March 19, 2024

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Focus on Florida

Lynda Keever | 10/1/2004
Charley, Frances and Ivan put Florida squarely in the national news focus over the past few weeks, and as I write this column, the end of hurricane season seems a long way off. Along with those of you who suffered wind and water damage and so many others who are working in the recovery and rebuilding effort, I'm looking forward to November.

We're fortunate that President Bush and Gov. Jeb Bush responded so quickly to bring national and state assistance to those who've been hardest hit. And thanks to Attorney General Charlie Crist, we've been protected from price gougers who try to take advantage of residents and visitors who find themselves in difficult situations.

And as you'll read in the article beginning on page 40, Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher has been working to ensure that none of the 168 insurance companies that serve residents stop writing policies here. That report shows that while the state's insurance infrastructure is in good shape to ride out the storms, some big challenges remain.

As a monthly magazine, Florida Trend works hard to provide you with this type of in-depth analysis on issues and events affecting our state. While your local newspaper, TV or radio station helps keep you safe with late-breaking developments when a storm approaches, our goal is to provide a more long-term perspective.

Over the past weeks at Florida Trend, we've come to appreciate that planning and preparation are key to surviving a hurricane or any other event that threatens our homes and businesses. And, of course, we all need to keep moving ahead despite the challenges that blow our way.

We've already been making plans for 2005, and I want to direct your attention to pages 66 and 67 to see our calendar of new features and special sections that you can look forward to beginning in January.

We started our monthly "Executive Lifestyles" feature almost two years ago to provide a peek inside the private lives and diverse interests of our executive readers. Next year, "Executive Lifestyles" will cover new topics to pique your interest. Topics like adventurous Florida getaways, high-end cars and boats, power lunching, personal shoppers and more.

And because business owners everywhere have realized that their own health and that of their managers is inextricably linked with the health of the business, we will be offering a new monthly feature, "Executive Health," to focus on the health issues of most concern to Florida Trend readers. Mark Howard and his staff will be writing about topics ranging from breast and prostate cancer to stress management to basic nutritional issues.

Next year you'll also find other special features with the travel and dining recommendations you want and need for your business and personal lives: The Great Florida Restaurant Guide, Summer Vacation Getaway and Corporate Travel Guide to Meetings and Conferences. We've also reserved space -- starting with this issue -- for restaurant editor Robert Tolf to add to his popular monthly restaurant column with a feature on wines.

We're always happy to hear from you with story ideas and tips on businesses and people to interview, and it doesn't have to be an official letter to the editor to get our attention. Get in touch with Editor Mark Howard (feedback@floridatrend.com) to let him know about power couples you'd like to see profiled in the February issue or the names of companies that should be included in our "Oldest Private Companies" report in May.

Bringing important topics and trends to your attention has been our goal for the past 46 years, and that will continue to be our focus in 2005 and for years to come.

Tags: Publisher's column, Around Florida

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