The James B. Greene Awards honor individuals who have exhibited community leadership that contributes to the Orlando region’s growth, quality of life and economic well-being.
On Thursday, February 16, 2023, the Orlando Economic Partnership welcomed sponsors, champions of Broad-based Prosperity, the Governor’s Council, the Board of Directors, local elected officials, and community members at large who joined the celebration of the Partnership’s Annual Dinner featuring the James B. Greene Awards.
Steinmetz Hall, one of the world’s most acoustically perfect spaces, at the world-renowned Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts transformed to host the Partnership’s signature event.
The event, which had to be rescheduled last year as the Orlando region kept an eye on Hurricane Ian, honored Dr. Barbara M. Jenkins, Ed.D., and Dr. Sandy C. Shugart, Ph.D with the James B. Greene Award. First presented in 1990, the James B. Greene Award recognizes an individual whose work has contributed substantially to the economic prosperity of the region.President and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership said.
“Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Shugart are, without a doubt, individuals who have exhibited community leadership that contributes to the Orlando region’s growth, quality of life and economic well-being”
Tim Giuliani, President and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership
On behalf of the Valencia College Board of Trustees, Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College received Dr. Shugart’s award on his behalf.
As a first-generation college graduate, Plinske is passionate about the role education can play in transforming the lives of students and their families, and in turn, our communities.
She spoke about her first-time meeting Dr. Shugart and remembered how he told her that age was not something that would prevent her from achieving great things. Plinske said that Dr. Shugart always emphasized how anyone can acocomplish their dreams.
“Anyone, can learn anything under the right conditions.”
Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College quoting Dr. Shugart
Plinske said that that has been “the fundamental big idea on which all the work at Valencia is based.”
The second honoree, Dr. Jenkins, was recognized for her contributions to the region and as the leader of the nation’s 8th largest school district through an unprecedented global pandemic and recovery for our region’s students.
The middle daughter of five children and a graduate of Winter Park High School, Dr. Jenkins has an extensive list of accomplishments.
“Being raised by a single mother definitely taught me how to be a leader, how to succeed regardless of challenges, and how to be grateful and pay it forward,” Dr. Jenkins said.
“I am grateful for always being surrounded by family, friends, and an amazing team that helped me lead the amazing department at OCPS. I can’t thank enough the Central Florida community for trusting my leadership and helping me grow every single day.”
Dr. Barbara M. Jenkins, ED.D.
In addition to the awards, the Partnership commemorated the work partners and staff building on the region’s economic development and everything accomplished since establishing the Partnership.
In the last 6 years, the Partnership’s dedicated focus on driving investment into the Orlando region supported a total of 165 business projects that are expected to create close to 25,000 new direct jobs, $3.4 billion in capital investment and $1.7 billion in recurring annual payroll. “This shows that when we partner, we become more competitive and together bolster the region,” Tim Giuliani, President and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership said.
Some of the wins celebrated were:
- Osceola County’s NeoCity and the Orlando region being chosen as 1 out of only 21 communities across the nation to win the Build Back Better Regional Challenge receiving $50.8 million to spur jobs, investment and reshoring of chips R&D and manufacturing.
- Our partnership with Seminole County won and announced almost 5,000 new jobs, adding close to $270 million in wages to our regional economy.
- We also partnered with UCF to attract an additional $20 million from the state per year to bolster the university’s technology programs.
- We’re now partnering with the City of Orlando on a significant plan to continue the transformation of downtown Orlando, including new bar ordinances, office recruitment efforts and more tech growth in Creative Village.
- The success of many local businesses, including those that reached Unicorn Status, like Stax, our highest-profile unicorn, and the companies that have gone public like Luminar, Microvast, Lilium, Skywater, Travel + Leisure, PureCycle and, soon, Falcon’s Beyond.
- The establishment of Orlando as The MetaCenterof the Metaverse.
- The launch of our new office space and the big milestone of having a first-of-its-kind regional Digital Twin.
- Leadership Orlando’s had a tremendously successful year with one of its highest-ever participation rates.
- Launching the Black Boardroom Leadership Institute, a grant-funded program built on the need for more inclusivity on nonprofit boards and authentic leadership training for Orlando’s Black community leaders.
- Unbelievably Real — a singular, comprehensive and consistent brand for the Orlando region launched in partnership with Visit Orlando.
“The list can go on but the message is clear,” Giuliani said celebrating the Partnership’s success and looking forward to the year’s accomplishments.
“In my years serving the Partnership, it has been a pleasure to Seize the Moment with a group of focused, passionate, and effective volunteer leaders, eager to be a part of something bigger than any of us individually or our individual companies,” said Sandy Hostetter the partnership’s 2022 board chair.
“I have found this group consistently willing to roll up their sleeves, collaborate and work hard to move our region forward.”
Sharing the stage with Hostetter, Tony Jenkins, the Partnership’s 2023 board chair said that “in the past few years, our community has had bold conversations around the importance of inclusive economic growth and regional investment, like building an accessible economy and investing in our regional transportation infrastructure. We are facing a watershed moment — one when we must address these challenges if we endeavor to truly make this a region of broad-based prosperity, where everyone has the access to opportunity to make a better life for themselves.”
“I’d like to ask you all to raise your glass and join me in celebrating the 10-year Anniversary of Nemours Children’s Health, our Presenting Sponsor; our dedicated board, and those who were instrumental in the formation of the Partnership as we celebrate our six years as an organization — one strengthened every day by the support of our community partners,” Giuliani finished.
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About the Orlando Economic Partnership
The Orlando Economic Partnership (the Partnership) is the Orlando region’s economic and community development organization that is seizing the moment to advance Broad-based Prosperity® by growing the diversity of the economy and driving investment into the region. The Partnership catalyzes the collaborative ethos of the region to fuel regional leadership and improve the region’s competitiveness. For more information on how opportunity in Orlando is Unbelievably Real, visit InvestOrlando.org
