On Wednesday, August 13 our Leadership Osceola Class of 2025 officially graduated! The 39-person class, their friends, family, colleagues, Leadership Alumni, and members of the Osceola community gathered at Presenting Sponsor Walt Disney World's Yacht Club Resort for a celebratory luncheon.
After the graduates paraded in accompanied by Mickey Mouse himself, Chamber Foundation Chairman Dale Miller greeted the crowd and offered some history of Leadership Osceola, which is a program that has thrived in the Osceola community for 36 years. The Chamber Foundation has been the home of Leadership Osceola for the last 5 of those years, and through the program, the Foundation supports the Chamber's mission to be "champions for business and the Osceola community' by bringing people and resources together throughout the program. The goal of Leadership Osceola is to develop leaders who, in turn, build our community.
In addition to Disney, Miller thanked Title Sponsor Kissimmee Utility Authority, and Keynote Speaker sponsor AdventHealth. Elizabeth Watkins, Senior Manager of Government Relations at Walt Disney World welcomed the crowd to the Yacht Club and Walt Disney World Resort, the site of Leadership Osceola graduation for over 30 years.
Recently our Government Advisory Coordinator Xely Martinez was invited to check out Walt Disney World's Disney Institute, which now offers classes in Spanish and Portuguese. Her class, “Perspectiva de Disney en Excelencia Empresarial,” marks Disney Institute's first ever class in Spanish. Xely says it was inspiring to learn how Disney applies their leadership principles across every part of their organization and how any business can implement them.
That this program is now being offered in Spanish and Portuguese expands its reach to more diverse business communities. This initiative is a powerful reflection of Disney’s commitment to inclusion and its mission to create happiness with a big heart. Many of the attendees at this first Spanish-language class were business leaders and owners from across Central Florida and Latin America. The class is appropriate for everyone from CEOs to small business owners. Business owners can learn a lot from the program about how Disney does things and adapt that knowledge to their own businesses of any size.
After two incredible days filled with insights on how to achieve business excellence, Xely was inspired to learn that "you don't have to be a CEO to create real impact; change can start from wherever you are!"
Find info on Disney Institute's Spanish and Portuguese programming HERE and other Disney Institute classes HERE.
See some photos from Xely's experience below, then scroll down to read our original blog about our Disney Institute experiences back in 2022.
On Thursday, July 10, The Osceola Chamber welcomed Osceola County’s Florida state legislators for an update on the extended spring 2025 legislative session in a panel discussion moderated by Walt Disney World Senior Government Advisory Manager Leticia Adams. The program also featured a panel discussion covering the economic landscape of Osceola County. The Osceola Chamber truly appreciates everyone who engaged with this event - as a speaker, a sponsor, a VIP guest, or attendee. The Osceola Update allows us to educate our membership on legislative developments from the recently-ended session, convene business leaders and political stakeholders, and nurture your relationships with our elected officials.
Chamber members and community partners gathered at Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center for the lunchtime program, which was hosted by The Osceola Chamber President/CEO John Newstreet and Chamber Vice Chair/Government Advisory Chair Rebekah Hurd, Director of Government Advocacy with AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division. Before the program began, attendees enjoyed the National Anthem performed by Evangeline Marrero Mosa, a talented 10thgrader at St. Cloud High School.
Each year, this event is heavily supported by the Walt Disney World Resort. This year they brought along a video to share with attendees highlighting the magical and diverse offerings of Disney’s local parks and resorts. AdventHealth Kissimmee Chief Operating Officer Craig Moore, representing sponsor AdventHealth, took the podium to share that, in lieu of distributing promotional items to attendees, the hospital donated funds to a Poinciana-area food pantry. They also brought along fresh lettuce grown in the AdventHealth Celebration Freight Farm to share will everyone in attendance.
