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Get to know the people behind some of Central Florida's most influential businesses.
Orlando CEOs You Should Know
Orlando CEOs You Should Know
Ken LaRoe - Climate First Bank
20 AUG 2021 · Climate First Bank is a values-based community bank offering a complete, full-service portfolio of simple and easy-to-use traditional banking products. These products are powered by high technology to meet the expectations of today’s consumers. In addition to offering standard banking services, the company places a special emphasis on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and businesses committed to sustainability. Eco-conscious customers will find dedicated loan options for solar photovoltaic (PV), energy retrofits and infrastructure to help combat the climate crisis.
Janelle Dunn - True Health
20 AUG 2021 · True Health, a private, non-profit 501 (c)(3) community health center, has been serving low-income, uninsured, underinsured, and underserved populations in Central Florida since 1977. We operate seven neighborhood health centers and proudly serve over 40,000 unduplicated patients with over 101,000 encounters each year. Services include adult and pediatric family practice, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry, Podiatry, Behavioral Health Pharmacy, laboratory, and X-ray services. In April of 2021 True Health also opened a COVID-19 Infusion Treatment Center to ensure equal access to care for all community members. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, True Health offers a sliding fee scale to those that are uninsured, we accept Medicare and Medicaid, and over 25 major health and HMO insurance plans.
ChadCollier CEO of Car Saver
6 MAY 2021 · Chad is CEO and Founder of CarSaver.
CarSaver is changing the way the world buys and sells cars. CarSaver’s automotive eCommerce platform helps customers buy, finance and insure all brands of new and used cars online. CarSaver has teamed up with Walmart to offer the platform to their 250 million customers and 1.5 million employees. CarSaver’s eCommerce platform helps car companies,lenders and dealers digitize their business and sell cars 100% online.
With a desire to enter into the auto business as a teen, Collier started as a lot attendant and began selling cars to pay his way through college. Collier quickly ascended to sales management and general management positions. In 2004, when Collier was 26 years old he achieved his first major goal when he became the youngest non-succession Ford dealer in Ford Motor Company history. Chad was a recipient of the Automotive News "Innovative Dealer of the Year" in 2008. Chad acquired multiple dealerships in the central southern states.Collier bought and sold three dealerships,including to Autonation, by the age of 32. Chad has built and sold several auto tech companies including Imalooker, an AI assisted selling solution and CarFactor one of the first and most downloaded auto apps.
Chad is regarded as one of the thought leaders in auto. He is an accomplished executive, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, TV commentator, panelist and investor. Some of his speaking appearances include the Thought Leadership Summit, Auto Leadership Roundtable, Digital Dealer, JD Power AutoRev, and the N.A.D.A. Conference. Collier has served on numerous corporate boards, community service organizations and the Indiana Auto Dealers Association Board of Directors.
In his spare time, Chad is a pilot. He is married with two children.
Trey Vick, CEO of V 3 Capital Group and Strive Senior Living
22 JUN 2020 · Trey Vick is the Chief Executive Officer of V 3 Capital Group and Strive Senior Living. In both positions, he oversees operations while leading the efforts on new asset acquisition and expansion of the brands’ services. His industry background stems from commercial real estate banking and several years working in the private sector acquiring assets and forming real estate investment funds. Trey is a native Floridian and veteran of the United States Air Force. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Florida and is a graduate from the Florida School of Banking at the University of Florida. Trey also serves the community as a member of the Howard Phillips Center, Elder at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, and member of the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Board.
Trey is the recipient of three Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40 Awards, Veterans of Influence Award, and named as one of their 2019’s CEOs of the Year. He also holds a title to 2019’s Argentum Senior Living Leaders Under 40 Award.
Bill Yeargin: Correct Craft
12 FEB 2020 · Bill Yeargin is CEO of Correct Craft, a 95-year-old company with global operations. Correct Craft’s subsidiaries include eight boat brands, three engine brands, three water sports parks and an entity devoted solely to innovation. The company has manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and distributes into 70 countries.
Under Bill’s leadership, Correct Craft has developed a unique culture of “Making Life Better.” They have won all their industry’s major awards and were recognized as Florida’s “Manufacturer of the Year.”One publication recognized Correct Craft as the boating industry’s "Most Innovative Company" while another described the company under Bill’s leadership as being “on an aggressive improvement path, the likes of which the marine industry has never seen.”
A passionate lifelong learner, Bill has earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, an MBA and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has completed post-graduate studies at Harvard, Stanford, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), completed Lean Six Sigma programs through Villanova University and is certified in both Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and DISC.
Bill has served on numerous for-profit and non-profit boards. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the Recreational Boating Leadership Council and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Bill has served both the Obama and Trump administrations on cabinet-level advisory councils and has been actively involved representing both his company and industry at the national and state level. He was appointed by Florida’s Governor to serve on the board of University of Central Florida and is a member of the Florida Council of 100.
