There are not many things in life that I won’t talk about. However, when I was asked to talk about myself I was a bit perplexed. There is not much to say about me; at least I thought there was nothing “special.” I was born in a small town in New Jersey and was a “latch-key” kid before there was even a name for them. I grew up in a single parent home, helped my Mom raise my little sister and then went to work. Then I paused and smiled. There is something very special about me: my family. I am the proud mom of Daniel and Sarah, and the wife of my husband, Bill.

Daniel Jan is my 15-year-old son, a Boone Brave in the Criminal Justice Magnet program, who loves playing soccer and volleyball. Family is very near and dear to his heart. I love my “Old Soul” son.

Sarah Elaine is my 11-year-old daughter. She plays soccer and loves to participate in after-school chorus, but reading is Sarah’s true passion. This is why she started her nonprofit organization, Just 1 Book.

Sarah started Just 1 Book because she loves to read and learned that there were children who did not have access to books. We do “bookraisers” (as she calls them) and bring those books to children who may not own a book or have a library in their community. What started as a “nice little idea” has turned into a growing non-profit, full-time job for me, and a true family endeavor.

Daniel not only helps raise, distribute, pack and move the books, he tells his sister’s story. He also carries Just 1 Book business cards in his wallet to distribute to anyone who he feels might be interested in helping. It doesn’t matter if they are other classmates, friends or teachers; he is always willing to talk about the charity that he helps so much.

Sarah encourages more schools to do bookraisers. She visits Headstart Programs and reads to younger children. She talks to them about how important it is to keep reading. She realizes that “kids in need” can escape a life of poverty and crime if they overcome illiteracy. She packs, sorts and distributes the books all so the children have a book in their hands and a smile on their face. Though she has received plenty of notoriety for her organization, Sarah takes it all in stride.  To her and to us, it’s all about helping kids.

Weekends at our house are filled with Just 1 Book plans. Most of the conversation around the dinner table is about what is going on with the organization and what other things we can do to help kids in need.  All of this work brings our family even closer together.

As I watch Just 1 Book grow, I see how “special” I am. My story is that I have played a part in raising two beautiful children that are kind and caring and that help their neighbor when their neighbor may not be able to help themselves. Even when I have the crazy days of soccer, food shopping and meetings, I know that the support I give my kids will help them as they grow into kind, caring adults.  Just 1 Book’s motto is “Just 1 Book Would Make a Difference in the Life of a Child.”  Well, Just 1 Book has made a huge difference in my life, too.

Want to learn how you can “Make a Difference in the Life of a Child” with Just 1 Book?  Visit www.Just1Book.net or https://www.facebook.com/groups/Just1Book to learn more about ways you can help.

Article by Sharlene Dewitz

Avalon Park is more than an 1,860-acre neighborhood nestled in southeast Orange County. The community also plays host as an emerging district for dozens of women who mean business. Whether they own their own business or manage a facility for a larger company, the business-minded, strong-willed women of Avalon are making a name for themselves all while balancing a family and a career. In this special section of Insight we highlight many, although certainly not all, of “The Women of Avalon Business.” The listings below are in alphabetical order by last name and are not intended to indicate any type of numerical ranking.

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Tiffany Johnson-Bailey

Every day is someone’s special day. That’s the mantra that Tiffany Johnson-Bayley continually repeats at her Avalon Park Jewelers storefront. An entrepreneur since high school, her newest business offers fine jewelry for any celebration and any budget, as well as on-site jewelry and watch repair. “I know what people want.  Jewelry at a fair price, repairs in a timely manner and both delivered with a smile,” she says. “That’s our goal and our customers appreciate it.”

In fact, going above and beyond for customers is a daily occurrence for Johnson-Bayley. “Recently I had a customer stop by with her bridal party to get her ring cleaned and one of the diamonds came out in the cleaner,” she recalls. “I called my jeweler in on his day off, had him replace the diamond and then I drove the ring to her at her rehearsal dinner across town. She was ecstatic.”

Bayley says going that extra mile has always given her great joy. “I love what I do; and I truly feel like my customers are my friends,” she says. “And you never want to disappoint your friends.”

