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Bobby Olszewski

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Robert "Bobby O" Olszewski
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 44th district
In office
October 10, 2017 – November 6, 2018
Preceded byEric Eisnaugle
Succeeded byGeraldine Thompson
Personal details
Born (1977-09-06) September 6, 1977 (age 47)
Cleveland, Ohio
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAllison
ChildrenReagan
Alma materUniversity of Central Florida (B.A.)
Rollins College (M.A.)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (M.S.)
Northcentral University (Ph.D.)
ProfessionManagement Consultant

Robert "Bobby O" Olszewski (born September 6, 1977) is a former American politician who previously served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 44th District which included Windermere, Winter Garden, Gotha, Lake Buena Vista, Oakland, parts of Ocoee, and the Dr. Phillips, Horizon West, and Williamsburg communities in Southwest Orange County.[1] The district contained Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Florida, SeaWorld, International Drive, and the Orange County Convention Center.

Education

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After graduating from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Olszewski earned an undergraduate double major from the University of Central Florida in Radio/Television (B.A.) and Organizational Communication (B.A.), as well as two master’s degrees in Management (M.S.) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Corporate Communication & Technology (M.A.) from Rollins College. Olszewski also earned a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Northcentral University.[2] Dr. Olszewski's published doctoral dissertation Donor Motivations for Donating to a Nonprofit Without a Previous Relationship, which was cited by multiple peer-reviewed research sources, conducted a quantitative analysis of surveyed donors from the Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe in the Diocese of Orlando.[3]

Professional

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Since 2023, Olszewski has served as Vice President of Government and Community Relations for Global-5, a Central Florida-based public relations, marketing, and digital production agency specializing in transportation, government, and nonprofits.[4] Prior to joining Global-5, Olszewski was the managing principal of Emerson Management & Consulting Group, Inc. and was president of Florida Laboratories in Orlando in addition to serving as the Orange County Community Action Agency Board Chairman [5] and Chairman of the Roper YMCA Board of Directors with the YMCA of Central Florida.[6] For over a decade, Olszewski served as the national spokesperson and media relations chair for the Butkus Award presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. named in honor of Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame member Dick Butkus.[7] He also served as a sports agent representing PGA Tour golfers including two-time U.S. Open Champion Lee Janzen as well as motocross and supercross athletes including X Games gold medal winner and AMA SX/MX Champion Ricky Carmichael. He additionally worked with Florida Citrus Sports, the presenters of the Citrus Bowl game, and the Ginn Open, an LPGA Tour event, as well as creating sports marketing coursework for the University of California Irvine.[8] Olszewski is the former Corporate Partnership Consultant for Special Olympics Florida.[9] Olszewski additionally served as a television analyst for Spectrum News 13[10] and WFTV ABC 9 in Orlando, the nation's 18th largest media market.[11]

Winter Garden Commission

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Olszewski became a City Commissioner in Winter Garden. He was first elected with 71 percent of the vote and ran unopposed for his second term.[12] Commissioner Olszewski helped save a 1-year-old beagle puppy named Rufus from being euthanized [13] and helped bring baseball to Winter Garden with the Winter Garden Squeeze of the Florida Collegiate Summer League.[14] Olszewski was the only Winter Garden Commissioner to vote against removing prayer from the commission meetings stating his vote was “the most indicative of defending the Constitution.” [15] When Major League Baseball's Houston Astros and Washington Nationals were looking to leave their respective Spring Training homes in the Florida Grapefruit League, Commissioner Olszewski reached out to both organizations about moving their Spring Training to Winter Garden.[16] The Astros came for a tour of Winter Garden but decided on moving to West Palm Beach in the shared Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches with the Nationals. Commissioner Olszewski served on the West Orange Chamber of Commerce board of directors and was a graduate of their Leadership West Orange program.[17] He additionally is a graduate of the Orange County Public Schools Leadership Orange program as well as the Orlando Economic Partnership Political Leadership Institute.[18] The University of Central Florida Alumni Association highlighted his service as a Winter Garden Commissioner.[19] Olszewski was runner-up [20] for the Orange County Commission [21] race in District 1 [22] where he was endorsed by Major League Baseball All-Star and World Series Champion Johnny Damon and Joey Fatone of N Sync.[23]

