From left: Crystal Davidson-Sims, Prita Chhabra, Margaret “Maggie” Bonko, Catherine Rea.

Special thanks to Dr. Phillips House for graciously providing the venue for the photoshoot.

Crystal Davidson-Sims

Vice President, iBuild Central Florida

For Crystal Davidson-Sims, opportunity is not an abstract concept. It is something she works to build every single day, often quite literally. As vice president of iBuild Central Florida, Davidson-Sims connects education, industry and community partners to create pathways into skilled trades careers for youth, adult learners and individuals re-entering the workforce after incarceration.

Her mission is rooted in a belief shaped over more than two decades in education and workforce development: meaningful work can transform lives. “What motivates me most is seeing lives change,” Davidson-Sims said. “Career and technical education, especially in the skilled trades, creates real and lasting opportunities.”

That belief has guided a career focused on removing barriers. At iBuild, she develops workforce programs, builds partnerships with employers and helps align training with industry needs so that participants do not just find jobs, but sustainable careers.

The results ripple outward. Employers gain a skilled workforce. Families gain financial stability. Communities gain resilience. Davidson-Sims’ commitment to service extends beyond her professional role. As a board member and mentor with West Orange Habitat for Humanity, she has supported families working toward homeownership, including one single mother whose journey she helped guide.

“Watching her achieve stability and create generational change for her family was incredibly meaningful,” she said.

She also mentors students through Parramore Kidz Zone, helping them navigate college planning, scholarships and career exploration, particularly in high-demand fields.

Those experiences reinforce her conviction that transformation often happens quietly, one individual at a time. “My work is about removing barriers and creating access, ensuring every person has the opportunity to build a career and a future they are proud of,” she said.

Davidson-Sims’ leadership reaches statewide and national levels. She serves on the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Second Chance Hiring Technical Workgroup, advises the Florida Department of Corrections on workforce alignment and contributes to national workforce development initiatives.

“These careers do not just provide jobs. They provide stability, confidence and hope.”

Her perspective has been deeply shaped by working with re-entry populations. Witnessing their determination strengthened her belief that access to opportunity is essential to a thriving community.

“I have witnessed firsthand the resilience of individuals determined to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society,” she said. “Their perseverance reinforced my belief that everyone deserves the chance to succeed.”

Looking ahead, Davidson-Sims hopes her legacy will include expanding opportunities for women in the skilled trades, an industry where they remain underrepresented despite strong demand and career potential.

“I hope to help create a future where women feel empowered to pursue careers in the trades and workforce leadership without barriers,” she said.

Ultimately, she measures success not by titles, but by impact. “I want my legacy to be measured by the lives I helped change and the opportunities I helped create,” Davidson-Sims said. “If I have helped even a small number of people realize their potential and build better lives, then I know I have fulfilled my purpose.”

Prita Chhabra

Site Director, Public Allies Central Florida – RISE Community Solutions Inc.

In a city defined by growth and reinvention, Prita Chhabra is focused on something even more powerful: opening doors.

As Site Director for Public Allies Central Florida, Chhabra works at the intersection of leadership development and community impact, helping shape the next generation of changemakers. Her role is both strategic and deeply personal. She identifies nonprofit organizations in need of support, then pairs them with emerging leaders, known as Allies, who serve in intensive, 10-month apprenticeships. Beyond placement, she leads training, mentors participants and advocates for a stronger, more inclusive nonprofit ecosystem across Central Florida.

“I am a storyteller and advocate for our program, constantly out in the community sharing the incredible impact our Allies are making throughout Orlando,” Chhabra said.

Her passion is rooted in lived experience. Chhabra began her own journey as an AmeriCorps Public Ally, an opportunity that helped her find purpose, earn her MBA and become the first in her family to hold a master’s degree. That transformation now fuels her mission to ensure others have access to the same life-changing opportunities.

“No one reaches their potential alone, and my greatest joy is helping others realize that they, too, can make it.”

Chhabra’s impact extends far beyond her formal role. She is an AmeriCorps alumna, a board member for the Central Florida Volunteer Administrators and a dedicated mentor to young people transitioning out of the foster care system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she volunteered weekly to distribute free meals, and she continues to organize fundraising efforts and holiday drives for local families.

Professionally, her leadership has earned widespread recognition. Under her guidance, Public Allies Central Florida received the Orlando Business Journal’s 2023 Diversity in Business Award. She was also named a 40 Under 40 honoree in 2021. In a unique extension of her talents, Chhabra has made history as the first South Asian performer to sing the national anthem for major professional sports leagues, including the NBA, NHL and MLB.

Yet her leadership has not come without challenges. When diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives faced increasing scrutiny, Chhabra made the difficult decision to stand firm rather than retreat.

“It taught me that leadership is not just about managing during the easy times. It is about being a shield for your mission when it is under fire,” she said.

That conviction is shaping how she gives back to Orlando, a city she credits with helping her find her voice. Today, she is intentionally widening pathways for others, ensuring that leadership in Central Florida reflects the diversity of the community it serves.

Looking ahead, Chhabra hopes her legacy will be measured not by titles, but by the people she has uplifted.

“I want to be remembered as someone who led with kindness, put her whole heart into every effort, and made sure everyone felt welcomed and valued,” she said.

