Chantel Buck, 38

Occupation: President/CEO of New Vision for Independence, a non-profit that eliminates barriers to independence for people with vision loss, Mount Dora

What I do: I oversee operations at New Vision across all our programs for people with vision loss of all ages in Lake, Sumter and The Villages®. I also plan for our big fundraiser, “Dining in the Dark.”

My journey: The recession in 2009 forced me to switch careers from public relations at a municipality in Central Florida to case management at New Vision. In 2011, I took the helm at New Vision and now I can make our community a better place for people with disabilities.

Notable achievement: At an international conference in 2022, my teammates and I made a presentation on innovative strategies in our field, which proved to be successful during the pandemic.

Words of wisdom: Success is a big puzzle. You don’t have the box to refer to and you never know how the pieces will fit. Be open to new ideas, new experiences and new information.

Outside the office: I’m a big fan of escape rooms, stand-up comedy and cooking.

Life After 40: I will continue to serve where and how I’m needed. I see myself being happy, healthy and helpful.