Soldier

1999 - PRESENT

Throughout the past 14 years in the Florida Army National Guard as a Combat Medic, Sgt. Julius "Doc" Melendez has served in two combat tours of Iraqi Freedom (2003 and 2010) and was stationed in Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq.  In 2004, his unit was activated during Florida's unprecedented hurricane season that experienced hurricane's Charley, Francis, Ivan, and Jeanne.  In 2012, the Republican National Convention was held in Tampa and his unit was tapped to provide additional security and reserve forces.

Sgt. Melendez is still active in the national guard and conducts training one weekend a month with the 2/116th Field Artillery Regiment headquartered in Lakeland.  He maintains an active national registered Emergency Medical Technician license along with basic life support and CPR.  Julius can contribute immediately to the county commission as the only member with a medical and first responder background.  He will dedicate a significant amount of time ensuring that Osceola County's disaster preparedness and first responders have adequate resources to keep our residents and community safe.

Small Business Owner

Melentree Properties, LLC        Melentree Advertising, LLC          Medatarax, LLC

Julius is the founder of Melentree Properties who holds a Community Association Manager and Real Estate Sales Associate license.  Julius' real estate experience began with an appointment to the Osceola County Parks & Recreations Advisory Committee, the Value Adjustment Board, and the Governor subsequently appointed him to the East Central Florida Regional Planning Board.  Today, Melentree has partnered with the Suarez Law group to manage a portfolio of properties that range from beach houses to homeowner's associations.

Julius and his wife Marjorie co-founded a medical billing and consulting company to assist small and mid-sized medical practitioners to submit claims and collect revenues for services rendered from third party insurance carriers.

Julius has first hand experience in the trials and tribulationas of risking hard earned money and family time to start a business without a guarantee of success.  Julius will work equally as hard to ensure that Osceola County rewards home grown small businesses as much as it tries to attract outside venture capital.

School Board Member

2008 - 2012

Julius was elected as Vice Chair of the Osceola County School Board during one of the worst recessions that experienced drastic cuts in state funding, local propety tax decreases, and a reduction in the collection of impact fees.  Other school districts across the nation were forced to close down schools and layoff teachers while Osceola County was able to balance the budget without a single school closure, an increase in Arts and IB programs, no mass layoffs, no increases in sales tax, and was even able to maintain a positive working relationship with the teacher's union.

Julius currently serves as the Chairman of the School District's Internal Audit Committee, the board of advisors for the Avant Garde Academy, and the finance committee for Holy Redeemer Catholic School.  Julius formerly served as the Vice Chair of the Four Corners Charter School and in 2011 was appointed by US Senator Marco Rubio to serve on the West Point Military Academy Selection Committee.

While on the school board, Julius was appointed as the State Legislative Liasion, to the board of directors of the Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Business Council, and the Vocational Technical Advisory Committee.

Screenwriter, Co-Producer and Author

Rivers of Sand         Equal Assets        Point of Contact       Gatorman        Puntos de Vista

When Julius co-founded J3 Advertising over ten years ago, he was a creative director and copywriter.  He co-produced and co-wrote a Spanish language television series entitled Puntos de Vista, a feature length film by Buddy Dolan Point of Contact, and an Indie film shot in Central Florida called Gatorman.

Julius was an active member of the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association who advocated in Tallahassee with then film commissioner Paul Sirmons for the Film in Florida tax credits that continue employing and marketing our State.

After returning from his first tour of duty in Iraq, he wrote an original screenplay that was published as a novel by Legacy Publishing entitled Rivers of Sand followed up by another screenplay called Equal Assets.

Julius and other school board members were passionate supporters of Arts in Education, the summer Julliard Program at Horizon Middle, and just about any other artistic endeavor district employee Debbie Fahmie was championing. Julius will continue promoting the arts and the local artists who create them.