Name: Tiffany Johnson-Bayley

Position: Owner

Company: Avalon Park Jewelers, Orlando Gold Buyers

Yrs of Experience: 30

Phone: 321-235-5553

E-mail: TiffanyBayley@Aol.com

Web site: AvalonParkJewelers.com

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Dr. Beth Burns

When a young Beth Burns, M.D., was growing up in Chicago she knew from a young age that she wanted two things in life: to help people live a healthier life and to raise a family of her own. Fast forward to today and you’ll find Dr. Burns is a board certified physician specializing in internal medicine at Avalon Park Internal Medicine and a happily married mother of 11-year-old triplets.

A resident of East Orlando the past eight years, Dr. Burns says she loves the area and that it reminds her of where she grew up, although with a little less snow. Her practice focuses on personal healthcare for adults with multiple medical issues. “We make sure to spend the time necessary to help internal medicine patients with their complex health issues,” she says. “We also strive to get answers for patients and be as thorough and complete as possible.”

Dr. Burns chose the Avalon Park area to open her business for two reasons. “The local community and familiar faces can’t be beat,” she says.

Name:  Beth Burns

Position: Physician

Company:  Avalon Park Internal Medicine (part of Florida Physicians Medical Group)

Yrs of Experience: 16 years

Phone: 407-306-0982

Web site: www.AvalonParkInternalMedicine.com

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Jennifer Campos

Jennifer Campos, owner of Avalon All Star Cuts, knows what it takes to make and keep her customers satisfied. Specializing in haircuts for men and boys, she is fully aware that they can get their haircut anywhere, which is why she puts such an emphasis on customer service and giving back to the local community. “In addition to having a fun, relaxed environment with great stylists that listen to what you want, we provide everyone that walks through the door with the VIP treatment,” she says. “Customers comment all the time about how wonderfully they were treated and how refreshing that feeling is.”

But Campos and her team are dedicated to more than just customer service. They also pledge their commitment to positively impact the surrounding community daily, going as far as to create a program to provide haircuts to those in need and even a scholarship that focuses on youth and childhood development.

“For me, being able to give back and make a difference for others has always been far more important than the bottom line,” says Campos.

Name: Jennifer Campos

Position: Owner

Company: Avalon All Star Cuts

Yrs of Experience: 15 years in Sales/Marketing. 3 years as a business owner.

Phone: 407.281.0545

E-mail: AvalonAllStarCuts@Yahoo.com

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Dalia Cantor

Would you ever say that your tax preparation is a joyful experience? You just might if you were a client of Dalia Cantor and Avalon Park Accounting. “I’ve had clients say it before, and we take great pride in that,” says the business owner and single-mother of a teenager. If providing a full suite of services ranging from QuickBooks training to CFO consulting wasn’t enough, the firm can offer all their services in seven languages.

A tri-athlete and adamant volunteer with the Avalon Park Kiwanis Club, Cantor says being a woman and a business owner has never hindered her. In fact, sometimes it helps. “Being a woman can be an advantage as some clients respond better to women, especially when they are in financial distress,” she says.

“We are small enough to be able to care about each of our clients and yet diversified enough to be their outsourced accounting firm that can help them maintain order, save money and give them more free time,” she says. “The bottom line is that if it’s important to our clients, it’s important to us and you can take that to the bank!”

Name: Dalia Cantor

Position: Owner and Founder

Company: Avalon Park Accounting

Yrs of Experience: 14

Phone: 407-275-3202

E-mail: DCantor@AvalonParkAccounting.com

Web site: www.AvalonParkAccounting.com

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Patti Dorrell

Patti Dorrell, program director of NeuroRestorative Avalon Park, knows without a doubt she is making a difference in the lives of her clients every day. The NeuroRestorative facility in the Keith A. Ewing Medical Building is the only one of its kind in Florida. There, the expert team working alongside Dorrell offers post-acute rehabilitation services for adults with brain and spinal cord injuries as well as other neurological challenges.

“We chose to open in Avalon Park to provide our participants easy access to participate in a community setting,” she says. “As a company we believe all individuals belong in a community and we’re able to easily do that here.”

Offering a continuum of care and rehabilitation options, including active duty service members and veterans, Dorrell loves the autonomy she has in her current role all the while being able to help people during a vulnerable time in their life.

“I think the nicest compliment I ever received was someone telling me they were thrilled to discover they could achieve enough independence to live alone again,” she says.

