2022 Power Players: Meet Central Florida’s Heavy Hitters

Chuck Whittall’s Feature

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Orlando Business Journal’s 2022 Power Players in Central Florida recognizes business leaders and executives who are helping grow and innovate the way business is done throughout the region.

These 50 honorees — actually 51 people, since one honoree is a tag team — are winners in a nomination-based awards program highlighting key executives in the area. Some of these local leaders are well known, some have been rising in prominence and others are people you definitely need to meet. Winners were chosen in five categories: Industry Giants, Disruptors, Deal Makers, Connectors and Heavy Hitters.

Chuck Whittall  President/CEO, Unicorp National Developments Inc.

• No. of local employees: 100-plus
• Years in the industry: 25

Company description: Orlando-based company that develops the places where you live, work and play, from mixed-use retail developments to office buildings to luxury apartments and branded residences to five-star luxury hotels.

Top pandemic accomplishment: Being chairman of the reopening committee and getting our Central Florida businesses back open

Pain points: The Fed raising interest rates and supply chain shortages delaying projects

What was your company’s most significant accomplishment in its history? Acquiring The Colony property on 18 acres on the beach in Longboat Key. It took me 10 years to complete the litigation and we finally are under construction. We sold out of our 69 condos at the highest price ever on the west coast of Florida, and will open the St. Regis hotel in mid-2024.