Mayor Frank C. Ortis
City of Pembroke Pines, FL

Mayor Frank C. Ortis has been a resident of Pembroke Pines since 1977 and has a long history of service to his community. He was elected to the Pembroke Pines City Commission in 1996 and served as Vice Mayor in 1998 and 2002. In August 2004 he was elected Mayor, and in January 2008 he was re-elected for a second mayoral term. He was elected President of the Broward League of Cities for the 2005-2006 term of office. Mayor Ortis was recently appointed to chair the Broward League of Cities 2009-2010 Economic Committee. Since 2004, Mayor Ortis has served as Chair of the Legislative Growth Management Broward County School Oversight Committee. He was elected to serve on the United States Conference of Mayors Advisory Board in June 2006. In November 2008 Mayor Ortis was elected to the auspicious body of Leadership Florida. He also sits on the board of Geo Care America. He has been appointed to serve on the 2009-2010 2010 Census Prep Committee, the Education Committee, the Fiscal Stewardship Subcommittee of the Economics Committee, the Legislative Advocacy Committee, and the Green Initiatives and Growth Management Subcommittees of the Sustainability Committee.

In August 2007 he was installed as President of the Florida League of Cities and served as Chair of the Florida League of Cities' Resolutions Committee at the 2007 FLC Annual Conference. He garnered recognition from the Florida League of Cities by receiving the Cities of Excellence Mayor of the Year Award in 2006. Mayor Ortis was elected to the Board of Directors of the National League of Cities in November 2007. In November 2008 Mayor Ortis was elected to the auspicious body of Leadership Florida.

Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter

Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter was elected to the Broward County Commission in November, 2006. The following year she was selected by the Board to serve as Vice-Mayor and in 2008 was chosen to serve as Mayor for a one-year term.

She brings unique perspective and experience to the Commission. In 1996, Stacy was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, serving the residents of District 96. She served as a State Representative for eight years and was forced to leave office in November 2004 due to mandated term limits. Broward County Commissioners are elected from nine single-member districts. Stacy serves as the district commissioner for District 3.

Stacy was born in Washington D.C., and moved to Broward County in 1974. A graduate of Piper High School in Sunrise, Stacy received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and her Juris Doctor degree from Nova Southeastern College of Law.

As Broward County's Mayor and District Commissioner Stacy serves on a number of national, state and local associations. She currently serves as a member of the Broward County Planning Council, Co-Chair of the South Florida East Coast Corridor Coalition, and Honorary Co-Chair, 2009 ADL Community of Respect Awards. She is the Chair of the Broward County Tourist Development Council.

For the Florida Association of Counties, she serves on the Board of Directors as well as co-chair of the FAC Urban Caucus Committee. She is additionally a member of the National Association of Counties Transportation Steering Committee. During the 2008 presidential election, she was Chair of the Broward County Obama for America Campaign. She also served as Chair of the 2009 Outstanding Seniors Hall of Fame event.

Stacy was a community activist for years with the National Council of Jewish Women and other organizations prior to her election to State office. In 2001, she was elected Chair of the Broward County Legislative Delegation by her colleagues. Stacy chaired Broward County's Management and Efficiency Study Committee from June 2004 to June 2006. As Vice-Mayor last year, she became a member of the Broward County Planning Council and Fire Rescue Council as well as the official liaison between city and county governments

Although Stacy has been recognized for her service by numerous groups and organizations, she is most proud of being inducted to the Broward County Women's Hall of Fame and being named as one of the 100 Outstanding Women of the Year; Woman of the Year by the American Jewish Congress and a First Lady of Broward. In 2005, she co-chaired the Broward County Mayor's Ball benefiting the Transplant House.

Stacy and her husband, Russ Klenet live in Parkland with their three children; Matthew, Scott, and Stephanie. Stacy enjoys Broadway theatre, traveling with her husband, needlepoint, and boating.

Former All-Pro Miami Dolphins linebacker, John Offerdahl

Former All-Pro Miami Dolphins linebacker, John Offerdahl & his wife, Lynn, currently operate eight quick-casual restaurants aptly named Offerdahl's Café Grill - restaurants that feature "fresh-baked, just-grilled, all-day great food!" The bakery Café serves fresh-baked baguettes, bagels and pastries with soups and sandwiches. The specialty Grill features just-grilled steak, shrimp, chicken and salmon over rice, salad and pasta bowls topped with unique combinations of fresh vegetables and John's signature dressings & sauces.


In February of 2005, Offerdahl's Café Grill received the Nations Restaurant News (NRN) distinction of being in the Top 50 Fast-Casual concepts in America. Shortly after the release of the Top 50 Fast Casual, the NRN notified Offerdahl's Café Grill of a much bigger and more prestigious award - 2005's "Hot Concept" - a very celebrated award given to only 5 trending and "Hot Concepts" in the entire restaurant industry! Past recipients include Cheesecake Factory, Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Smokey Bones, Panera Bread and Baja Fresh.

