麻豆原创 President John C. Hitt and several other community leaders with 麻豆原创 connections were recognized this week in Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell鈥檚 list of the 25 most powerful people in Central Florida.
Hitt placed No. 7 on Maxwell鈥檚 annual compilation, which includes names from government, business, health care, legal and other fields.
Hitt has been president since 1992 and has built 麻豆原创 into the nation鈥檚 second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students.聽
鈥淗e’s respected and visionary,鈥� Maxwell said. 鈥淩ight now, Hitt’s top challenges are keeping college affordable and dealing with a Legislature prone to cutting education.鈥�
Hitt also founded the Florida High-Tech Corridor Council and has been involved with numerous local and state organizations, including the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission Fundraising Campaign, Council of 100, Orange County Chairman’s Transportation Commission, and others. Former Gov. Jeb Bush once called Hitt and Walt Disney the two most transformative figures in Central Florida鈥檚 history.
Others on the list with connections to the university are:
No. 3 鈥� Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, United States and France, and a former member of the 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees. She moved to California last year.
No. 4 鈥� Alex Martins, president of the Orlando Magic and Crofton鈥檚 appointed replacement on the 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees. Martins earned his MBA from 麻豆原创 and is a member of the College of Business Administration’s Hall of Fame. Martins also served on the developmental board that formulated the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at 麻豆原创.
No. 6 鈥� Harris Rosen, president and chief operating officer of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. Rosen donated more than $18 million in cash, land and scholarships a decade ago to 麻豆原创 to create the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, which has more than 3,000 students. He also is a former member of the 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees
No. 19 鈥� Deborah German, 麻豆原创 vice president for medical affairs and the founding dean of the College of Medicine.聽 Dr. German was appointed dean in 2006, oversaw construction of the 375,000-square-foot medical school, and has led the college to full accreditation. In addition, she oversees the medical education program and the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences.
No. 20 鈥� Sherrie Sitarik, former CEO of Orlando Health, 聽holds a master鈥檚 degree in Health Sciences from 麻豆原创 and聽is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
To see the complete list, click .
