Commissioner Rachel Saunders Plakon was appointed in 2018 by Speaker Richard Corcoran. She is the Land Specialist with NAI Realvest, a top commercial real estate brokerage in Central Florida. She currently represents the Orlando-Sanford International Airport in their land and development projects. In addition, she has closed deals with major companies including Nestle Waters North America, Inc.

Rachel has been a real estate entrepreneur and investor since 2004. She founded Southeast Ingenuity Investments, Inc. in 2011, and has been actively growing a portfolio of income-producing properties in addition to her brokerage activities at NAI Realvest. She was recently elected Vice Chairperson of the Planning & Zoning Board in Winter Garden, Florida, we she currently resides.

Originally from Bonifay, Florida, a small town in the Panhandle, Rachel was born to second-generation timber farmers.

During childhood, she helped found a youth drug-use prevention program named after a song she performed, “Saying Yes to Life.” Her program was endorsed by Colonel Oliver North, Governor Chiles, Senator Graham and the Florida Sheriff’s Association. The program’s success also led to national recognition, including an appearance as a guest host on CBN’s 700 Club and TBN’s, Kids against Crime. She is also the former Community Liaison for Governor Jeb Bush’s Mentoring Initiative.

Rachel has toured internationally as a Christian singer-songwriter. “Strong Heart,” a song she wrote and performed climbed to #1 on the Inspirational Country Music charts in 2014. The song was inspired by her work with the American Heart Association. She later served as the Founding Chair of the Passion Committee, which grew to be the model volunteer committee for growth in several states.

She is a Leadership West Orange graduate, Leadership Institute graduate, member of Tiger Bay Club, sponsorship committee fundraiser for American Cancer Society’s “Cattle Baron’s Ball,” and a frequent guest at local charity and political events. In addition, she has been involved with American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network Southeast Summit.

Rachel earned her Corporate Master of Business Administration from Florida International University. She received her Bachelor of Science from Oral Roberts University in Mass Media Communications as a Magna Cum Laude graduate.