RICHARD MITCHELL, President and CEO . . .

    is a native of Jasper, Florida where he was raised on his family's farm, developing a strong and enduring work ethic.

    After graduating from The Florida State University, Richard became an Officer and Jet Pilot in the United States Navy, accumulating over 200 carrier landings. Upon completion of active duty, Richard remained in the Navy Reserves and retired in 2007 achieving  the rank of Commander.

    Richard developed, owned and operated successful franchise restaurants in Georgia and Florida for nearly ten years.
   
    He was asked to serve as the Executive Director of an agency for citizens with disabilities and  soon recognized that  many times  the real  needs of people were overlooked by elected officials.  

   This led to his decision to run for and subsequent election to The Florida Senate where he represented the largest geographic District in the State of Florida. During his tenure in the Senate, Richard served as Minority Whip and received numerous awards for his leadership. He was selected as both a Henry Toll and Fleming Fellow.

    Richard has provided consulting services to businesses, educational organizations and  individuals. He especially enjoys working with entrepreneurs and has been recognized on numerous occasions for his Business Development and Management Skills.

    Building on his corporate, non-profit and governmental expertise, Richard became  a founding partner of FORTIBUS, where he continues to pursue opportunities to serve by helping businesses grow, expand and build their bottom line.

J. DEAN PAPAPETROU, Executive Vice President . . .

    was raised in St. Petersburg, Florida and while attending St. Petersburg Junior College began his professional career in Certified Public Accounting firms.  Moving to Tallahassee, Florida, Dean continued his accounting education at The Florida State University while working for local CPA firms.

    His professional growth continued when he became the Director of Contract Administration for two international companies doing business in Central and South America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, where he was responsible for contract administration for multiple orders shipped to customers throughout the world, and the successful negotiation of International Documentary Letters of Credit.

    Dean was recruited as Regional Director of Operations for a hospitality franchisee and relocated to North Florida.  Upon Richard's election to The Florida Senate, Dean served as his Chief of Staff, following which he served the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court as Chief Deputy Clerk of Administration and Records.

    Dean has served his community as the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for two years, Chairman of the Tourist Development Council for 8 years, president of parent-teacher organizations and school booster programs.  As well, he has served as President of his Rotary Club and held leadership positions in a number of educational, civic, and community organizations.

    Recognizing the needs of business owners, Dean became a founding partner of FORTIBUS, where he utilizes his exceptional people skills and administrative talents to assist business owners as they grow and enhance their businesses.

WILLIAM C. SMITH, D.B.A., Vice President . . .
 
     is from Jacksonville, Florida and after completing his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Marketing from The Florida State University, began his professional career as a Sales Representative in the Cryogenics Department, Linde Division of Union Carbide Corporation. Dr. Smith then became the Director of Production for an international company supplying Southern Yellow Pine timber to the Middle East.
 
    Bill next joined the faculty of the College of Business at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) in Hattiesburg.  During a sabbatical, he earned a Doctor of Business Administration from Louisiana Tech University. Returning to the faculty at USM, Bill has served in numerous academic positions, currently as Professor of Marketing.

    Bill has provided consulting services to many diverse businesses and organizations over the past 30 years,  from electric power companies to university athletic booster organizations.  His insightful approach to unique marketing challenges has earned him respect in academic, business and entrepreneurial circles. 

   His professional affiliations include the American Marketing Association, Sales and Marketing Executives International, and the Southern Economic Development Council.  Bill has been published in Industrial Marketing Management, International Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management, and the Economic Development Review.  His professional interests include enhancing the ability of the client to create profitable business relationships through consistently striving to better match corporate assets and value creation capabilities with customer requirements.

    Bill is a recipient of the University of Southern Mississippi's Excellence in Teaching Award, the South Central Bell Outstanding Faculty Member Award, and was selected as the AT&T Outstanding Professor in the College of Business,  2009.  His leadership in the successful effort to increase attendance at USM athletic events won him the Distinguished Marketing Award from the Hattiesburg Chapter of Sales and Marketing Executives, International.

    Dr. Smith's areas of expertise for the FORTIBUS team include: economic development, market research, sales and marketing plans, strategic planning, and bringing new technologies to market.