Rally Leadership Transition Press Release | Ben Hoyer & Kyle Steele

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2025

Ben Hoyer Transitions to Board Role; Kyle Steele Named Interim Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer

ORLANDO, FL – Rally, Central Florida’s hub for social innovation, announced that, after eight years of serving as Founding Chief Operating Officer, Ben Hoyer will transition into a Board role, while longtime Program Director Kyle Steele has been named Interim Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, effective August 1. This marks a new chapter of regional growth, as Orlando continues to grow into an international hub for social enterprise.

“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.”

Hoyer’s leadership has guided Rally from its earliest days, when it was just a borrowed conference room and a handful of dreamers, to a thriving platform that has:

  • Supported over 120 mission-driven ventures

  • Helped unlock over $1 million in capital and contracts

  • Created more than 50 local jobs

  • Engaged over 11,000 residents and community stakeholders

With a clear sense of purpose and excitement for the future, Hoyer chose to begin this new chapter.

“Over the past year, I’ve felt a deepening call to invest more fully in my ministry work,” Hoyer added. ‘This move allows me to focus intentionally on that calling while continuing to champion Rally’s mission as a Board Member. I believe wholeheartedly it’s the right next step for me, and Rally.”

As Rally moves into its next chapter, it does so standing firmly on the foundation Ben laid, one rooted in courage, faith, and an unwavering belief in community-led change.

Steele, who has helped shape Rally’s programs since its founding, now steps into a formal leadership role, bringing with him deep experience in entrepreneur coaching, systems design, and collaborative impact.

“Ben built a community where people could turn good ideas into sustainable ventures,” said Steele. “I’m honored to continue that legacy and lead us into our next phase with a focus on deeper partnerships, stronger support for founders, and collaborative innovation that serves our region.”

What Rally Looks Like Today
Thanks in large part to Hoyer’s steady leadership as COO, Rally has grown into a trusted launchpad for social entrepreneurs, founders who use business to solve social and environmental challenges across Central Florida. The impact of the ventures supported by Rally rarely looks like a ribbon-cutting. Instead, it looks like:

  • WriggleBrew improving soil health and food access with worm-based fertilizer at McQuigg Community Garden

  • Stellar Sustainable Lighting installing energy-efficient lighting to reduce emissions at the Orange County Administration Garage

  • Thimble expanding STEM access through hands-on kits used in neighborhood recreation centers

  • Softly helping the City of Orlando make greener purchasing decisions through its sustainable procurement browser extension

  • B. Brave leading teens in historical performing arts workshops that build confidence and cultural understanding

  • Block ’n Lock building new garden beds using their interlocking block system, supporting community-led efforts to expand food access

  • O-Town Compost reducing landfill waste and promoting environmental stewardship through curbside composting

  • The Generous Pour turning everyday purchases into charitable giving by letting customers direct store profits to local nonprofits of their choice

All of these ventures emerged from Rally’s 16-week Social Enterprise Accelerator, which blends entrepreneur coaching, local site tours, and a public showcase to unlock support and growth. For founders with early traction, Rally’s Scale Up program strengthens business models and sales strategy; and for those still shaping their ideas, Rally offers monthly Intro to Social Entrepreneurship workshops to explore mission-driven business.

Looking Ahead
Under Steele’s leadership, Rally will deepen its innovation model through quarterly Co-Creation Labs, invite more community members to its monthly Intro to Social Entrepreneurship workshops, and expand support for ventures ready to scale.

“Kyle has earned the trust of our Fellows, partners, and team through years of dedicated work,” said Rob Panepinto, President of Rally. “He brings both heart and strategy to this next chapter. We’re deeply grateful to Ben for laying the foundation that makes this transition possible.””

Now’s the Time to Engage
We want Central Floridians to become part of the Rally journey. Here are three ways to engage:

  1. See that work in motion at Rally’s Virtual Fellow Showcase on November 4 at 11:30 a.m. EST, where the current cohort will unveil bold new solutions in housing, health, and climate. RSVP here.

  2. Social Entrepreneurs can apply to the Winter 2026 Accelerator (opening August 25), book a consultation with the Scale Up team, or attend a monthly workshop to explore what it takes to launch a mission-driven business. Learn more here.

  3. If you’re a solutions-focused leader who is looking to invest in the future of mission-driven enterprise, Rally invites you to become a Rally Maker. Learn more here.

About Rally
Rally collaborates with changemakers, institutions, and neighborhoods to source, test, refine, and scale social and environmental innovations—strengthening Central Florida and informing best practices around the world. Through a continuum of support—from Innovation Sourcing & Pilot Labs and Start-to-Scale coaching to Strategic Insights & Best Practices—Rally empowers communities and entrepreneurs at every stage to turn bold ideas into measurable impact. This work is driven by a dedicated team and a network of partners, including Program & Operations Manager Erica Sanders-Ricketts, Rally Makers, Central Florida Foundation, Rollins College, Orange County, and the City of Orlando, who together ensure that promising solutions are nurtured and positioned to thrive. Learn more at rallysea.com.