FEBRUARY 2013
MAGAZINE & PROMOTIONS • AXISMAG.COM
KELLY COHEN
MAGAZINE & PROMOTIONS • AXISMAG.COM
MAGAZINE & PROMOTIONS • AXISMAG.COM
Entrepreneur How long have you been in Orlando? Celebrating 10 years. Claim to fame? Being officially designated as cool. A one-liner or phrase that best describes you? I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh. What qualities or traits do you have that help you do what you do? Authenticity, perseverance and thick skin. As Keith Richards says, “Unless you really want to do this all the
THE
20 COOLEST PEOPLE IN ORLANDO
time, don’t jump in the pond. There’s piranhas in there, for chrissakes.” Who do you feel is the coolest person in Orlando? Meg Crofton A goal you hope to reach in the next few years? To grow both of my companies Southern Strategy Group and Bubbled.it Why is Orlando a cool place to be? I have professionally grown up in this community. Orlando is cool because its story
has not yet been written. Everyone has an opportunity to fill the pages. Where do you escape? Anywhere my passport will take me. If you were Mayor, what would you change about the city? In my iine of work, job security is not publically challenging our elected officials. One thing you could never live without? My friends.
“I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t laugh!”
JASON ‘BUCKETHEAD’ BAILEY Radio Host • Personality
STEVE ROBERTSON Record Label Executive How long have you been in Orlando? 20 glorious years. Claim to fame or title in life? King Shit on Turd Island. A one-liner or phrase that best describes you? Works really hard at a job that doesn’t feel like hard work. What qualities or traits do you have that help you do what you do? I’m a pretty emotional guy, which I always felt helped me to identify songs that have universal appeal. Who do you feel is the coolest person in Orlando? Dave McKenna. R.I.P. He defied all odds and filmed a real movie with actual movie stars set right here in Orlando, and it’s actually good! Orlando is a lesser place without him, but it sounds like his movie is going to be seen by many soon! A goal you hope to reach in the next few years? Continued happiness and success with my job and family. Why is Orlando a cool place to be? It’s big enough and small enough. Every size and type of music venue you could want. Close enough to New Smyrna Beach! We’ve been immortalized (not really in a good way) in the incredible Broadway show “The Book Of Mormon”!!! Where do you go to escape? NSB, baby! As Mayor, what would you change about the city? I would get rid of that stupid, miniature Statue of Liberty on Orange and Magnolia near Lake Ivanhoe, and I would have a cool sculpture done by a local artist that captures the spirit of Florida. One thing you could never live without? Besides my wife and kids? Music.
Claim to fame or title in life? Outside of entertaining you fools each and everyday I’m the guy stopped the almost riot in front of Casey Anthony’s house with like 50 pizzas that were delievered during CNN’s live shot. A one-liner or phrase that best describes you? “To Be The Man You Must Beat The Man...WOOOOOOO” -Ric Flair What qualities or traits do you have that help do what you do? I was born with the ability to tell a good story. Also, from an early age I learned how to manipulate. Somehow they both turned out to be a plus in my life. Who knew? Who do you feel is the coolest person in Orlando? Sean and Rick from Axis Magazine of course. Without these 2 guys, how are we supposed to know about the rest of us so-called cool types.
A goal in the next few years? Right now I’m working on scrubbing the stairwells in the downtown garages so they don’t smell like hot urine. Why is Orlando a cool place? On any given night / day there is something to do. From the Hard Rock Live to the HOB to Velvet Sessions to the new Amway. Where do you go to escape? Under my girlfriend’s shirt. It’s so safe there. I’m surrounded by beautiful mountains and left to me and my thoughts. If you were Mayor, what change? Push to get a poker room in the metro. I mean seriously people this is getting kind of stupid. Most of the politicians that speak against it are in a back room house game playing poker anyway. You could never live without? Trail Mix. More specifically.. Dark Chocolate Expresso from Target.
MICHAEL O’DONNELL Sports Entertainment How long you been in Orlando? About 9 years. Claim to fame or title in life? Former UCF point guard and captain. Currently Asst Director of Golden Knights Club. A phrase that best describes you? “Oh no he di-int” What qualities do you have that help you do what you do? Now-a-days you have to be able to communicate and connect with people… it’s all about relationships when it comes to business. Mental toughness seems to be neglected in today’s culture… and I hope to be known one day as a “servant-leader.” Who do you feel is the coolest person in Orlando? My buddy Rob Starkman founder of Rock’Em Apparel. That kid took a shot at his dream and hit dead center. There were plenty of people who thought he was crazy,
www.aXismag.com
but now he has one of the fastest growing apparel companies in Central Florida. A goal in the next few years? I would love to become an Associate Athletics Director at UCF as well as get picked for the Amazing Race TV show. Why Orlando a cool place to be? Great food, tons of culture, more great food, and I am typing this outside on my laptop while it is supposedly “winter” time. Give me sweat over sweaters any day of the week. Where do you go to escape? The movies or the driving range. There’s also nothing like taking your frustrations out on the most frustrating game of all time. If you were Mayor? Make P.E. in public schools priority and not an afterthought. You could never live without? It’s a tie.. My fiancé and Junior Mints.