Clinton Presidential Center Presents “Building Bridges with Dick Batchelor”
Join us Monday, December 16 at noon CT when the Clinton Presidential Center Presents “Building Bridges with Dick Batchelor.” In his new book, “Building Bridges in Toxic Political Times,” Dick Batchelor draws on a lifetime of personal experience as a unifier at home, around the boardroom table, and in the political arena. Batchelor will discuss, using real-life examples, how to address difficult conversations, move toward meaningful compromise, and achieve lasting solutions.
Mr. Batchelor will sign copies of his book, “Building Bridges” following the program.
Clinton Presidential Center Presents is a partnership between the Clinton Foundation, Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas, and Clinton Presidential Library.
Dick Batchelor, who is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives, is uniquely qualified with five decades of political experience. His intimate knowledge of the political landscape on all levels makes him one of the most savvy analysts and coveted strategists in the state of Florida. From his offices in Orlando, Mr. Batchelor is dedicated to helping clients near and far achieve their goals and prepare for what’s next.
Dick is first and foremost a savvy businessman who prides himself on delivering results for his clients. He has been named one of “The 50 Most Powerful People” by Orlando Magazine (2004 to 2011), the 2002 “Central Floridian of the Year” (The Orlando Sentinel), the 2002 “Businessman of the Year” (Orlando Business Journal, November 2002) and the 2008 and 2009 “Best Corporate Citizen” (Orlando Magazine).
He is one of the youngest individuals ever to serve in the Florida House of Representatives (1974-1982), where he served as chairman of the Auditing Committee, the Health and Rehabilitative Services Committee and the House Energy Committee. He was also chairman of four subcommittees and is the recipient of more than 50 awards for his legislative service. Dick Batchelor is a longtime Orlando resident and received degrees from the University of Central Florida and Valencia Community College.
A concerned and caring neighbor, Batchelor continued his commitment to his community when he left the Florida Legislature in 1982. He currently serves on several boards, including the Florida Children’s Hospital Board (Chair), Florida Hospital Foundation Board (Chair), the First Amendment Foundation, the Central Florida Urban League Board of Directors, Florida’s Children First and the Florida Tuskegee Airmen Board. Since 1981, he has served as honorary chairman of the “Dick Batchelor Run for the Children,” an annual 5K race that raises funds (over $1 million to date) to treat abused children. In 2010, Dick was awarded The Chiles Advocacy Award presented by United Way of Florida for his “Integrity, Dedication, and Commitment to Improving the Lives of Florida’s Children and Families.”
His knowledge of international affairs also has garnered recognition by the White House, including presidential appointments as a delegate to observe elections in South Africa and as a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
Dick Batchelor currently appears weekly as an on-air political analyst for Central Florida News 13. He has served as a regular on-air political analyst for FOX WOFL-TV, WMFE (NPR) radio and WDBO radio (Cox Broadcasting) for a number of years. He has also served as an on-air political analyst for WFTV-TV (ABC Affiliate), WESH-TV (NBC affiliate) as well as WNDB Radio (Daytona Beach) and is frequently interviewed for political analysis and expertise by other television, radio and print journalists.
He and his wife, Orlando news media veteran Andrea Coudriet, have three sons.