Lakeland Chamber of Commerce to Honor Local ROTC and JROTC Instructors at Inaugural Veterans Business Council Breakfast

Lakeland Chamber of Commerce to Honor Local ROTC and JROTC Instructors at Inaugural Veterans Business Council Breakfast

“Saluting Leadership” recognizes military veterans whose commitment to service continues through education, mentorship, and developing future leaders.

LAKELAND, Fla. (October 20, 2026) — The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Veterans Business Council will host its inaugural Veterans Business Council ROTC Breakfast: Saluting Leadership on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland.

Held in recognition of Veterans Day, the breakfast will celebrate local ROTC and JROTC instructors and program leaders whose dedication to service extends beyond their military careers and into classrooms and communities throughout Polk County.

Through their work with young people, these leaders instill discipline, integrity, accountability, civic responsibility, and leadership, skills that prepare students for success in higher education, military service, the workforce, and their communities.

The inaugural breakfast will recognize the following local leaders:

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Kevin Reeves — Winter Haven High School, U.S. Army

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Michael W. Harris — Lakeland Senior High School, U.S. Army

Dr. Torrez L. Grace, Major (Ret.) — Kathleen Senior High School/Central Florida Aerospace Academy, U.S. Air Force

Dr. José R. Quezada, Captain (Ret.) — Lake Region High School, U.S. Marine Corps

Captain Douglas Walker (Ret.) — Auburndale High School, U.S. Navy

David Ulch — Commandant, Summerlin Academy, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran

City of Lakeland Commissioner Terry G. Coney, a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and 22-year military veteran, will serve as the featured speaker. Commissioner Coney's military and civic leadership experience reflects the event's central message: service does not end with military retirement but continues through mentorship, leadership, and community involvement.

The inaugural breakfast also highlights the important relationship between education, military service, and the business community. By recognizing the individuals responsible for developing young leaders, the Veterans Business Council seeks to strengthen awareness of the role ROTC and JROTC programs play in building the region's future talent pipeline.

The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Veterans Business Council presents the event in collaboration with Polk County Public Schools.

Event Details

What: Inaugural Veterans Business Council ROTC Breakfast: Saluting Leadership 
When: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 7:30–9:30 a.m. 
Where: First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland 
Featured Speaker: The Honorable Terry G. Coney, City of Lakeland Commissioner and U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.)

Registration and additional event information are available at:

https://web.lakelandchamber.com/events/VeteransBusiness%20Council%20ROTC%20Breakfast-33457/details

About the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce

The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce serves as a resource, advocate, and connector for the local business community. Through business development, leadership programming, workforce initiatives, and community partnerships, the Chamber works to strengthen Lakeland's economic vitality and quality of life.

Media Contact

Dr. Takiyah Dixon 
Director of Business Resources & Leadership Programs 
Lakeland Chamber of Commerce 
tdixon@lakelandchamber.com | 863.688.8551