April 20, 2012
ORLANDO – Orlando Magic Vice President of Community Relations and Government Affairs Linda Landman Gonzalez was named 2012 Businesswoman of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal, a recognition that spotlights one woman who is accomplished in business and volunteers at local charities to make Central Florida a better place.
Landman Gonzalez was originally chosen as an Orlando Business Journal 2012 Women Who Mean Business finalists. That group was then nominated in three categories: Business Owner of the Year, Business Executive of the Year and Woman to Watch. Landman Gonzalez received Business Executive of the Year followed by the Orlando Business Journal selecting her as the overall Businesswoman of the Year.
In her role with the Magic, she oversees the team’s community relations efforts, government affairs, muliticultural insights and presides over the Magic’s charitable arm, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, a McCormick Foundation Fund, which recently distributed $1 million to 19 Central Florida non-profits in January.
Landman Gonzalez was also an organization leader in the participation of minority and women businesses in construction of the Amway Center. More than 30 percent, $94 million worth, of the Amway Center contracts were awarded to 170 firms owned by women and minorities.
The New York City native has been with the Magic for more than four years and sits on 13 local boards: Florida State Fair Authority, African-American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, National Entrepreneurial Center, Business Force, Central Florida Urban League, Women’s Executive Council of United Way, Casa de Mexico, FAMU Board of Visitor’s, Orlando Children’s Trust Committee and WMFE. Landman-Gonzalez is currently the chair of Valencia College Foundation and the chair-elect for United Arts of Central Florida.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Linda,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “She keeps our organization’s focus on ensuring we represent every segment of Central Florida. She is the voice of our community.”