Recruitment Committee Resources
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Welcome to the 2O25-2O26 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.
Time Commitment & Timeline
November 2025 – Welcome call and lists distributed
December 2025 – January 2026 – Recruitment events take place
January 2026 – Leadership Florida-hosted recruitment webinar
February 1, 2026 – Class applications open
March 2, 2026 – 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)?
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 155 new class members for 2025-2026) by county as of July 31, 2025:
- Statewide: 1,689
- Out of State: 45
- Total: 1,734
Counties with no active members:
- Baker
- Calhoun
- Dixie
- Gilchrist
- Gulf
- Hamilton
- Holmes
- Lafayette
- Levy
- Liberty
- Madison
- Suwannee
- Taylor
- Union

Recruitment Committee
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Maggie Hightower
Assistant VP, Grateful Patient Program Nemours Children's HealthConnect Recruitment Chair -
Christin Collins
Interconnected Wellbeing Advocate Christin Collins, LLCCornerstone Recruitment Chair -
Stephen Ponzillo
Assistant VP & Community Relations Officer Regions BankEducation Recruitment Chair -
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Sheldon Dutes
Manager, Team Member Communications & Engagement AdventHealthEast Central Representative -
Jonathan Schwartz
VP Real Estate & Business Development IT'SUGARGold Coast Representative -
Lisa Davis
Director, Corporate Community Impact JM Family EnterprisesGold Coast Representative -
Brent Whitfield
Director Of Water Resources Chen Moore & AssociatesGulfstream Representative -
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Heather Houston
Partner and SVP, PR & Communications Dalton AgencyNortheast Representative -
Trina Medarev
President & CEO World Affairs Council of JacksonvilleNortheast Representative -
Tyler Russell
Government Affairs Consultant Continental StrategyNorthwest Representative -
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