{"id":502,"date":"2013-11-12T21:54:05","date_gmt":"2013-11-12T21:54:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/?p=502"},"modified":"2016-07-18T02:47:56","modified_gmt":"2016-07-18T02:47:56","slug":"tampa-bays-10-leading-ladies-2011-renee-vaughn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/tampa-bays-10-leading-ladies-2011-renee-vaughn\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa Bay&#8217;s 10 Leading Ladies 2011: Renee Vaughn"},"content":{"rendered":"<div\n\tclass=\"ngg-galleryoverview\"\n\tid=\"ngg-gallery-01f7f585948e0e4c99a10404d6e4b087-1\">\n\n    \t\t<!-- Thumbnails -->\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-0\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/renee-vaughn\/a0103932.jpg\"\n               title=\"Renee Vaughn, president of Williams Consulting Group\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/renee-vaughn\/a0103932.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/renee-vaughn\/thumbs\/thumbs_a0103932.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"135\"\n               data-title=\"a0103932\"\n               data-description=\"Renee Vaughn, president of Williams Consulting Group\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"01f7f585948e0e4c99a10404d6e4b087\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"a0103932\"\n                    alt=\"a0103932\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/renee-vaughn\/thumbs\/thumbs_a0103932.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-1\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/renee-vaughn\/a0103990.jpg\"\n               title=\"Renee&#039;s Rosemary Sweet Potato Salad\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/renee-vaughn\/a0103990.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/renee-vaughn\/thumbs\/thumbs_a0103990.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"136\"\n               data-title=\"a0103990\"\n               data-description=\"Renee&#039;s Rosemary Sweet Potato Salad\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"01f7f585948e0e4c99a10404d6e4b087\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"a0103990\"\n                    alt=\"a0103990\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/renee-vaughn\/thumbs\/thumbs_a0103990.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Pagination -->\n\t<div class='ngg-clear'><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Renee Vaughn<\/p>\n<p>The president of Williams Consulting Group, Renee Vaughn lives in the Beach Park\u00a0area of Tampa with her husband Ronald Vaughn, the president of the University of\u00a0Tampa. Over the years, Renee has been actively involved with a number of charitable\u00a0organizations but for almost two decades has focused much of her philanthropic efforts\u00a0on advancing and preserving one of her long-lasting passions, UT.<\/p>\n<p>How did you become involved in the University of Tampa?<\/p>\n<p>My involvement with the University of Tampa became more focused over the\u00a0past few years when I began dating and then married the president, Ron Vaughn.\u00a0However, I often say that I loved the University long before its president because I\u00a0joined the Board of Fellows 17 years ago. My master\u2019s degree is in regional and city\u00a0planning and I know that universities in an urban core are key ingredients to the\u00a0success of a city. It\u2019s a vibrant, beautiful campus with over a $600 million annual\u00a0economic impact.<\/p>\n<p>What is one of your favorite memories from working with UT?<\/p>\n<p>There are many\u2014but the best is probably when Ron proposed to me in a minaret\u00a0overlooking the city at sunset.<\/p>\n<p>What is one of your favorite charity events in Tampa and why?<\/p>\n<p>Ron and I are involved with a number of charities, and I have chaired several\u00a0charity events over the years, so I could get into some real trouble here. We always\u00a0enjoy the Chiselers\u2019 Preview Party in March of each year. Plant Hall comes to\u00a0life as a marketplace and it is a great tradition in Tampa. Another favorite is the\u00a0Broadway Ball at the Straz Center. Its theme changes each year. Dining on the stage\u00a0of Morsani Hall is a unique and enchanting experience and the entertainment is\u00a0always memorable.