CHARLES CAULKINS

PARTNER, FISHER PHILLIPS, FORT LAUDERDALE

As past chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Caulkins developed the organization’s ongoing, six-year strategic plan. His recent focus is on improving education and meeting the goal of 100% of third graders reading at grade level. He’s been with Fisher Phillips for 40 years. A labor and employment law firm representing employers, it has 38 offices across the country and three in Florida.

EDUCATION: Monmouth College (BA), New York University School of Law (LLM), Creighton University School of Law (JD)

FIRST JOB: Running a newspaper delivery route with in-person collections door to door.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: An astronaut. The idea of exploring space, pushing the limits of human potential and contributing to scientific discovery has always (been fascinating). …Plus, being in Florida — the gateway to space — makes the dream feel just a little closer.

PASSION PROJECT: Identifying and mentoring the next generation of community leadership.