Roger Oxendale
CEO
Nemours Children’s Hospital

Roger Oxendale, former CEO of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, has a tall task in Orlando: maintaining Nemours’ status as an elite brand in the global landscape of pediatric medicine. Having arrived in April, he will operate the integrated pediatric facility, scheduled to open in 2012 at the Lake Nona medical campus; he also will serve as a Nemours senior vice president.

Can Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando reach or exceed the levels of world-class excellence exhibited by Nemours hospitals elsewhere?

“Yes. … Nemours is creating something special in pediatric healthcare — a new family-centered model for the 21st century. By caring for the whole child through prevention and wellness programs, we can address health issues like childhood obesity before they become problematic.  Through research and education, we will foster excellence in patient care. The combination of these resources will culminate in a pediatric medical and academic hospital that can bring world-class care to children and families in Central Florida and beyond.”

What kind of person is Roger Oxendale?

“I have been happily married to my high school sweetheart for almost 35 years. A runner and cyclist, I also participate in ultramarathons [races that are longer than the standard marathon distance]. I would say that this translates into my propensity for building long-term relationships and tenacity in accomplishing any goal I set in front of myself, no matter how difficult it may be.”

Nightfall beckons at 600 W. Amelia St. in Orlando. With the $500 million Amway Center nearing completion just down the road, the final curtain is coming down on a facility that opened in January 1989 to an open house celebration featuring Magic Dancers and former Harlem Globetrotters great-turned-Magic promoter Curly Neal. Constructed at a cost of $110 million, it was initially named Orlando Arena and then TD Waterhouse Centre before becoming the current Amway Arena. Most affectionately, it's known by locals as the O-Rena.

Countless waves of applause later, Amway Arena awaits its fate, to be determined by city officials following a review of plans presented via request-for-proposal bid. Likely, the redeveloped site will serve as a component of a creative village — a place where creative companies locate and workers live, work and play. At press time, a selection committee was scheduled in late May to present a formal recommendation to Orlando City Council for consideration.

History, no doubt, will give way to progress. Memories, though, are sure to linger.

Helen Donegan
Vice President, Division of Community Relations,
University of Central Florida

 

Helen Donegan's simple “community relations” tag just doesn't quite fit.

Aside from coordinating and planning activities for UCF President John Hitt and other university administrators — work that has enabled her to create a massive network of top businesspeople and state officials — Donegan shapes opinions with several regional organizations and nonprofits. In 2008, for example, she formed the United Way Council of Women to draw attention to the plight of disadvantaged women in the area and ways they can be helped through United Way. Donegan also has created "Friends of Helen," a group of executive women from a variety of industries who gather to discuss timely topics.

Her sphere of influence and contributions stretch far and wide.

What drives you most to rise early and retire late?

“I am a very early riser, so getting an early start has never been a problem for me. I have an incredibly interesting job, and there is great variety in my activities. It has been a pleasure to represent the university in our community for the past 15 years. I have had the opportunity to work with the companies and the individuals that are shaping the future of our region.”

 

Generally speaking, what is the “key” to effective community relations?

“Community relations is the art — some say the science — of generating and enhancing constructive relationships with groups of individuals on whom the university depends for support. Basically, effective community relations is all about relationships. It is a job that requires unique individuals, with public relations skills, political awareness, attention to detail and a clear understanding of the task at hand.”

 

Dom Meffe
Chief Executive Officer
Triad Isotopes Inc.

Dom Meffe can sure keep a business healthy. He owned 13 Chuck E. Cheese restaurants with his father before he turned age 30. He started and grew a management-consulting firm while in graduate school. And he was a partner in a store selling golf products, acquired two golf shoe companies and later sold them to investors. He accomplished all that before he spent the past decade or so as a leader in pharmaceutical distribution, first as founder of CuraScript and today as CEO of Triad Isotopes Inc.

1. Generally speaking, what is the key to successful business expansion?

“Cheaper cheese. Expansion should produce a ‘one plus one equals more than two’ outcome. When I was in the pizza business, I didn't open a new site to simply have two times the profit. I focused on the efficiencies or competitive advantage of operating two versus one. If there isn't a one plus one equals more than two, then don't do it.”

2. Your industry segment — nuclear pharmacy — is complex in nature. Is the “business part” similarly complex, or is all business the same regardless of industry?

“Nuclear pharmacy is certainly complex, compounding pharmaceuticals with radioactive material on a patient-specific basis and then delivering on time for critical diagnostic testing is truly amazing. But over the years I've adopted key rules to operate by and have found success by applying them consistently: (1) Take care of the employees, and they take care of the customer. (2) Keep your value proposition simple and measurable. (3) Reward systems using the traditional carrot and stick are effective with menial tasks and provide short-term results. If you desire innovation and creativity, you must give employees tools, autonomy and purpose. (4) Customer loyalty is driven not by how much you know, but by how much they see you care.”

