Edward E. Haddock, Jr. grew up in Richmond, Virginia and received his BA degree from Ohio Wesleyan University where he majored in English Literature and Economics, was president of the student body and now serves on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee. He earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Virginia School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Florida and Virginia.
Ed’s career has revolved around law, education, business, philanthropy and family.
Law. Upon law school graduation Ed was honored to be recruited to Orlando to become the twelfth attorney at the Lowndes Drosdick law firm and two years later was honored again to join the second oldest law firm in Orlando, Swann & Swann. The firm was renamed Swann and Haddock and Ed became its managing partner and Chairman from the early 1970s to 1990, expanding from three attorneys in Orlando to one of the largest law offices in both Orlando and Tallahassee prior to its merger with Milwaukee based Foley & Lardner LLP in 1990.
Education. Based on a former client relationship, Ed then became a principal and Co Chairman / CEO of Full Sail University, Orlando / Winter Park. By focusing on student career success, Full Sail has grown from several hundred to over 20,000 students and has become an internationally recognized entertainment media and emerging technology educational institution with over 85,000 graduates many of whom have been awarded Grammys, Academy Awards and other entertainment and emerging technology industry honors. Using this same focus on student outcomes and career pathways, Ed and his education partners achieve similar student, graduate and institutional success with the Los Angeles Film School, Hollywood, with over 4,800 students and the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Denver, with over 1,600. In addition to his many years of involvement with his alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan University, Ed has been a faculty member for the Practicing Law Institute, co-author of a report and recommendations to Congress regarding issues relating to Central America, a board member of the University of Central Florida Foundation and is currently a director of the Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship at Rollins College, Winter Park.
Business. Ed’s business career includes the roles of counsel, co-founder, director, executive officer and investor in organizations engaging in the practice of law and legislative matters, education, information technology, banking, insurance, healthcare, franchising and real estate. Ed is founder and advisor of SunGate Capital which has evolved into a private investment company managing the businesses, other assets and financial interests of the family trusts and foundation of which Ed is the grantor.
Philanthropy. The mission of the family foundation is “to advance restorative relationships between people and planet through human dignity and environmental stewardship”. Current projects include: Kaley Square Community Center, providing service to a disadvantaged Orlando neighborhood; the Foundation Hub on Lake Eola in downtown Orlando, a headquarters it shares with other collaborative foundations; A Long Time Coming, a sports and civil rights documentary featuring Hank Aaron and Andrew Young; and a program in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina to manage invasive species.
Family. Ed and his wife Edye have six sons, four daughters-in-law, eight grandchildren and Mario, his family dog. They are part of Ed’s and Edye’s day to day lives and are involved in family philanthropic and business interests.