Smart Communities Polk Team
The Smart Communities LEAD Team continues its work in educating and building community consensus around the vital importance of a robust broadband network to support Polk County’s economic growth and prosperity.
Affordable, accessible high-speed internet facilitates many critical activities:
- Enables small business to compete in a global marketplace
- Means safer streets and communities
- Supports research and training at colleges and universities
- Greater opportunities for students
- Better, faster, more effective healthcare
Sustainable economic development, growth, opportunity, and innovation are dependent on affordable high-speed internet access. Having a shared vision among all of the Polk County communities helps to ensure the alignment of broadband infrastructure necessary to meet the growing demand.
The Smart Communities Team aided by the Government Advisory Team drafted a formal Resolution supporting broadband expansion. Introduced for discussion at the Mayor’s Roundtable in the fall of 2016, the Resolution has been adopted by :
- City of Haines City
- City of Lake Alfred
- City of Lakeland
- City of Winter Haven
- Polk County BoCC
- Town of Dundee

Smart Communities Team
Eric Labbe - Co-Chair, City of Winter Haven
Terry Brigman - Co-Chair, City of Lakeland
Tina Barrios - Polk County Public Schools
Cliff Bennett - Polk State College
Naomi Boyer, Ph.D. - Polk State College
Frank Canovaca - City of Bartow
William DeWitt - Polk State College
Ercan Elibol - Florida Polytechnic University
Doug Lewis - Polk County BoCC
Stephanie Monk - Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Hiep Nguyen -
City of Winter Haven
Nick Nicholas - DSM David Robinson - DSM Brian Ross -
City of Haines City
Chris Rudolph - Polk County Tax Collector
Don Selvage - City of Lakeland
Chris Shelton - City of Auburndale
Tiana Sheppard - Frontier Communications
Marybeth Soderstrom - Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Steve Sowards - Inland Fiber & Data
Mark Thomas - Warner University
Bill Ward - Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Ed Wolf - Polk County BoCC