SHEENA FOWLER, PICTURED
The Orlando Economic Partnership (Website) has appointed Sheena Fowler (LinkedIn) as Vice President of Innovation, effective March 9. Fowler most recently served as CEO of Innovate Orlando and previously held roles as Orlando Film Commissioner at the OEP and in economic development and tech leadership. The move brings Innovate Orlando’s core programs, including Tech Connect, the recent Orlando Tech Summit & Community Awards, and the Orlando Tech Grant, back into the Partnership’s fold.
The transition came at the request of the City of Orlando and corporate stakeholders looking to consolidate innovation efforts for greater coordination and scale, according to a release issued over the weekend. The Innovate Orlando board voted to sunset the organization and move its work to the OEP, aligning with the region’s Orlando 2045 Vision and its hopes of becoming a leading hub for innovation in the country.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sheena back to the OEP,” said OEP president and CEO Tim Giuliani. “Her deep experience, trusted relationships, and vision for Orlando’s innovation economy will accelerate our collective work to position the region as a leading global hub for technology and next-generation industries.”
Fowler said the mission itself is not changing. “We are still focused on growing Orlando’s tech and innovation community, closing the regional procurement gap, and sharing a more accurate, compelling story about our region,” she said. “What changes is the platform behind the work.”
The VP role is funded through a public-private partnership of stakeholders who previously invested in Innovate Orlando.
