FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 27, 2015
CONTACTS: Frank Penela (850) 488-7082 ext.1011
TALLAHASSEE – Recently, members of the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR) unanimously selected Michael G. Keller of Brandon to serve as the chair of the FCHR. Commissioners also appointed to Rebecca Steele of Jacksonville to serve as the Commission’s Vice Chair.
Chair Keller is founding partner, President & CTO of International Direct Selling Technology Corporation (IDSTC), the premier software technology provider to the direct selling industry. Over the past decade, IDSTC has completed more than 500 successful client implementations, supporting millions of people around the world. He is a U.S. Army combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (FL-ARNG) and a graduate of the University of South Florida. He has earned a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University, a Six Sigma Certificate from Villanova University, and is an ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). He was appointed to the FCHR by Governor Crist in 2010, and re-appointed in 2011 by Governor Rick Scott.
Vice-Chair Steele is an Executive Vice President Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer of Acosta Sales and Marketing in Jacksonville. She began her career with the Marriott Corporation in Washington D.C., providing Human Resources Support for the Food Service Management Division and Corporate Acquisitions. Her experience also includes Human Resource Management Positions with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, A. Foster Higgins Consulting Firm in California, and First Hospital Corporation. Steele was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve the FCHR in 2013.
FCHR works to prevent unlawful discrimination by investigating and working to resolve complaints of discrimination in the areas of housing, employment and public accommodations, as well as whistle-blower retaliation against state employees and state contractors. Since its creation in 1969, the Commission has investigated and closed more than 74,000 cases while enforcing the Florida Civil Rights Act, the Florida Fair Housing Act and the Florida Whistle-blower’s Act. Since 2006, Florida businesses have saved at least $12 million per year by participating in FCHR mediation services and thus avoiding costly lawsuits.
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