Our editorial team scoured the state and chose five of Florida’s top jocks (and jock bosses) we’d like to gather around the Flamingo table. Get to know these sporty figures. They’ll make for great coffee talk this spring.

Donna Orender
The “Slam Dunker”

The former WNBA president and all-American collegiate basket-baller turned business consultant shoots nothing but net when it comes to connecting people and big ideas. Her annual conference, Generation W, taking place in Jacksonville on April 8, gathers some of the nation’s most influential leaders in business, the military and public service for an empowering summit on women’s issues. Before starting GenW, Orender was an executive with the PGA Tour for 17 years. She plays golf too, and has hit the links with Tiger Woods.

Lauren Book
The “Long Walker”

For the past six years, Book has walked from Key West to Tallahassee, raising awareness of childhood sexual abuse through her her nonprofit Lauren’s Kids. This year, the ultra-distance walker will take to running—for public office, that is. The high-profile advocate, who survived six years of sexual abuse as a teen by a female live-in nanny, will campaign for a seat in Florida’s Senate. Book’s next Walk in My Shoes journey takes place March 2 to March 26. 

Billy Horschel
The “Chomper”

Instead of igniting a traditional wave in the crowd at THE PLAYERS Championship, this University of Florida alum sets off of a chain of flailing “gator chomp” arms among golf fans when he sinks one at the tournament’s famed island green 17th hole. Look for Horschel’s signature victory chomp and coordinated orange and blue duds, as he competes for his slice of the $10 million purse, in May at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra. Rumor has it he loathes the expression,
“Go Noles!”

Serena Williams
The “Winner”

In 2015, the Palm Beach Gardens resident won the Miami Open tennis tournament for a record eighth time in her career. Currently ranked No. 1 in women’s singles tennis, Williams should compete for her ninth win on the Key Biscayne courts in March. Williams, and her sister Venus, also own part of the Miami Dolphins NFL team, making them the first and only African-American women with an ownership stake in
an NFL franchise. 

Flavio Agusto da Silva
The “Footballer”

The majority owner of the Orlando Lions, a Major League Soccer team, and the Orlando Pride, a National Women’s Soccer League team, made his millions by starting a chain of language schools that teach Brazilians to speak English. After moving to
the U.S. in 2009, the Brazilian business tycoon became a self-described “soccer dad.” Taking his son to play youth games in Orlando sparked da Silva’s passion to bring a different kind of football to Florida. Oh, and his favorite Brazilian team is Flamengo.