Recruitment Committee Resources

Welcome to the 2O24-2O25 Recruitment Committee Info Hub!

This page will provide the resources you need to have a successful Recruitment Program by providing links to all resources, forms, and instructions in one place.   

The Recruitment Committee is responsible for ensuring that Leadership Florida has the best possible candidates from across Florida applying for our upcoming classes. This committee’s work typically begins with a welcome call in December and is completed in early February when the application goes live on the Leadership Florida website. During these few months, Leadership Florida will share and update the list of Intent to Apply candidates from each Region that we have on file. We will also hold a series of conference calls to check in with the committee and answer any questions or discuss issues that may arise during the recruitment process.

Committee members assist with planning recruitment events and developing strategies to recruit members who fit the goals, mission, and vision of Leadership Florida. They may also be called upon to assist candidates with application preparation. 

Click here to view the Recruitment Committee Planning Guide


Time Commitment & Timeline

November 2024 – Welcome call and lists distributed
December 2024 – January 2025 – Recruitment events take place
January 2025 – Leadership Florida-hosted recruitment webinar
February 4, 2025 – Class applications open
March 4, 2025 – Class application deadline


Recruitment Tips/Best Practices

All members are recruiters, formally or informally! With everyone’s help, we can attract the best candidates. Below are some tips you can refer to as you engage in the recruitment process.

Identify the target audience.

  • Where are the “holes” based on Geography/Race/Organization/Gender (GROG) data that we need to focus on?

How can we best reach them?

  • Online/social media opportunities
    • Personal member accounts and Leadership Florida accounts – share event photos (create FOMO), share member testimonial videos
  • Face-to-face/event opportunities
    • Personal network (your workplace, community organization, clubs, etc.)
    • Leadership Florida recruitment events

How can we leverage existing partnerships for this?

How do we follow up once we have a lead?

  • Who should follow up? How many times? How (email, phone, in person)?
ENSURE THEY SUBMIT AN INTENT TO APPLY FORM

How do we measure effectiveness?

  • End goal is applications – does the applicant pool meet the GROG needs?

Helpful Data Points

Active, dues-paying members (including 150 new class members for 2024-2025) by county as of July 24, 2024:

  • Statewide: 1,640
  • Out of State: 50
  • Total:  1,690

Counties with no active members:

  • Baker
  • Calhoun
  • Columbia
  • Dixie
  • Gilchrist
  • Glades
  • Gulf
  • Hamilton
  • Holmes
  • Lafayette
  • Levy
  • Liberty
  • Madison
  • Suwannee
  • Taylor
  • Union


Recruitment Committee

  • Merritt Martin
    Merritt Martin
    Chief of Staff Moffitt Cancer Center
    Connect Recruitment Chair
  • LaShawn Frost
    LaShawn Frost
    Principal Sarasota County School District
    Education Recruitment Chair
  • Mike Griffin
    Mike Griffin
    Vice Chairman, Co-Head of Florida Region Savills
    Cornerstone Recruitment Chair
  • Stephanie Smith
    Stephanie Smith
    VP, State & Regional Affairs TECO Energy
    West Central Representative
  • Ashley Boxer
    Ashley Boxer
    Founder and President The Boxer Strategy
    Gold Coast Representative
  • Randall Vitale
    Randall Vitale
    President BBX Capital Partners
    Gold Coast Representative
  • Alex Price
    Alex Price
    Price Consulting Solutions Price Consulting Solutions
    Gulfstream Representative
  • Melissa McKinlay
    Melissa McKinlay
    VP, Government Relations WGI
    Gulfstream Representative
  • Dan DeLeo
    Dan DeLeo
    Equity Partner/Attorney Shumaker
    Calusa Representative
  • Sara Herald
    Sara Herald
    Attorney Bilzin Sumberg
    Southeast Representative
  • Angie Santibanez
    Angie Santibanez
    Senior Manager, Community Engagement, Public Policy Amazon
    Southeast Representative
  • Paola Parra Harris
    Paola Parra Harris
    Founder / President Parra Harris Law
    Northeast Representative
  • Shamika Wright
    Shamika Wright
    Vice President of External Affairs UF Health Jacksonville
    Northeast Representative
  • Jay Galbraith
    Jay Galbraith
    President BRIDG
    East Central Representative
  • Michelle Alban
    Michelle Alban
    VP of Communications and Social Impact Paramount
    East Central Representative
  • Ginny Dailey
    Ginny Dailey
    Shareholder Shumaker
    Northwest Representative
  • Maicel Green
    Maicel Green
    Partner Capital City Consulting
    Northwest Representative
  • Christin Collins
    Christin Collins
    Interconnected Wellbeing Advocate Christin Collins, LLC
    Southwest Representative
  • PJ Bimonte
    PJ Bimonte
    Manager, Service Operations Arthrex
    Southwest Representative