I’ve heard many say that Florida is really just New York only Tropical.  I want to avoid being stereotyped into that category of the New Yorker who retired in Fla.   First of all, I’m not old enough to be retired.  And second of all, I don’t know if I would have selected Florida as my State of choice.   

But hold on… let me tell you why I now LOVE living in FLORIDA and am so glad that I moved here.   

I came to Florida in 1997 by way of Austin Texas where I lived for 4 years.  Although I was raised in New York and am truly the “Long Islander”,  I like to think of myself as a recovering Yankee and one who embraces the Southern lifestyle.   

For instance I’ve learned to take long walks in the heat and humidity, I’ve incorporated Ya’ll into my daily vocabulary, I now hold doors open for people at work , I order “unsweet tea” at restaurants and I even greet the occasional Publix cashier with more than a grunt.  

Aside for the 20 pounds I’ve gained since moving  here—I have truly been fortunate and my life has grown in so many ways. Here are some of the truly wonderful things that I have gained from living in FLORIDA:

FAMILY 

I met my husband Mark within days of moving to Lake Mary and today we have a beautiful home and 3 wonderful pets.  -We were married in Tuscany in 2000. -Together we travel whenever possible and prefer to go abroad.  I’ve experienced places like…

 (Vienna, Salzburg, Tuscany, Rome, Venice,  Edinburgh, London… along with many smaller cities and villages in between.

Together Mark and I have---

-Taken Ballroom Dancing

-Learned Kung FU

-Gotten Licensed to Scuba dive

-Learned to Sail in the BVI’s

-and this year we went Paragliding off of a 6,000 foot cliff in the Austrian Alps.

   FRIENDS 

 Since moving to Florida I have ……….Turned 40 and enjoyed a surprise birthday party to reinforce that fact. .  Mark held the party at our favorite Thai place in Longwood and invited 15 of my closest friends.  All of whom I have made since moving here.   Although not the friends of my childhood, the people that I have met here have taught me many things and continue to be an inspiration in my life.   My close friend Karen is even attending Weight Watchers with me to help me lose that 20lbs I mentioned.  

FIGURE SKATING 

Although I started skating while still in Long Island, SKATING in Florida has been a unique experience. Mostly because at 7am I’m sometimes the only one on the Ice.  When I moved here, I started taking lessons from Ex-Olympian Joe Druar and since then have landed three challenging jumps. 

-Skating in Florida means that Ice time and lessons are less expensive, therefore I can afford more of them.  I’ve been fortunate to take 4 lessons of week from some great coaches. While Skating here—I’ve also realized that I am in fact 40 and had to give up hope of being an Olympic champion, which for some reason at 39 I still thought might have been within my grasp. 

CAREER 

I relocated to Florida because of my career. Having the opportunity to start a Credit Card call center was too tempting to pass up.  In 1998 I became the Project Manager for our call center in Lake Mary and officially began my career in project management. Today I am a project manager for Chase Card Services, Business Engineering.  We are Chase employees who function as internal consultants and lead cross-functional enterprise initiatives.  

For Example, right now I have 3 projects of varying size and complexity. 

• One--is to design and implement an online website for card activation. 
• A Second --is launching a brand new Co-Branded Credit Card with “Shop Rite” a North Eastern Grocery Chain.
• And Lastly, I am Launching 2 New Job Functions in our Manila call center.  

I feel extremely lucky to have serendipitously found a career for which I love and which fits so perfectly within my skills.

 EDUCATION 

Since moving to Florida I have been fortunate to be able to continue my education and have acquired what I hope is my first Masters Degree. I am proud to say that I now hold a Masters in Project Management and am studying for professional certification in the field.  Something else I acquired while at Graduate school here in Florida—an addiction to Caffeine. 

 BPW

I have never been one to pay much attention to the need for networking.  However, my good friend Eva belonged to Business and Professional Women and was the Incoming State President.   

Since 1919, Business and Professional Women, has been helping to improve the lives of women.  As the oldest working women’s advocacy group, BPW has been helping women thrive in the business community for over eight decades.  American women continue to face an ever changing myriad of challenges and BPW helps them face those challenges head on by helping them to stay informed, enhance leadership skills and support political and charitable aspirations while building relationships that last a lifetime.This year I joined BPW, and Eva asked me to head the Technology committee for the State of Florida.  I am now a proud member.   

Lastly, Since moving to Florida I have acquired a

LOVE OF WORDS 

I have always been an avid reader and a long time fan of Shakespeare and all European history and literature. -In 2003 when I changed career roles and acquired my current position, I immediately realized the shoes I had to fill. My predecessor was literally a rocket scientist and our lead Project Manager had a business degree from Wharton.   Many others in my department had Ivy League credentials and had the benefit of growing up in professional environments.  

THEY had a jump on me with respect to communication and the English language.  

-Appreciating the fact that my communication skills were not on par with those whom I would be interacting, I started reading aloud at home, purchased a word-of the day calendar, signed up for word of the day at dictionary.com and paid several hundred dollars for the Verbal Advantage program (which by the way I’m still trying to get through).  

In May I wrote my first speech for my friend Eva, the BPW Incoming President and here I am today at Toastmasters, preparing for the “BPW speak off” which starts in October.

 Moving to Florida was among the best decisions I have made in my 40 years.  I am blessed with a remarkable family, inspiring friends, a career that I love and a commitment to personal growth through education and relationships.