35 UNDER 35 HONOREES | 2024
pan, India, and Australia–that have been supported to advance my STEM education and research. Through the support of the fellowship, I learned about the intersection of STEM and public policy, built international research collaborations, attended events at The White House and in Melbourne, Australia, and even founded my own data science consulting company, OutlierOrbit LLC. As a first-generation student from the Sarasota-Bradenton area, this opportunity not only signifies my personal academic and professional growth, but also allowsme to contribute meaningfully to the global scientific community.
How and when did you know you wanted to be a leader in your field? My journey in data science began at New College of Florida, where I started research in statistics as I completed a B.A. in Statistics & Applied Mathematics and an M.S. in Applied Data Science. My work focuses on developing advanced statistical and machine learning methods to address complex problems in astrophysics, particularly enhancing the detection and modeling of solar flares using satellite data. This work started as an research internship at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, later leading to other experiences at NASA. I find fulfillment in my work from the potential to contribute to scientific discoveries while also being able to actively engage in STEM outreach and policy advocacy.
What is your formula for success? I consistently show up every day and work on solving at least one problem, no matter how difficult it is that day. Along the way I have failed and made mistakes, and will likely continue to do so, but I always make a deliberate effort to reflect, learn and continue forward.
RYNE JOHNSON OWNER, SPIRIT MOVERS What is your top professional goal? To be the leader of the most impactful business in Florida. Providing exceptional value to my team and those we have the honor to serve. Currently as the leader of Spirit Movers I have recognized that moving, although stressful, provides an overlooked opportunity to impact people’s lives. Regardless of the reason someone is relocating, the process creates a very intimate and vulnerable space. A space to meet people where they are, to selflessly serve them, and transform an interaction taking it from transactional to relational.
What is your formula for success? I believe the
What is your formula for success? I was lucky
happiest and most successful people don’t necessarily love what they do but find love in what they do. Even if someone doesn’t have a passionate love for their work or industry, they can still find deep satisfaction and meaning in the process, challenges, and impact their job can have on others. As a business leader my formula for success is found in loving my people and my organization.
enough to have a mentor early on in my time running GG Schmitt and Sons. This person always preached on “Top 5 Priorities” and it’s the simple notion that a sense of urgency applied directly at the most pressing issues that a company faces will yield focused wins and the most impact. Keeping track of these priorities will at times prevent you from wandering away from these core priorities and focusing on distractions, a problem that will delay the real needs of the business. These priorities are ever evolving based on the needs of the company and different from the day to day needs we often find ourselves consumed by. Communicating these priorities helps everyone come together to accomplish the goals.
When things get tough, I just remember . . . that nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
If you could dedicate your life to solving one problem, what problem would you choose? Human offense is one of the greatest problems the world faces today. It causes division, slows innovation, and leads to destruction. If I could dedicate my life to eliminating offense from the hearts and minds of humankind, I would. Being unoffended is a choice and the key to solving problems, overcoming challenges and achieving true unity.
ROSS KENNEDY BUSINESS UNIT DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT, MARINE CONCEPTS Share a recent achievement for which you are the most proud. Marine Concepts was recently featured in Sounding’s Trade Only, our industry’s trade publication. It’s rewarding seeing your hard work put on display, but the foundation of the skills that earned that recognition was the time I spent building an amazing team at GG Schmitt and Sons, a company I was the President for three years prior to making the move to Marine Concepts. During those three years, we were able to grow sales by 25%, increase EBITDA margins by 8% and double EBITDA cash year over year. This is due to a great team improving operations as well as introducing over 10 new products to the marine industry in 2023. We were able to take a company that was struggling during a leadership and acquisition change in 2020 and turn it into one of the best marine custom hardware and fabrication suppliers in the industry. Now at Marine Concepts, I am able to take those same tactics and methods that I developed with the team at GG Schmitt and apply them to the needs of Marine Concepts.
What is the first job you ever held? Fittingly enough, when I was 13 I started a summer job as a dockhand at the Castine Yacht Club.
How do you spend your time outside of work? To work in the Marine Industry, you have to have a passion for being out on the water. My wife and I spend many weekends out on our boat either fishing, scuba diving, going to the sandbar or cruising up and down the intercoastal waterways.
WILLIAM LUCAS PRESIDENT, SUNSHINE AUTISM CENTERS What is your top professional goal? My top professional goal is to expand Sunshine Autism Center into a multi-state leader in ABA therapy, providing accessible, high-quality care to children with autism and their families. I’m driven by a vision of growth that ensures every child we serve receives personalized support to reach their full potential. Over the next five years, I aim to build on our success in Tampa Bay and establish a network of clinics across the region, eventually expanding to multiple states. This growth will allow us to serve more communities, create greater awareness around autism, and advocate for inclusive support systems nationwide. What is your formula for success? My formula for success centers on building a team of highly skilled professionals, prioritizing satisfaction for both employees and clients, and learning from the best in the industry. I believe that to provide top-tier care, we need a team of industry leaders—individuals who bring expertise, passion, and dedication to their roles every day.
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