Candidate: Manal Fakhoury

I love Ocala!

For nearly 35 years I have watched our beautiful city grow in many ways. We have loved raising our family in Ocala, starting and growing our small business, and learning about so many great organizations and the leaders who are helping build our community. Ocala, you have served my family well. Now I would love the honor of serving you as our next Mayor. 

An American Dream: Made in Ocala

Manal’s family immigrated to the United States when she was 8 years old, with grit and determination, Manal went from taking English as a second language classes to Class Valedictorian. 

Manal met her husband Riadh in college, and the two fell in love and settled down in Ocala, where he began his practice, Fakhoury Medical & Chiropractic Center. Manal completed her clinical residency at Shands Hospital and began her career as the Clinical Coordinator at Ocala Health while eight months pregnant with the first of their five children, all raised here in Ocala. She served for 28 years as Clinical Coordinator at the hospital,including several years as the Good Government Group representative, and has grown multiple successful businesses including Vestech Partners, where she serves as CEO. Manal and Riadh couldn’t imagine raising their children anywhere other than Ocala, where they have built their American Dream. “Everyone who gets to know me by working with me, sees what I do, my heart, and my love of Ocala. My story is an American success story.” 

Manal, Servant Leader: Continuing Lifelong Service 

Though our city has nearly doubled in size in the years she has raised her family here, Manal has spent her time getting to know every inch of Ocala through dozens of different organizations. She was first called to serve with the Junior League of Ocala  and has chaired and served on boards of the Suntrust Bank (now Truist Bank), Chamber of Commerce, Science Center, United Way, Ocala Women’s Network, Center for the Blind, Rotary, YMCA, PACE Center, and Hospice. 

Additionally, Manal chartered and led as the President of Toasting Ocala Toastmasters, founded Fakhoury Leadership International, a leadership and professional development training organization that has partnered with the Florida Department of Corrections to give people in prison tools to get back on track.

She founded Ollin Women International, a women’s foundation dedicated to creating a more compassionate and equitable society and is the curator and licensee holder for TEDxOcala, bringing the series of leadership and personal development talks to our community.

Dr. Manal Fakhoury, At-a-Glance:  

Family:

Married to Dr. Riadh Fakhoury

Five Children: Nawal, Nadia, Kareem, Malak, Laila

Education:

B.S. - University of Southern California

Pharm.D. - University of Southern California

Residency - University of  Florida

MBA - Webster University

Additional Personal Development:

Tony Robbins Platinum Partnership

Tony Jeary

Positive Intelligence

Work Experience:

Clinical Coordinator Ocala Health

Fakhoury Leadership International

Fakhoury Medical and Chiropractic Center

Vestech Partners

Pharmacy Consultant Services

SAGE - Lessons of Experience

VoxDirect - Telecommunication

Truist Bank - Board of Director

Community Service:

Discovery Science Center

Toastmasters Division Director

Rotary - President Elect

YMCA - Board of Directors

YMCA - Major Donors Campaign Chair

Ignite - Chairwoman

Chamber of Commerce - Chairwoman

United Way - Board of Directors

United Way - Campaign Chair

AHA - Go Red for Women Chair

AHA - Heart Walk Chair

TEDxOcala - Licensee and Curator

TEDx Speaker

TEDx Coach

Jr. League of Ocala

Royal Dames

Hospice Board of Directors

Florida Center for the Blind

Leadership Ocala

Leadership Florida

IHMC Super Saturday Presenter

Downtown CRA Advisory Committee

Ollin Women International - Founder and President

International Women's Day - Chair

International Cities of Peace Board

Awards:

Jr. League - Three Who Care Award

LOM Frank Stafford Award

Person of the Year

Pharmacist of the Year

Florida Department of Corrections - Volunteer of the Year

Women of Distinction

Women of Influence

Most Motivational

Busiest Woman

Florida Trend - 10 Women to Watch

FPRA Communicator of the Year Award

Toastmaster District 84 JC William Spirit Award

Mary Sue Rich Diversity Award

United Way Phyllis Ewers Community Award

Webster University Alumna of the Year Award

Webster University Most Outstanding Business Student Award

Accolades:
Person of the Year
Pharmacist of the Year
Women of Distinction
Women of Influence
Most Motivational
Busiest Women
FPRA Communicator of the Year Award
District 84 the JC (Joseph Calvin) Williams Spirit Award