ORLANDO, FL – May 3, 2016 – On May 2, 2016, GrayRobinson’s Orlando office hosted a Community Leader Forum featuring Mayor Buddy Dyer, City of Orlando, Dr. John C. Hitt, President of the University of Central Florida and Dr. Falecia Williams, West Campus President of Valencia College. The trio gave an update on the University of Central Florida Downtown Campus in a panel-style discussion.
During the panel discussion BB&T Corporation announced a $1 million donation to UCF Downtown. UCF Downtown is a joint project of UCF and Valencia College. A $60 million academic building will be constructed at the intersection of Parramore Avenue and Livingston Street as the first phase of a bigger $207 million campus to come. The project is being paid for in a divided manner: $20 million from UCF, $20 million from the state and $20 million in private donations, of which UCF now has $17 million. UCF Downtown is expected to enroll 7,700 students by opening day, create a $205 million annual economic impact, and 2,000 new direct and indirect jobs. The campus is expected to open in Fall 2018. Read more in the Orlando Business Journal.
Mayor Buddy Dyer has served as Mayor of Orlando since 2003. Among his priorities for the city, he is leading the effort to diversify Central Florida’s economy and create a new breed of high-tech, high-wage careers for residents in cutting edge industries such as digital media, life sciences and biotechnology, modeling, simulation and training, and aviation and aerospace; he is committed to bolstering police protection; and is an advocate for the expansion of public mass-transit and creating more walkable, livable communities. Prior to being Mayor, Buddy Dyer served for a decade in the Florida Senate. His colleagues elected him as their Democratic Senate Leader, a position he held for three years. Before he chose to serve in public office, Mayor Dyer worked as an environmental engineer. He has also practiced law for more than 20 years.
John C. Hitt has served as president of UCF since 1992. Under his leadership, enrollment has tripled at the university making UCF the largest in Florida. The quality of academic programs, faculty, and students have also increased dramatically; UCF has become a major metropolitan research university of global impact; and the university has launched more than $1 billion in new construction. Prior to arriving at UCF, Dr. Hitt served as the interim president at the University of Maine. His leadership experience also includes a decade as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Bradley University in Illinois and other distinguished academic work at Texas Christian University and Tulane University.
Dr. Falecia Williams has worked at Valencia College for 16 years, currently serving as the President of the West Campus. Prior to this appointment, she was as an adjunct professor, then served in leadership roles in conjunction with dual enrollment, high school outreach programs and workforce development. Most recently, she led a team charged with the creation of the college's first bachelor degrees. Prior to Valencia, she was a leader in gifted and honors education at the secondary level. She also served as the director of a community-based grant program to increase enrollment and college completion among first-generation college students.
Through its Community Leader Forums, GrayRobinson brings together clients, attorneys and friends of the firm to hear high-profile business and community leaders and elected officials discuss issues of importance to the state of Florida.
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