On the Road to 2030 – February 2024 Update
By: Don Kiselewski, Executive Director of External Affairs, Florida Power & Light Company; Chair, Florida Chamber Foundation Board of Trustees
The Florida Chamber Foundation team continues to build momentum behind the Florida 2030 Blueprint’s mission of securing Florida’s future as a top 10 global economy, prioritizing and leading the strategic conversations that will help us achieve this objective. I’m proud to share with you an update on our Chamber Foundation team uniting leaders on the road to 2030.
President Mark Wilson on the Road:
Mark recently had the opportunity to keynote the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Economic Forecast delivering economic insights for Leon County and Florida while challenging local leaders to rally behind making the County the first in the state to have 100% kindergarten readiness and 100% of 3rd grade literacy. Check out this news clip featuring Mark on ABC 27.
Mark also met with several state leaders from the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Volusia County Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Florida while they paid a visit to Tallahassee for Legislative Session to align on the Florida 2030 mission.
Senior Vice President of Equality of Opportunity Kyle Baltuch on the Road:
Kyle provided an economic forecast to 1,200 attendees at the Broward Workshop’s State of the County.
Kyle, Leadership Cabinet President Katie Yeutter, and SVP of Investor Relations Aaron Kinnon traveled to New Hampshire to meet with Dean Kamen, Founder of DEKA Research and Development, to learn more about the efforts of the FIRST Foundation and their national movement to increase STEM participation in schools throughout America.
Kyle served as a “Celebrity Reader” during Children’s Week Florida, pictured here with new Foundation Board Trustee Erin Smeltzer, President & CEO of Children’s Forum.
Senior Director of Future of Work Rachel Ludwig on the Road:
Rachel recently had the opportunity to provide an update on our Future of Work Florida Initiative’s efforts to secure Florida’s workforce and discuss supply/demand challenges at the Waste Management Florida Area Annual Meeting and with the Adult & Community Educators (ACE) of Florida Administrator Leadership Institute.
Also, in case you missed it, Rachel has been selected to be a part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Business Leads Fellowship Program which focuses on developing business leaders to be education and workforce champions in their community. Rachel recently flew to D.C. to discuss the national talent crisis with 35 fellows from across the U.S. Congratulations, Rachel!
Equality of Opportunity Coordinator Zenani Johnson on the Road:
Zenani helped us continue to shed light on Florida’s early learning and childcare crises at Wake Up Naples!, an event hosted by the Greater Naples Chamber. During her presentation, Zenani highlighted the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Untapped Potential research and provided an economic update for Florida and overview of the Florida Equality of Opportunity Initiative.
I would like to wrap up this update by welcoming the following individuals and their companies to the Board of Trustees. On behalf of the entire Board, we look forward to engaging with you on the solutions to grow and propel our great state!
Our next Board meeting will be held the day prior to our 2024 Florida Learners to Earners Workforce Solution Summit in Tampa on June 25. If you haven’t already done so, please be sure to register for our June 25 Board of Trustees Meeting HERE> and the June 26 Learners to Earners event HERE>.
Stay tuned for more updates next month on the momentum-building efforts of our Chamber Foundation team to secure Florida’s future.
Don