PURPOSE

The Lake Okeechobee Business Alliance (LOBA) has been established to promote a unified effort of local Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Councils, and business people around Lake Okeechobee, to lead and influence State and Federal policy, legislation, and regulation to create and/or enhance a positive business climate for the communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee.

MISSION

We seek to organize, motivate, and educate business people in the Lake Okeechobee Region on issues affecting sustainability and commerce in our communities, in order to develop a unified voice that supports positive change.

A note from the Lake Okeechobee Business Alliance Founder & President:

December 12, 2017

In September of 2016, the Lake Okeechobee Business Alliance formed with primary mission of building economic strength and enhancing the quality of life in our region. Instead of being able to focus on the health our local economy and life in our region, battling a political Bill that could have devastated our communities demanded our attention and resources. Florida Senate Bill 10 was looming and 60,000 acres of farmland in the EAA was targeted.  If successful, this land would’ve been taken out of production; a devastating blow to our agricultural-based towns.

Now that Senate Bill 10 has been revised to a form that we can live with, it is time to reenergize our focus on the health of the Lake Okeechobee Region.

As we move forward, we will focus on ensuring the establishment of strong infrastructure, improving our schools, hospitals, transportation systems, and strengthening our economy.

Sincerely,

Julia du Plooy, Founder & President

Board Of Directors

Julia Du Plooy

As Founder/President of the Lake Okeechobee Business Alliance Julia du Plooy is responsible for the vision and strategy of L.O.B.A. and also oversees all of the organization’s efforts including daily operations, member enrollment, social education programs, and develops L.O.B.A.’s web presence.

Julia was raised in Clewiston, FL, and her family has resided in the Glades for close to century. She graduated from Florida State University in 2005, with a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Human of Sciences.

In 2003, Julia was elected to F.S.U.’s Collegiate Merchandising Association Executive Board to serve as the Community Service Officer. It was then she gained a wealth of experience creating programs that promoted the support of local businesses and enrichment of local youth’s daily lives on on-existent budgets.

Upon graduating college, Julia moved the Manhattan to pursue a career in Public Relations. While in New York she founded ENK International’s very successful internship program which focused on giving highly-sought-after fashion internship opportunities to college students in rural areas. After ten years of producing and marketing multimillion dollar trade events, she moved back to the Glades to get married and start a family. After returning, she saw the need to bring her knowledge and skillset to aid conservancy of the small farms and communities of the Everglades Region.

Julia has served as a volunteer mentor at Ft. Braden School in Tallahassee, FL and was named Mentor of the Year for Leon County Schools in 2004.  She is a member of the Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society and a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Alumni.

LEWIS POPE, III

Lewis Pope,lll is a longtime resident of the Glades and has been a steward of the community for decades. He currently co-owns a family farm operation suitable named Pope Farms, Inc. which was founded in the late 1920’s by his grandfather E.L. Pope ,Sr. Growing up on the farm, Luis learned not only how to run a business but also how to raise a myriad of crops such as sweet corn, cabbage, green beans and sugarcane.

As the current President of the Pahokee Chamber of Commerce, Luis is involved heavily in Pahokee’s business community and economic development, but his passion lies in building programs that help children and teens grow into successful adults. He has spent years donating his time and money to the 4-H program and Glades Day FFA program. He works year after year with the Palm Beach County School District, and can be credited as a leading force behind the International Baccalaureate program being established at Pahokee Middle Senior High School.

Luis is married to Angela K.Pope and is the proud father of five children, two of whom are deceased, three whom attend college at the University of Florida and Florida State University. He co-owns Pope Management, LLC, is a partner in Branch Packinghouse, and serves on the Florida Farm Bureau labor advisory board.