Florida House of Representatives

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After Eric Eisnaugle was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve as a judge on Florida's Fifth District Court of Appeal, Olszewski won the Republican primary in the special election.[24] In the general election, he won with 56 percent of the vote.[25] Rep. Bobby Olszewski sent a letter [26] to Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby lobbying the Big 12 Conference to add the University of Central Florida (UCF) [27] and the University of South Florida (USF).[28] Media throughout the Orlando and Tampa Bay markets supported Olszewski's efforts advocating for the UCF Knights and USF Bulls.[29] Representative Olszewski passed HB 487 in the Florida House, which was included in a larger committee bill passing in the Florida Senate, allowing child sex-trafficking survivors to receive specialized care at hospitals and residential treatment centers throughout the state.[30] Rep. Olszewski additionally passed two bills in the Florida House to allow lost or abandoned personal property at theme parks or entertainment complexes to be donated directly to a charity or nonprofit [31] and a bill that would require pet owners to do all they can to shelter their animal companions in the event of a hurricane or declared emergency.[32] Representative Olszewski was presented awards for his legislative achievements from organizations including the Florida Chamber of Commerce,[33] the Florida League of Cities,[34] and the Florida Alliance for Consumer Protection,[35] the latter earning him praise from the Orlando Sentinel.[36] Olszewski ran for reelection to the House, being challenged by former state senator Geraldine Thompson. Thompson went on to defeat Olszewski in the general election by 1%.[37]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Florida House of Representatives - Robert "Bobby O" Olszewski - 2016 - 2018 ( Speaker Corcoran )". Myfloridahouse.gov. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Vote Bobby O for State House - District 44". Vote Bobby O for State House - District 44. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Donor Motivations for Donating to a Nonprofit Without a Previous Relationship". April 2012. ProQuest 1020326746.
  4. ^ "Global-5 Adds Government Affairs to Client Services Lineup, Welcomes Florida Rep. Bobby Olszewski into Key Leadership Role". 29 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Meet Florida House District 44 candidate Bobby Olszewski". 31 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Roper YMCA names new board chair". 3 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Butkus watch for Mitchell". 14 October 2002.
  8. ^ "UC Irvine Extension Offers Sports Industry In Society Course" (Press release). 28 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Rep. Olszewski accepts position with Special Olympics Florida". Orlando Political Observer. Retrieved 24 September 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "State of State Address: Where to Hear Governor". 14 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Disney nixing Lake Nona campus will have 'economic toll,' expert says". 19 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Incumbents Buchanan, Sharman prevail in Winter Garden". 13 March 2012.
  13. ^ "Winter Garden supports saving Rufus the beagle". 25 April 2013.
  14. ^ "FCSL comes to Winter Garden in form of Squeeze". 2 June 2018.
  15. ^ "W.G. City Commission axes opening prayer". 12 September 2014.
  16. ^ "The Case for Investing in a Baseball Facility in Winter Garden". 8 July 2015.
  17. ^ "West Orange Chamber Inducts New Board Members". 17 December 2014.
  18. ^ "Political Leadership Institute Elected Alumni". 28 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Once a Knight Always a Knight". 21 March 2014.
  20. ^ "Bonilla, VanderLey take seats on Commission, Singh wins a second term". 7 April 2019.
  21. ^ "Winter Garden commissioner announces resignation to pursue Orange County seat". 10 June 2016.
  22. ^ "Olszewski says 'time was right' to run for county seat". 9 September 2015.
  23. ^ "Joey Fatone Stumps for Commission Candidate Bobby O". 27 October 2016.
  24. ^ Lemongello, Steven. "Olszewski wins GOP primary for state House seat". Orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  25. ^ Lemongello, Steven. "Republican Bobby Olszewski wins Florida House District 44 special election". Orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  26. ^ "Local congressman asks Big 12 commissioner to consider admitting UCF, USF". 10 January 2018.
  27. ^ "Big 12 Commissioner Tells Local Politician Thanks But No Thanks on Adding UCF and USF". 31 January 2018.
  28. ^ "Florida Representative to Big 12 Time to Reconsider USF and UCF". 10 January 2018.
  29. ^ "Dear, Big 12: It's time to give USF and UCF a serious look". 10 January 2018.
  30. ^ "S/HB 487 (2018) - Residential Treatment Center Requirements". 10 March 2018.
  31. ^ "Bill tweaks state law on theme parks' 'lost and found'". 4 December 2017.
  32. ^ "Bobby Olszewski files bill to protect pets during emergencies". 4 December 2017.
  33. ^ "Florida Chamber of Commerce Endorses 60 Pro-Business, Pro-Jobs Candidates for the Florida House and Senate". 7 May 2018.
  34. ^ "Florida Legislators Honored with 2018 Legislative Appreciation Awards" (PDF). 8 May 2018.
  35. ^ "FLACP Presents Rep. Olszewski With Award for Outstanding Support for Consumers in 2018 Session". 5 June 2018.
  36. ^ "Bravo to a legislator, and boo to a would-be judge". 13 December 2018.
  37. ^ "Geraldine Thompson bests Bobby Olszewski in HD 44". 6 December 2017.
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