Seminole State College Speaker Series

Aligning with the College's new strategy, Seminole State is Your Learning Partner for Career Success, The 2024-25 Speaker Series will feature Seminole State alumni, who will highlight their career paths and how the College influenced their journey on that path.

All events are free and open to the public. To request accessibility accommodations, please email Disability Support Services

The views expressed by these speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Seminole State College of Florida, its Board of Trustees, employees, students, alumni or partners.

Isa Adney, award-winning writer and documentary producer

• When: Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 5 p.m.
  
• Where: Sanford/Lake Mary Campus Building C or watch live via streaming video   
• Topic: Fireside Chat with Seminole State Alumna Isa Adney

Seminole State Alumna Isa Adney ('07) is an award-winning writer and documentary producer with an MFA in writing who is deeply curious about all people, but especially those who take big risks, survive life’s losses, do brave things and create from the heart. 

As a prolific profile writer and senior storyteller for Kit (formerly ConvertKit), she’s conducted over 200 interviews and written 80+ long-form feature profiles and counting, featuring many Oscar and Emmy-winning creatives, artists and dreamers who’ve worked on projects such as Stranger Things, Frozen, Chef’s Table and Hamilton.

During her presentation, Adney will share her journey to success and how her time at the Seminole State helped her along the way. As a student, Adney was accepted into the Grindle Honors Institute and was the second honors student from Seminole State to earn the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship to continue her studies at a four-year college or university.

While pursuing her passion as a writer, Adney returned to Seminole State in 2009 to work as a Student Life coordinator and was recognized by the White House as a “Community College Superstar” for her mentorship efforts. "I never would have expected or planned everything that I’ve achieved, but I can name the people at Seminole State who had a hand in my success," Adney shared in a 2012 interview with the College.

Adney has since written three books and her fourth book, The Little Book of Big Dreams, is available now. Copies of the book will be given away to the first 30 students who attend her presentation at Seminole State. The presentation will conclude with a book signing. A reception will immediately follow.  

Construction and Interior Design Alumni Panel

Visionary Sponsor: TRANE® 

• When: Wednesday, Oct. 3o, at 5 p.m.
• Where: Heathrow Campus Atrium or watch live via streaming video  
• Topic: Construction and Interior Design: Seminole State Alumni Panel

As Seminole State celebrates Careers in Construction Month, the Speaker Series invites you to join us for an inspiring panel discussion with four talented alumni who are now thriving in their careers in construction and interior design. They will share their career journeys and how Seminole State provided the foundation for success in their respective industries. From their stories, you will learn how Seminole State can be "Your Learning Partner for Career Success." 

The presentation will conclude with a Q&A period. A reception will immediately follow the presentation.

About the Panelists

Kali Fuller, Universal Creative Assistant Facility Design Manager

Kail Fuller is a 2020 graduate of Seminole State's interior design program and a 2023 graduate of UCF’s Themed Experience master’s program. Her experience spans multiple design disciplines, from interiors and graphics to lighting and show set design. She is proficient in software such as AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, Revit, SketchUp, Vray, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite, all of which support my mission to tell compelling stories through design. 

As a facility design manager at Universal Creative, Kali specializes in bringing imaginative themed experiences to life, blending technical expertise with creative on the fly design and a passion for storytelling. She has led complex design projects, including Universal’s Epic Universe, specifically Dark Universe, where she successfully manages cross-functional teams and collaborates with external vendors to achieve creative goals. 

Dominic Gundacker, PCL Construction Operations Lead, Special Projects

Dominic Gundacker graduated from Seminole State College in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction. Even while completing his degree, Dominic began his professional journey at PCL Construction Services, Inc., laying the foundation for a distinguished career in the industry. Starting as a field engineer and advancing to assistant superintendent and superintendent, today, Dominic serves as the Operations Lead for the Special Projects group at PCL.  

Dominic maintains a strong connection with his alma mater. He is an active member of the Foundation Board and serves on the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) College Committee, which supports the University of Central Florida and Seminole State Student Chapters. His continued involvement in educational initiatives underscores his commitment to fostering the next generation of construction professionals.

Jorge Martinez, Dimit Architects Senior Interior Architect and Designer

Jorge Martinez is an architect and interior designer with 10 years of experience inside and outside the United States. His professional career has been related to the production of construction documents, schematic design, design development and construction administration. After moving to U.S., he started studying interior design, earning a bachelor's degree in the discipline. During these 10 years, he has developed strong skills in multiple software (Autocad, 3D Studio Max, Revit, Vray, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects and others)  that allow him to effectively communicate his design ideas. 

Tim Smith, Wharton-Smith, Inc. President/CEO

In 1984, at age 16, Tim Smith joined Wharton-Smith, starting at the bottom and learning his way up the ladder through college, earning full-time employment in 1991. During nearly 40 years of incredible growth and change, Tim has served the company in many roles — Cleaning Crew, Field Engineer, Estimator, Project Engineer, Project Manager, Project Executive, Quality Control Director, Vice President and President. He has advanced the company’s goal of being the Construction Group of Choice in each of these roles. As President and CEO, Tim aids the company’s growth through his servant leadership abilities, robust engineering and operations background, and dedication to Wharton-Smith’s core value of continuous improvement. 

Tim is a Professional Engineer and a licensed General Contractor. Tim is committed to the Central Florida community. He actively supports Kids House, Leadership Seminole, Habitat for Humanity, Seminole State College, the University of Central Florida, and the Central Florida Zoo. In addition, Tim has been recognized with a Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering achievement award from the University of Central Florida and a Distinguished Alumni Award from Seminole State College.