Game Changer

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Game Honored: Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4/5/22)

Famous for her cookbooks, nutrition classes, and co-hosting the very popular Wednesday Live with Hebni Nutrition (IG and FB), Roniece Weaver is known for bringing out the best in you with simple, easy to follow tips and tricks for a guaranteed new you.

Weaver received her Bachelor of Science in Food Science/Human Nutrition from the University of Florida and Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration from the University of Saint Francis. She is also a Registered Dietician (RD) and Licensed Dietician (LD) in the state of Florida.

She is the Director of Agency Operations, former ED, and founding partner of Hebni Nutrition Consultants, Inc. Her company is widely known for the development of the original Soul Food Pyramid and the Soul Food Plate; a culturally sensitive food guide nutrition tool. Hebni’s programs, educational tools, and diabetes cookbooks have been featured in several media outlets.

She and her partner are responsible for nutritional analysis, taste testing, and promotion of both books. In addition, she provides educational seminars to many health care organizations across the country.  Weaver and her partners provided an integral part to the development of a state of the art Nutrition Resource Center in Downtown Orlando, which houses 4 commercial kitchens to serve as learning labs for wellness. This new facility has brought much notoriety to the health industry in bringing health messages to underserved populations in a different delivery mode.In 2014, Weaver launched the first Mobile Farmers Market on a city bus.  This innovative project is called The Fresh Stop Bus.

In 2011, Weaver was selected to participate in Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Campaign” at the White House and was requested to provide health initiatives for school aged children. She and her team developed the “Healthy 4 Kids Cookbook," which aligns school recipes with the Let’s Move Initiative for the United States Department of Agriculture/ Food and Nutrition Services (USDA/FNS). She completed several contracts with FNS/USDA to revise up to 200 recipes for school food service national database of recipes.

Her newest venture is to improve the diversity of the field of nutrition through the development of their a dietetic internship program (FEM model) in Central Florida in addition to mentoring , and providing preceptorship opportunities to the next generation of dietitians. She’s also excited about her new launch of her new online website titled Black Dietitians Matter that promotes the diversity of nutrition through a network of minority dietitians.

She keeps a busy schedule lecturing nationally and instructing locally and web-based platforms on various nutrition topics and current health issues related to food and nutrition. Additionally, she served on the National Board for the American Diabetes Association (ADA); National Advocacy Committee for ADA, Past-Trustee for Health Central Hospital, and West Orange County District, Board Member for Florida Hospital Community Health Impact Council, and Board of Directors for the Central Florida Partnership in Health Disparities.

She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and the Orlando (FL) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. Her many contributions have been recognized by receipt of the President's Award from the National Medical Association Auxiliary, The African American Chamber, and the Presidents Award for Alum of the year from the President of The University of St. Francis in Joliet Illinois.

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Magic Diversity Game Changer: Roniece Weaver

Game Honored: Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks (4/3/22)

Robert Coleman is a locally and nationally recognized Mercedes-Benz sales leader, with a proven ability to master local and corporate strategic sales initiatives. He has earned countless professional certifications in specialty fleet, AMG, and diverse inventory sales. Early lessons in the furniture industry equipped Coleman with transferable skills to employ innovative, client-focused strategies that create the exceptional sales experience. The premium client care which characterizes the Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando culture, fosters an environment of generational loyalty. Coleman strives to facilitate multi-vehicle transactions for every member of the family, making the sales experience a family affair.

Coleman's modest upbringing in a family with five brothers and sisters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina ignited a passion within him for serving. As a young boy he was taught to respectfully consider others and to reciprocate good will. Robert developed a strong work ethic which postured him to accomplish many goals, including entrepreneurial endeavors and partnerships. Robert’s pursuit of success empowers him to support diverse initiatives that are dear to his heart. As a community stakeholder and philanthropist, he gives tirelessly to programs and non-profit organizations whose objectives are to increase and improve opportunities for others. Coleman supports youth athletic and academic initiatives facilitated by Jones High School, 100 Black Men of Central Florida, Polk State College, Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations in Orlando and Eatonville, the Agape Perfecting Praise and Worship Center’s Jr. Magic Basketball teams; and as an Orlando Magic season ticket holder, he often gifts game tickets to others.

