EDUCATION
Vision
Before 2030, Polk
County will have a
world-class, fully
integrated education
system that supports
the needs of a
vibrant, progressive
community.
Natalie Baum, Legoland Florida Resort
Mark Bennett, Ridge Professional
Group
Naomi Boyer, Ph.D., Polk State College
Sarah Breed, Lakeland Area Chamber
of Commerce
Brian Carroll, Ph.D., Southeastern
University
Matt Clark, Broadway Real Estate
Services
Hal Coffman, Clean Energy
International, Inc.
Kyle Fedler, Florida Southern College
TALENT PIPELINE LEAD TEAM
Forged through an alignment between Polk Vision and the Central Florida
Development Council, the Talent Pipeline Team is committed to filling the gap
of high skill high wage jobs through innovative collaborations with businesses,
educational institutions and the community at all levels.
Their work is focused on developing a systemic way to create a pipeline of welltrained, credentialed and skilled individuals ready to meet Polk County’s current
and emerging industry workforce needs.
The Team is creating a multi-faceted tactical plan which includes:
Fred Gore, Southeastern University
Barbara Hammock, Wauchula State
Bank
Morgan Holmes, Central Florida
Development Council
Marc Hutek, Polk County Public Schools
Jesse Jackson, Lake Wales Charter
District
Cyndi Jantomaso, Haines City EDC
Kyle Jensen, Clark Campbell Lancaster
& Munson
Nelson Kirkland, Central Florida Media
Group
Leah Lauerdale, Polk County Public
Schools
• Creating and deepening partnerships between post-secondary advisors and
high school college & career advisors.
• Establishing an inventory of existing and creating additional opportunities for
apprenticeships, mentoring and internships that align the needs of students
and industry.
• Promoting broad community understanding of the steps leading to career
and college readiness.
• Communicating to businesses and members of the community the positive
elements of Polk County educational opportunities.
Joby Lee, Haines City EDC
Susan LeFrancois, Florida Polytechnic
University
Larry Madrid, Madrid Engineering
Group
Sean Malott, Central Florida
Development Council
Leonard Mass, Drummond Company,
Inc
Phil Minden, Bartow Regional Medical
Center
“Polk Vision is focused on the biggest challenges in our community. I’m
personally involved with Polk Vision because it is an opportunity to collaborate
with other leaders and speak collectively as one voice to work towards solutions.
Each participant strives to make Polk County a better place to live and succeed.”
– Sean Malott, CEO, Central Florida Development Council
Devyn Montalvo, Webber International
University
David Petr, Central Florida
Development Council
Ryan Reis, Keiser University
Pauline Simmonds-Brown, College 4
Everyone Network
14
Lynn Wilson, Polk County School Board
“I have been honored to serve as the chair of the Talent Pipeline Team,
facilitating alignment through the merging of the Central Florida Development
Council Education Committee with the Polk Vision framework, to address the
wicked problem of improving educational attainment to impact the economic
vitality of the region.”
– Naomi Boyer, Ph.D., Polk State College