In 1990, John & Lynn, co-founded Offerdahl's Bagel Gourmet and grew the concept to 10 stores before joining three other bagel entrepreneurs in March of 1995 to form Einstein Bros. Bagels, a national bagel retailer. From March 1995 to June of 1996 John served as V.P. of Operations for Florida. He was involved in growing 27 stores in the Florida market during that time. The public company currently operates over 400 stores system-wide. John served on Einsteins' Board of Directors until the spring of 1997.

From 1986 to 1994, John was a 5x All-Pro middle linebacker for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League. During his playing years, he captained the defense and received numerous accolades, including the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1986, the NFL's Ed Block Courage Award, the Nat Moore Community Service Award and the Traveler's Man of the Year Award. He also played in the Pro Bowl his first five years. Off the field, John served as the union representative for the Player's Association and player counsel to the NFL Management Advisory Board.

Prior to his career with the Dolphins, John attended Western Michigan University and graduated with a degree in biochemistry.

John has been involved in many community service organizations across South Florida and is currently an active board member on the South Florida Christian Community Foundation. He enjoys speaking to schools, church groups and other organizations, sharing his experiences in football and business as well as his personal life. John likes to read, spend time with his family, and participate in games of all types - especially Bridge.

John and Lynn live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with their three children, Alexandra (18), Drew (15) and Jameson (13).

Roxanne Vargas - Co-Anchor "South Florida Today"

Roxanne Vargas was the first on-air traffic reporter at WTVJ. She joined the Today in South Florida team in May 2007, offering the most complete traffic coverage to South Florida. Now, she contributes human interest, entertainment, consumer, health and interactive content on "Today in South Florida". She also joins Bob Mayer and Trina Robinson as a co-anchor on South Florida's only locally-produced news, talk and variety program, "South Florida Today".

You've also seen Roxanne co-host several special programs on NBC 6, such as the weekend edition of the "Olympic Zone", "Autocast 2007", the "NBC 6 & Telemundo 51 Heath & Fitness Expo" and the "NBC 6 & Telemundo 51 Travel & Recreation Expo." Roxanne's co-workers have given her the title of "dynamic reporter" in more ways than one - after covering dynamite stories - namely the implosion of the historic Sheraton Bal Harbor and the Miami Arena!

Roxanne began her television career at WTVJ behind the scenes working with the Creative Services Department. During her years there, she contributed live reports in English and Spanish during the 2005 Hurricane season from the NBC 6 and Telemundo 51 Hurricane Helpline.

A South Florida native, Roxanne earned her Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from Florida International University.

Roxanne enjoys going to the movies, reading and spending time with family and her golden retriever, Toby.

You can follow Roxanne on Twitter @RoxyNBC6

Brenda Johnson - President and CEO of Holy Cross Hospital

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Brenda holds a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Maine. Her professional experiences have been numerous, reflecting relocations associated with her husband’s career in hospital administration. She has been a classroom teacher, curriculum planner, a university health educator, program developer, non-profit executive, development director, and always an active community volunteer having participated on numerous boards and in many fund-raising programs.

She and husband John moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1995 where he has served for the past 13 years as President and CEO of Holy Cross Hospital. Since relocating to South Florida, Brenda served for 4 ½ years as Executive Director of the (then) Miami Dade Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, providing direct support, education, and referral services to more than 10,000 affected families annually. She chaired the prestigious Alexis de Tocqueville Society of United Way of Broward County for three years, during which time Society membership of the County’s most generous philanthropists nearly doubled. While residing in Fort Lauderdale, Brenda was an active member of Church by the Sea, serving on its Session and chairing its pastor search process.

Empowerment of small non-profit organizations holds a particular interest for Brenda and she has worked with several, both as a volunteer and professionally, guiding strategic planning and development initiatives. She readily admits to being cause-oriented and driven to apply skills, training, and experience to advance the efforts of non-profit organizations to make positive contributions to quality of life for all.

Brenda and her husband have a daughter, Melanie, who resides with her family in Wellesley, Massachusetts and is Vice President of Strategic Marketing for McKesson Health Solutions, and a son, Gregory, who resides with his family in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he is Vice President of Channel Strategies and Sales Operations for LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Five Granddaughters ranging from age 10 to 16 are centers of much of her time and energy now as she and John revel in the uniqueness of each girl and absorb the beauty of their individual evolutions into competent and loving young women who will make their own marks on their worlds. Summers on the Coast of Maine offer a family retreat and continuing connections to the New England of her roots.