Coleman's opportunities to engage Central Florida residents increase with each social event, sports experience and cultural exposition. He is often found representing Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando at multi-cultural affairs, scholarship banquets, professional development forums, sports tournaments and arts presentations.

Coleman's business acumen and professional objectives align well with Mercedes-Benz’s values which promise “Das Beste oder nichts,” meaning, “the best or nothing.” The operational excellence at the core of Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando, and the genuine desire to delight clients are two of the values that make it an incomparable industry leader.

Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando delivers a VIP experience that parallels high standard expectations associated with long-term commitments. Each Mercedes-Benz vehicle that is purchased from Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando qualifies the client for enrollment in the VIP Rewards Program, a comprehensive benefits package that elevates Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando head and shoulders above other Mercedes-Benz dealerships. The VIP Rewards program is the perfect complement to an authentic professional partnership. Clients are favored by a host of exclusive perks at the dealership and through local merchant partnerships.

VIP Rewards benefits include local merchant discounts, gift certificates, state-of-the-art guest lounge with chef-prepared meals, complimentary car washes, complimentary airport shuttle service, Mercedes-Benz loaner cars, complimentary inspections, 24-hour roadside assistance, complimentary bulb and key replacements, and a personal travel concierge.  The exclusive VIP Rewards program is a comprehensive example of the client-focused strategies used by Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando to cultivate long-term client relationships, resulting in client loyalty and an appreciation for “the best or nothing.”

Coleman’s commitment to exceptional client experiences is one of the reasons he directs the sales at Mercedes-Benz of South Orlando, and exceeds expectations company-wide.

Coleman is a transformational leader and mentor who inspires and motivates others to successfully navigate opposing seasons while lifting others. He believes he is blessed to be a blessing. In his leisure time, Robert enjoys exploring business opportunities, spending time with his granddaughter, Nomi, and cycling.

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Magic Diversity Game Changer: Robert Coleman

Game Honored: Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors (4/1/22)

Dr. James Michael Burkett, President of Florida Technical College, has an extensive background in higher education and a life-long commitment to public service. He is a Marine Corps Veteran and former Police Lieutenant.

During his tenure as the higher institution’s president, Florida Technical College has added:

Adding to his contributions to the college, Dr. Burkett has stepped forward with this commitment to future students with the establishment of new scholarships, including:

Since 1993, when he began his law enforcement career in Central Florida after serving in Desert Storm with the United States Marine Corps, the Orlando Business Journal’s Outstanding Diversity Helping Hand 2019 Award Recipient set his sights on a personal goal – to promote growth in others, especially those often overlooked by society.

As an active board member of the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges (FAPSC), Burkett advocates for protecting the rights of undocumented Hispanic students to receive an education free from discrimination.

The Certified Florida Cultural Diversity Educator uses his voice and leadership role to empower students from minority background to achieve their educational aspirations, and most importantly to close the racial wealth and opportunity gap.

Aware of the importance and benefits of giving back to your community, in his current role Dr. Burkett promotes volunteering as a training ground for honing students’ skills and to achieve higher standards of living and quality of life for the communities that it serves.

Some of the Community Involvement Initiatives under Dr. Burkett’s presidency:

In 2021, FTC received Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings’Exceptional Commitment to Serving our Community Recognition for their exceptional contributionsto the regionand the Unity Award 2021 given byKissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce to an organization or individual who truly embodies the essence of the Chamber’s three core values, “Embracing Heritage,” “Creating Opportunity,” and “Building Unity.”

Florida Technical College is a Trustee of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando.

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Magic Diversity Game Changer: Dr. James Michael Burkett

Josh Cohen

Game Honored: Orlando Magic vs. Sacramento Kings (3/26/22)

Kelly Astro has over 20 years of educational program administration, teaching, training and curriculum development in the areas of leadership, college access, career preparation, civic engagement and social responsibility. Since August of 2021, Kelly has served as the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s Community Partnership Director serving Evans High School.  In this role, Kelly has lead the re-imaging of the Community Partnership School initiative at Evans High School to impact more students and more ways including providing on-campus dental services, launching a mentoring program for students, creating opportunities for classroom conversations with leaders from the Central Florida business and non-profit community, facilitating college readiness, personal and professional,  and financial education programs for students and families and re-designing of the on-campus Trojan Market that provides, food, clothing and school supplies for students.