For Orlando, that kind of leadership is not just inspiring. It is transformative.

Margaret “Maggie” Bonko

Vice President, Orlando Health; President, Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital

As vice president of Orlando Health and president of Orlando Health – Health Central Hospital, Bonko leads with a deeply personal understanding of what healthcare means to the people it serves. Her approach is not theoretical. It is lived.

“What motivates me, first and foremost, is that I’ve been the person in the hospital bed,” Bonko says. “I know what it feels like to want reassurance, to feel human, and to believe things will get better.”

That perspective has shaped a leadership style rooted in compassion and connection. At Health Central Hospital, Bonko prioritizes both clinical excellence and human experience, ensuring patients receive not just the right care, but care delivered with dignity and understanding.

Her influence extends far beyond hospital walls. Bonko is deeply embedded in Central Florida’s civic fabric, working closely with organizations such as the West Orange Chamber of Commerce, the Apopka Chamber of Commerce, the Roper YMCA and the Foundation for a Healthier West Orange. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine, helping shape the next generation of physicians who will care for the region’s growing population.

That growth is not abstract. Central Florida is adding thousands of new residents each week, and Bonko sees it up close. Her career has taken her through multiple communities, including Seminole County, Horizon West and West Orange, giving her a rare, ground-level view of how healthcare needs evolve across neighborhoods.

“Being in different markets throughout my career has helped me understand what each community needs at its specific stage of growth,” she says.

Bonko’s professional journey began in recruitment, where leaders recognized her potential and invested in her development. She has since helped launch major healthcare programs, including cardiology, robotics and stroke care initiatives, expanding access to advanced services across Central Florida.

Yet she is quick to deflect attention from her own achievements to the teams around her.

“When we care for our team members well, our patients feel it.”

That philosophy shows up in both big decisions and small gestures. Bonko makes a point to be present during night shifts, offer support during long hours and step in wherever needed. For her, leadership is not about hierarchy. It is about visibility, trust and shared purpose.

She is equally passionate about recognizing those whose work often goes unseen. From environmental services teams to lab technicians and food service staff, Bonko emphasizes that healthcare is a collective effort.

“Their contributions may not always be in the spotlight, but they are absolutely essential,” she says.

Looking ahead, Bonko hopes her legacy will be measured not by titles, but by impact. She envisions a ripple effect, where investing in others creates lasting change across the community.

“If I can positively impact even one person in a way that empowers them to go forward and do the same for someone else, that becomes the true measure of my work,” she says.

Catherine Rea

Vice President, 211 and Crisis Services, Heart of Florida United Way

In a region known for growth and resilience, Catherine Rea has quietly built a career centered on answering some of Central Florida’s most urgent calls for help, sometimes quite literally.

As vice president of 211 and Crisis Services at Heart of Florida United Way, Rea oversees a team of more than 65 staff members who operate around the clock, connecting residents to essential resources through the 211 information and referral line and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Together, they serve millions across a wide swath of the state, providing critical support ranging from housing assistance to life-saving mental health intervention.

For Rea, the work is deeply personal. A former nurse, legislative aide and human services leader, she has spent decades navigating the intersection of public policy and human need. That path has taken her from launching regional 211 services in Michigan to initiating statewide services in Arizona before ultimately helping expand them across Florida.

“What motivates me most is the team I work with and advocating for the people we serve,” Rea says. “Every day, they are the ones answering the calls for help and very much behind the scenes.”

Her leadership style reflects that focus. Colleagues describe her as mission-driven, collaborative and deeply committed to lifting others up. Rea herself is quick to redirect praise toward her staff, emphasizing that their work often goes unseen despite its life-changing impact.

Rea’s dedication to service was shaped by both professional challenges and defining moments. One of the most difficult decisions of her career came during her tenure as a nonprofit CEO, when she chose to merge her organization with another to preserve its programs and staff. Though it required stepping down from her leadership role, she says the experience reinforced a core principle.

“It taught me that service over self really works,” Rea says.

Her civic contributions extend beyond daily operations. A longtime advocate for human service programs, she has held leadership roles at local, state and national levels, including serving as president of the National Inform USA Board of Directors and contributing to United Way Worldwide’s 211 Steering Committee.

“Whether it’s someone looking for shelter or someone struggling with suicidal thoughts, my team is truly the one saving lives. I’m honored to work for them.”

In Central Florida, Rea has been at the forefront of crisis response during some of the community’s most difficult moments, from natural disasters to tragedies like the Pulse nightclub shooting. She describes being continually inspired by the region’s willingness to come together during times of need.

“I am always amazed by this community’s willingness to stand up and help one another,” she says. “It’s why I take my role very seriously — finding more efficient ways to connect people with help when they need it most.”

Looking ahead, Rea hopes future leaders will remain focused on long-term impact rather than short-term trends.

“My hope is that we measure success by the proven positive impact on people’s lives,” she says. “We have to invest in the long game for our community.”

As for her own legacy, Rea keeps it simple and rooted in the values that have guided her career. “Don’t mistake kindness for weakness,” she says. For the thousands of Central Floridians who have found support through a phone call answered in their moment of need, that philosophy has already left a lasting mark.

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