OUR HISTORY

BEGINNINGS

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce launched Leadership Broward in 1981 as an educational program focused on enhancing leadership skills, providing practical community action experience, and facilitating interaction with established community leaders.

The graduates of the first program year, in line with the organization’s strategic plan, formed the Leadership Broward Alumni, who would work with and develop the leadership program with the goal of eventually establishing an independent leadership organization.   That goal was realized in 1994 with the creation of Leadership Broward Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

 

LEADERSHIP BROWARD CLASS 1

Ballon, Rabbi Jeffrey Flynn, Bonnie McMichael, Anne
Bitner, Gary Gleske II, Vincent Mehallis, Martha
Branigan, Michael Guidinger, Steven Owens, Charles
Bundy, Paul Gupton, Timothy Prisco, Edward
Calder, Donald Hall, Christine Rechtschaffer, Candy
Christy, Doug Hall, William Richardson, Patricia
Cohen, Jeffrey Hersh, Robert Schloss, Ellen
Darby, Gregory Lackey, Mary Sjogren, Teresa
Davell, William Lambertus, Christine Unkles, Sally
Deckinger, Eric Lee, Christine Wallace, Max
Dettman, Douglas Madsen, Christine Williams, Stephen
Dressler, Patricia McDougald, Drewlyn Woods, Lynn
Edmond, Timothy McKirahan, Charles

 

TIMELINE

1981

  • Leadership Broward was founded as an educational program of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.
  • Class I had 33 participants and was chaired by Robert Miltenberger.

1982

  • Robert Miltenberger and Rhonda Rasmussen formed the Leadership Broward Alumni Association with Donald Calder as its first President.
  • The First “People Book” published.

1984

  • The Executive Leadership Seminar (now known as Executive Leadership Orientation or ELO) was established in collaboration with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce to offer high-level executives a unique opportunity to become oriented with the issues and interests facing our community.
  • The inaugural Profiles in Leadership Gala was held honoring George E. Sullivan from FPL.
  • The first SIMSOC (Simulated Society) experience was held. In SIMSOC, the red team “have nots,” the blue team “media,” the yellow team “worker bees,” and the green team “elites” realized that each segment of society plays an important role in making a community function.

1986

  • The Leadership Broward Alumni Association was incorporated as an independent organization.
  • Profiles in Leadership Dinner, chaired by Lynda (Franklin) Long, presented Ted Turner as keynote speaker. Proceeds were used to establish LBA’s scholarship fund for the programs.

1987

  • Youth Leadership Broward (YLB) was founded in order to groom high school juniors to positively affect the present and future of Broward County as they assume leadership roles.  The first two classes were chaired by Mary Wood.

1988-1989

  • Leadership Broward Alumni (LBA) nominated Carol Wiggin who received the first Community Leadership Association’s Distinguished Leader Award at the National Association of Leadership Convention in Kansas City.
  • Florida Panther “Hat Trick” Drawing was spearheaded by James Dwyer.

1992

  • LBF “Fun Lunch” was established as an annual fundraiser. The event was chaired by Nancy Botero and Ginny Miller and honored The Florida Marlins first President, Don Smiley, LB Class V.
  • LBA and The Greater Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce celebrated 10 years of Leadership Broward with a cocktail reception at the Sun Sentinel building followed by a trolley ride to the Broward Center for a jazz concert by Dick Clark and Friends.

1994

  • Leadership Broward Foundation, Inc. (LBF) was created as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and founded by Jamie Edgemon, Jeffrey Hirsch and 1993 Leadership Broward Alumni Board of Directors. The foundation’s first president was John Walsh.

1997

  • An endowment fund to provide scholarships was established at the Community Foundation of Broward.

1998

  • Senior Executive Orientation (now known as Executive Leadership Orientation or ELO), still a collaboration of LBF and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, was re-established.
  • Leadership Broward members participate in Rebuilding Together initiative in Broward County that eventually becomes a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.

2002

  • Leadership Broward Foundation, Inc. celebrates 20th Anniversary.
  • LBF hired a consultant to conduct a development audit and plan which resulted in the hiring of the first Development Director for LBF.
  • Lifetime Memberships were offered for a pledge of $2,500 over 5 years. Today LBF has more than 100 Lifetime Members.

2003

  • Business Connections formed providing LBF members who owned their own companies the opportunity to showcase their businesses and encourage entrepreneurship while supporting LBF.
  • The Tri-County Leadership Council was formed, and the 1st Regionalism Summit was held at the International Game Fish Association.
  • The Leadership Broward Foundation offices moved to downtown Fort Lauderdale.

2004

  • Inaugural Leadership Broward Foundation’s “Presidents’ Invitational” Golf Tournament was founded in honor of LBF’s Past Presidents and held at Grand Oaks Golf Club with Maroone as the Title Sponsor. The Seminole Tribe of Florida was the Title Sponsor starting the second year of the tournament and sponsored the event for multiple years.

2006

  • LBF purchased an office condo on West Oakland Park Boulevard where it remains today.

2007

  • Emerge Broward, a young professionals program for emerging Broward leaders age 21-35, was formed with 100 founding members to promote leadership and personal development through networking, community involvement, and educational opportunities.
  • The first Youth Leadership Summit was held. This intense three-day program introduced high school sophomores and juniors to the issues and resources of Broward County and empowered them to take responsibility for shaping the future of their community.
  • Follow the Leader in You (FLY) was formed. This free program for at-promise youth in Broward County helped equip middle-school youth with leadership skills and tools for success.

2010

  • Leadership Broward partners with iTrace Foundation to launch the Fort Lauderdale Turkey Trot, a 5K run/walk along AIA on Thanksgiving morning.
  • Leadership Broward participates in the first Men of Style fundraiser with community leader Michael Berry as the organization’s participating “man.”

2011

  • Encore! Leadership Broward was launched for people 55 and older who were retired, semi-retired or about to retire, and were ready to share their wisdom and talent with like-minded individuals who wanted to get involved, learn about resources, feel useful and give back to the community.

2012

  • Leadership Broward Alumni serve on virtually every not for profit board in Broward County.
  • More than 2,000 Leadership Broward Foundation graduates have participated in more than 500 community service projects for local nonprofit organizations in Broward County.
  • Leadership Broward Foundation, Inc. celebrates 30th Anniversary.

2014

  • Leadership Broward launched the Women Leading Broward program, designed to provide opportunities for high potential women to develop their skills and advance their careers through mentoring, education, and networking, inspiring them to serve as leaders.
  • The first Serving Up Leadership luncheon hosted at Timpano in Fort Lauderdale featured speaker Abdol Moabery, president and CEO of GA Telesis. Sponsors were Iberia Bank and Broad and Cassel.

2017

  • Andrew Zullo, a local leader with 6 years experience of chairing a Community Leadership Program and 29 years of banking experience, was named as the new Executive Director.