<\/p>\n<p>As a leading lady, what is one of your proudest accomplishments?<\/p>\n<p>I started my own public relations company in 2003 and was able to grow and sustain\u00a0it into a successful business in a waning economy.<\/p>\n<p>Who do you most admire in Tampa?<\/p>\n<p>John and Susan Sykes. They\u2019re wonderful, down-to-earth people who have raised\u00a0the bar for philanthropy in this city and helped to transform our community.<\/p>\n<p>What are a couple of your cherished holiday traditions?<\/p>\n<p>I have a huge collection of Christmas bears\u2014hundreds\u2014who appear throughout\u00a0our home during the holidays. I also volunteer at the HB Plant Museum Victorian\u00a0Christmas Stroll every year.<\/p>\n<p>Which Bay area spots do you take your out-of-town guests to really show off our city?<\/p>\n<p>The University of Tampa and Henry B. Plant Museum are tops on my list, especially\u00a0during the holidays when the Victorian Christmas Stroll is taking place. You also\u00a0can\u2019t beat the views of Tampa from the University Club and Tampa Club, two\u00a0favorites.<\/p>\n<p>What are your favorite kinds of gifts to give and receive?<\/p>\n<p>During the year, I listen to what people admire or say they like and then try to get\/find that gift for them. Also, I hand-make most of my greeting cards\u2014each one is\u00a0unique.<\/p>\n<p>What advice would you pass on to younger generations?<\/p>\n<p>Do what you love, love what you do and deliver more than you promise. Sister\u00a0Rosalie Henderson, who founded Alpha House, passed on this saying to me.<\/p>\n<p>What is your favorite hero of fiction?<\/p>\n<p>Peter Pan. I hope I never truly \u201cgrow up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you had one wish this holiday season, what would it be?<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot of unemployment, hopelessness and anger in our world today. I\u00a0wish that everyone who could do something for others would do it. Adopt a family\u00a0or provide a meal\/clothing\/toys for someone in need\u2014one person can make a\u00a0difference in another\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<p>What is your motto or words you live by?<\/p>\n<p>A quote by Goethe -Whatever you can do\u00a0or dream you can,\u00a0begin it.\u00a0Boldness has genius, magic\u00a0and power in it.\u00a0Begin it now.<\/p>\n<p>ROSEMARY SWEET POTATO SALAD<\/p>\n<p>Serves 6-8<\/p>\n<p>Ingredients:<\/p>\n<p>5 large sweet potatoes (peeled and cubed)<\/p>\n<p>1 cup diced celery<\/p>\n<p>\u00bd cup chopped green onion<\/p>\n<p>Honey Rosemary Vinaigrette<\/p>\n<p>\u00bd cup olive oil<\/p>\n<p>\u00bd cup honey<\/p>\n<p>\u00bc cup white wine vinegar<\/p>\n<p>2 tbs chopped fresh rosemary<\/p>\n<p>1 tbs chopped garlic<\/p>\n<p>salt &amp; pepper to taste<\/p>\n<p>Instructions:<\/p>\n<p>1. Bring diced sweet potatoes to a boil in a pot with enough water to cover<\/p>\n<p>2. Turn heat down and simmer until potatoes are Al Dente<\/p>\n<p>3. Drain and refrigerate potatoes until cooled\u2014add chopped celery and onion<\/p>\n<p>4. Mix all ingredients for the vinaigrette in a food processor until smooth and\u00a0emulsified (I like to reserve some chopped Rosemary to sprinkle on the top)<\/p>\n<p>5. In a large bowl, mix sweet potato mixture with vinaigrette until evenly covered\u00a0(sprinkle remaining chopped fresh rosemary on top)<\/p>\n<p>6. Chill until ready to eat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Renee Vaughn The president of Williams Consulting Group, Renee Vaughn lives in the Beach Park\u00a0area of Tampa with her husband Ronald Vaughn, the president of the University of\u00a0Tampa. Over the years, Renee has been actively involved with a number of charitable\u00a0organizations but for almost two decades has focused much of her philanthropic efforts\u00a0on advancing and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[134,5,1768],"tags":[1481,1482],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/502"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=502"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/502\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}