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Update to Clients from the CEO: Reopening Safely

June 26, 2020

Greetings to our clients, friends and community partners!

I hope that you, your families and colleagues continue to be healthy and safe.

When I last posted just over a month ago, several states were just beginning the reopening process, and our firm was about to resume in-office operations after working fully remotely for nine weeks. Today, I thought I would share the key elements of our comprehensive Return-to-Work Plan that was successfully implemented five weeks ago. It has gone very smoothly, without incident or the occurrence of the virus within the firm. Currently the number of new cases in our community are rising and decisions to reopen must be carefully considered. Each business environment is unique, however, some of the practices we adopted may be worth considering if and as you chart your own path toward reopening.

Like you, our first and most important concern was and is the health and safety of all of our employees. Our planning team crafted the Return-to-Work Plan after a thorough review of the government mandates, the safety practices of essential businesses that remained open during the pandemic, and the guidelines provided by the CDC and local health care authorities. We defined protocols and policies for pre-entry to the office, use of common spaces, travel, and post-infection. Highlights include:

  • Limiting the number of people in the office by dividing the firm into teams, with only one team at a time rotating into the office each week and allowing at-risk individuals and those with child care issues or other special circumstances to remain working remotely;
  • Conducting daily temperature checks (with contactless infrared thermometers) and symptom assessments upon entry;
  • Staggering start times for each workday;
  • Assigning building entries and exits and “up only” and “down only” staircases;
  • Setting strict rules regarding physical distancing and wearing face coverings;
  • Closing high-contact areas such as break rooms and self-service kitchens;
  • Eliminating group gatherings and conducting meetings online;
  • Enhancing cleaning protocols, including providing hand sanitizers to all employees and strategically placing disinfecting wipes around the office;
  • Restricting travel via common carriers and following quarantine protocols related thereto;
  • Continually communicating and educating employees on the virus and the firm’s protocols, through emails, signage, and virtual meetings.

For now, we are even limiting visitors to our offices, and requiring those that must be present to wear face coverings and practice appropriate physical distancing as well. In addition to the health and safety of our employees, we are equally concerned about protecting clients, vendors and other visitors.

Our planning team continues to evaluate all of our policies and protocols, and refines the processes when necessary. We would be happy to share our plan with you in further detail, and help you implement your own safety measures as you prepare to, or would like to, refine your plan regarding your return to your workspaces.

In the meantime, be sure to visit our COVID-19 Resource Center for the latest updates and information about the many federal, state and local directives and mandates.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and be well!

William T. Dymond, Jr.
CEO & President 
Lowndes 

William

Bill Dymond is the president, chief executive officer, and managing partner of Lowndes. A recognized leader in his field, Bill advises clients on a broad range of real estate and business matters, with a particular focus on the hotel, resort and leisure industry.

Named to Florida Trend’s annual list of most influential business leaders for years, Bill is a member of the firm’s Hospitality & Leisure Group, which has handled over $30 billion in real estate transactions throughout Central Florida, the United States, and Canada. With almost 40 years of experience in real estate acquisition, finance and development, Bill provides comprehensive guidance on the unique challenges faced by clients in this ever-changing and highly competitive sector. He advises hotel and resort owners in connection with all aspects of their business, including development, operating agreements, licensing, franchising, lodging and financing matters. He also serves as general counsel to Visit Orlando, the region’s convention and visitor’s bureau.

Equally passionate about working with clients in the sports and entertainment arena, Bill is well-known for helping to make Central Florida a destination for high-profile sporting events. A skilled negotiator, he is frequently relied upon by sports and entertainment clients to handle high-stakes agreements. His successful negotiation of multi-year television agreements with ABC and ESPN secured national broadcast exposure for Florida Citrus Sports and its two annual bowl games at Camping World Stadium. He also leads negotiation of team selection agreements for the organization’s college bowl games with the Big 10, SEC, ACC and Big 12 conferences. A longtime advocate for Camping World Stadium, he played a key role in its renovation and related funding.

Bill’s commitment to the community is reflected through his countless hours of service and leadership at numerous Central Florida organizations. He is a founding board member of Lift Orlando, a nonprofit working to revitalize neighborhoods around Camping World Stadium. Bill also currently serves on the executive committee and board of directors of the Orlando Economic Partnership. He is also a past chair of the CRA Advisory Board, the Downtown Development Board for the City of Orlando, Florida Citrus Sports, the Orlando Economic Partnership, and the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.

At the state level, Bill is an active member of the Florida Council of 100 and has served as a board member and executive committee member of both Enterprise Florida and Space Florida. During his six-year gubernatorial appointment as Space Florida Chair, he led the organization’s partnership with NASA, local and state governments, and the private sector in operating Florida’s two spaceports, greatly expanding the state’s ability to dominate the growing commercial space market and create jobs in this unique sector.

With his many leadership roles at the local and state level, Bill has developed a broad network of collaborative relationships throughout Florida that brings added value to his clients in their pursuits.

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