2O21 Annual Meeting "Together Again"

Mary O'Hara-Devereaux, Ph.D., is one of the world's leading futurists and business forecasters, a sought-after keynote speaker, and the author of such best-selling books as Navigating the Badlands: Thriving in the Decade of Radical Transformation. She has established a global reputation as a steady-eyed forecaster and strategy partner whose legendary trend-spotting and analysis have helped thousands of senior executives around the world scan, scout, and steer their way to targets no one else can see. 

Mary is a trusted and respected advisor to Chief Executives (CE) and has more than 25 years of global experience providing private companies, government entities, and non-profits with long-term socio-economic forecasts, trend analysis, strategy, and innovation support to support them making better decisions and make sense out of the future.

Lori Borgman is a newspaper columnist, author and speaker.  Her newspaper column touches on a wide array of topics, plus she is the author of seven books, including humor books like “I Was a Better Mother Before I Had Kids,” “All Stressed Up and No Place to Go,” “My Memory is Shot; All I Retain Now is Water” and her humorous holiday novel “Catching Christmas.” She has also written a gentle book on passing the faith to the next generation titled, “Pass the Faith, Please.” Lori may be best known for her small but cheeky book, “The Death of Common Sense and Those Who Knew Him,” based on her obituary for Common Sense.  Her latest book, “What Happens at Grandma’s Stays at Grandma’s” was released March 2021

She is a frequent speaker at a variety of events, including the Spouses of Congress event at the U.S. Capitol.

She also is the author of the popular essay, “The Death of Common Sense” which has gone viral, having been published in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia, Ireland, Finland, Iceland, Portugal, Spain, the Philippines and Greece.  Her latest hit book just published is “What Happens at Grandma’s Stays at Grandma’s.”

Dale Jones is one of the world’s top CEO and board leadership consultants. In 2020 Jones was awarded the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants’ Award of Excellence. He focuses exclusively on finding and attracting CEO and board-level talent for clients seeking authentic leadership—and capacity to lead. A native of Dallas, he grew up as the son of a shoe cobbler/janitor and a teacher, which has fueled his lifelong commitment to service and passion to help others fully realize their potential. Peers share, "Dale is one of the search industry’s leading and loudest voices advocating for the corporate social responsibility imperative. Dale believes in the power of shared values, and the critical mission of being an organization that carries purpose beyond profits."

Dale began his career in banking. He later entered the field of executive search and leadership consulting, joining Heidrick & Struggles as managing partner of the Atlanta office (1999-2007). In 2007, he worked for Revolution LLC, a venture-backed firm that funded efforts to provide clean drinking water to Africa. In 2009, Dale returned to Heidrick & Struggles where he helped lead the firm’s CEO and board practice in North America. He became CEO of Diversified Search in 2013.  Jones is a corporate board member of Northwestern Mutual Corp. and serves in not-for-profit roles at Morehouse College and The Special Olympics. He’s frequently quoted in the media and contributes regularly as a speaker and instructor at Georgetown University.

Alex Sheen is the Founder of because I said I would, a social movement and nonprofit dedicated to bettering humanity through promises made and kept. Sparked by the loss of his father, Alex and his organization send “promise cards” to anyone anywhere in the world at no cost. Alex is someone who truly honors commitment. He once walked over 240 miles across the entire state of Ohio in 10 days to fulfill a promise. In just two years, because I said I would has sent over 9.81 million promise cards to over 153 different countries. The promises written on these cards have made headlines around the world. His charitable projects and awareness campaigns have been featured on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, CNN, The Today Show, NPR, The Los Angeles Times and many other programs.

FULL BIO: Alex Sheen

TERRY P. LEWIS (Cornerstone Class 12)
Circuit Judge (Ret); Of counsel to firm of Messer Caparello
Shortly after Terry became a judge, he began work on a novel. Eight years later, in 1997, his first novel, Conflict of Interest, was published. Privileged Information followed in 2003, and Delusional in 2013, all legal thrillers, set in or near Tallahassee. His fourth novel, Incognito, released in 2021, is an historical thriller set in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776 and revolves around a plot to assassinate key leaders of the Continental Congress. Incognito received the Florida Authors and Publishers Association’s Book Award in three categories: Bronze in Historical Fiction; Gold in General Fiction and Gold in Mystery /Suspense.

AMY MANGAN (Cornerstone Class 37)
Director, Stakeholder Engagement, Duke Energy
This Side Up (2018) - The Road to a Renovated Life is a home and garden editor’s story of a life constantly under construction, none by design. Written with candor, humor and grace, Amy Mangan shares her own home tour, but this one deftly sheds light on job loss, financial shame, home displacement, marital discord, illness and caregiving. Faced with one crisis after the next, Amy discovers how to cope, hope and rebuild, finding a new way home to a stronger way of life. 

Accent Pieces (2021) - A personal homage to creating the life you want right where you are. Amy's collection of essays makes sense of life, home, love, heartache and friendships, all while sharing a decorating tip or two.

 

KIMBERLY MENCHION (Cornerstone Class 39)
General Counsel, Florida Education Association
Make the Pitch…Get the Results (2017) -  A high-impact fast read book designed to help women entrepreneurs who are serious about success to harness the power of persuasion to grow their business through pitching their ideas, products, and services. Make the Pitch is a must-read for women determined to accomplish their dreams. Find out how to win contracts, gain strategic business partners, and obtain financial support and spotlight opportunities to grow your business and propel your big idea.

