|
|
|
|
|
The awards recognize Central Florida women who are community leaders that have made an impact in their professional fields. Porta was honored in the business category at the 39th annual awards ceremony held in Downtown Orlando. Porta has served as president of Quest, one of the oldest and largest nonprofit organizations in Central Florida serving people with disabilities, for nearly 30 years. Under her leadership, Quest grew from a humble organization with 100 staff members in 1981 to a local powerhouse with more than 550 staff members, while serving more than 1,000 people each day. She is a well-known advocate for people with disabilities, often coordinating local legislative forums and regularly participating in public hearings in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., on health and human services issues. Porta is also the president of the governing board of Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC). She has been part of the five-member board, known as the Commission, since 2003. She holds a degree in speech pathology from Purdue University and is a graduate of Leadership Orlando, Leadership Central Florida, Leadership Florida and Leadership USA. The WEC was founded in 1972, and is a social and charitable organization composed of women who are business owners and executives in a variety of occupations in the Orlando metropolitan area.
|
|
