POLK COUNTY, FL. (August 20, 2026) – CareerSource Polk celebrated 30 years of workforce development and community impact Thursday during its Annual Meeting and Best Places to Work Awards Breakfast at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. With Lakeland Housing Authority serving as the event’s Premier Sponsor, the milestone celebration included one of the organization’s largest Workforce Incentive Awards efforts to date: 30 vehicles were awarded to Polk County residents to help remove transportation barriers standing between them and meaningful employment.
Made possible through a partnership with Regal Lakeland, CareerSource Polk’s Transportation Partner/Sponsor, the 30-vehicle giveaway represents a major investment in Polk County’s workforce. Reliable transportation is one of the most significant barriers to employment, affecting a person’s ability to get to work, maintain consistent employment, and pursue career opportunities.
The impact was strengthened by this year’s “Men of the Workforce” campaign, which raised $31,220 for CareerSource Polk’s Workforce Incentive Awards. The pay-to-vote campaign invited community members to support their favorite candidate, with all proceeds benefiting the program. Ollie Bernard Stephens was named Man of the Year after raising $7,115. Together with the support of Regal Lakeland, Lakeland Housing Authority, event sponsors, campaign participants, and community supporters, the campaign helped CareerSource Polk provide an expanded year of Workforce Incentive Awards, including the 30-vehicle giveaway and additional assistance for needs such as childcare, housing, food stability, education, and training.
“Thirty years of workforce impact is something worth celebrating, but what matters most is the lives changed along the way,” said Stacy Campbell-Domineck, President & CEO of CareerSource Polk. “This year showed us what can happen when our community comes together for a shared purpose. Regal Lakeland’s partnership, combined with the incredible support generated through our Men of the Workforce campaign and the generosity of all our sponsors and community, allowed us to make a tremendous impact for local residents. These vehicles are more than just transportation. They represent opportunity, stability, and a pathway forward.”
This year’s Annual Meeting, themed “For the LOVE of Men… of the Workforce,” highlighted the people, businesses, and community partners who make a difference in the lives of local workers and job seekers. The celebration also recognized Polk County’s top employers through the annual Best Places to Work Awards.
Employers of Distinction
CareerSource Polk also recognized six organizations as its 2025-2027 Employers of Distinction, honoring employers that have demonstrated a continued commitment to workplace excellence:
- City of Haines City
- Cutrale Citrus Juices
- CWI Logistics
- The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc.
- JP Lamborn Co.
- Ideal Cabinetry
Best Places to Work Awards
For more than two decades, CareerSource Polk has presented the Best Places to Work Awards to recognize employers that demonstrate exceptional workplace practices and a commitment to improving the quality of life for their employees. The 2025 Best Places to Work recipients are:
- American VULKAN Corporation
- Bank of Central Florida
- Central Florida Health Care
- City of Mulberry
- Citrus Connection
- ITW Professional Automotive Products
- Kegel, LLC
- MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
- Morgan Truck Body LLC
- Parker Street Ministries
- SouthState Bank
- The Coca-Cola Company
- The Lunz Group
- Veterinary Healthcare Associates
- Worker Bee’s Staffing
Board & Community Awards
CareerSource Polk also recognized individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the local workforce system through its annual Board and Community Awards. This year’s recipients are:
- Hammer Award: Wendy Sellers, The HR Lady
- Miller Award: Dr. Lynn Johnson, CEO & Founder of Triumphant Solutions
- Workforce Champion Award: MIDFLORIDA SHRM, received by Vickie Krolak, President
- Pillar of Hope Award: Linda Gooden, Business Services Consultant, CareerSource Polk
Additional information about this year’s award recipients, including their bios and stories, is available in CareerSource Polk’s 2025-2026 Annual Report at https://cspolk.info/25-26annualreport.
For 30 years, CareerSource Polk has connected talent with opportunity and invested in the success of Polk County’s workforce. The 2026 Annual Meeting served as both a celebration of that history and a powerful reminder of what is possible when businesses, community leaders, and supporters come together to create opportunities and change lives.
About CareerSource Polk
CareerSource Polk is a private, nonprofit workforce development organization dedicated to connecting job seekers and employers, fostering economic growth, and supporting the community’s workforce needs. The organization provides a wide range of workforce programs and services at no cost to job seekers and businesses.
CareerSource Polk is an equal opportunity employer and proud partner of the American Job Center network. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711. For program funding details in compliance with the Stevens Amendment, please visit https://cspolk.info/funding.
# # #
Contact: Cristina Mazarredo, Director of Outreach and Communications
[email protected] | 863-508-2916
To view event photos, visit https://cspolk.info/2026AMphotos.
Thank you PSCO Studios!
Categories: News
Tags: Annual Meeting, best places to work, Workforce Incentive Award