The Orlando Regional Chamber (the Chamber), a core component of the Orlando Economic Partnership, is proud to announce its 2020-2021 slate of new volunteer board leaders for the fiscal year.
President of Elizabeth Charles and Associates Wendy Kurtz now serves as the Chamber’s Board Chair with Justin Williams, general manager of Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando, serving as chair-elect. Other officers include President and CEO of GenCare Resources Home Healthcare Olive Gaye, Senior Associate Vice President of University Relations at University of Central Florida Fred Kittinger and Senior Vice President and Community and Economic Development Relationship Manager at CenterState Bank Phil Zeman. CEO of SIMETRI Angela Alban assumes the role of past chair.
“As incoming chair of the Orlando Regional Chamber, I am eager to get to work helping the organization lead our region’s business community through these unprecedented times by providing resources and opportunities to ensure that members are supported in achieving their goals,” said Kurtz.
An accredited professional and award-winning business expert, Kurtz has more than 25 years’ experience helping individuals, businesses and organizations develop and deliver efficient and effective marketing and communication messages. Prior to founding her public relations and business development firm in 1997, she served as manager of special events for telecommunications industry leader Sprint and as executive director for a United Way agency in Orange County, Florida.
“It has been a pleasure to serve the Chamber alongside a group of focused, passionate, and effective volunteer leaders, eager to be a part of our community’s success,” said Alban.
“As a business owner I recognize and understand the importance of supporting small businesses. The Chamber’s work is critical to providing the tools and resources to help speed our economic recovery.”
Angela Alban, CEO of SIMETRI and Orlando Regional Chamber Past Chair
As part of its mission to strengthen Orlando’s business community, the Chamber responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by developing the Business Recovery Assistance Collaborative Engagement program known as “BRACE.” Supported by JPMorgan Chase, BRACE aids small businesses by helping them navigate the assistance programs available to help them. A free service offered in partnership with government partners and our area’s business-focused organizations including several Chambers of Commerce, BRACE helps ensure small businesses in the seven-county Orlando region find the right resources for their needs.
“Our goal is to reach as many small businesses in the region as possible and we are grateful to JPMorgan Chase for supporting our work,” said John F. Davis, executive vice president of the Chamber. “The Chamber recognizes that Orlando’s small businesses are the backbone of its economy. We’re committed to doing all we can to connect businesses to recovery resources in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Prior to the pandemic, the Chamber launched All Women Empowered, a task force comprised of private, public, and nonprofit partners working to unify Orlando’s community resources into a strategically coordinated campaign to propel women forward. Sponsored by PNC Bank, AWE seeks to amplify stories of women-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs, as well as women’s initiatives and programs, while providing needed resources that equip women with tools to build the future they envision for themselves.
For more information on any of these announcements or Chamber programs, please contact Laureen.Martinez@Orlando.org or at 407-242-3982.
About the Orlando Regional Chamber
The Orlando Regional Chamber, a core component of the Orlando Economic Partnership, prepares and empowers businesses through robust, future-focused programming that accelerates growth. The Chamber leverages the collective leadership of the larger business community to strengthen, support and advocate for businesses of all sizes and lifecycles throughout the Orlando region.
