Vennia Francois, Republican Congressional Candidate, is Guest Speaker at NORWF on November 16.
The Northwest Orange Republican Women Federated will present guest speaker, Vennia Francois, on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at The Hilton Garden Inn-Apopka City Center, 580 Main Street, Apopka.
Vennia Francois was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. One of nine children, she is a first generation American. Her parents immigrated to the United States from the Bahamas in 1971, with little more than an unshakeable faith in the promise of America and a determination to work hard.
Because of her deep love for this country and the opportunities it has afforded her and her family, Vennia has felt the pull of public service her entire life. Vennia is an ardent believer in the American Dream because she and her family have lived it. She is running for Congress to implement positive change in Washington -- not just legislative change, but a change in the culture of Washington politics.
She attended Edgewater High School in Orlando and, after graduation, matriculated at the University of Florida, where she worked with the College Republicans on several campaigns throughout the state. Vennia then transferred to Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, where she graduated with a degree in biology, becoming the first member of her family to graduate from college.
Although she originally planned to apply to medical school after college, Vennia found her calling volunteering on political campaigns and performing community service during her undergraduate years. She ultimately chose to pursue law rather than medicine so that she would be better equipped to affect community and political change. She earned her law degree from Florida A&M in 2007.
After graduating from law school, Vennia joined Senator Martinez’s staff full time as a policy advisor. After Senator Martinez’s retirement, Vennia continued in this role for his successor, Republican Senator George LeMieux. She developed expertise in a wide range of policy issues affecting Floridians, including education, banking, labor, and transportation.
Vennia has devoted virtually her entire career to public service. In 2005, while still in law school, she was appointed by Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty to the county’s Minority & Women’s Business Enterprise Committee (MWBE). That same year, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer appointed her to the Certification Appeals Board of Orlando, where she conducted hearings ensuring the integrity of the MWBE program. She held both positions for nearly two years. Vennia also interned for Florida Republican Congressman John Mica and Florida Republican Senator Mel Martinez.
In 2011, Vennia moved to the private sector, where she remained for two years before returning to public service in 2013 as a contract attorney for Lockheed Martin. She then worked at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where she worked in the Enforcement Division, helping to protect the public from fraudulent and deceptive financial practices November.
Vennia is a corporate attorney at Brennan, Manna & Diamond law firm. She is a member of the Florida Bar, District of Columbia Bar, the Unites States Supreme Court, Republican National Lawyers Association, the National Federation of Republican Women, Second VP of the Florida Federation of Republican Women, AEI Leadership Network, Central Florida Women League, and the Junior League. Vennia is a board member to the following organizations: House of Hope, Matthew’s Hope, iBuild USA, and Downtown Arts District. In her free time, she enjoys music, tennis, and golf (which she is terrible at but continues to work on). She is also a die-hard Florida Gators fan. Vennia grew up singing with her sisters at their church, Calvary (Orlando) Assembly of Winter Park, Florida, where she and her family have been members for over 40 years.
Lunch Meeting starts at 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at The. Please arrive by 11:15 AM to register. Cost of Buffet Lunch is $25.00 with reservation and $30.00, at the door, without a reservation. There is limited seating so please make your reservation now. Deadline is October 15.
For more information and reservations, please contact Marty Harrison at 407-886-1922 and 407-493-0471 or martyaoii@aol.com. Reservations can be made on-line at www.norwf.org.
