Deana Leffler has a passion for real estate and knows Central Florida, after having lived in the area for more than 45 years. Home buyers and sellers can trust her expertise to assist at any step in the process from lender identification, property location, and contract negotiation, to home décor changes, choosing contractors and home inspectors. Bringing 25 years of stellar, customer service experience, a keen eye for details, and a “can-do” attitude, Deana is the perfect choice to handle your most important home decisions.

Director of Marketing. Worked closely with C-level management to design and implement marketing and practice development strategies that drive revenue growth. Helped management identify new business opportunities with clients and potential clients. Oversaw all aspects of marketing including public relations, advertising, branding, website, special events, sponsorships, seminars, trade shows, community involvement and internal marketing. Liaison with outside agency to design new corporate logo and website. Produced and managed more than 50 RFPs annually. Coordinate and manage over 100 annual sponsorship and trade show events within budget.

SunRail Public Involvement Consultant; Florida Department of Transportation. Helped create policies and procedures for educating stakeholders and news media on SunRail; in addition, developed crisis communication plans. Coordinated with management on two groundbreaking events in Seminole and Volusia County, featuring U.S. Congressman John Mica as keynote speaker. Helped produce grand opening for Orlando’s SunRail City Center with Mayor Buddy Dyer as keynote speaker.

As part of her responsibilities Deana oversaw all business development activities for the greater Orlando, FL area. Her priority pursuits included Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, City of Tampa, Sunrail and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). As part of the Sunrail pursuit she coordinated the proposal efforts for the public involvement and marketing services contract. The proposal ranked number one in technical scores. Due to her business development efforts, in December 2011, VGI was awarded a long-term marketing contract for the FDOT’s, I-4 Managed Lanes (toll lanes) project.

Public Involvement Coordinator and Public Information Officer; Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority. Relayed information and resolved issues between residents, businesses, motorists, local agencies and project teams. Created and distributed information to local media on public hearings, workshops and special events. Developed project website; produced public workshop event attended by over 1,000 residents and stakeholders.

Business Development Strategist/ Marketing Consultant, Risk and Advisory Services Practice. Involved in all aspects of marketing and business development, including re-branding of the Florida's Turnpike and SunPass. Part of a national practice development team which raised Firm revenue from $15 million to $40 million within one year. Managed the implementation of marketing campaigns and programs focused on branding and sales including: business development, customer service, outdoor, print, public relations, website and radio. Also helped develop and execute the first customer satisfaction survey for Florida's Turnpike; created curriculum for the first annual weeklong training program for the Florida’s Turnpike Top 100 managers.

In this role, Deana was responsible for generating $1.5 million dollars in new annual business with non-audit clients in north Florida. She served as a key member of the KPMG/Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise contract which consisted of coaching the pursuit team, proposal coordination and engagement of the Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise five year multi-million dollar contract. Also, Deana helped assemble a national financial services team for the Raymond James audit pursuit which KPMG won. Other responsibilities in this role include selection of a business-to-business lead generation firm and a call center sales initiative.

In this capacity, Deana was a key member of an internal audit “start-up” practice with firm goals to raise revenue from $15 million to $40 million within 1 year. The practice exceeded firm goals by $5 million.Financial Services & Healthcare Marketing Specialist, AtlantaDeana provided marketing support for financial services and healthcare audit, tax and consulting professionals. She managed the production of collateral, direct mail as well as coordinated external events and helped to produce proposals generating revenues over $100,000.Shared Services Operational Reporting and Client Service Measurement Process, Atlanta, GA In this position, Deana produced monthly firm-wide internal central processing reports including accounts payable and receivables, customer service, human resources, and time and expense. Additionally, she was responsible for executing client surveys that assessed the service provided by the firm’s management.

Deana worked over eleven years collectively from 1989-2007 for the Outback Steakhouse. She was responsible for training new employee’s procedures for providing excellence in customer service. In 1997, she provided customer service training for new Japanese proprietors at Outback Steakhouse’s international headquarters located in Atlanta, GA.