Guest Speaker

Cornita Riley retired as Chief of Orange County Corrections, July 27, 2018,  having served with Orange County jail since December 1999, matriculating from a Mayoral appointment as Division Manager to Deputy Chief and ultimately to the first female Chief of Corrections.  She has a professional career that spans over 37 years in the criminal justice field to include jail and prison management, as well as field services encompassing probation and parole, inmate and offender supervision, investigations, inspections and auditing, and employee training and development.

Ms. Riley was introduced to FCCD in 1986-87 by FCCD icon, William "Bill" Bedingfield, who served as a phenomenal leader and mentor professionally and personally. Thus, her commitment, vision, and focus to the continued building, strategic planning and decision making for the organization is reflective of Mr. Bedingfield.  Ms. Riley has and continues to be an active member of Chapter 7 by donating items for fundraisers, attending community service activities, facilitating training events, and serving on the Chapter 7 Board of Directors Advisory Council.

As the Chief of Corrections, her responsibilities included managing, monitoring, and coordinating security operations; planning and internal investigations; review and revision of policy and procedures; facility maintenance; healthcare activities; and dietary services. She was responsible for managing staff and the agency’s $154 million annual budget. Ms. Riley also served as, regional assistant warden, assistant superintendent, and correctional probation officer of the department with the State of Florida Department of Corrections. Ms. Riley now serves as a consultant for the Moss Group and instructor for Valencia School of Public Safety, specializing in leadership development. Additionally, Ms. Riley has formed her own company under the name, MPRH (Motivating People to Rise Higher) Consulting. Stay tuned for more to come regarding MPRH.

She is a certified corrections executive with the American Correctional Association and a certified jail manager with the American Jail Association. She is a member of the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency since 1999, the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, the National Forums of Black Public Administrators, the Association of Women Executives in Corrections and many other Civic organizations. 

Ms. Riley received her bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Florida State University and her master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. She is also a certified correctional officer. She was recognized as the 2018 American Jail Association's Correctional Leader of the year, Women's Executive Council, Central Florida Woman of the Year, and one of John Maxwell's Top 30 Leaders. During Chief Riley's long and very accomplished career, she has received numerous other awards and recognitions, more than can be covered in this brief bio.

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