Today we’d like to introduce you to Janelle Hom.
Hi Janelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I am a Floridian, born and raised in the St. Pete/Clearwater area. I had ambitions early on in life to work for the State Department helping to develop and evaluate policy. My undergraduate was at the University of Tampa where I received my Bachelors in Government and World Affairs. I moved to Orlando in 2007 to pursue my Master’s in Political Policy and Analysis. The recession had hit hard when I first moved to Orlando making it very difficult to find work. So many companies were closing their doors around that time or downsizing their workforce. I struggled to find work, but happened across the opportunity for a part-time, paid internship with the American Lung Association planning special events. My thought was that would be easy enough, I could do that while I worked on my masters and then move on to my bigger ambitions. I was selected for the internship with the task of planning our Fight For Air Climb (stair climb event) and what has become our LUNG FORCE Run/Walk (5k run and walk event).
After one month into the position, I was hooked. The volunteers and their stories were simply incredible and fueled my drive to further the reach of our mission: to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research. A full-time, entry-level position opened up as my internship was ending, to which I transitioned to become a Development Coordinator, continuing to work on the special events. In 2011 I took over as the Executive Director for Central Florida (at the age of 26), now responsible for all aspects of our work in a 10-county region. I also served as the Executive Director for the Tampa Bay region for about 3 years (2013-2016). I currently serve on the Board Chair for the Florida Board of Respiratory Care, a governor appointed position that ensures the safety of the residents of Florida in the area of respiratory therapy. Beyond my professional career, I was the first person in my family to complete college and own a home, two things that were of the highest priority to me early on. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Ronnie, and dog Bailey. We reside in the SoDo District of Orlando, where I also served on the board of the SoDo Mainstreet District from 2016-2019. I enjoy Crossfit and running. My big endeavor this year is completing the Boston Marathon on April 18, 2022.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think any road is ever perfectly smooth. There were struggles in the beginning of my career navigating the recession and being able to grow in my career. Those times taught me that patience and hard work are always recognized at the end of the day and eventually will be rewarded. Stepping in to a leadership position at a young age also led to life lessons both positive and negative. Learning how to truly lead, treat people and guide them to reach their fullest potential, learning to trust your gut when it comes to people and relationships, and finding your inner voice to speak up and advocate for what you feel to be right are all skills that take time to build and often come from missteps. Another struggle in more recent years was striking a better balance between professional and personal. I am guilty of being the person who has worked around the clock, giving every ounce of my energy to my work. We have to strike a balance and make time for the ones we love.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The American Lung Association is the oldest voluntary health organization in the United States. Originally founded in 1904 to fight tuberculosis, this organization nearly eradicated the disease by the 1950’s and expanded its mission to encompass all lung disease. Today, the Lung Association’s mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research. We are funding incredible, lifesaving research every day around the country that will improve early detection of lung disease, improve treatment options, and eventually fulfill our vision of a world free of lung disease. I am primarily responsible for raising the funds to make our mission a reality. I implement special events to bring the community in to the organization, work with the most incredible volunteers and board members, and act as the trusted champion and spokesperson for the organization in Central Florida. We have accomplished incredible milestones throughout our history, whether it be developing modern x-ray technology or discovering the genetics behind lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis. We are proud to fund research right here in Central Florida, most recently with (2) $100,000 grants to the UCF College of Medicine, as well as partnering with the Airways Clinical Research Centers (locally in Lake Nona at Nemours Children’s Hospital).
As an organization, we are making progress around several key strategic imperatives: Defeating lung cancer, Championing clean air for all, Improving the quality of life for those living with lung disease and their families, and Creating a tobacco-free future.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Growing up, I was very artistic. I feel like as I have gotten older and grown in my career I have become far more analytical and data-driven. Looking back I truly enjoyed being in touch with my artistic side, whether it be playing the piano, drawing, or painting. My favorite medium was charcoal, and I still have a few pieces of art up in my house from back then. Perhaps you can say it is an adult goal to get back in touch with my artistic side. It was truly therapeutic in dealing with stress and improving focus.
Contact Info:
- Email: Janelle.Hom@Lung.org
- Website: www.lung.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alafcentral
