Bennie and Daphne Brantley of Alpha Sports Performance offered a different perspective on fitness, focusing on how we move, build strength, and maintain our health at every stage of life. Drawing on their experience in athletic and functional training, they shared insights on improving movement, preventing injuries, and getting more out of our bodies, whether we were competitive athletes or simply looking to live healthier, more active lives.

Howard Stephen Berg is recognized as the world’s fastest reader thanks to the cutting edge accelerated learning techniques he developed that turn information overload into information assets. Respected internationally for his contribution to the learning process, he is listed in the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records for reading more than 25,000 words a minute and writing more than 100 words a minute. 

Ashley Major is the Founder and Chief Photographer of Ash M Photography, an Orlando-based commercial photography company specializing in event, branding, and headshot photography.

She is also the Founder of InFocus Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and empowering underserved youth through photography and creative education. Through its Beyond The Frame program, InFocus Foundation provides young people with hands-on photography experiences designed to build confidence, creativity, communication skills, and new pathways for personal and professional development.

Ashley believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to see their potential and sometimes, all it takes is helping them look at the world through a different lens.

Mehek Mirchandani is a nonprofit professional who has previously served Harmony Learning Academy, The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, and Junior Achievement of Central Florida. With a background in marketing and fundraising, Mirchandani brings passion and community focused service to Girl Scouts of Citrus Council as their Sr. Director of Philanthropy. Mirchandani has supported nonprofits for the last decade, providing expertise in development, strategic planning, program growth, team management, and community engagement. She additionally serves on the Association of Fundraising Professionals Central Florida Chapter board as their social media chair and serves as a committee member for National Philanthropy Day.

Scott Howat, Chief Communications Officer for Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) and President of the Foundation for OCPS, shared insights into the important work happening across the district, including the proposed 1-mill property tax referendum on the November ballot, a portion of which would support teacher compensation.

With more than 30 years of service to OCPS, Scott has led strategic communications, legislative affairs, and community engagement. He has helped launch award-winning initiatives such as “Mondays with Maria” and “The Slice” and has been recognized twice by PR News as a Chief Communicator. A proud OCPS graduate, Scott brought a unique perspective on the district’s work and its impact on our community.

Brian Hutchings, Senior Manager of Community Relations for the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX), joined us to share an inside look at the organization responsible for operating 125 miles of toll roads across Orange, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, and Osceola counties.

The information-packed presentation covered major transportation projects, including the SR 414 Expressway Extension, widening projects along SR 429 and SR 417, and improvements to SR 408 near downtown Orlando. Brian also shared helpful tips for identifying toll-related phishing scams and protecting ourselves from fraudulent messages.

Rotary Club of College Park welcomed Michael Franklin, Governor of Rotary District 6980, for a conversation about his vision and priorities for the new Rotary year. Having taken office in July, Michael shared his goals for the district, his plans for strengthening Rotary clubs, and opportunities to expand Rotary’s impact in our communities through service and fellowship.