Advisory Board Bio – Stephanie Howell

Stephanie Howell is the Senior Director of Community Affairs and Economic Development for Valencia College.  In this role she is responsible for strategic implementation of the college’s community engagement efforts.  She works with the faculty, students and the college team to further the strategic goals of the college with community, business and non-profit organizations.  Stephanie also helps to direct and coordinate the college’s economic development initatives in the community.

 

 

Stephanie has a strong background working in public affairs, law and government. Most recently, Stephanie was the Founder and President of Howell Consulting, a full-service public affairs firm specializing in community relations, government relations, and business development.

 

 

A lawyer by education, Stephanie served as Legal Counsel to the Orange County Clerk of Courts and was an associate with an Orlando insurance defense firm. Before earning her law degree, Stephanie lived and worked in Washington, D.C. as a federal lobbyist, advocating on behalf of clients in the areas of energy, the environment and education.

 

 

Prior to starting her own business, Stephanie worked as the Director of Marketing and Business Development for the Orlando office of Baker Hostetler, a national AMLAW 100 law firm. In this role she handled all external relations for the Orlando office.

 

 

Stephanie also served as the Director of Government and Community Relations for Orlando Health, a private not-for-profit hospital system. At Orlando Health she ran all local, state and national government relations activities, and was an integral part of a statewide initiative to secure funding for all trauma centers in the state. She also coordinated relationships with the region’s key community and business leaders, and directed strategic public affairs issues, as well as various grassroots initiatives.

 

 

Stephanie Howell is an active member of the Central Florida community. She has been actively involved in political, community and charitable organizations including the Heart of Florida United Way, the Tiger Bay Club and the American Heart Association.  She has been chosen as an Orlando Business Journal “Forty Under 40” executive and has served as a Leadership Steward for Leadership Orlando.