Lakeland Leads

We’re excited to welcome Jeremy Voss as our newest Advisory Board member at Lakeland Leads! With over 20 years of experience in the construction industry, Jeremy has built an impressive career with top General Contractors like Haskell, Hardin (now DPR), and PCL Construction. In 2019, he took the entrepreneurial leap by co-purchasing Springer Construction now Springer Voss Construction A proud University of Florida alum with a Bachelor's Degree in Building Construction, Jeremy is passionate about advancing education in the construction industry. He joins Lakeland Leads with a commitment to creating awareness and educating students about the vast opportunities in construction. We’re thrilled to have his expertise and leadership on board as we continue to build stronger connections between education and industry. Welcome, Jeremy! #LakelandLeads #ConstructionIndustry #Education #CommunityLeadership #BuildingTheFuture

At Lakeland Leads, we believe that community engagement goes beyond our own mission. We’re proud to support other local non-profits, partner with our members, and celebrate collective successes. Recently, Melody & Stephanie were in attendance with the Lakeland Rotary Club to share in their support of Southwest Elementary and Southwest Middle Schools by presenting a $10,000 check to each school. and highlight the importance of working together to strengthen our community. Whether it's through collaboration, supporting educational initiatives, or uplifting those making a difference, we remain committed to fostering meaningful relationships that create lasting change. Together, we’re building a stronger future for all! #CommunityEngagement #LakelandLeads #Collaboration #Rotary

🌟 Engaging with Our Local Leaders! 🌟 This week, Lakeland Leads had the privilege of meeting with Joe G. Tedder, Polk County Tax Collector to share the impactful work we're doing across Polk County. It was an incredible opportunity to discuss how we're bridging the gap between education and industry to prepare our students for successful futures. By fostering strong relationships with our local leaders, we're ensuring that the voices of our community, educators, and industry partners are heard and supported. Together, we’re making strides towards a brighter future for Polk County! Thank you to our elected officials for their time and commitment to supporting our mission. We look forward to continued collaboration in building a stronger, more educated community. #LakelandLeads #CommunityEngagement #Education #IndustryCollaboration #PolkCounty #BuildingBridges

Strengthening Collaboration and Connection! At Lakeland Leads, we believe that the future of our community lies in the powerful collaboration between industry and educators. By working together, we can create meaningful connections that prepare our students for the workforce and ensure a thriving local economy. Recent highlights include: 📚Engaging sessions with educators to understand the needs and opportunities within our schools 📊Productive meetings with industry leaders to align educational programs with workforce demands 🤝 Collaborative projects that provide students with hands-on experience and real-world skills Together, we are building bridges that empower students, support educators, and drive economic growth in Polk County. Thank you to all our partners for your dedication and support! #LakelandLeads #IndustryEducationCollaboration #WorkforceDevelopment #CommunityEngagement #BuildingBridges #Education #PCPS

Last week our President, Melody, joined the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce on an inspiring city trip to New Haven, Connecticut! 🛫✨ using Lakeland’s newest airline Avelo. During this trip, Melody visited MATCH, a renowned non-profit training facility with a focus on manufacturing. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about innovative training programs and explore new ways to support our local workforce development initiatives. Exploring and finding ways to implement new opportunities for our workforce enhances and strengthens our community to build a well equipped workforce. #LakelandLeads #WorkforceDevelopment #Manufacturing #CommunityEngagement #LakelandChamber #Innovation #Education

🌞 Summer is heating up, and so is our work at Lakeland Leads! 🌞 As the season kicks off, we’re diving into building partnerships and exploring exciting opportunities related to trade skills. We’re thrilled to announce the start of our summer jobs camp, hosted by the local police and managed by Lt. Joe Parker of the Lakeland Police Dept. This 10-day camp is set to provide invaluable experiences for our youth! We’ve also been actively meeting with Polk County Public Schools Workforce to develop stronger relationships and gain insight into the needs within the PCPS school system. Additionally, we attended MSCA meeting held Saddle Creek Logistics Services has provided us with deeper insights into logistics and manufacturing—sectors that make up 21% of Polk County’s workforce. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to forge strong partnerships and support our community's growth and development! #LakelandLeads #SummerInitiatives #CommunityEngagement #WorkforceDevelopment #TradeSkills #Logistics #Manufacturing #YouthOpportunities #bettertogether

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟 We are thrilled 🎉to welcome our newest team member, Stephanie Colón, as the Vice President of Investor Relations at Lakeland Leads! With 25 years of experience in banking and a proven track record of business expertise, Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for community involvement and engagement. Her extensive background in the financial sector, combined with a deep commitment to making a positive impact, will greatly benefit our organization as we continue to foster strong partnerships and drive educational and workforce development. Join us in welcoming Stephanie Colon to the Lakeland Leads family! Together, we are stronger and ready to make a difference. #LakelandLeads #NewTeamMember #CommunityEngagement #WorkforceDevelopment #EducationalExcellence

🌟🌟NEW MEMBER ALERT🌟🌟 Please join us in Welcoming our newest Investor Member, Kevin Bailey, the General Manager of MaxPak, a leading manufacturing company in Lakeland! Kevin’s career in the corrugated box 📦 business began in 1997 with LinPac, Inc. in Atlanta, GA. There, he mastered the process of papermaking and converting paper into corrugated boxes, working in various key roles from the plant floor to sales. In 2001, he relocated to Miami, FL, where he continued to excel in the corrugated box industry with Interstate Container (now DS Smith), focusing on markets in the Southeastern US, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In 2009, Kevin joined MaxPak in Lakeland, FL, and after 11 years of fostering growth as Sales Manager, he became the General Manager in early 2020. Under his leadership, MaxPak produces over $125+ million in annual sales and provides Warehouse Distribution and Fulfillment services to the Southeastern US and Caribbean markets. Kevin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Management. He is deeply involved in the Lakeland community, supporting various programs such as Kids Pack, Youth Sports Programs, and serving as a Board Member with the MSCA of Mid-Florida and as a Member of the LEDC. He resides in south Lakeland with his wife Caitlin and their three children, Carley, Cayden, and Kacen. Welcome, Kevin! We are thrilled 😃 to have you as part of the Lakeland Leads community. Together, we will continue to make a positive impact on education and workforce development. #LakelandLeads #NewMember #CommunityImpact #Manufacturing #Leadership #Welcome

🌟 We are thrilled to welcome our newest strategic partner, Christina Criser Jackson, CEO of United Way of Central Florida, to the Lakeland Leads community! 🌟 Our members are at the core of what we do. Without them, their support, and their advocacy for educational equity in Polk County, our mission and efforts would not reach as far as they do with their unwavering dedication. We are excited to have Christina join us in our journey to make a lasting impact on education and workforce development. Welcome aboard, Christina! Together, we are stronger. 💪📚✨ #LakelandLeads #NewPartner #EducationalEquity #CommunitySupport #Welcome

🌟Recently, Lakeland Leads had a productive meeting with educators from our local schools. This collaboration aims to strengthen the connection between education and industry, ensuring our students are well-prepared for their future careers. By working together, we can create meaningful career pathways and provide valuable opportunities for our students. Stay tuned for more updates on our initiatives and the positive impact we’re making in our community! 🚀📚💼 #LakelandLeads #EducationAndIndustry #CommunityCollaboration #StudentSuccess #FutureReady