Age: 33
Official Title/Position: Vice President/ Co-Owner
Organization/Business: Circle T Sod Farms Inc.

How did you get started today in your career?

After graduating from Saint Leo with a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic Science, I began my career as a child protective investigator. My husband and his father had a sod company that was growing more with every year that passed and came to a point where we had to make a decision about the future of the company. It was at that time that we decided that I would leave my career field and we would put all of our efforts into the development of Circle T Sod Farms. From that point, Circle T Sod Farms has grown exponentially into the business it is now.

How does your passion play into how you serve the community?

I have always said that if you serve your community, your community will serve you. I feel driven to give back to my community because when it all boils down, my community is who also ultimately supports me and my business. Small, hometown businesses are who sponsor your children’s football and soccer teams, dance recitals, church mission trips, market animal projects, safety patrol trips, rodeos, sit on countless boards, or volunteer for different organizations and the list goes on and on. I am proud that our business has the ability to contribute to our community in such great ways and it is always in our goals each year to be able to do these things.

What do you love most about Citrus County?

I love that Citrus County is my home. I love the small-town feeling that is everywhere you go. The pride bursts at the seams when you walk into other businesses and see the pictures on the walls of the support they give to local organizations. I love the small-town vibes you get and how everyone knows everyone through one or two degrees of separation. Although our county is small, we have so much to offer which is why people travel from all over the world to spend time here.

Who is a leader you admire and why?

This is a hard and somewhat complex question. I admire many people and have received support, guidance, and constructive criticism from so many people along this journey. In the trades industry, I admire people such as Bruce Kaufman, who is an amazing builder and mentor who has shown me what hard work and true integrity can do. He has shown me that sometimes tough decisions have to be made and clients must be lost but in the end, you must always uphold your integrity and your morals. I admire Stacey Worthington, who was a prior president of the Citrus County Building Alliance for her strong will and her desire to make changes within our local government. I hope that I too will not be intimidated in a room full of people who may think differently than I do and will have the confidence that she displays to discuss important issues head-on. Within our own company, I most admired my father-in-law, Larry Leturno, who was always so proud of what we had, and, even when we had nothing, reminded us of how lucky we were to be living the American dream. He always told us that “we are the luckiest people in the world! We have our business, we have our family, and we have our health.” He also gave constructive criticism to us kids when needed, but we don’t need to quote those words! Hahaha! He always referred to me as “the queen of Circle T” and I am so proud to have that title. Sadly, he passed away in 2021, however, we still find ourselves including him in our conversations, asking what he would’ve done or told us to do.

Words or quotes to live by

97% of people are employed by the 3% that never gave up. Only you can determine if you are a failure. Keep going, keep learning and keep dreaming.