Name: Patti Dorrell

Position: Program Director

Company: NeuroRestorative Avalon Park

Yrs of Experience: 25 plus

Phone: 321.354.0023 x 2021

E-mail: Patricia.Dorrell@TheMentorNetwork.com

Web site: www.NeuroRestorative.com

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Jennifer Englert - Paula Leite - Kate Martin

Three heads are better than one. That’s the approach that Jennifer Englert, Paula Leite and Kate Martin have taken with their full service law firm, representing clients in almost every legal scenario one may face.

Friends, mothers and partners, the three have successfully created a “community” law office, combining the surplus of services offered by larger firms with the personal touch found in smaller practices. “We all have different specialties so we work together with one client to make sure all their needs are met in one spot,” says Englert. “They are not a number to us because we really take their needs very personally. They’re friends and neighbors.”

The three joined after spending time at larger firms. “We opened our own practice so we could spend time with clients the way we want, plus have the ability to do pro bono work,” says Leite.

“We go out of our way to help clients by meeting them in their homes, jobs and even the hospital,” says Martin. “We’ll do whatever it takes to help honestly, because that’s how we’d want to be treated.”

Name: Jennifer Englert/Paula Leite/Kate Martin

Position: Partners

Company: Englert, Leite & Martin, PL

Yrs of Experience: 12

Phone: 407-512-4394

E-mail: Contact@ELMattorneys.com

Web site: www.ELMattorneys.com

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Veronica Figueroa

People like Veronica Figueroa are just plain driven. On top of being a wife and mother of five (four of which are teenagers), she is also owner of two Avalon area businesses - Avalon Town Center Realty and Avalon Sweet Spot, formerly known as Pop Pop’s Ice Cream.

“No matter what the business is, my company philosophy is to always make the customer feel special,” she says. In fact, she contributes her success to customer service and creating lasting relationships. “Real estate is my passion and I project that passion to my clients and they appreciate that. The same with the ice cream shop, people want to feel positive energy and see smiling faces, and it always helps when we can remember your favorite ice cream, too!”

Her goal is to own the number one real estate office in Avalon and have one of the community’s favorite hangouts with Sweet Spot. “My family loves Avalon Park and we’re just doing our part to make the community that much better,” she says.

Name: Veronica Figueroa

Position/Company: Broker/Owner, Avalon Town Center Realty and Owner, Avalon Sweet Spot

Years of Experience: 10 years in real estate

Phone: 407-207-1053 (Avalon Town Center Realty), 407-207-1939 (Avalon Sweet Spot)

E-mail: Veronica@ATCrealty.com

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Shelly Gref

What do you get when you combine high quality food, low prices and a friendly, community-first atmosphere? Eastside Bistro, of course. When Shelly and her husband, Paul, decided to open their own restaurant, they knew they wanted it to be in their Avalon Park community. “We decided to go back to what we love: people, food and wine,” says Gref. “We wanted it here because it’s where we’re raising our two sons, where we go to church and where we support non-profits. It’s home.”

Since opening several years ago, the restaurant has continued to grow, thanks in large part to the owner’s attitude. “We try our best for every customer and I think they appreciate that,” says Gref.

The busy mother says the best part of being a successful small business owner is her schedule, “I never miss anything that my children are involved in because I just take the day off whenever they have ball games, school events or sleepovers.”

Asked what keeps her motivated, Gref says it’s easy: “Every morning I see those two boys run down the stairs I am motivated all over again.”

Name: Shelly Gref

Position: Owner

Company: Eastside Bistro

Yrs of Experience: 15+ years

Phone: 407-381-0096

E-mail: EastsideBistroAvalon@Yahoo.com

Web site: www.EastsideBistroAtAvalon.com

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Liz Jones

Liz Jones has always wanted to own her own business. When she finally decided it was time make her dream come true - in her spare time between raising two daughters and singing for the band Crash Reality - she knew exactly what she wanted to do. “I have had a love for photography since I was in elementary school so that’s why, with the support of my amazing husband, friends and family, I formed Your Story Photography,” she says.

Offering clients a fun, unique interaction coupled with affordable prices and packages has made the business a success. “I want people to have lasting memories and I will do whatever it takes to make that happen,” she says. “My favorite compliment is when clients tell me they cried watching their DVD photo slideshow. That’s when I know I did my job.”

Jones says one of her favorite aspects of owning her own business, aside from working for herself, is connecting with the people of Avalon. “In order to run any business you have to realize it’s all about the people, and the people here are amazing,” she says.

