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For the past decade, Winter Park Magazine has published an annual list of the city’s most influential people in its summer issue. The list recognizes those who make a difference through their professions, volunteerism, philanthropy, talents, or community engagement. Past honorees have included notable Tars such as Micki Meyer, Lord Family Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Engagement; community historian Fairolyn Livingston ’83; and President Emeritus Grant Cornwell and his wife, Peg.

Among this year’s honorees are Dorrell Briscoe, Rollins’ dean of religious and spiritual life; entrepreneur Michael Buffa ’10MBA; and Anil Menon, dean of the Crummer Graduate School of Business. Though they represent Rollins in different ways, this year’s influential Tars all share the common goal of furthering the College’s mission to provide the best in liberal arts education.

Dorrell Briscoe

Rollins Connection

Rollins’ Dean of Religious & Spiritual Life

Why He’s on the List

Since joining Rollins as dean of religious and spiritual life, Dorrell Briscoe has energized campus with his message of inclusion and compassion: “We see you, we hear you, we are here to understand,” as he says. A pastor, author, professor, and civil-rights historian, Briscoe brings a career that bridges faith and social justice, from leading diverse congregations to securing grants that advance Rollins’ Thriving Together campaign. With a background that spans urban planning, ministry, and academia, Briscoe says that his faith bolsters his social justice activism, whether it’s supporting marginalized youth, advocating for environmental justice, or bridging divides between institutions and the people they serve.

“In Winter Park, I hope to be more than a dean or a scholar,” says Briscoe, who is finishing his PhD in American history. “I want to be a neighbor, a collaborator, and sometimes a provocateur—asking the questions that unsettle us until we find better answers together. And I’ll do it with a mix of grit and grace because that’s what love requires.”

Michael Buffa ’10MBA

Rollins Connection

Crummer Graduate School of Business alumnus

Why He’s on the List

Alongside Tim Bradstreet, Michael Buffa ’10MBA founded and launched Forward/Slash in 2023, a boutique distillery that has earned national acclaim for its inventive blends while building a loyal local following. A versatile entrepreneur who also founded the Orlando Whiskey Society and Buffa Bittering Company, Buffa joined forces with Bradstreet to blend their shared love of whiskey—and their distinct strengths in entrepreneurial creativity and industry expertise—into a partnership that’s redefining Central Florida’s spirits scene.

Forward/Slash sources and blends barrels from small distillers across North America, crafting award-winning creations like “Patience,” a gold medalist at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Equal parts artistry and altruism, Forward/Slash has become a community hub in just two years, hosting dozens of fundraisers and collaborations with Winter Park nonprofits and small businesses.

“We like making a positive impact in our own backyard,” says Buffa, whose venture partnered with the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival Foundation on a limited-release bottling that sold out and raised nearly $2,000 as well as supported 26 charities through pop-up events across the region.

Anil Menon

Rollins Connection

Dean, Crummer Graduate School of Business

Why He’s on the List

Fueled by a lifelong fascination with exploration—from the cowboys of the American West to the cutting edge of global business—Anil Menon has built an extraordinary career spanning academia, technology, and sustainability. A former global executive at IBM, Cisco, and the World Economic Forum, Menon has reinvigorated the Crummer Graduate School of Business, doubling MBA enrollment, strengthening the school’s reputation for innovation, and spearheading a new institute for executive education that will expand Rollins’ global reach. Menon brings to Rollins a rare blend of academic rigor, business acumen, and visionary leadership, proving that the frontier he once dreamed of is still very much alive.

• People