Her passion for education began as a first-year teacher at Grand Avenue Elementary School and with her work in educational non-profits such as Junior Achievement.  Following her time as a fourth grade teacher, Kelly moved to Philadelphia to attend Drexel University and receive her master’s degree in education.  After she completed her degree, she took on the role of director of service learning, leadership and The Drexel Experience.  In this role, she created a first-year experience course with a service learning field placement in 110 Philadelphia public schools in partnership with Junior Achievement which turned into the largest partnership of its kind in country.  Under her direction, more than 8,000 students provided more than 120,000 hours of service to more than 200,000 students in grades K-5 in 110 schools.

In 2004, Kelly returned to Orlando and to her alma mater to take on the role of director of research and civic engagement for the Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida.  During her tenure at UCF, Kelly developed a service learning program for all Honors freshmen, re-designed and taught the first year experience course, created a robust volunteer program that served students across the entire university, developed a study abroad experience for students in the Dominican Republic in partnership with the New York Mets and oversaw a leadership development program for honors students.  Kelly also oversaw the significant expansion of the university’s most prestigious undergraduate research program, Honors in the Major. Her leadership on the service-learning partnership with both Junior Achievement and AVID led to the programs being lauded as a “model for civic engagement” by Campus Compact and received the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award four years in a row.

From 2016 to 2021, Kelly served as the Director of the Horizon Scholars program at Valencia College and lead the significant expansion and re-design of the scholarship and mentorship-based program for title one high school students.   When she assumed leadership of this program, fewer than a hundred students were enrolled and some had failed to finish high school, let alone matriculate at a college. Since that time, the program increased five-fold and, in each of the past four years, every student graduated and nearly all enrolled in college

During her time working in higher education, Kelly worked to raise over $4 million to support the programs she developed.  Kelly has been recognized for outstanding community service from Catalina, Pineloch, Englewood, Eccelston, Millennia Elementary Schools and Jackson Middle School, for directing an Outstanding AmeriCorps VISTA Program, for Outstanding Volunteer program from the City of Orlando and Orange County Public Schools, for leading a Gold Level program by Take Stock in Children three years in a row, was awarded the Junior Achievement Community Builder and Above and Beyond awards, UCF service-learning award, recognized as a “UCF Woman Making History,” and was awarded the League of Innovation Excellence award by League for Innovation in the community college. Kelly has been asked to present at over 25 national and international conferences, has taught with the UCF LEAD Scholars Academy, College of Education and Human Performance and Valencia College New Student Experience and has served on numerous university/college and community committees. Kelly was a facilitator for Professional Development trainings for English Language teachers for Major League Baseball Latin America as well as for the International Entrepreneurship Center’s Brazilian Management Program and was a guest co-host on the Sirius/XM international radio show “Live from E Street Nation.” Kelly was also a member of the 2009 Emmy nominated Super Bowl Halftime show cast.

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Magic Diversity Game Changer: Kelly Astro

Game Honored: Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors (3/22/22)

Jessica Brazier is a Human Capital executive with a passion for helping organizations achieve mission performance through their most important asset: their people. She currently serves as Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for AdventHealth, where she is responsible for building a meaningful, motivational and sustainable approach for attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce and strengthening the health system’s ability to deliver the best care to a diverse patient population. With over 15 years of leadership experience, Brazier previously served as a management consultant with Deloitte’s Government & Public Services Practice, where she helped government and nonprofit leaders implement transformational agendas.

Brazier earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and English from Oakwood University, in Huntsville, Alabama. She obtained a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Brazier is actively involved in the community and serves on several boards, including Crossing Party Lines, which facilitates nationwide conversations with diverse Americans who see the world differently. In her free time, Brazier enjoys singing, traveling, and spending time with her big, boisterous Caribbean family.

