June, 2009:

Two heads are better than one. There’s strength in numbers. Whatever you want to call it, working together to get things done leads to increased collaboration, manpower and results. Now more than ever, we have to take these words to heart. Whether we’re talking about businesses, residents, non-profit organizations, governments, school systems – the message is the same: we have to do more with less.

Today, we must work together, lean on each other, to get things done. As many of us face a time where there are less pennies to save, there are plenty more to be earned. However, how we go about acquiring them is changing. And it’s not just for the proverbial pennies either. The same goes for donations, government issues, our respective workplaces and even our homes.

Ideal partnerships involve joining with someone who has similar values to your own. You want someone with similar moral convictions but with a different skill set so you are both benefiting from the arrangement. The idea is to operate more efficiently to get things done with less, and it is vital as we push forward. Each entity should also be fluid or adaptable to change. Even though each will have their specific roles, they must understand that shifting tasks, responsibilities and even goals will sometimes be necessary. Remember it’s alright if you disagree. Each entity in the partnership has to keep the others in line, and often better solutions come from disagreement.

As our communities continue to evolve, we must learn to evolve with them. If we have a case where we are forced to maintain the same level of responsibility, but we have less means to accomplish them, to succeed we must find a way to make the circumstances work for us. This is where partnerships come into play in each and every one of our daily lives. The idea is that when you need something, you have someone you can count on. Now is the time to meet that person. Now is the time to grow that network. Now is the time to build those partnerships necessary for continued success at home and at work.

Great communities are built through positive relationships. Meaning the better the relationships in your community, the better the communication. That communication provides insight to an unlimited supply of ideas, resources and feedback. Partnering with more people can open an array of opportunities and new, innovative ways to get things done. That is why it is imperative that we each look at ourselves and our relationships to build the most meaningful partnerships we can.

Now is the time to build these ideal partnerships into every facet of our lives. People around the nation and around the neighborhood are looking for collaborative situations where they can be of assistance. One thing I’ve learned is to never overlook a potential network, because you never know who is going to help your or how they are going to do it. You’d be amazed at just exactly who knows who or what you may need help with one day. Sure, you should plan for an immediate, mutually beneficial partnership, but do not neglect those that can help you in the future. Like I said, now is the time to really get out there and introduce yourself to what’s next in the short-term and the long-term.

As you go through this month, think about the ways your days could be improved if you had a meaningful partnership with someone else. Perhaps it’s a fellow employee. Maybe it’s a grocery clerk. Whatever the case, think of this time as an opportunity to foster your personal and professional growth in a moment where a partnership can be more than a friendship. It can be a life saver.

Think Twice Before Judging a Community by its Cover

When I was growing up, my mother was always trying to teach me right from wrong. Don’t steal, don’t cheat, shower daily – you know, the normal stuff. But, one of the most important lessons I ever learned from them is not to judge a book by its cover. There’s just too much you could miss by looking only at the surface The same goes for people, jobs, food, opportunities and even cities.

By now, living in Central Florida, you are certainly aware of the world-class “Medical City” being built just down the road in Lake Nona. You are aware of the opportunities the site is bringing to the area in terms of the health care industry, retail space, home construction and job creation. But those are the opportunities on the surface, the cover if you will. And, like we just discussed, you should not judge a book solely on its cover.

Yes, the sheer size and magnitude of what’s going on right here gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Being a lifelong Orange County resident, I couldn’t be happier with the new facilities and exciting growth we are experiencing. The UCF Medical School, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, V.A. Hospital, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Anderson Orlando Cancer Research Institute and more. That’s right, there are more coming. These facilities will change the way the world thinks of us as a region. That’s not even mentioning the growth and stimulus that will be provided from secondary facilities such as outpatient centers, various research initiatives and what have you. But you already knew all that. That’s on the cover.

Inside our cover is where this story begins. What is often overlooked is just how many incredible partnerships the “Medical City” is aiding in below the hype, the numbers and the drool. The trickle-down effect is staggering. With the added jobs and personnel in the area, it was obvious new schools were going to need to be built to house and educate their children. But, what wasn’t so obvious, was just how much the schools were going to benefit from being built on the doorsteps of the biggest thing to hit our area since Disney World. Thanks in part to its location, and forward thinking leadership, Lake Nona High School has entered into a partnership with Valencia Community College and created the LNHS Collegiate Academy. The program will begin offering a medical or business track for students, giving them the unique opportunity to graduate with not only a high school diploma but a full Associate in Arts degree (A.A.) as well.

