This summer, Rally: Social Enterprise Accelerator, an initiative of the Central Florida Foundation (CFF), enters a new chapter as co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Ben Hoyer transitions into a role on its Board of Managers. This moment marks not just a shift in Ben’s career, but an evolution in Rally’s trajectory and the Foundation’s ongoing investment in fostering community-rooted, impact-driven innovation in social enterprise.

The Genesis of Rally: A Shared Vision Realized

Rally was born from the convergence of two efforts: the Foundation’s Entrepreneurs in Action (EiA) initiative, and Ben Hoyer’s Rally Makers program at CREDO, his social enterprise coffee company. Both were designed to harness the energy of early-stage social entrepreneurs – individuals with ventures that achieve a double-bottom line: a sustainable business model and positive social impact.

As Ben recounts, “The mechanics of the program were a little different, but the goal and participants were very similar. CFF was looking to evolve their EiA program, so it didn’t take long to realize we ought to combine efforts.”

That realization led to the establishment of Rally as a collaborative accelerator, rooted in community capital, hosted at Rollins College, and bolstered by social enterprise leaders like Clean the World. Along with a robust and diverse group of Rally Makers and other community partners, CFF has been deeply involved ever since—serving on the board, providing strategic and operational support, and managing back-end financial infrastructure.

From Builder to Backbone: Ben’s Transformational Role

For those who know Ben, humble is a common descriptor of the long-term social entrepreneur and community minister. From the very beginning of Rally, he led with quiet diligence, growing the program from a local accelerator serving four organizations per cohort, into a multi-tiered platform supporting 8–12 ventures at a time across idea-stage, accelerator-stage, and scale-stage pathways.

“My job expanded to include donor management, municipal contracts, board engagement, and follow-up support for our Fellows. And always, discerning what’s next for Rally.”

The Foundation has witnessed firsthand how Ben’s operational excellence and clarity of purpose catalyzed growth—both in scale and in depth. His ability to hold community at the center of impact reflects his commitment to positive change – something the Foundation knows is critical in any partner.

A Community Effort: Influencers and Allies

Rally’s success has always been a collective endeavor. Ben points to influential mentors and collaborators, including:

• Cari Coats (Accendo Leadership Advisory Group), who helped shape Rally Makers from the ground up
• Rob Panepinto (President of Rally; Govo Venture Partners), whose policy acumen led to key partnerships with local governments
• Kyle Johnson (Lighthouse Central Florida), who helped grow Rally’s national reach;
• and steadfast supporters like Rally Makers John Rivers (4Roots), Rajiv Menon (Informulate), and Shawn Seipler (Clean the World), who helped build Rally’s credibility and reach.

“When I first met Ben Hoyer to discuss his idea about starting what ultimately became Rally, I expected a young person with an idea, good intent to “do good,” but candidly questioned his business background to make it happen. What I got was something far more powerful — someone with a clear, intuitive vision for making meaningful impact. His intellect, instincts and way of engaging others are so authentic and magnetic, he draws you in. I had the privilege of mentoring and advising him as he successfully launched what has become a thriving social enterprise accelerator. I’m a fan, and always will be.” – Cari Coats

“I’m a fan, and always will be.”

-Cari Coats

on mentoring Ben Hoyer

At the Foundation, we are proud to count President and CEO Mark Brewer and Executive VP and CFO Meghan Warrick among Rally’s board members and are continually inspired by the cross-sector community Rally cultivates.

Lessons in Leadership: The Fellows Who Shaped the Journey

Ben’s leadership has always been animated by the entrepreneurs he served. In his words:

“Really, the Fellows are continuously inspiring.”
He recalls early stories like Julia Rivard Dexter, who demonstrated the power of choosing the right metric; Sanad, who revealed the importance of user validation; and Susan Namirumu, who affirmed the universality of business principles. Ventures like Blue Diamond, Stellar Sustainable Lighting (formerly Kolumi), and Care-A-Medix reinforced the need for strong partnerships from day one.

Check out the latest Rally Fellows here.

Stewardship for the Future

Ben’s transition to Rally’s Board ensures that his vision will remain embedded in its strategy and ethos. For the Foundation, his move signals a natural evolution in organizational leadership, and an opportunity to welcome new leadership while sustaining the wisdom of one of our initiative’s most important architects.

As of August 1^st, 2025, Rally will welcome longtime Program Director Kyle Steele into the role of interim Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer.

Related reading: Orlando’s Rally hub shifts leadership, eyes civic entrepreneurs – Orlando Business Journal

“It’s been one of the great honors of my life to help shape and grow Rally,” Hoyer said. “What began as a bold idea has become a place where meaningful ventures take root, and where people are empowered to pursue impact with clarity, courage, and support.”

As Rally enters its next phase, we remain committed to supporting its success—with people, strategy, resources, and belief. We are proud of Ben’s legacy and humbled to call him a true partner in our community work. We look forward to his continued leadership in his new board member role.

To learn more about Rally and how it advances the Central Florida Foundation’s mission of building thriving communities, visit rallysea.com.

This post was written by Laurie Crocker.