ABOUT WINTER PARK INSTITUTE
ABOUT WINTER PARK INSTITUTE
With public lectures and readings, the Winter Park Institute hosts influential people from a broad spectrum of disciplines and expertise. This exchange of ideas is designed to encourage enlightened ongoing conversation and to enhance an educated citizenry who, through civic discourse and debate, fosters and strengthens an ongoing democratic society.
MISSION STATEMENT: Convening the community around the arts, science, humanities, and literature.
VISION STATEMENT: A place for people to learn and embrace big ideas.
VOLUNTEER NOW: Email [email protected]
The Winter Park Institute has moved from its home for twelve years at Rollins College to become an independent 501(c)(3) non profit to present programs for the City of Winter Park and beyond at its new Library & Events Center campus. As a freestanding public charity, the Institute is dependent upon the generosity of corporate, institutional and individual patronage for support.
WINTER PARK INSTITUTE BOARD MEMBERS
TONY JENKINS, CHAIRMAN
Tony Jenkins is Market President for Florida Blue, Central Florida region. He was instrumental in establishing Florida Blue’s diversity efforts starting in 2001. He is on the board of Florida Citrus Sports and is a trustee at Stetson University.
LAUREN ZIMMERMAN, CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lauren Zimmerman is the owner of Writer’s Block Bookstore located in Winter Park and Winter Garden. She has backgrounds in interior design, law and social work. Lauren is currently a Trustee of the Winter Park Public Library.
JEFFREY BLYDENBURGH, CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jeffrey Blydenburgh is an architect and business developer who has worked closely with the Alfond Inn and the Orlando Museum of Art. He is the Past President of Friends of American Art.
CYNTHIA WOOD, VICE CHAIR
Cynthia Wood is retired Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Rollins College. She currently serves as an advisor to individuals and non profit organizations on strategic philanthropy. Cynthia served as Interim Executive Director of the Winter Park Public Library during its building campaign.
LAWRENCE LYMAN, SECRETARY
Lawrence Lyman is a government affairs and public relations consultant who is currently the Managing Partner and Vice President, Business Development and Government Relations of Tactical Electronics Corporation. He is former President of Winter Park Public Library Board of Trustees.
TOM DYER
Tom Dyer is the founder of Watermark, the LGBT newspaper serving Orlando and Tampa Bay since 1994. He is also a practicing attorney with Dyer & Blaisdell, PL. In 2014, he was named a “Champion of Equality” by the Harvey Milk Foundation.
LINDA LANDMAN GONZALEZ
Linda Landman Gonzalez is the President of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. She also serves as a consultant to the Orlando Magic, where she served as the vice president of community relations and government affairs from 2020-2023 prior to retiring from the role. Linda is involved with myriad volunteer and leadership activities, including United Arts, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Project Opioid, OnePULSE and Orlando Children’s Trust Committee.
GERALD HECTOR
Gerald Hector is Sr. Vice President for Administration and Finance at UCF. He is a licensed CPA. Gerald’s experience spans all aspects of higher education management including purchasing, financial aid and risk management.
JERRY JUSKA
Jerry Juska has a PhD from Northwestern University. His doctoral thesis involved communication, learning processes and creativity training. He was national advertising manager for several corporations, as well as World Advertising Manager for International Harvest in Chicago. He has published and taught extensively.
CALEB LIPTAK
Caleb Liptak is a Senior PR Manager at Findsome & Winmore in Winter Park. He secures high quality media coverage for his clients while supervising and managing his team. He also leads clients through brand visioning exercises to help them better understand what they do.
STOCKTON REEVES
Stockton Reeves is the Executive Director of the Center for Public Safety which works with the first responders providing spatial needs and staffing studies. He currently serves on the Civil Service Board. He is a third-generation Winter Park resident.
CAROLYN WILLIAMS
Carolyn Williams is an accountant and project manager in CRM, accounts receivable, and billing. She is analytical, methodical, structured, and communicative. She has overseen varied departments such as collections, credit checks, risk mitigation, account reconciliation and invoice processing.
Core Values:
- Provide a safe gathering space to share ideas and create connections through vital, emotional dialogue between citizens.
- We value our relationships and collaboration with public, private, and non-profit organizations.
- We cherish our culturally rich Winter Park heritage of collective experiences as a community.
- Challenge existing assumptions and eagerly seek new ideas.
Strategic Priorities:
- Education: Provide excellent gathering experiences and resources for all demographics and ages in our diverse community.
- Fiscal Stability: Create a comprehensive budget containing revenue goals, cost goals, and fundraising goals. Encourage strategic growth while responsibly managing resources.
- Continue to ensure fiscally sound business practices, and work to increase private donations.
- Effectively communicate, inform and educate the community about Winter Park Institute 2.0.
- Program branding and identity.
- Incorporate creative tools into existing communications and marketing.
- Form partnerships with complementary non-profit organizations.
History
The Institute was founded in 2007 by Rollins College through the leadership of then-President Lewis Duncan to promote liberal education. It was modeled after earlier programs.
The organization was supported by a generous donation from longtime trustee Allan Keen and also the Charles Hosmer Morse and Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation. The first director, Dr. Gail Sinclair, built the Institute into a community treasure by attracting superior, extraordinary presenters.
Rollins divested itself of the Institute in 2020 during COVID and entrusted it to the Winter Park Publishing Company. In 2021, the Institute became an IRS 501(c)(3) corporation under Randy Robinson… In early 2022, leadership transferred to Lauren Zimmerman, who along with a new Board, represents the diverse Central Florida community.
Development & Funding Goals: Some of the fundraising and marketing strategies our organization is going to take into consideration include:
- Donor-Centered stewardship and retention, new and existing.
- Online fundraising – promoting WPI 2.0 and seeking membership as founding patrons.
- Peer-Peer fundraising.
- Grants
- Development Plan Goals
- Work with Board Members and community volunteers to fund programs.
- Get Input from Key Stakeholders to assist in fundraising.
- Work with a focus group to create an advisory board to assist in reaching stakeholders.
- Create a marketing budget. Explore different revenue opportunities within the Board. Board to reach out to their contacts and ask for help and funds.
The Winter Park Institute has moved from its home for twelve years at Rollins College to become an independent 501(c)(3) non profit to present programs for the City of Winter Park and beyond at its new Library & Events Center campus. As a freestanding public charity, the Institute is dependent upon the generosity of corporate, institutional and individual patronage for support.