CHUCK WHITTALL

PRESIDENT & FOUNDER, UNICORP NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS, ORLANDO

Whittall founded Unicorp in 1998. It develops luxury apartments, office, mixed use developments, hotels and retail. It has about 75 employees.

EDUCATION: General Contractor’s License, Broker’s License and Commercial Pool License

FIRST JOB: When I was 12 years old, I was a lawn boy.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: I would either return to being a disc jockey, which is what I did from age 16-22, or become a hedge fund manager.

MENTEE IMPACT: I wrote a book called Perseverance. I’ve heard from so many people that my story has inspired them — seeing that someone of very little means can be successful through hard work and perseverance.

INDUSTRY TREND: Affordability and sustainability. There are so many new ways to construct, and we are exploring them all. Technology will lead the future in homes and buildings.

NONPROFIT PASSION: I am currently supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It is a great organization striving to find a cure for cancer. I have a friend with leukemia and I’m hoping I can make a difference. I’m hoping to be their visionary of the year this year, raising a substantial amount of money.

SOMETHING SURPRISING
“I have been a professional Ferrari race car driver for six years and came in first at the Indianapolis Speedway.”