The school has also developed a unique partnership with Florida Hospital and has created a LNHS Health Academy designed to prepare students for a future in health care related careers by offering courses and hands on training with the Orange County Public Schools Career and Training Education Program that can lead to real world health industry certifications at the end of their high school career.

These programs will not only offer kids in the area a head start on the career of their choosing in the medical or business fields, but will also help to keep the talent local. There is no denying that there is a shortage of doctors, nurses and health care technicians in the country right now. One of the hopes (opportunities) for these partnerships is that once the health care specialists of tomorrow graduate, they will stay in this area and help support the region even further. By keeping the talent local, we will continue to push forward as a region and leader in innovation.

Arguably, one of the most exciting aspects of these new opportunities is just that: these are only two of the dozens, maybe hundreds, of opportunities brought about from the Lake Nona area. There are plenty more in the works you may have never heard about if you judged the “Medical City” by its cover. The positive influence from these industries on our quality of life is endless. From partnerships to opportunities and education to industry, the “Medical City” will continually brighten our region. And you could’ve missed it. Next time, I bet you’ll think twice before you judge a book by its cover.

While it is mostly the people that make Central Florida a great place to live, work and raise a family — certain factors out of our immediate control, contribute to our overall quality of life. One of these factors is transportation and transportation planning. Below are some general observations related to transportation that I have made over the years and that I hope will get our readers thinking about the importance of long-range strategic planning as it relates to building and sustaining our great community.

Do you ever wonder how it is that tens of thousands of homes can be approved in a certain community without first building a roadway network to support the projected growth? We have a funny way of doing things around here. That’s because, traditionally, Central Florida has paid for infrastructure improvements via revenue from growth related activities. Essentially, when all the homes in East Orange County were approved, the revenues generated from our area were being used to pay for the projects already in the pipeline. When growth slows, this flow of money also slows.

Central Floridians don’t want to pay money out of our pockets for ‘luxuries’ such as transportation improvements. Think about it: Our community said ‘no’ to Mobility 20/20, a half penny sales tax proposed several years ago to pay for transportation improvements across Orange County. We often hear about our public bus system needing a dedicated funding source in order to provide its very necessary services to the people of Central Florida, yet no one organization nor person has risen to champion this cause. Even when there is free money on the table from the Federal Government for projects like SunRail, we have yet been able to get it done.

The State of Florida was recently recognized for having the third nicest roads in the entire Country. I’m guessing that those conducting the survey were driving along the toll roads for the most part. Newsflash: these roads are nice because we pay for them. Unlike our County, State and Federal roads, these roads are paid via a user fee. Part of our user fee goes towards keeping them nice. Part of the dollars collected from this recent increase will go towards completing the beltway around the Central Florida region. This may not seem important to all of us, but the completion of the beltway is essential if we are going to safely and efficiently move people to and from their destinations.

If you are reading my observations and are thinking to yourself, “yeah, but what does any of this have to do with me?” then think again. If we want to be a world class sustainable community then significant thought, planning and commitment needs to be put into our long-range transportation goals. It is absolutely necessary if we want to protect our jobs and overall quality of life. We may be experiencing slower than normal growth right now but we cannot count on this to last. In fact, now is the time to plan for tomorrow.

I recently heard former Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty talk about the necessity of protecting what we have in Central Florida. Consider Orlando International Airport for example. OIA is a significant economic contributor to our community yet what is being done to improve ground transportation options near the Airport? If we can’t move passengers, goods and services or employees safely and efficiently then how can we expect airlines to invest in Central Florida? More flights means more tourist. More tourist means protecting our number one industry. When potential companies are looking at Central Florida as a possible home for new jobs or relocation efforts, they often ask about our investment in public transportation. CEOs of big companies want to know how their employees are going to get around, and how much employees will need to pay to get to work on decent roads. Moms want to know how long they will need to sit in traffic after work before picking up the kids and doing the nightly shopping. Dads want to know when they will be able to get home to spend time with the family.

Transportation planning is about more than moving people to and from their destination. Rather, it is about our quality of life in Central Florida – protecting and preserving it for future generations.