In October, Orlando played host to nearly 11,000 nursing professionals from across the country for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) National Magnet Conference®. We were proud to support the American Nurses Association, of which ANCC is a subsidiary, in their efforts to raise awareness both locally and nationally for nurse-led innovation and how nurses are tackling some of the greatest challenges facing today’s health care system.

Check out FOX 35’s interview below with ANCC Vice President Rebecca Graystone on the nursing profession or click here for some of the highlights from Florence Health.

Fun Fact: Did you know just four hospitals in Central Florida are Magnet-designated facilities? They include AdventHealth Celebration, AdventHealth for Children, Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, and Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.

In the second edition of Florida Trend’s Florida 500, the magazine profiles the 500 most influential executives in the state. Consensus Co-Founder John Sowinski once again joins the ranks of the state’s top executives with recognition in the professional services category.

In the special section, Sowinski shares perspective on his appreciation for the role of the media in a free society. “For years, any major issue or statewide campaign was closely followed by dozens of reporters. Today, that’s shrunk to a handful. It’s a downward spiral that’s bad for America,” he writes.

For more on The Florida 500 and to see the other honorees, visit https://floridatrend500.com.

Fun Fact: Sowinski served as Student Body President at the University of Central Florida (1984-1985).

On Tuesday, Gov.-Elect Ron DeSantis and incoming First Lady Casey DeSantis announced the 2019 Inaugural Committee, which includes Consensus Co-Founder Tre’ Evers. The committee will play a critical role inorganizing inclusive inaugural events which reflect the diversity and uniqueness of our great state, according to the announcement.

Recently, Evers was once again named to FloridaPolitics.com‘s INFLUENCE 100, joining the ranks of the top political movers and shakers in the state – professionals who have been, and still are, key to Florida’s political landscape.

For more on the 2019 Inaugural Committee and to see the other committee members, visit https://rondesantis.com/inauguration/.

To the relief of TV viewers everywhere, the 2018 election cycle (with its seemingly endless parade of 30-second ads) came to a close Tuesday night.  This cycle saw several statewide amendments take center-stage as some of the most hotly-contested items on the ballot.

Click here to watch some of Consensus Communications’ top amendment ads.

Statewide Constitutional Amendments and Local Bond Referenda
Consensus created strategy and communications for some of Florida’s most notable amendment campaigns.   

YES on Amendment 3 | Voter Control of Gambling

• Chairman, Chief Strategist and Spokesman: John Sowinski
• Media Consulting: Ryan Houck

A special note: The passage of Amendment 3 marks the culmination of many years of legal, legislative and communication strategy led by our own John Sowinski. John’s tireless work to restore voter control of gambling is both historic and heartfelt. We’re immensely proud of him.

Amendment 10 | State and Local Government Structure and Operation

• Florida Sheriffs Association Educational Campaign
• Strategist: Tre’ Evers

NO on Amendment 1 | Increased Homestead Property Tax Exemption

• General Consulting and Media Consulting: Ryan Houck

Educational Campaign: Pasco County Bond Referenda

• General Consulting, Digital and Social: Dana Loncar
• Web Development: Dan Cunningham

Educational Campaign: City of Oakland Park – General Obligation Bond Referendum

• General Consulting: Ryan Houck
• Direct Mail: Tre’ Evers
• Digital: Andrew Sutton

Educational Campaign: City of Pompano Beach – General Obligation Bond Referenda

• General Consulting: Ryan Houck
• Direct Mail: Tre’ Evers

Florida Trend’s inaugural Florida 500 special section recognizes the 500 most influential business leaders in the state in various economic sectors. Consensus Co-Founder John Sowinski joins the ranks of the state’s top executives with recognition in the professional services category.

In the special section, Sowinski offers perspective on his work throughout the state:

“I get to fight for some of the things I’m passionate about. I get to have a direct impact on public-policy decisions, like holding the line on gambling, legislative term limits, keeping smoking out of indoor workplaces, protecting sea life and stopping unfair taxes and regulations. I get to have a hand in issues that shape Florida’s future without having to make many of the sacrifices that elected officials must.”

For more on The Florida 500 and to see the other honorees, visit https://floridatrend500.com.

“As a tireless advocate and positive influencer, Consensus Communications is working for a better Florida; and leading the way are John Sowinski and Tre’ Evers, faithful stewards of the resources and wishes of those they serve.”