Name: Liz Jones

Position: Owner

Company: Your Story Photography

Yrs of Experience: A Lifetime!

Phone: 407-616-2202

E-mail: Liz@YourStoryPhotographyFL.com

Web site: www.YourStoryPhotographyFL.com

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Sheila Lafont

As a mother of two and Vice President, Branch Manager of the FAIRWINDS Credit Union Avalon Park branch, Sheila Lafont promises that she will be there every step of the way for her members, whether there’s an issue or not. “I am not a typical 9am-5pm banker because I’ll work nights and weekends - whatever it takes really; and people tell me all the time how happy they are with the level of personalization and service they receive at Fairwinds,” she says.

Whether it’s picking up the phone at any time of day or just researching a member’s question to come up with the best answer, Lafont is as detail-oriented as they come in the world of banking. And, according to her, working for a credit union makes it that much better. “We are owned by our members and as a financial cooperative, they receive the benefits of owning the organization in the form of better rates, lower costs and enhanced products and services,” she says.

“Most importantly though, our members know we care. We care about them, their money and their time.”

Name: Sheila Lafont

Position: VP, Branch Manager

Company: Fairwinds Credit Union

Yrs of Experience: 19

Phone: 407.515.3054

E-mail: SLafont@Fairwinds.org

Web site: www.Fairwinds.org

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T’Kea Le Grande

Going the extra mile is a daily occurrence for T’Kea Le Grande and her studio, Avalon Dance. In fact, she says that she hopes her clients and students expect it of her and her staff. A family-centered dance studio teaching both traditional and nontraditional dance classes to students aged two to adult, Avalon Dance offers something for any dance enthusiast. “We develop all of our dancers by teaching them dance as a discipline, but also how to translate that discipline into their lives,” says Le Grande.

For her, the best part about owning her own business is coming to work every day doing something she loves. “In addition to my 3-year-old daughter, I find something new each day that motivates and inspires me to be better than I was the day before,” she says. “Every time I enter the studio and see the faces of the young lives I have the potential to affect, I push myself to dig deeper and do more. Every student at Avalon Dance deserves that.”

Name: T’Kea Le Grande

Position:  Owner/Artistic Director of Avalon Dance

Company: Avalon Dance: The Performing Arts Company

Yrs of Experience: 26 years of dancing, 11 years of teaching

Phone: 407.380.3444

E-mail: TKea.LeGrande@Yahoo.com

Web site: www.AvalonDance.net

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Michelle Owens

Michelle Owens’ Yoga East Studio opened because she wanted to share her and her husband’s love of yoga with her neighbors in Avalon Park. Prior to opening this summer, the nearest yoga studio was a 45 minute drive and that just didn’t sit right with the married couple of 23 years. Since opening, the Owens family has created a unique retreat from the hectic pace of everyday life where visitors can let go of their worries guilt-free.

“As soon as people walk into Yoga East they relax their shoulders, lower their voices and smile, and that’s before they’ve been to class or gotten their massage,” she says. “We draw a great deal of energy from our minds and bodies, yet rarely take time to recharge them. When people come here we teach them that the time they take for themselves is required nourishment for a healthy mind, body and spirit.”

Owens says knowing her family has supported her since day one makes it that much easier. “Knowing we’re doing this together helps me crawl out of bed for our 6:00 a.m. yoga classes,” she jokes.

Name: Michelle A. Owens

Position: Owner

Company: Yoga East Studio

Yrs of Experience: First time business owner.

Phone: 407.730.3257

E-mail: Michelle@YogaEastOrlando.com

Web site: www.YogaEastOrlando.com

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Teena Patel

Owning a dog is so much more than a bowl of food, a walk here and there and an occasional bath. Educating dog owners and helping them truly understand and bond with their four-legged friends is what University of Doglando and Groom, Grub & Belly Rub is all about for founder and owner, Teena Patel. “Our services are different because we really care,” she says. “It’s our dedication to canine welfare and our understanding, knowledge and expertise in the industry that make us leaders of the pack.”

Being a dog lover her entire life, Patel opened her businesses after extensive research, certification and a tour of 30 different dog daycares throughout the U.S. “I have seen what is out there and I wanted to provide a more natural environment for dogs,” she says.

Although the experience hasn’t been easy every step of the way, Patel wouldn’t trade it. “We work toward education, enrichment, welfare and wellbeing and there’s no better feeling than reaching your goals in business or with each individual client and dog,” she says.

