FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Susan Blexrud 407-246-3107

MAYOR DYER ANNOUNCES 
TRANSITION TEAM

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 6, 2003) – Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer today announced his Transition Team.

“The group of individuals I have chosen for my Transition Team is truly representative of Orlando’s diverse community, and I look forward to receiving their thoughts and findings regarding how to make Orlando city government better and more efficient,” said Mayor Dyer. “I am most appreciative that they are willing to donate their time and energy to this task.” 

Wayne Rich, who served as a member of Mayor Glenda Hood’s transition team in 1992, will lead the 15-member Transition Team. The team will be divided into groups to review the workings of the City’s various departments; teams will include operations, procedures, processes and budget. The first organizational meeting will be held Thursday, March 13, at 7 p.m. at Orlando City Hall.

“The Mayor has charged the transition team with the task of completing a comprehensive top to bottom review of city services,” said Rich. “In addition, the team will review outside entities with whom the City does business, such as the Downtown Development Board, the Orlando Housing Authority and the Orlando Utilities Commission. We intend to stay on schedule and present our findings to the Mayor in 90 days,” Rich said.

The Dyer Transition Team Members

Mr. Hasan Arouri – Mr. Arouri is a structural project engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the field of building design and construction. His project management and design experience includes Orlando International Airport terminals and plus classroom, student union and athletic facilities at both the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida.

Ms. Alana Brenner – Ms. Brenner is an attorney who specializes in consumer protection law and has been practicing law in Orlando for 16 years. Before starting her own law practice in 1998, Ms. Brenner worked for the City of Orlando, the Orange County Bar Legal Aid Society and the Florida Bar.

Mr. Eddie Diaz – Mr. Diaz is a former U.S. Congressional candidate and Orlando police officer who was critically wounded in the line of duty. He received the Award of Valor and the Purple Heart from the Orlando Police Department.

Mr. Peter Flentke – Mr. Flentke retired from the Orlando Fire Department in 2001 after 30 years of service. He has been an Orlando resident since 1966 and resides in College Park.

Mr. Luis Grajales – Mr. Grajales is a civil engineer with more than 19 years experience in Florida. He is experienced in planning, design and post-design of urban and rural roadways. He has previously served as the Deputy Director for the Orlando Regional Office of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (2001-2002).

Mr. Doug Guetzloe – Mr. Guetzloe is president of Advantage Consultants, a public relations, governmental relations and marketing firm. He also hosts a syndicated radio talk show, The Guetzloe Report.

Mr. James Harris – Mr. Harris is a consultant with Busch Properties of Florida, where he served as president from 1990-1995. He is a former City of Miami Budget Administrator, City of Winter Park City Manager and County Administrator for Orange County. He also served on Orange County Chairman Richard Crotty’s 2002 Transportation Commission. 

Ms. Julia L. Johnson – Ms Johnson, an attorney, is a member of the Florida State Board of Education. As a member of the Board, she is responsible for the implementation of a seamless system for grades K-20. In 2001, Ms. Johnson was named one of the Top 50 African Americans in Technology by the Howard University School of Business. In 2001, the National Bar Association awarded Ms. Johnson the President’s Award for Technology and Law. 

Mr. Robert Mandell – Mr. Mandell is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Construction Corp., doing business as Greater Homes. Currently, Mr. Mandell serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Central Florida Foundation, Central Florida Advisory Board of Wachovia Bank and the Board of Directors of Florida Hospital.

Mr. Robert J. Paulson – Mr. Paulson is Chief Operating Officer of PBS&J engineering consulting firm, the nation’s 29th largest engineering consulting firm. He also serves as National Service Director of the firm’s Transportation Services line.

Mr. Jim Pugh – Mr. Pugh is the owner and president of Epoch Properties, Inc., a multi-family housing developer, and has developed more than 30,000 housing units in 56 cities. He has served with numerous community organizations such as the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and the Orlando Naval Training Center Reuse Commission.

Mr. Alzo Reddick – Mr. Reddick is the Director of Special Programs and Defense Transition Services at the University of Central Florida, a program designed to recruit U.S. military veterans to further their education with the goal of becoming educators. Mr. Reddick has more than 35 years of experience as an administrator, professor, teacher and State Representative. 

Ms. Joan Ruffier – Ms. Ruffier, a certified public accountant, has served on numerous corporate, state and community boards, including Florida Progress Corporation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the University of Florida Foundation and the City of Orlando Redistricting Advisory Committee.

Ms. Jan Stratton – Ms. Stratton is the Vice President of Community and Diversity Relations at Universal Orlando, overseeing the Community Relations Department, corporate imaging, executive involvement, diversity relations and the employee volunteer program.

Mr. Wayne Rich – Mr. Rich is the co-founder and president of Victoria Equities, Inc., a land development and management company established in 1981. The company concentrates on the development of single-family, residential and multi-family housing communities.

Mr. Royce Walden – Mr. Walden, president of Walden Enterprises, Inc., is responsible for human resources and financial consulting. He served previously as vice president of SouthTrust Securities, Inc., as Vice President of Investment Banking firm Ward Bradford & Co., and as Associate Superintendent for Human Resources and Information Systems at Orange County Public Schools. 

Three staff members will be assisting the Transition Team: Kelly Cohen, an attorney, formerly with Anania, Bandklayder & Blackwell, a Miami law firm; Linda Jennings, Senior Budget Analyst with the City of Orlando and Joe Rutledge, who has served previously as the Vice President of Communications for General Mills, Executive Vice President for Marketing for Priceline.com and today works at a venture capital firm, Blitzen Ventures.

The Mayor also announced Thursday that in addition to his role with the Transition Team, Wayne Rich will also serve as a Special Assistant to the Mayor through the transition period.

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