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Congratulations Robert Palmer!

Palmer to be honored as the 2017 recipient of the Entrepreneurial Vanguard Award
Nov 8, 2017

Robert Palmer, the founder of CEO of Robert Palmer Companies and owner of the Jacksonville Armada FC, will receive the Entrepreneurial Vanguard Award from Junior Achievement of Central Florida at the organization’s annual Hall of Fame dinner to be held Wednesday night. 

The Entrepreneurial Vanguard Award recognizes entrepreneurs whose innovative business endeavors have flourished and who continue the model of free enterprise in Central Florida.  In addition to Palmer, other award recipients at tonight’s event include local business leaders Meg Crofton, former President of Walt Disney World; Randy Berridge, a tech innovator in Central Florida; and Tom Sittema, CEO of CNL Financial Group.    

Palmer, a Lakeland native, is an entrepreneur, author, sports team owner and philanthropist.  Robert Palmer Companies includes RP Funding, RP Title, HomeValue.com and Listing Power Tools, among others. 

Palmer recently purchased the Jacksonville Armada soccer club in July and has since implemented several successful initiatives to grow the team’s brand, increase attendance and revolutionize the team’s broadcast capabilities.  In addition, RP Funding is the Founding Partner for the Lakeland Magic, the Orlando Magic’s G-League team.  As part of the sponsorship agreement with the Lakeland Magic, RP Funding received naming rights to the arena in which the Magic play their home games.  The building, formerly known as the Lakeland Center, is now the RP Funding Center.

Palmer is also the host of ‘Saving Thousands,’ a radio show heard in markets around the country.  The primary focus of ‘Saving Thousands,’ is to provide information and resources to those seeking to buy a home.

“I am honored to receive this prestigious award from such an outstanding organization like Junior Achievement of Central Florida,” said Palmer.  “Our company has made a commitment to the local communities in which we operate our businesses and every day we aspire to do whatever we can to make them a better place to work and live.”

Founded in 1961, Junior Achievement has inspired more than a million Central Florida students.  The organization’s mission is to help students make the connection between what they learn in school and what they will need to know for the future, ultimately enabling them to succeed in a global economy. 

The Jacksonville Armada FC would like to congratulate Palmer on the award and looks forward to taking the club to the next level under his ownership!