New 2024 Board of Directors
Lisa Curran
Government and Community Relations Manager, Duke Energy
Leading government and community engagement across Orange and Osceola counties, Lisa Curran builds powerful connections that drive growth and partnerships for Duke Energy. Backed by 17 years of experience, she has navigated vital issues like carbon reduction and hurricane restoration. A passionate advocate for Central Florida, Lisa serves on multiple community boards and was named Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40, solidifying her role as a driving force in the region's future.
Kayla Flannery
Senior Marketing Manager, AdventHealth
Kayla Flannery was born and raised in Central Florida, and has worked in Orlando for the past 8 years. Understanding how important downtown Orlando is to the heart and core of a community, Ms. Flannery also sits on the Ivanhoe Village Board of Directors. Representing one of the largest employers in the region, Kayla provides valuable insight for marketing and communication strategy. Kayla has a passion for learning about the history of local communities. As a creative person, one of her favorite hobbies is attending shows at the Dr. Phillips Center and supporting the arts.
Vennia Francois
Senior Counsel, BRENNAN, MANNA & DIAMOND, P.L.
Vennia Francois was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. Vennia is a corporate attorney at Brennan, Manna & Diamond law firm. She is a member of the Florida Bar, District of Columbia Bar, the United States Supreme Court, AEI Leadership Network, Central Florida Women League, and the Federalist Society. Vennia has worked in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill for two United States Senators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. She is heavily involved in the local community and sits on the following boards: House of Hope, Matthew’s Hope, iBuild USA, Vision Orlando, and Downtown Arts District. Vennia is VP of Legislative Affairs for the Central Florida Navy League. In her free time, she enjoys music, tennis, and golf. She is also a die-hard Florida Gators fan from her time attending the University of Florida. Vennia grew up singing with her sisters at their church, Calvary (Orlando) Assembly of Winter Park, Florida, where her family has been members for over 40 years.
James Hawley
CEO, NextPath Career Partners
For over 25 years, James Hawley has assisted companies and candidates find each other to achieve their goals, Previously helping to launch a $100M staffing firm, Mr. Hawley, decided to do it all over again in 2018 with the creation of NextPath Career Partners with offices in downtown Orlando and Tampa. James has a passion for supporting local businesses and downtown economic efforts. He has held prior board seats with Junior Achievement, JCC, and Trinty Prep.
Courtney Keller
Administrative Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Courtney Keller is the Administrative Shareholder of the Orlando office of Greenberg Traurig, a global law firm with 47 locations Worldwide. Ms. Keller practices in the area of complex commercial litigation with a focus on real estate and banking disputes. Ms. Keller has gained the recognition of The Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers for her legal expertise, was named as a 2022 Women Who Mean Business honoree by the Orlando Business Journal, and has also received numerous accolades for her service and contributions to various non-profit organizations throughout Central Florida.
Benjamin McCarney
General Manager, Grand Bohemian Orlando
Benjamin was Born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan State University. Mr. McCarney joined the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando in May 2023, as Benjamin’s third Kessler property. Mr. McCarney has Proven leadership skills focused on developing and empowering staff to achieve goals, along with a thorough understanding of the market trends. Mr. McCarney is committed to ensuring guest satisfaction through efficient hotel operations. Benjamin believes in the purpose of mentorship in youth, and he is actively involved in volunteering by adapting a period of culinary class at Jones High School. In his free time, Benjamin enjoys exercising at F45 Training, playing golf, hiking, trying new restaurants, reading, and cheering for his favorite sports teams from Detroit.
Jenise Osani
Vice President of Marketing & New Products, OUC - The Reliable One
Jenise Osani joined OUC in 2009 as the Marketing & Customer Education Manager and has since exceeded in her role as Vice President of Marketing & New Products. She completed her MBA at the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and holds a degree in Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Florida. This combination has allowed her to work strategically and creatively in the space where design and business intersect. Osani has won numerous design and advertising awards including local, regional and national Addy’s from the American Advertising Federation, a Telly in 2011, the Best Integrated Campaign from Esource in 2016 and Top Performer Solar Utility Website from Esource in 2017.These awards recognized OUC’s vision to leverage technology to revolutionize the customer experience. She and her husband live in Lake Nona, Fla., with their sons.
New 2024 Board Trustees
Jamie Barati
Senior Vice President, JLL
Jamie Barati is a Senior Vice President for JLL, specializing in occupant-driven office transactions. He joined JLL in December 2018 and brings with him 30-years of extensive experience in the Office & Medical Tenant Representation and Agency leasing practices, along with occupant-driven Office and Medical sales transactions. Born and raised in Orlando, Jamie began his commercial real estate career here in 1993 after graduating from Florida State University. Prior to JLL, he spent 19 years with Colliers International as a Managing Director/Principal in their Orlando office. Jamie is a past-president of multiple boards, including the Downtown Development Board, Downtown Orlando Partnership, Delaney Park Little League, and Boone High School Athletic Association.
Stephanie Darden Bennett
President & CCO, Prismatic
Stephanie Darden Bennett, President and Chief Creative Officer founded Prismatic in 2002 fresh out of graduating from the University of Central Florida (Go Knights!). Stephanie has cultivated a reputation as an expert in branding and marketing, successfully propelling Prismatic’s growth into a second office and national clients spanning 29 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. She has been recognized four times by the Orlando Business Journal as a “40 Under 40” honoree and three times as a “Women Who Mean Business” honoree in addition to garnering numerous industry awards. With one foot in Orlando and the other in New Orleans, Stephanie is a lover of life (and travel) with an infectious joie de vivre and generous spirit that brightens the world around her. As a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, momma, wife and friend, she is most proud to lead a company with a strong cultural spirit that centers on helping one another live their fullest lives and contributing to the greater good all around us.