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Magic Diversity Game Changer: Jessica Brazier

Game Honored: Orlando Magic vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (3/20/22)

Commissioner Patty Sheehan was first elected to the Orlando City Council in 2000. She served as President of the Colonialtown North Neighborhood Association, and is proud to come from a servant leadership background.  Sheehan attended Seminole State College and the University of Central Florida and earned her B.A. in art. A former Administrator with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, she serves her constituents full time. 

Sheehan was the first openly gay elected official in Central Florida, championed non-discrimination ordinances and the domestic partner registry, and was a first responder during the Pulse tragedy.

Sheehan has been recognized multiple times as Best Elected Official, was in Orlando Life Magazine’s Top 25 Inflectional Women, and was awarded the Diversity Champion Award by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce. She was recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of America, Citrus Council.  She has also been awarded the Pet Alliance’s Humane Hero Award along with the Chuck Hummer Visionary Award from the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida.

Sheehan is well known for her advocacy of pedestrian safety, neighborhoods and historic preservation and a thriving downtown, and is the founder and chairperson for the Wheels for Kids program, which provides bicycles to needy elementary and middle school students living in Reeves Terrace public housing.

Sheehan enjoys many outdoor activities including painting, silk screen printing, glassblowing, pottery, gardening and paddleboarding. She is a huge proponent of the arts and culture in Orlando, and is also a local artist who exhibits her “Bad Kitty” paintings in local restaurants, clubs and shops. She lives in a 1928 bungalow home with her rescue puppy Sienna, a diva kitty (also a rescue), Nina Simone along with her mini flock of urban chickens.

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Magic Diversity Game Changer: Patty Sheehan

Game Honored: Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons (3/17/22)

Mayra Uribe was first elected to the Board of Orange County Commission District 3, in 2018 and re-elected in 2020. She is an Orlando native, born and raised in the district she represents. Mayra is of Colombian and Argentinean descent and celebrates the diversity in herself and in our Community.

Prior to running for Commissioner, Mayra was an aide to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. There she helped the citizens of Florida deal with concerns regarding the military, FEMA, immigration, transportation, and labor matters. That experience hardened her resolve to serve her community.

Mayra is the proud wife of Kevin Sutton, Director of Boot Camp for Dads, a fatherhood nonprofit program, mother to 18-year-old daughter, Faith, and 4-year-old son, Lincoln. Being the matriarch of her family has strengthened her devotion to improving the lives of those in our community.

Mayra’s family, faith, and focus for our community’s future gives her the resolve and encouragement to make a difference in all of our lives.

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Magic Diversity Game Changer: Mayra Uribe

Game Honored: Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers (3/13/22)

Natalie C. Jones, affectionately known in the community as Nat C. Jones, is the Founder and Executive Director of The Community Life Improvement Center, Inc. also known as The CLIC, where she develops innovative programming and conducts oversight for the personal development of at-risk boys and girls in Central Florida. Located in a 5400 sq ft unit in the West Oaks Mall, The CLIC offers youth mentoring, supportive services for children of incarcerated parents and creative community projects that serve as outlets for Central Florida’s most undervalued demographics. On Juneteenth of 2021, The CLIC featured a controversial documentary that challenged popular beauty standards, impacting the self esteem of teen girls. It was titled, More Than What U C and was written, directed and produced by Nat C. Jones. The documentary premiered at AMC West Oaks 14 as a red carpet event, attended by community members who were dressed to impress.

Nat is also a Certified Life Coach, 4x author and Master Facilitator who partners with social enterprises, nonprofits and government entities, offering workshop facilitation, strategic planning, team building and relationship management services to increase their cultural competency and strengthen their connection with underserved communities. Working strategically, she fills her calendar with public speaking engagements and leadership training, in an effort to create community leaders everywhere she goes. Through The CLIC, Nat continues to pursue her passion to develop the individual person and the collective community by serving the needs of citizens in the Central Florida Area in the most innovative ways.

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Magic Diversity Game Changer: Natalie Jones

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