Name: Teena Patel

Position: Founder, Owner

Company: University of Doglando and Groom Grub & Belly Rub

Yrs of Experience: 14 years

Phone:  407.832.3763

E-mail: Info@Doglando.com

Web site: www.Doglando.com, www.GroomGrub.com

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Debby Staab

When you do what you love, it shows. That’s one of the reasons that Debby Staab has been successful in her eight years owning Primrose School at Avalon Park. For her, the decision on where parents should take their children for their early childhood education is an easy one. “We differentiate ourselves from other childcare facilities with the implementation of onsite ownership, strong management, a proven curriculum and high quality educators,” she says.

For her, the best part of owning a business in Avalon is being part of a community that focuses so much on family. “I enjoy seeing the children grow from infants to young children ready for their next level of education,” she says. “I enjoy being a part of their family more than anything.”

Staab wholeheartedly believes children are the most precious treasures their parents have. “My philosophy is grounded in my love for children,” she says. That philosophy has paid off, as most new Primrose students are referred by existing parents and alumni. In fact, the mantra has been so successful that a new Primrose School will open in Lake Nona in 2012 under Staab’s ownership.

Name: Debby Staab

Position: Owner

Company: Primrose School at Avalon Park

Yrs of Experience: 11 Years

Phone: 407.737.1500

E-mail: DStaab@NE.com

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Kristen Swanson-Mace

Kristin Swanson-Mace is something of an anomaly in the field of successful defense lawyers simply because most in the field are part of large firms. As the sole practitioner of her own practice she specializes in the area of workers’ compensation defense for employers, carriers and self-insured.

But, owning her own firm is the way she likes it, not only because she can offer her clients one-on-one counseling services, personally tending to them as she sees fit, but because owning her own practice allows her to make the day-to-day decisions all the while focusing on what’s most important to her: family. “Going out on my own helped me create a balance between family and career,” she says.

Recently selected to Orlando Home & Leisure magazine’s “Top Women Lawyers” in their June 2011 issue, the Providence College and the California Western School of Law graduate says she sets herself apart from the competition by helping clients in any way she can, whenever she can.

“I have a lot of compassion for people who are hurting; and I try to help them resolve their problems as best I can,” she says.

Name: Kristin Swanson-Mace

Position: President

Company: Law Offices of Kristin Swanson-Mace

Years of Experience: 25 years

Phone: 407.380.9995

E-mail: WCatty@msn.com

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Dr. Cecilia Tesinsky

Balancing home, work and family life is nothing new for the husband and wife optometry team of Cecilia and Ken Tesinsky, who just celebrated their two year anniversary of opening Avalon Park Eye Care. In addition to raising their two boys, a two and 4-year-old, the couple aims to provide the best eye care and eyewear products available in the area.

“One of the things we take pride in is that we spend time with our patients to give them the best eye exam possible while making sure their ocular health needs and concerns are addressed,” says Tesinsky. “While offering the most current fashions in eyewear, we also use the most advanced products in contact and eyeglass lenses, so there’s a real blend of fashion and science in our office.”

Since simultaneously moving to Avalon Park and starting their business, the couple’s favorite aspect has been meeting and getting to know their patients and neighbors. “The residents and patrons of Avalon Park are amazing,” she says. “It feels wonderful to be able to not only provide care, but to also be a part of such a great community.”

Name: Cecilia Tesinsky

Position: Optometrist/Owner

Company: Avalon Park Eye Care

Yrs of Experience: 8

Phone: 407.567.9955

E-mail: Info@AvalonParkEyeCare.com

Website: www.AvalonParkEyeCare.com

We all know driving downtown or to Winter Park to catch a play or concert can be a hassle. Luckily, there are a few local alternatives for you to add some culture to your daily routine, and they won’t even break the bank. There are plenty of good performances to catch in East Orlando - you just have to know where to look for them.

The local high schools are a great place to start. The performing arts departments usually put on a few different shows each semester, and the best part is that they’re both family-friendly and affordable.

This November, the Timber Creek Thespians are performing a modern retelling of the Greek classic “Oedipus Rex.” This play is based on a new, unpublished version of the script that theater instructor and Timber Creek Thespian co-sponsor, Elizabeth Horn, describes as “sleek and sophisticated.”

The Timber Creek Thespians are also putting on two musicals next year, starting with “A Chorus Line” in January.