Suzanne Bonham

Founder

Urban Flats

As a young girl, Suzanne Bonham dreamed of a career that would fulfill her passion for food, fun and hospitality. A stint at the Walt Disney Co. from 1993 to 2002, when she traveled the globe teaching others the magic of a memorable guest experience, further whetted that appetite. In 2004, she founded Urban Flats as a “refined casual restaurant and wine bar, where the centuries-old flatbread is given a modern new twist.” Last month, Bonham, also the chief executive officer, opened her 12th location, in Jacksonville, with plans to open nine others in 2010. Read more

Tom O’Neal

Executive Director
University of Central Florida 
Business Incubation Program

Essentially, Tom O’Neil is an entrepreneur in the business of helping entrepreneurs. In 1999, he was a key member of a collaborative effort that resulted in the establishment of the University of Central Florida Technology Incubator, now known as the UCF Business Incubation Program. Today, as executive director, he works to provide tools and resources that enhance prospects for the success of developing companies. Since its founding, the program has helped more than 120 emerging companies (including more than 75 current clients) create $500 million-plus in annual revenue and more than 1,600 new jobs. Also the associate vice president of research at UCF, O’Neil has helped UCF become a leading metropolitan research university.

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What is the one component most often missing as entrepreneurs strive to build successful companies?

“Usually, there is one component, but in every operation it’s different.

With some it’s the cash flow, with some it’s time, with others it’s focus — a number of things—and usually there is one flaw that stands out with most entrepreneurs. Our job, in our business incubation program, is to help them identify that flaw and help them fix it. It could be a patent strategy that’s just not good or not knowing the right lawyer to help them, or they’re just not making a connection. It’s usually something, but there’s not one that’s at the top of the list; it’s all different. And it makes our job interesting.”

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What bit of advice would you share with someone interested in becoming an entrepreneur?

“I think you need to really understand what that world is like, if you’ve never done it before. The level of time that’s required is much more than most people think. If you’re going to start a company because you’re tired of working hard and not making enough money, [if] you want to start a company to make more money, generally speaking that’s not what happens. Our advice is [to] become a realist and understand what you’re getting into. And discuss it with your whole family, if you have a family, because it affects everything. You are not going to be at home as much as you [have been]. You’ll need that [family] support so you can focus intensely. Go into the new venture with eyes wide open; do research first to see what it’s going to take to be competitive.”

Peter Kacheris

Managing Director

Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

Peter Kacheris is squarely on the spot. As managing director, the 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry is responsible for the daily operations of the 497-room Waldorf Astoria Orlando and the 1,000-room Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Kacheris also oversaw the final phase of their construction and opening, which occurred in October. He joined Hilton after most recently serving as complex general manger of the 2,265-room Swan and Dolphin Resort.

What will be your greatest challenge at Bonnet Creek?

“The biggest challenge is, because we have a 1,000-room Hilton and a 500-room Waldorf, we have to figure out how that all works together. And this is while we are introducing the first Waldorf Astoria outside of New York since 1931, which is the flagship hotel leading the new luxury brand for Hilton. So, it’s a big challenge but a most exciting challenge.”

Is there a “Kacheris stamp” — a chief characteristic — that will emerge, whether immediately or eventually?

“I think the stamp that we’re really after is particularly in the service aspect: to exceed expectations of any customer coming on this property — whatever that may mean, if it’s golf, if it’s spa, if it’s restaurant, if it’s the hotel, a convention, a social function. The mission is that as guests leave the gates of Bonnet Creek, we want them to say, ‘Wow, that was spectacular.”

Orlando Magic

With the Magic tipping off their season this month, no two people will be more responsible for the team’s fortunes than star center Dwight Howard and head coach Stan Van Gundy.

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Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The weather won’t begin to cool for some time, but the arrival of this annual culinary extravaganza brings a hint of change. Let’s call it the unofficial kickoff of the region’s fall festival season.

At Epcot, Sept. 25–Nov. 8, guests can enjoy the flavors of more than 25 international marketplaces dotting the World Showcase promenade. Cities on six continents are spotlighted, including Bologna, Italy; Bangkok, Thailand; Wellington, New Zealand; Santiago, Chile; Marrakesh, Morocco; Shanghai, China; and New Orleans. Daily wine and beer tastings serve up sips from around the world, culinary demonstrations dish up treats and a lineup of renowned winemakers, guest chefs and speakers participate in elegant dinners, luncheons, seminars and wine schools. There’s also a concert series, featuring classic rock, jazz, R&B, funk and soul.

Take heart — relief from the summer heat is coming.