Bill has been recognized with many of the marine industry’s top awards including Boating Industry's “Mover and Shaker of the Year” and most recently the industry's "Hammond Leadership Award." Florida Trend magazine has recognized Bill as one of “Florida’s Most Influential Business Leaders” and he is an Orlando Business Journal “CEO of the Year.” Bill was also presented the “Governor’s Business Ambassador Medal” by the Governor of Florida.
A prolific writer, Bill has been published hundreds of times and has authored two books. He has traveled to over 110 countries and is a sought-after conference speaker.
Mark McHugh: Gatorland
2 OCT 2019 · For 70 years, Gatorland has created fun, smiles and special memories for the millions of visitors who pass through its world-famous gator mouth entrance.
Founded by the late Owen Godwin in 1949, Gatorland is still privately owned and managed by his family today.
Owen started his business back in 1949 when he purchased a plot of land on Orange Blossom Trail near Kissimmee. With the help of his wife, Pearl, and their four children,
Owen opened the doors of the Florida Wildlife Institute with the desire to give the visitors and residents of Florida a look at the wildlife and beauty of this great state. The name changed
to Gatorland in 1956 to become Central Florida’s first major attraction. Today, Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve that combines old Florida charm with exciting experiences,
exhibits, and entertainment, making it Orlando’s Best Half Day Attraction.
John Arie, Jr.: CEO of Fun Spot America
30 JUL 2019 · We are a family-owned business with a long history in our industry. Our Founder John Arie, Sr has been a part of the entertainment park industry for many years and first got the passion for our industry in 1969. John operated and ran several small tracks from 1969 through 1978. In 1979 John opened Fun N Wheels on International drive, the heart of the tourist corridor in Orlando Florida. Fun N Wheels in Orlando was truly the first themed action park with multiple tracks, family rides and an open air arcade. It featured the world’s second slick track and central Florida’s first figure 8 bridge tracks. The concept was very well received by locals and tourists alike and in 1988 John opened his second Fun N Wheels in Kissimmee Florida, just minutes from Disney World. Both locations became a staple in the community and proved to be very successful. John sold the Fun N Wheels properties in 1988 and continued to manage the parks until 1991. In 1990 John opened up our first Fun Spot in Myrtle Beach South Carolina and followed shortly thereafter by our Virginia Beach Virginia location. In 1994, John created the world’s first sprint track delivering the best side‐by‐ side racing excitement in a concession kart environment. John also developed “aviation inspired” guardrails that provide the safest, most efficient, visually pleasing guardrail system in the industry. In 1997 John moved the Fun Spot brand to Orlando with the construction of the Orlando park on the North end of International drive, close to his original Fun N Wheels location. The Orlando park opened on December 24th 1997 and introduced our patented design multi-level tracks that became our signature.
In 2004 we purchased the world’s tallest Skycoaster and in 2007 we expanded that attraction to the 9 acres of tracks, family/thrill rides and an arcade at the Kissimmee location. In June 2013, Fun Spot Action Park underwent a 15‐acre renovation and expansion including a name change to Fun Spot America! The Orlando location now boasts Orlando’s first wooden roller coaster along with the second tallest SkyCoaster in the world, the tallest being at our Kissimmee location. In 2017 the Mine Blower wooden roller coaster opened at the Kissimmee Park and features the only wooden roller coaster that goes upside down in the Southeast United States.
2017 also brought expansion outside of Florida for the first time, Fun Spot America acquired an existing park in Fayetteville, Georgia and renamed it Fun Spot America Atlanta. The Atlanta location boosts our largest four-story go-kart track, Samson Track, we have ever built and is Georgia’s first multi-level go-kart track. Besides the Samson Track, the Atlanta location is also home to a new concept in partnership with Topgolf called Topgolf Swing Suite. This state of the art golf simulator is located inside the brand new Drive-In Diner that is a full service sit down casual diner with the ambiance of a 1950’s setting.
With the continued support of our local community and a strong belief in the practicing of “The Golden Rule”, we hope to continue to grow and provide Safe-Clean-Fun for all.
Ron Rice: Founder of Hawaiian Tropic and Havana Sun
2 JUL 2019 · Interview with Ron Rice who is the founder of Hawaiian Tropic and Havana Sun. Joining him also is Matt DiFebo who is the CEO of Havana Sun.
Dr. Konrad Filutowski of the Filutowski Eye Institute
12 MAR 2019 · Dr. Konrad Filutowski of the Filutowski Eye Institute
Ep. 8: International Diamond Center
14 JAN 2019 · Brian Stamey of the International Diamond Center drops in and discusses the future of the valuable gemstone.
Get to know the people behind some of Central Florida's most influential businesses.
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