Mishalanie-Layton Garden Plaza
2006
On May 18, 2006, the Mishalanie-Layton Garden Plaza was created in between the Joseph-Reynolds and Allan Spivey Residence Halls. The plaza consists of a small circular brick courtyard surrounded by benches with a fountain in the center. When the plaza was first installed, it was open to the sky, but trees have grown around and shadowed over the plaza; this shade provides a cool place for students to relax. The Mishalanie-Layton Garden Plaza was donated by Trustee Dr. Sarah M. Layton in tribute to her parents, Philip G. and Marion J. Mishalanie.
Dr. Layton is the founding managing partner of Corporate Strategy Institute in Orlando, Florida. She is best known for her innovative business strategies and keynote presentation, “Blue Ocean Strategy: How to create uncontested market space and make the competition irrelevant.” Dr. Layton served on the board of Trustees for Florida Southern College, and received the school’s Distinguished Alumni Award. She donated the plaza in 2006 in honor of her parents Philip G. and Marion J. Mishalanie. Philip and Marion moved to Florida in 1945, and started their own metal manufacturing company in Opa-Locka. They sold structural steel and decorative wrought iron to Miami Beach hotels during the 1950s. Dr. Layton considers growing up in her family’s business to be the foundation of her management skills.
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