available at its state-of-the-art facility in Tampa Bay since it's opening in February.

The Leadership Orlando class members then departed for a luncheon cruise at the Port of Tampa with briefings by Richard A. Wainio, Port Director/CEO, and John Thorington, Senior Director of Communications and Board Coordination, for the Tampa Port Authority, before returning to Orlando.

Click here to view more photos from this event.

Special thanks to Robin Wright DeLaVergne, Executive Director of the Tampa General Hospital Foundation and Chair of CEO Direct Class VII, Yolanda L Cade, Managing Director of Public Relations, AAA National Office, and Chair of Leadership Orlando Class 83, and Randolph E. Berridge, President of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, for their leadership and sponsorship of this collaborative session.

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 84 begins in September , with Adrian Jones, General Manager of LEGOLAND Florida 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 2012 Leadership Team