| Today she owns a real estate investment company and brokerage firm, but Rachel's entrepreneurial spirit and servant's heart was sparked long before she entered college. In middle school she helped found a youth drug prevention program that was endorsed by the Florida Sheriffs Association and earned national recognition, including an appearance by Rachel on CBN's 700 Club.
After graduating with honors from Oral Roberts University, where she was President of the College Republicans, Rachel returned to her native Florida to work with Gov. Jeb Bush's child mentoring initiative. She also lived for a time in Nashville, where she started a successful real estate business and pursued her passion for Christian music. One of the songs she wrote and performed climbed to #1 on the Inspirational Country Music charts.
Returning to her home state of Florida in 2013, Rachel grew her real estate investment business and later began working as a Land Specialist with one of Central Florida's top commercial real estate brokerages. The Orlando-Sanford International Airport was among her major clients. She also continued her service as an active volunteer in civic and charitable causes.
A former vice chair of the Planning and Zoning Board in Winter Garden, Rachel was tapped by successive House Speakers to serve on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. In 2019 she was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Florida Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission, making numerous appearances across the state to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote.
While local residents struggled to cope with the pandemic and resulting shutdown, Rachel helped deliver life-saving medicine and groceries to our most needy neighbors. In September of 2020 she also organized a heralded relief effort from Seminole County to her hometown of Bonifay after Hurricane Sally devastated the Panhandle region.
Rachel is the daughter of a U.S. Army National Guard veteran, and both parents are second-generation timber farmers. She has served on the Board of Directors of Business Force, is a Life Member of the NRA, and holds a Corporate M.B.A. from Florida International University.
Married to State Rep. Scott Plakon since 2019, she became part of a family that includes six children and four grandchildren. |