50 Most Powerful People of 2024 In Orlando: Tourism & Transportation
Meet the most powerful people in the Tourism and Transportation category.
1. Jeff Vahle | President, Walt Disney World Resort
Jeff Vahle made has been with Disney since 1990: a journey that has taken him to every Disney destination in the world.
“Every job I’ve had with Disney has been my best job yet,” he says. The record shows, though, that 2024 has been exceptional.
Two significant milestones passed last May, when Disney and Florida dropped litigation against one another, and relationships normalized with the oversight district containing Walt Disney World.
The resort swiftly moved on to opening two attractions, Country Bear Musical Jamboree and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Then, this summer, Disney dropped the big news: $17 billion of openings planned over the next decade: a Monsters, Inc. land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a Cars land and Villains land at Magic Kingdom, a Tropical Americas land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and an all-new Magic Kingdom nighttime parade.
Openings are major events for theme-park destinations, yet Vahle remains clear about what makes Walt Disney World different: the cast.
“When people write to me, excited about their trip,” he says, “they always lead with cast members—how they went above and beyond.”
Vahle is passionate about ability of the cast to add magic to a Disney visit, and the power of leaders to cultivate that culture. In a recent workshop offered to Disney leaders, he opened with a video in which hourly cast talked about the value leadership brought to their roles.
“One of our executives used to close messages with a hashtag, ‘#LeadershipMatters,’” he says. “It does.”
On the community side, Disney has dedicated nearly 80 acres of land to the creation of mixed-income housing, nearly 1,000 units of which will be reserved as affordable. And Vahle is personally involved with several community causes, including Give Kids The World Village, the wish-trip resort for critically ill children and their families, where he is in his second decade of board service.
Photo ©Walt Disney World
2. Karen Irwin | President & COO, Universal Orlando Resort
The prospect of creating something new is what initially drew Karen Irwin to Universal Orlando Resort. Irwin began her career as a member of the opening team for Universal Studios Florida.
That hunger for something new has been well fed lately, as the past 12 months have seen the largest slate of new experiences ever at Universal, including DreamWorks Land, Universal Mega Movie Parade, CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular, Hogwarts Always and the grand opening of Minion Land.
Then there’s the land that the whole city is waiting for with bated breath, the debut of Universal Epic Universe, the first new major theme park in Orlando in 30 years.
“Universal Epic Universe will build on our rich legacy of immersive storytelling while reimagining the themed entertainment experience through groundbreaking innovation, technology and creativity,” teases Irwin.
For Orlando to remain a leader in the tourism sector, she says, it must continue to be a welcoming place for all guests from around the world and provide world-class entertainment and experiences.
“Tourism is one of the most important economic engines for Orlando,” she says, “and sustained marketing investment is critical.”
Photo ©Universal Orlando Resort
3. Kevin Thibault | CEO, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
When vacation time rolls around, Kevin Thibault leaves his job behind—literally. He and his wife head towards that year’s chosen getaway via Orlando International Airport (MCO), where Thibault knows his way from gate to gate better than most, having worked there since 2022 as CEO.
It’s a job that ranks right up there as one of Central Florida’s most obvious high-pressure posts, given the explosive growth at the seventh busiest airport in the country, where nearly 58 million passengers made their way from gate to gate in 2023.
Future expansion plans for the airport could include a new terminal, along with a “vertiport” for electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles. Already underway are plans for more gates to be added to Terminal C, interior refurbishment for landside and airside areas for Terminals A and B, and more.
“Our goals and objectives are structured around four priorities: people, connection, community and innovation,” he says.
Photo ©Orlando International Airport
4. Mark Tester | Executive Director, Orange County Convention Center
Under Mark Tester’s leadership, the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) has not only maintained its competitive edge but has also embraced innovative practices. One of his most significant recent accomplishments is a $560 million expansion project expected to further solidify the OCCC’s position as a leading convention destination.
The OCCC has consistently proven itself as a trailblazer within the convention and tradeshow industry. The Center’s two buildings, the West and the North-South, host nearly 200 events annually, drawing more than 1.5 million attendees and generating an estimated $3 billion in economic impact for the region.
The introduction of “Bbot,” an autonomous security robot, marks a significant step forward in ensuring visitor safety. The Center’s dedication to sustainability was recognized with the Harris Rosen Philanthropic Award.
The OCCC recently welcomed Walt Disney World into its Gold Key Member Program, strengthening its partnerships with major industry players. It also played host to the world’s largest volleyball tournament, organized by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), and secured NPE2024, a major plastics industry event, projected to generate $141 million for the local economy.
