Breakfast Connections by Lake Nona Regional Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the Lake Nona Regional Chamber of Commerce is to enhance economic growth of the Lake Nona area of Orlando, Florida by focusing on education, promotion, and development of the business community, and those areas of the community affecting business. Our primary goals are to strengthen our local economy, to promote the community, provide networking opportunities, represent the interest of business with government, and develop community leaders.Our Signature Breakfast Event, which takes place on the second Wednesday morning of every month, has been designed to promote strong connections, business opportunities, and fun!
LOCATION: Lake House, 13623 Sachs Avenue, Orlando, FL 32827COST: $10 for members, $15 for Non-members

BREAKFAST SPONSORED BY:

http://www.PonteHealth.com

About this month’s Guest Speaker…
Thomasa R. Sanchez | McCormick Research Institute | Founder & CEO
Thomasa Sanchez has loved horses her whole life. Since she was a young girl, she has competed and been nationally ranked with her American Quarter Horses in both western and English events. In 2002, she turned her equine passion into something that benefits thousands of children each year: she founded Heavenly Hoofs, a PATH center in Central Florida, now doing business as McCormick Research Institute, providing equine-assisted activities for Veterans and individuals with disabilities or life-threatening illnesses. Thomasa continues to serve without remuneration as CEO for McCormick Research Institute as they provide therapeutic riding lessons, take miniature horses to local children’s hospitals, and partner with the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in research initiatives.
In 2013, Osceola County Board of Commissioners voted to move Heavenly Hoofs from Osceola Heritage Park to a new state-of-the-art equestrian facility that is located at Chisholm Park in Osceola County. The forty-acre equestrian center consists of a covered arena, a twenty-stall barn, two round pens, a farrier and veterinarian area, and education and training classrooms. They expect to add a Continuing Education for Clinicians instructional program, as well as a US Equestrian Paralympic Training Program where paraatheletes will be prepared to represent the United States in the Paralympics that occur every four years.
The modest beginnings of Heavenly Hoofs Equestrian Center have yielded an organization that has become one of the top equine assisted therapy centers in the world. The organization has served over 25,000 riders utilizing 15 horses with the assistance of more than 200 community volunteers. Over 60 distinct disabilities are seen at the center including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Thomasa is married and has two children who are 12 and 16 years of age. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in English at Rollins College. She graduated as the Valedictorian in her Master’s Degree Program in Communications at the University of Central Florida. She then studied for four years in the Doctorate Program of Psychology at Florida Tech and now continues to serve as a teacher, leader, community board member, and keynote speaker.

Coffee sponsored by Canvas