Cory O’Donnell, the marketing manager of Owen‑Ames‑Kimball Company (O‑A‑K) Florida, has joined the Leadership SWFL Class of 2023. O’Donnell, along with thirty-four area professionals, has committed to dive deeper and lead stronger in Southwest Florida by joining Leadership SWFL, the region’s premier community immersion program dedicated to providing business professionals with a greater understanding of the community and creating a cohort of individuals ready to serve as effective leaders in the region.
“I am excited to connect with other area leaders and better understand how the region works,” said O’Donnell. “I am also looking forward to learning how to get more engaged and make a bigger difference in Southwest Florida.”
Founded in 1999, this program includes nine day-long sessions and an overnight retreat between May and December. Each session provides attendees an in-depth look at a different aspect of Southwest Florida, from infrastructure to tourism. Graduates will build essential relationships and foster a better understanding of the inner workings of Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties.
O’Donnell joined O‑A‑K Florida in 2021. His goal at O‑A‑K is to keep the project stakeholders up-to-date and in the know. He is responsible for community outreach, including websites, Facebook pages, flyers, handouts, and hard hat tours. Groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies are a vital part of his role. He joined O‑A‑K after serving 15 years in the Southwest Florida news industry. His experience includes running news websites as a digital director, plus managing social media channels and digital marketing strategies for news organizations. In addition, he has extensive experience with community outreach, marketing, grants, events, and keeping the public informed. O’Donnell championed young business leaders by co-founding The News-Press Young Professionals Advisory Board. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Central Missouri and is a graduate of the Cape Coral Leadership Class of 2018.
An employee-owned company, O‑A‑K Florida, Inc.’s board of directors comprises members from the company’s Florida operations. Owen‑Ames‑Kimball Company has provided premier general contracting, design-build, and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982.
O‑A‑K’s Florida operation is an affiliate of its parent company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Florida operation has offices in Collier and Lee counties. Its Lee County office is at 11941 Fairway Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. Learn more about O‑A‑K at www.owen‑ames‑kimball.com or call (239) 561-4141.