Florida

Professional Networks

The vast number of professional networks within the state of Florida are often defined by industry, culture, or geographic area. HR of Florida is a state-level professional network for the human resources industry and serves as the state-level affiliate of the national Society for Human Resource Management. Founded in 1948, HR of Florida has an active network of over 14,000 human resource professionals spread throughout 28 local chapters around the state. Annually, HR of Florida hosts a state conference and expo as well as a leadership conference. In total, these two events draw over 1,200 professionals for networking and continued education. In addition to the state-level HR of Florida activities, each local chapter hosts monthly networking meetings, and many of them host their own regional conferences. HR of Tampa, for example, annually hosts a two-day HR Legal Expo and monthly networking meetings, and oversees a student chapter of up-and-coming human resource professionals. Some other professional networks operating within Florida are the Florida Chamber of Commerce (139,000 members), the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (10,000 members), and the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals (2,000 members).

The Jacksonville Young Professionals, Orlando Young Professionals, and Central Florida Business Professionals Networking Group are all significant examples of geographically oriented professional networks. These networks focus on connecting individuals within a given geographic area, not a particular industry. Working Women of Tampa Bay and the Jacksonville Minority Professionals Network are both examples of culturally driven professional networks, drawing members of a similar gender or ethnic group together within a given geographic area. Technology-oriented networks are also common within the state, typically drawing members from both a broad geographic region and variety of industries.

One example is the Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF), whose mission is to unite professionals interested in making technology and business thrive in the Tampa Bay area. TBTF hosts a variety of networking events, career days, bowl-a-thons, and a Summer Tech Jam and partners with Junior Achievement to help educate youth about technology-oriented careers. TBTF also actively networks online via Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn; distributes annually Industry Achievement Awards; and facilitates peer networks geared toward a specific type of member (for example, the CEO Advisory Forum, a grouping of CEO members who meet to discuss, resolve, and strategize about how to develop and grow their companies).

Sports Networks

Sports networks prominently dominate the state, with the local university networks and alumni associations being the most dominant. The Florida State University Alumni Association (FSUAA) boasts over 60 chapters nationally, with one in almost every county in the state. In 2009, the FSUAA hosted 100 social events throughout the state in honor of its 100th anniversary. Likewise, the University of Florida Alumni Association boasts over 100 chapters nationally, over 330,000 active members, and 100 Gator Clubs with the state of Florida. The University of Miami boasts over 30 national chapters, 10 of which are in the state of Florida, and 154,000 active members. Finally, the University of South Florida Alumni Association has over 224,000 members, 50 national chapters, and 10 chapters dispersed throughout the state.

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