— Jacob Stuart, Former President of Central Florida Partnership

Thought Leaders. Counselors. Advocates. The second edition of FloridaPolitics.com’s INFLUENCE 100 is a who’s who list in Florida politics. And Consensus co-founders John Sowinski and Tre’ Evers once again join the ranks of the top political movers and shakers in the state – professionals who have been, and still are, key to Florida’s political landscape.

But the real treat for the duo was reading the generous and humbling words of community icon Jacob Stuart, who authored their profile for the magazine. Anyone who has lived in Central Florida knows the role Stuart has played in shaping our community, helping to mold and unify what he affectionately calls our “family of communities.” While a great honor to be recognized among the INFLUENCE 100, it was an even greater one to see Jacob’s name as author of their profile.

For this year’s issue, click here.

For more on the INFLUENCE 100 from creator Peter Schorsch, click here.

Consensus Communications, a Downtown Orlando-based full-service public relations firm, today announced Christina Morton, APR, has been named chair of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Sunshine District Board of Directors.

The Sunshine District represents more than 1,000 public relations professionals from seven chapters throughout Florida. The district is one of 10 nationwide and provides educational resources, scholarships, and professional development opportunities for the industry’s leading professionals.

Christina has served on the statewide PRSA Sunshine District board for three years and previously served as president of the local PRSA Orlando board in 2015.

Jan. 4, 2018, Orlando Sentinel Opinion Editorial By John Sowinski:

“As we savor UCF championship, vow to end

rigged path to playoffs”

From time to time, we like to bring you news and views from our team on what’s happening across the state. As many of you may know, Consensus Co-Founder John Sowinski is a former study body president for the University of Central Florida. In the Jan. 4 issue of the Orlando Sentinel, he offered perspective on UCF’s recent [national] championship and the rigged College Football Playoff system.

Here’s an excerpt of what he had to say:
“UCF’s historic football season has brought back memories of my time as a student at UCF. It was 1984. UCF had 15,000 students — mostly commuters. The campus was in the middle of nowhere, at the corner of a couple of two-lane roads — University Boulevard and Alafaya Trail. Six years earlier, our reclusive-yet-visionary university president, Trevor Colbourn, rebranded the school from Florida Technological University to the University of Central Florida and started a football program to help put the fledgling university on the map. The Division 2 football program had racked up an enormous debt, and its future was uncertain. Colbourn was committed to its survival and success, and risked his job to save the program.

As student body president, I had regular meetings with Colbourn. No matter what was on our agenda, he would often bring up a pending U.S. Supreme Court case, NCAA vs. Regents of the University of Oklahoma and The University of Georgia Athletic Association…” [Read More]

The following is an excerpt from a guest column on FloridaPolitics.com by Consensus Co-Founder John Sowinski.

Editor’s note: Former Florida State University System Chancellor Charles Reed died Tuesday at 75.

Charlie Reed was a hard charger, a master legislative strategist, a fantastically successful leader in higher education, a consummate professional, and a class act.

Reed became Chancellor of Florida’s State University System at about the same time that I became Executive Director of the Florida Student Association, the lobbying group that represents the students of Florida’s State University System.

He left his job as Governor Bob Graham’s chief of staff to become Chancellor. It was 1985, and everyone in Florida’s higher education policy realm had had a healthy dose of respect for and fear of Reed. He wanted to raise tuition 15 percent per year. Students wanted tuition increases capped at no more than 5 percent per year.

Part of my job was to testify immediately after him at every Board of Regents and Legislative Committee meeting that dealt with the tuition issue and provide the counterpoints to his points. The undergraduate tuition increase landed close to 5 percent, but no permanent cap was created.

After the Session, I was summoned to the Board of Regents office for a one-on-one meeting with Chancellor Reed. I had no idea why he wanted to meet with me, much less alone. I thought he was going to take me to the woodshed, because he was a tough guy.

In fact, during that Session, I saw him use a legislator’s aide’s phone (no cellphones back then) to dress down a high-level university administrator for not towing the State University System position on a particular bill. My interactions with Chancellor Reed during the legislative session and at Board of Regents meetings were made awkward by the fact that we were diametrically opposed on the high-stakes tuition issue, and though we had spoken many times, we had never had a “casual” conversation.

I nervously went into his office. We shook hands, and I sat down…

To read the guest column in its entirety, visit FloridaPolitics.com.