2025-09-08T15:21:14-05:00 2024-12-31 410746749 CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP 420 SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE SUITE 900 ORLANDO FL 32801 990 2024-01-01 833380202 CONNECTED POLK INC CONN 8639440412 ONE LAKE MORTON DRIVE LAKELAND FL 33801 DAVID D HALLOCK JR CHAIRMAN 8639440412 2025-09-02 1 1 LACEY M QUATSOE P01300865 4078021200 2025-08-28 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z X DAVID D HALLOCK JR ONE LAKE MORTON DRIVE LAKELAND FL 33801 436629 0 X WWW.CONNECTEDPOLK.ORG X 2019 FL TRANSFORMING POLK COUNTY'S EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE BY ENGAGING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. 7 7 4 10 0 0 353752 408125 0 0 1550 1004 -35202 -4842 320100 404287 27690 2000 0 0 242058 298430 0 0 0 71913 90268 341661 390698 -21561 13589 85838 98243 1184 0 84654 98243 X CONNECTED POLK IS COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMING POLK COUNTY'S EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE BY ENGAGING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. CONNECTED POLK'S MISSION IS TO ENHANCE HIGH SCHOOL AND POST-SECONDARY GRADUATES' PREPAREDNESS, MAKING POLK COUNTY A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES THROUGH INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES AND STRONG INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS. 0 0 293022 2000 0 CONNECTED POLK IS AN INTERMEDIARY NON-PROFIT THAT COLLABORATES WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, INDUSTRY PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO ENHANCE GRADUATE PREPAREDNESS. CONNECTED POLK FOCUSES ON CREATING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION MODELS AND ALIGNING EDUCATION WITH ACCESS TO THE CONNECTED POLK NETWORK, EMPOWERING STUDENTS FOR FUTURE CAREERS.CONNECTED POLK ENVISIONS EVERY STUDENT IN POLK COUNTY HAVING ACCESS TO HIGH-RANKING SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION, CREATING WELL-PREPARED GRADUATES FOR OUR GROWING ECONOMY. BY SUPPORTING CONNECTED POLK, WE DRIVE EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION, ENHANCE CAREER READINESS, EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY TIES FOR A DYNAMIC, INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL FUTURE.BY EQUIPPING STUDENTS WITH REAL-WORLD KNOWLEDGE AND CAREER EXPERIENCES, CONNECTED POLK FOSTERS LOYALTY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS AND SECTORS THAT INVEST IN THEIR GROWTH. STANDING ALONGSIDE EDUCATORS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS, WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP A SKILLED, CAREER-READY WORKFORCE FOR TOMORROW.OUR FOCUS IS ON CREATING SUSTAINABLE, SCALABLE, AND EQUAL ACCESS TO CAREER READINESS OPPORTUNITIES. THROUGH INDUSTRY-DRIVEN ENGAGEMENT, WE INSPIRE AND EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT HIGH-DEMAND CAREERS WHILE STRENGTHENING POLK COUNTY'S BUSINESS CLIMATE AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC FUTURE.TARGET CONNECTED POLK PROGRAMMING AREAS: 1. CONTINUOUS ADVANCEMENT IN EDUCATION2. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT3. ELEVATE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS4. EXPECTATIONS, ACCESS, AND AVAILABILITY 293022 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 7 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 X JULIA HUBBARD 8639440412 4030 S PIPKIN RD LAKELAND FL 33811 DAVID D HALLOCK JR CHAIRMAN 3.00 X X 0 0 0 ASHLEY BELL BARNETT SECRETARY 2.00 X X 0 0 0 TODD BAYLIS DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 MARCY BENTON DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 ALICE HUNT DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 BRIAN PHILPOTT DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 JEFF CHAMBERLAIN DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 JACK HARRELL DIRECTOR (THRU 7/24) 2.00 X 0 0 0 MELODY RIDER PRESIDENT 40.00 X 198000 0 0 198000 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 34705 20000 353420 2959 408125 1004 1004 27500 34705 32342 -4842 -4842 404287 0 0 -3838 2000 2000 198000 158400 39600 80505 64404 16101 19925 15941 3984 3833 3833 253 253 11659 8826 2833 40408 24245 16163 11801 1118 10683 2457 2457 7656 7656 5692 5692 1657 1657 DUES AND REGISTRATION 3635 3635 ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 1217 1105 112 390698 293022 97676 0 44715 76869 41123 21374 85838 98243 1184 1184 0 X 0 0 0 0 84654 98243 84654 98243 85838 98243 13589 0 X 0 0 0 X 250000 229987 142500 353752 373420 1349659 250000 229987 142500 353752 373420 1349659 590629 759030 3 435 1550 1004 2992 1352651 0.56110 0.46370 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1 1 1 0 BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN ASSETS HELD BY GIVEWELL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 21374 21374 AWARDS DINNER 62205 34705 27500 6559 18744 250 6789 