Roda Ward Carter

Roda W. Carter, the president and CEO of Carter-Health Disposables, LLC, has over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience with a diverse background in business from cosmetics to healthcare. With a commitment to ongoing education she holds a Degree in Fashion Design from FIT, an MBA from Rollins College, a certificate from Tuck at Dartmouth, and a certificate from CVS Executive Learning Series at Roger Williams University. Roda's diverse skill sets and experience in design, product development, marketing, strategy, and negotiations contribute to her entrepreneurial success. With Roda's leadership and modest start-up capital of $140,000, the company grew to a multimillion-dollar operation within five years. The company manufactures and distributes disposable medical apparel and supplies for the healthcare and pharmacy markets with products on contract with GPO's and wholesalers including Vizient, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health. Now imbedded in the healthcare supply chain, the company serves hundreds of acute care hospitals' in-patient pharmacies, compounding and infusion pharmacies nationwide. Customers include: Tampa General, Henry Ford Healthcare System, Moffitt Cancer Center, and CVS. The company offers medical supplies to comply with FDA and USP 797/800 regulations. Now growing at a rate of 39 percent rapid scale in on the horizon. Roda received recognition for Universal Colors Cosmetics; The Pillar Award, by the Minority Enterprise Corporation in Pittsburgh, Penn., as Up and Coming Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001, was featured on cover of the "Washington Post" Business Section in 2003 and touted by international beauty magazines around the world. Carter-Health was honored with the "Florida Companies to Watch" Award in 2011; nominated by the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council for Supplier of the Year in 2016, featured in "i-4 Business Magazine" in March 2016; and received the Fast 50 Award for one of Central Florida's fastest growing companies from the "Orlando Business Journal" in 2017. Roda enjoys and embarks on the opportunities to provide a healthy and exciting workplace for others for continued learning, creativity, productivity and innovation. She believes with self-respect and drive, that anyone can do anything they can imagine possible.

Roda enjoys mentoring women entrepreneurs, is a member of African American Chamber, supports Teaching Tolerance (Southern Poverty Law Group, an anti-hate organization); Sierra Club, and other humanitarian, environmental and animal rights organizations. Roda co-founded an organization called Bring Out the Dolls that promotes positive self-appreciation and Diversity for young girls. She has mentored an at-risk youth for over 10 years and believes helping others is an important responsibility and duty to uphold. Additionally, Roda served on the Orange County Board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida for 10 years. Roda also enjoys her two poodles, staying active for a healthy lifestyle, cooking during the holidays, and salsa dancing.