Elected to three terms as mayor, Glenda Hood was the first female Mayor of the City of Orlando. While leading the city from 1992-2003, her priorities included public safety, creating livable neighborhoods and building a strong local economy.
Among Mayor Hood’s greatest accomplishments were her efforts to support and strengthen Orlando’s neighborhoods during a period of rapid growth. She oversaw the emergence of Lake Nona and spearheaded the reuse plan for what had once been the Orlando Naval Training Center.
The redevelopment of the Orlando Naval Training Center was one of the most ambitious economic development projects in the city's history. Under Mayor Hood’s leadership, the property was redeveloped to become the mixed-use community of Baldwin Park, now recognized as one of the finest examples of the reuse of a former government property and a model for the principles of smart growth. Baldwin Park has received numerous prestigious awards and is recognized as a leading national example of an urban design movement refocusing neighborhoods around walkability, connectivity, and environmental protection.
Mayor Hood loved her city. Leading up to her time as Mayor, she served as an Orlando City Council member from 1982-1992, was President of her own public relations firm and participated in countless civic organizations including the Junior League. In 1992 she served as the 66th President of the National League of Cities and in 2003 was appointed the 25th Secretary of State of Florida by Governor Jeb Bush.
A fourth generation Floridian, Mayor Hood graduated from Orlando’s Oak Ridge High School and Rollins College with a degree in Spanish. She also completed the Executive Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.