62205 34705 27500 6559 18744 250 6789 32342 -4842 X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MELODY RIDER PRESIDENT 180000 0 0 0 18000 0 0 0 0 0 198000 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 1A THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BY RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY A MAJORITY OF THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MAY DESIGNATE FROM AMONG ITS MEMBERS AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND ONE OR MORE OTHER COMMITTEES EACH OF WHICH, TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN SUCH RESOLUTION, SHALL HAVE AND MAY EXERCISE ALL THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXCEPT THAT NO COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO: (A) FILL VACANCIES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR ANY COMMITTEE THEREOF, AND (B) AMEND THE BYLAWS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 4 EFFECTIVE 9/1/24, THE ORGANIZATION FORMERLY KNOWN AS LAKELAND LEADS, INC. HAS OFFICIALLY CHANGED ITS LEGAL NAME TO CONNECTED POLK, INC. THE NAME CHANGE WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN JUNE 2024 AND FILED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS. THE CHANGE REFLECTS THE ORGANIZATION'S EXPANDED MISSION AND COMMITMENT TO SERVING THE ENTIRE POLK COUNTY COMMUNITY RATHER THAN FOCUSING SOLELY ON THE LAKELAND AREA. THE REBRANDING TO CONNECTED POLK BETTER REPRESENTS OUR PURPOSE OF FOSTERING CONNECTIONS AMONG EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND WORKFORCE READINESS THROUGHOUT POLK COUNTY. THIS CHANGE DID NOT ALTER THE ORGANIZATION'S STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, OR EXEMPT PURPOSE UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(C)(3). THE EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN) AND LEGAL ENTITY REMAIN THE SAME. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING THE AMENDED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND APPROVAL RESOLUTIONS, IS MAINTAINED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S PERMANENT RECORDS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B A FORM 990 REVIEW WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN. A COPY IS SENT TO THE FULL BOARD AFTER FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C AN INTERESTED PERSON MUST DISCLOSE THE EXISTENCE OF ANY ACTUAL, POTENTIAL, OR PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS SOON AS SUCH INTERESTED PERSON IDENTIFIES THAT THERE MAY BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND BEFORE THE ORGANIZATION ENTERS INTO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT THAT GIVES RISE TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE DISCLOSURE SHALL BE MADE TO: THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION IF THE INTERESTED PERSON IS A DIRECTOR OR OFFICER; OR THE INTERESTED PERSON'S MANAGER IF THE INTERESTED PERSON IS AN EMPLOYEE OR VOLUNTEER, WHO SHALL IN TURN INFORM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE DISCLOSED CONFLICT OF INTEREST. THE INTERESTED PERSON SHALL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCLOSE ALL MATERIAL FACTS TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION CONCERNING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT, INCLUDING THE CIRCUMSTANCES GIVING RISE TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. AFTER DISCLOSURE OF THE ACTUAL, POTENTIAL, OR PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS BY FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES: THE INTERESTED PERSON SHALL DISCLOSE ALL MATERIAL FACTS RELATING TO THE POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION. AFTER ANY DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE INTERESTED PERSON, THE INTERESTED PERSON SHALL LEAVE THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE ORGANIZATION MEETING WHILE THE DETERMINATION OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS DISCUSSED AND VOTED UPON. THE AUDIT COMMITTEE SHALL THEN MAKE ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD. THE BOARD MEMBERS, OTHER THAN THE CONFLICTED INTERESTED PERSON(S), SHALL DECIDE IF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS BASED ON ITS REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION. IF THE REMAINING BOARD DETERMINES BY MAJORITY VOTE THAT NO CONFLICT EXISTS, NO FURTHER REVIEW OF THE TRANSACTION BY THE BOARD IS REQUIRED IF NOT ORDINARILY REQUIRED IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS. THE DISCUSSION AND DETERMINATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHALL BE DOCUMENTED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A A NATIONAL TALENT RECRUITING FIRM DETERMINED THE PRESIDENT'S SALARY THROUGH MARKET RESEARCH FOR A SIMILAR ROLE AND LOCAL COMPETITIVE SALARIES. THIS SALARY HAS REMAINED CONSISTENT SINCE HER HIRING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST.