The Future Career Academy (FCA) conducted business panels at Plant City high schools on October 9. The panels are designed to prepare and connect graduating high school seniors with high-demand career opportunities. Seniors had the chance to miss class to hear from area employers about the organizations they work for, what sorts of career paths they offer, how much they can earn, interview tips, and the mindsets of the people they hire. Employers from several industries that came to the schools included Tampa Electric Company, Star Distribution, Patterson Companies, BayCare Health System, and the City of Plant City. 

This is a great program,” Larry Jimenez, VP of Business Development at Star Distribution, said. “We have been involved with it since the inception of the program. It’s always great to see kids, how enthusiastic they are and to see the employers out here face-to-face, and it means it is  really impactful for the community. I am very humbled to be a part of it. It has been very beneficial. It is a great program, and a great way to introduce our company to the community.” Star is located in Plant City and has 450 employees. The company has hired several people through its relationship with FCA.

Though it began in Plant City, FCA’s reach now extends to all seniors from 31 high schools in Hillsborough County, allowing approximately 15,000 students to participate.  “I came to see the students,” Garrett Heiss, Executive Chef at South Florida Baptist Hospital, said. “At South Florida Baptist Hospital we have different opportunities available. It’s important we show the youth the ways of the future and the different jobs available to them to succeed in life and progress with a career.”

The seniors will also be able to sign up for tours to learn about the operations of several local businesses, and a hiring event in Spring 2026 where dozens of employers will set up in a local venue to meet students from Plant City high schools. 

“I always love participating in the Future Career Academy,” Lauren Francis, from Associated Builders and Contractors, Florida Gulf Coast, said. “This is my first time on the business panel. I think it is a wonderful opportunity for students to get exposed to different career paths and opportunities that aren’t a single track for life. If they can enter the workforce right away and not put themselves in a mountain of debt, it is very beneficial.” 

But that’s not all. An FCA curriculum is taught in senior English classes in all of Hillsborough County high schools, and features life skills like how to write a résumé, how to interview for a job, dressing for success, and an elevator speech. 

“I am here to help educate our high school seniors in our communities about the next stop in their life, whether it is going off to college, or talking in terms of career opportunities that each of these businesses have,” Publix’s Gina Hunt commented. “I think this is a fantastic day, very well set up, very organized, and it has been very inspiring, not only to me, but also to our students. I wish they had something like this when I was graduating. You kind of had to figure it out on your own.” Publix employs more than 260,000 people.

After the panels concluded, the seniors had an opportunity to leave their seats and talk directly to the panelists. At Plant City High School and Durant High School, students crowded around these employer representatives to ask more questions.

“It was very helpful to get in the right path of where our education will take our career,” Durant High School senior, Nyka Murphy, said. “I felt like it will help a lot of teens who don’t know what they want to do after graduation to help them get into a step where they can start knowing what they want to do for their career.”

“It opened my eyes to various opportunities I wasn’t thinking about for work,” Plant City High School senior Abraham Valasquez said about the business panel.

The flagship FCA program offers an immersive, life-preparation experience for graduating seniors, equipping them with the tools, training, and connections needed to secure in-demand, living-wage jobs with long-term career potential. FCA began in 2015 as a partnership between Hillsborough County Public Schools and the local business community, aiming to break the cycle of low-paying, dead-end jobs for non-college-bound students. FCA’s model brings together high schools, the school district, employers, and community organizations committed to economic success. Through this integrated approach, the organization helps students transition confidently into the workforce while strengthening local talent pipelines and community prosperity.

“Our partnership with Future Career Academy is vital to our economic development mission and the program that they have built is truly unique and a leader in the field,” Steve Morey, President of the Plant City Economic Development Corporation, commented.

“We are so grateful for the many incredible partners who help us ensure every student graduates with a clear, actionable plan for employment, enlistment, enrollment, or entrepreneurship,” Yvonne Fry, Future Career Academy founder and CEO, said. “These business panels are the first in a series of three events, and help launch our journey in the senior year to truly prepare and connect seniors with the great jobs and training opportunities in their community.”