“It’s [A Chorus Line] actually based on a series of real-life interviews with people who are auditioning to be in a chorus line of a musical. The big number people know from the show is ‘One,’” says Horn. “What I love about that production is that it’s completely student-directed.”

The second musical of the year will be “Urinetown,” an after-school production with a cast of 40-50 students.

“‘Urinetown’ is a comedic, social satire about this town that’s having a water shortage so they create laws to limit people’s abilities to use the restroom,” explains Horn.

For other family-friendly shows, check out Magic Curtain Productions, a non-profit organization and theatre group, located in the LifeSong Church in Avalon Park. The theater is non-denominational and offers both a Family Theater and a Little One’s Theater, which generally casts children, ages four through nine.

Magic Curtain was started by Rhonda Cato and her husband as a way to bring performing arts to East Orlando.

“When we first moved to Orlando in 2003, my oldest daughter did performance theater and my younger daughter wanted to get involved,” says Cato. “One of our goals is to bring performing arts to this side of town.”

Another one of their goals is to secure a building for Magic Curtain. In the meantime, they often perform at local schools and on October 22 they’ll be performing “Seussical Jr.” at Discovery Middle School. Then in November, the Little One’s Theater will perform “Beauty and the Beast” at Sunrise Elementary.

“We like to think that the entertainment we provide covers all ages,” says Cato.

Magic Curtain is also bringing “America’s Got Talent” to East Orlando with their version titled “East Orlando’s Got Talent.” The event will be on October 9 at the Avalon Park Amphitheater and the top three winners will win cash and other prizes.

If you’re looking for some adult entertainment, head up to UCF. Its theater department is finishing up its run in October of “Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music,” which mixes country music with a bar setting. Later in the month you can catch “The Pajama Game,” a comedy about a workplace romance that sparks a battle of the sexes.

Or if you just want to see a concert by your favorite artist, head over to the UCF Arena. In November, Kansas will stop by as part of their Collegiate Symphony Tour, and in March the kids can look forward to seeing the  Harlem Globetrotters and Disney Live’s Phineas & Ferb.

Melissa Schaaf, marketing director for the arena, says that the surrounding community is one of the factors taken into account when acts are booked at the arena.

“Family shows have historically done well in our arena, and we always look to bring in acts and events that will appeal to the surrounding community.”

Article by Marisa Ramiccio

Upcoming Shows Mentioned in the Article Above:

Timber Creek High School

Oedipus Rex

Nov. 10-12 at 7 p.m.

Timber Creek High School

$8 in advance, $9 students, $12 adult

A Chorus Line

Jan. 26-28 at 7 p.m., Jan. 28 at 2 p.m.

Timber Creek High School

$8 in advance, $9 students, $12 adult

site.timbercreekthespians.com

Magic Curtain Productions

Seussical Jr.

Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Discovery Middle School

$5 at the door

East Orlando’s Got Talent

Oct. 9 at 2 p.m.

Free to the public

Avalon Park Amphitheater

www.mcptheater.com

UCF Theatre

Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music

October 1 and 6 at 8 p.m., October 2 at 2 p.m.

UCF Black Box Theatre

$17 adult, $15 senior, $10 student

The Pajama Game

October 20-22 and 27-29 at 8 p.m., October 23 and 30 at 2 p.m.

UCF Main Stage

$19 adult, $17 senior, $12 student

www.theatre.ucf.edu

UCF Arena

Kansas

November 5 at 7:30 p.m.

The Venue at UCF Arena

$25-52.50

www.ucfarena.com

I was home watching “Meet the Press” recently and had to rewind my DVR after hearing a statement from  former President Bill Clinton during his discussion about our nation’s economy. To paraphrase, President Clinton clearly stated that Orange County is doing things right and that our modeling and simulation industry is an example for the rest of the nation.

When campaigning for this office, I told you that my focus would be job creation and economic development opportunities. After 10 months, this promise remains my focus and I am pleased to inform you of the policy items that we have recently passed to promote business growth and job creation in our community.

Just this past month, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved $16 million in new infrastructure improvements and community projects for the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget. Recent changes in state law reduced Orange County Government’s contribution to the Florida Retirement System, making funds available for a series of projects including roadway and pedestrian safety improvements, park upgrades, drainage and water quality improvements and economic development.

