by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
When Teala Milton graduated from Leadership Florida in 1995 as part of the statewide organization’s 14th class, she had no idea — or real aspiration, for that matter — of becoming chair. But, when the offer was made it didn’t take Milton long to make her decision.
“It took me a about 40 seconds to say yes,” said Milton, who is the chief public affairs officer at JEA.
Milton got that call from Deanne Roberts, the chair of Leadership Florida’s nominating committee — the group tasked with identifying civic and professional leaders all over the state who would make good additions to the organization. However, Roberts’ call was the result of a subtle note Milton included in a Leadership Florida survey.
“In the survey I asked to be considered as a program chair and then possibly move up as appropriate,” said Milton. “No one was more surprised than me by being asked to serve.”
Milton said the networking opportunities and training that Leadership Florida has provided have proven invaluable over the years.
“It’s a phenomenal organization that solely promotes leadership and the coming together as a state,” explained Milton. “There are many elected officials or those who want to be elected and the organization is inspiring that in people.”
As a result of accepting, Milton is the chair-elect of Leadership Florida and will spend the next 10 months overseeing the organization’s regional councils. Locally, that council is chaired by Blue Cross Blue Shield executive and Republican Party chair Mike Hightower. The rest of the Northeast Council consists of Bank of Americas Vice President of Market Development Martha Barrett, University of Florida Vice President of University Relations Jane Adams and First Coast Black Business Investment President Tony Nelson.
“I have all of Northeast Florida all the way to Gainesville and the 137 Leadership Florida alumni in it,” said Hightower, who will serve as chairman for two years. “I will report back to the executive board of Leadership Florida and give them a 4-5 year plan that covers fundraising, a strategic plan and finances.”
Hightower is a graduate of the most recent Leadership Florida class and said he was surprised by the offer to chair a regional council.
“I just graduated so it was just so shocking,” he said. “Teala, Leerie Jenkins and Martha are the culprits. I’m just here to help Ms. Teala and Ms. Martha. We are together again and we make a great team.”
In July, Milton will become the second Jacksonvillian to serve as chair of Leadership Jacksonville. Leerie Jenkins, chairman and CEO of Reynolds Smith & Hills, chaired the group during 1998-99.
“I was part of Class 10 with (Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce President) Wally Lee and it was really a life-changing experience,” said Jenkins, explaining that each class goes through five different programs in five different areas of the state before officially graduating. “We look at the issues facing the state and at the end of the class we have some lively debate. We look at everything from Little Havana to a homeless center to taking a boat ride in the Everglades. It really gave me an appreciation for the vast differences of locations and people in the state.
“You appreciate Northeast Florida because it’s a great place to live, but there are other cultures and areas to appreciate as well.”
Jenkins said the chairship is actually a three-year process that involves being incoming chair, chair and past chair. How much did Jenkins appreciate and glean from this as chair?
“About half a wall in my office is covered with things from Leadership Florida and Leadership Jacksonville,” he said.
The current chair of Leadership Florida is Jeff Bartel. Ironically, Bartel is with Florida Power & Light in Miami — another electric utility.
“I think it’s funny. What a coincidence,” said Milton. “We kid each other about lighting up the state from one end to the other.”
Milton may be destined to lead Leadership Florida, but she almost didn’t even get in.
“I had to apply twice because I didn’t get in the first time,” said Milton, who was an executive with AT&T at the time. “When I applied, I wasn’t the first from AT&T to apply that year. He (the other applicant) was a higher up at AT&T, so he got in.
“I was very grateful the year I got in. I met a lot of people, it was a great year and we are still friends to this day. That network has been valuable to me going forward.”
As chair Milton will oversee an organization that has gone through a change recently.
“We went to a new structure — a governance change — last year,” she said. “I will run things from a policy perspective and finance perspective. I’ll administer the governance of it.”