Tami Door
Owner, Hay Park LLC
Tami Door is a renowned City Builder. The former CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, she has extensive experience in multiple cities, addressing city and state policy, infrastructure, placemaking, events and economic development. She is the co-founder and Chairman of Denver Startup Week, the nation's largest free entrepreneurial event.
Allen Johnson
Chief Venue Officer, City of Orlando
Since September 2004, Allen Johnson has served as Chief Venues Officer of the City of Orlando’s Venues Department which includes the Amway Center, Camping World Stadium, Tinker Field, Harry P. Leu Gardens and the Mennello Museum of American Art, as well as the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre (2004-2014) and the Expo Center (2004- 2005). He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. Allen was nominated as a finalist for the Pollstar Facility Executive of the Year Award in 2005, 2010 and 2012. He has also been honored by the Jaycees with their highest award: induction as a Junior Chamber of Commerce JCI Senator. Under Allen’s leadership, the Amway Center received IAVM’s 2017 Venue Excellence Award, won Sports Business Journal’s Sports Facility of the Year Award and received the Customer Experience Award from UK’s TheStadiumBusiness Awards. He was recognized as the 2019 Downtowner of the Year by the Downtown Orlando Partnership and honored with a 2020 SPORTYS Award by the Greater Orlando Sports Commission as Central Florida's Sports Executive of the Year. Allen most recently received the MVP Award from the Victim Service Center of Central Florida. Johnson is married to Suzi and has two daughters, Savanna and Haley Shea.
David Swanson
Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando
The Rev. Dr. David D. Swanson is the Senior Pastor and Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, serving in that role since 2004. His congregation is part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) and is among the largest Presbyterian churches in the country. An active community leader, Dr. Swanson serves on the Project Opioid Board, the Downtown Orlando Partnership Board, the National Christian Foundation Board of Advisors, the Board of Trustees of Montreat College, and the Samaritan Village Advisory Board. He is active in speaking for conferences and retreats around the country, especially on topics of marriage and family.
DOWNTOWN ORLANDO PARTNERSHIP ELECTS NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND DESIGNATES BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ORLANDO, Fla. (January 4, 2024) – The Downtown Orlando Partnership (DOP) has announced the election of seven new directors to its board and the establishment of a board of trustees, comprised of six community leaders and former DOP board members. The DOP is governed by the DOP Board of Directors -- a group of volunteer leaders who are passionate about supporting the downtown Orlando business community. The DOP is committed to ensuring a wide range of industries are represented to reflect a multidisciplinary mix of businesses. The newest members are as follows and round out DOP’s 28 person board:
2024 Board Members:
- Lisa Curran, Government and Community Relations Manager, Duke Energy
- Kayla Flannery, Senior Marketing Manager, AdventHealth
- Vennia Francois, Senior Counsel, Brennan, Manna & Diamond
- James Hawley, CEO, NextPath Career Partners
- Courtney Keller, Administrative Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
- Benjamin McCarney, General Manager, Kessler Collection - Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando
- Jenise Osani, Vice President of Marketing & New Products, OUC - The Reliable One
2024 Board of Trustees:
- Jamie Barati, Senior Vice President, JLL
- Stephanie Darden Bennett, President & COO, PRISMATIC
- Tami Door, Owner, Hay Park LLC
- Sherry Gutch, Director of Placemaking, City of Orlando
- Allen Johnson, Chief Venue Officer, City of Orlando
- David Swanson, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando
“We’re extremely excited to expand our board with seven new members who will bring insight and expertise to the Downtown Orlando Partnership. In addition, designating a board of trustees comprised of former DOP board members and community leaders will afford us the opportunity to tap into our organization’s storied history in helping to shape DOP’s future. We have worked diligently to ensure that the Downtown Orlando Partnership board represents a variety of experts from different fields and organizations who will support our mission and make positive contributions to move the organization and downtown Orlando forward,” said Downtown Orlando Partnership Chief Executive Officer, Jill Vaughan.
The 2024 DOP Board of Trustees are appointed by the DOP Board of Directors to provide guidance and support to the organization. Last year, the Downtown Orlando Partnership’s commitment to expanding opportunity for businesses in downtown Orlando with a reach that extends throughout Central Florida, helped drive the decision to expand its board of directors to its largest board in the organization’s 62 year history as the organization as it continues to poise itself for planned growth.
“On behalf of DOP, I am thrilled to welcome these exceptional professionals to our board of directors and honored to welcome and work with our newly established board of trustees,” said Downtown Orlando Partnership 2024 Board Chair, Nathan Butler.
A full list of the DOP’s Board of Directors can be found at: https://www.doporlando.com/board-of-directors/
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About The Downtown Orlando Partnership
The Downtown Orlando Partnership (DOP) was founded in 1961 and is the only organization that focuses specifically on downtown Orlando’s business community. The DOP offers more than 240 corporate members a single point of access to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the growth of Orlando’s urban core. Members represent the diversity of size and scope that makes downtown Orlando a vibrant beacon of development in Central Florida. The mission of the Downtown Orlando Partnership is to enhance business and community relationships through collaborative events and initiatives. To learn more about how your organization can get involved, visit: doporlando.com