The list of upgrades includes 50 sidewalk, 18 roadway, four intersection, two traffic-calming and three guide-signs projects throughout the county. Approximately $2 million of infrastructure improvements are planned in District 4. These infrastructure improvements will improve safety at some of Orange County’s most dangers intersections as well as help provide construction and transportation jobs. I personally drove the entire district with the Orange County Public Works department and feel confident that the improvements being made are necessary in order to save the County and taxpayers in long-term expenses.

I am proud to have championed a job creation component to the above project list as well. The BCC allocated $500,000 to enhance economic development programs at UCF specifically to assist second stage local companies looking to add employees and grow in Orange County. In preparing this economic development package for the BCC’s consideration, I worked with the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and Seminole County Government to secure an additional $550,000 allocation to help second stage companies in our region.

Additionally, a $50,000 grant will help the Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF) provide race-neutral micro-loans to small businesses. If you are a small business owner in need of capital and do not qualify for traditional SBA lending, I encourage you to seek out the BBIF and find out about the program.

The BCC also approved a referendum to be placed on the Presidential Preferential Primary in February that would allow for tax abatement for qualified targeted businesses looking to locate and/or expand here.

Redistricting Progress Update

The final map proposals for redistricting can be viewed at www.ocfl.net/rac. The final proposals will be brought before the BCC on November 15 at 2 p.m. As the results of redistricting will play in a role in the future of Orange County for every one of us, I urge you to review the maps and forward your comments to all members of the BCC.

New District 4 Staff Member

I’m pleased to announce the addition of Jason Russo to our District 4 team as a Commissioner’s Aide.  Jason was born and raised in New Orleans, LA and is a longtime Stoneybrook resident. He received his B.S. in accounting from Louisiana State University and his B.A. in Spanish from UCF. Jason is an active member of the East Orange Chamber of Commerce where he served on the Board of Directors for five years. He is a member of Saint Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Avalon Park.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact my office at (407) 836-5881 or email me at Jennifer.Thompson@OCFL.net. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Article by Jennifer Thompson, Orange County Commissioner, District 4

You may never be able to honor those who gave their lives in the name of everything this country stands for enough. But you sure can try. That’s the underlying idea behind the proposed world-class memorial to be built adjacent to the new VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Lake Nona. Designed to be a quiet place where tranquility meets art, the memorial is more than just a monument.

“Nowhere else in the country will have a place like this where veterans and their families can go,” says Jerry Pierce, president of the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation. “It’s really a place for healing.”

Honoring more than 1,100 veterans who left never to return from Orange, Lake, Brevard, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties, the memorial is to be located adjacent to the VAMC across the south entrance facing a lake. Having both state-of-the-art healthcare for veterans and a healing place for their families and friends is something no other VA hospital in the country can claim.

The memorial stems from the hearts and minds of some of Orlando’s most proud veterans. “We thought it was a great time to do something to really help other people,” says Pierce. “This is nothing more than a story about a group of veterans volunteering their time to help other veterans. If we hadn’t stepped forward to do this, the hospital and the memorial wouldn’t have happened.”

A joint community project from the beginning, land for the memorial was provided by Lake Nona Land Development with control of use, design, monument specifications, and events to be retained by the Central Florida Memorial Park Foundation. In the early stages of the project, RLF Architects of Winter Park stepped up to contribute substantial design and engineering-related services on a no fee basis.

“A healing environment is part of healing itself,” says Drama Therapist and Trauma Specialist, Anne Curtis, RDT, CTSS of Maitland, Florida.  “Integrating this Memorial with the hospital’s services creates the two most important elements to one’s health — the hospital’s strength as a care provider and the Park’s meditative environment.”

Curtis says that the RLF team has created unique healing spaces through their design by integrating architecture and healing arts. “The memorial symbolizes the resilience of the human spirit and the powerful connection between generations.  It honors the patriotism of generations who came before us, the hope of those who struggle to make our world a better place and our faith in the enduring miracle of life.”

Scheduled to begin construction in January of 2012, the next major hurdle for the memorial is to raise more funds that will be used for construction of the monument and, eventually, an endowment fund that will allow for community events, maintenance and more. They have currently raised more than $400,000 on their way to an initial goal of $1 million.

“The site is designed to say that, as a community, Orlando cares and wants to honor those individuals who gave their lives to let us live ours,” says Pierce. “The next step is to grow awareness and get the community involved so we can begin construction.”

Article by Corey Gehrold