Photo by Roberto Gonzalez
5. Patrick Goddard | President, Brightline
Patrick Goddard’s goal, since joining Brightline in 2016, has been to connect Central and South Florida, getting cars off the road and providing people with safer, faster and more convenient transportation. And under his leadership, Brightline did just that, successfully completing a $2.7 billion expansion between Orlando and Miami in 2023. This marked the reintroduction of intercity passenger rail in the United States after more than a century.
During this expansion, Goddard managed the development of Basecamp, a $100 million facility situated on 62 acres of Orlando International Airport property, now the most advanced train maintenance facility in the region.
Goddard’s primary focus revolves around building a distinctive brand experience that caters to the lifestyle and leisure of both Floridians and visitors, promoting train travel as a convenient alternative to driving. In 2021, as part of Brightline’s relaunch, he oversaw the introduction of Brightline+, an innovative first-last mile service designed to address guests’ mobility needs and provide seamless connectivity to top events and destinations throughout the state.
Photo by Roberto Gonzalez
6. Tiffany Homler Hawkins | CEO, Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority
“Citrus Connection was my first bus ride with my grandfather,” Tiffany Homler Hawkins, CEO of the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX), recalls fondly.
The fourth-generation Floridian has always had an affinity for public transportation. Named CEO of LYNX in January 2023, this is her second stint with the company; her first role was as a project manager, and later, director of planning, where she worked on LYNX’s Central Station.
She recently secured a resiliency grant to make improvements to that terminal. In addition, LYNX plans to build 250 more bus shelters over the next five years, a plan for which Orange County has invested $15 million.
In looking at better service options, Hawkins hopes the use of micro transit will alleviate traffic congestion. “It serves a geographical area, not necessarily on a time schedule,” she says.
LYNX is also looking to the future with its sustainability program. By the end of 2025, all diesel buses will be retired, and the fleet will be upgraded with CNG buses, for which LYNX received a $27 million grant.
All timed nicely as LYNX celebrates its 30th anniversary this fall.
Photo ©Central Florida Expressway Authority
7. Michelle Maikisch | Executive Director, Central Florida Expressway Authority
Michelle Maikisch has steered the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) towards remarkable achievements. She’s played a pivotal role in ensuring that CFX continues to meet the growing demands of Central Florida’s rapidly expanding population. Under her leadership, CFX manages a 125-mile expressway network that serves nearly 80 million residents and visitors across Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
Maikisch has implemented CFX’s first performance-driven strategic business plan, which ensures that every project aligns with long-term goals of improving mobility, safety and sustainability. It’s not merely a roadmap but a dynamic tool guiding CFX as it undertakes $4 billion in critical infrastructure projects scheduled through 2028.
In the past year, Maikisch has overseen several key projects that exemplify her commitment to enhancing the region’s transportation network. Notably, CFX broke ground on State Road 516, a vital project aimed at improving connectivity between Lake and Orange counties. This project is a crucial component of their broader strategic plan.
Photo ©Benjamin wade
8. Nicole Martz | President & CEO, Sanford Airport Authority
Nicole Martz has been instrumental in transforming Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) into a critical economic engine for Seminole County and the broader region, guiding the airport through significant development.
Martz oversaw the successful completion of a $72 million expansion project that has bolstered the airport’s reputation as a top choice for non-stop access to more than 70 destinations across the United States and Canada. This accessibility is particularly valuable for towns and cities not serviced by larger airports.
She’s also been a driving force in leveraging SFB’s potential as a center of commerce. The airport now boasts a $3.5 billion impact on Florida’s economy. Martz’s efforts to attract strategic partnerships have been focused on the 530 acres of greenfield development available at the airport, which represent some of the last sizable undeveloped lands in Seminole County.
Recent plans to construct a connector road between State Road 417 and SFB are set to further integrate the airport into the region’s infrastructure, improving accessibility and supporting continued growth.
Photo by Roberto Gonzalez
9. Casandra Matej | President & CEO, Visit Orlando
The travel and tourism landscape couldn’t have been gloomier when Casandra Matej became CEO of Visit Orlando nearly four years ago—the city was still weathering the downturn triggered by COVID.
Orlando was looking for a strategic leader with an ability to collaborate throughout the region, says Brian Comes, Visit Orlando’s chairman of the board. Matej lived up to that billing with a marketing campaign dubbed “The Wonder Remains,” which helped draw in more than $200 million in tourist spending.
But Orlando has restored itself as the most visited tourism destination in the U.S., boasting 74 million visitors in 2023 and seeing a surge in international visitors by 25%, with spending by those visitors reaching $5.4 billion.
Matej also collaborated with the developers of the inaugural edition of the Florida Michelin Guide to include 34 Orlando restaurants.