ELY ROSARIO (Cornerstone Class 39)
Business Manager, Jackson Properties & Financial Services
Own Your Fire (2021) - Ely Rosario takes us through the lessons of her childhood, from the highs of motherhood, graduate school, and a successful career to the harrowing lows of a ten-year marriage to an alcoholic. With determination, grit, and self-motivation, Ely has overcome unimaginable difficulties to become a noted speaker, a marathon and Ironman finisher, a respected businesswoman in her community, and most importantly, the mother of three amazing children.  Sharing directly from her own life, Ely inspires those facing their own personal challenges.  Ely uses encouraging humor and straight talk to guide others in how to develop the skills and positive habits to set boundaries, create coping skills, and break free of unhealthy patterns. If this speaks to you, know that you are not alone. You may have heard these words before, but now you’re finally ready to take the first step. Make the decision to have a better, healthier life—get ready to Own Your Fire.

SHERRY HARTNETT (Cornerstone Class 39)
Marketing Professor/Director, Executive Mentor Program,
University of West Florida
High-Impact Mentoring: A Practical Guide to Creating Value in Other People's Lives (2021). Mentoring transforms lives and organizations. This book shows you how to do it right. Former Waffle House President and COO Bert Thornton and Founding Director of the University of West Florida's Executive Mentor Program Dr. Sherry Hartnett have combined to write the first-ever practical guide for remarkably effective one-on-one mentoring and scaling that effort up to build your own organization's outstanding mentoring program for rising stars. Sherry shares her step-by-step framework that instructs organization leaders on installing a successfully structured mentoring program in a small, medium or large organization.  At a time when people crave strong work relationships and a sense of connection—and employees expect to be developed—a good mentoring program is your secret weapon for attracting and retaining high performers.

Consider these fun activities for your free time, includes area restaurants for dining options.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Opening Reception - 6:3O-7:3O PM

 Join this grand reunion of Leadership Florida members and your families to kick off the weekend’s Annual Meeting festivities.  This reception is always a favorite event to reconnect, but this will indeed be a wonderful celebration with 874 days since the last Annual Meeting!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13

Welcome & Opening - 8:3O AM

Come early for breakfast at 7:45 AM

A morning of fantastic speakers will start your day.  Afterward, you will be free to create your own special afternoon at the pool, on the beach, shopping, or just hanging out with hundreds of your best friends. 

FEATURED SPEAKERS 

David Brooks - Journalist & Political Analyst

Mary O'Hara-Devereaux - Futurist & Author

Lori Borgman - Humorist, Newspaper Columnist & Author

Dale Jones - CEO, Diversified Search

Morning program concludes - 12:4O PM

Free Time!

Evening Reception - 6:3O PM

Saturday Evening Gala - 7:3O PM

EVENING (Adults): No Annual Meeting would be complete with the Saturday Evening Gala, an evening filled with dining, dancing, and entertainment. 

EVENING (Kids): And for the younger crowd, no Annual Meeting would be complete without Kids Nite Out!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14

Opening Session - 9:OO AM

More engaging speakers are lined up for Sunday morning to complete your Annual Meeting weekend.

FEATURED SPEAKERS 

Alex Sheen - Motivational Speaker & Founder of "because I said I would"

Leadership Florida Writers' Circle

Annual Meeting Ends at Noon

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED!

Onsite Registration will be available.

The Diplomat Beach Resort will be the beautiful venue for the 2021 Annual Meeting.  

For registration cancellations on or before October 29, Leadership Florida will provide a full registration refund, less a $75 processing fee per adult registration or a $25 processing fee per child registration. 

Daily a-la-carte registrations will incur a $25 processing fee per day registered.

Cancellations after that date (October 29) are non-refundable.

Hotel reservations must be cancelled more than 5 days prior to check-in day.  All cancellations should be made through the hotel reservations desk.

Who is invited to the Leadership Florida Annual Meeting?

All Leadership Florida members are invited and encouraged to attend.  It is a time of reunions, getting together with your class members and meeting new friends. 

To register, members must be in good standing, including current dues being paid.

Can I bring my family?

Of course!  There will even be special programming designed just for the younger crowd (under 18 years old).

Who else can I bring?

Registration and attendance at all Leadership Florida Annual Meetings are limited to members and immediate family members.  In addition, members are allowed to bring a 'significant other' that they are currently in a relationship with.

While other guests are occasionally invited to designated Leadership Florida events, the Annual Meeting is not intended for business partners, potential recruits, or past Leadership Florida members that are not current on membership dues.

Do I have to attend the entire event?

No.  We realize other commitments may prevent you from spending the entire weekend with us.  On the Registration page, you will find several different tickets.  Purchase only the one that works best for you.

How do I register for the hotel at the special rate?

After registration, you will receive a confirmation email.  This will include a link to the special hotel registration link and your unique code.  Do not share this code.

I did not receive my confirmation email. What should I do?

First, please check your spam folder.  If you still do not see your confirmation email, please email (communications@leadershipflorida.org) for assistance.  

Event Contacts:

Registration:  Kristin Mullikin

Billing:  Gjergj Ndoja, Justin Frankel