July 2025 | David Denor, Publisher, Florida Trend
It is important for me to highlight and recognize the journalistic creativity that is delivered and displayed each month by our entire editorial team.
The team is led by Executive Editor Amy Keller, one of the most talented and passionate editorial leaders who I have had the pleasure of working with throughout my publishing career. Under Amy’s leadership, the editorial staff is anchored by the steady and unflappable nature of Managing Editor Mike Brassfield.
Together, they oversee an amazing staff of full-time journalists who always perform well above their weight — producing some of the most important and influential business reporting across the state.
Each year FLORIDA TREND’s editorial team earns high praise and recognition for their astute business reporting and editorial design, and 2025 is no exception. Recently, the ASBPE’s (American Society of Business Publication Editors) “Azbee Awards of Excellence” were announced for the Southeast region and then shortly thereafter nationally. FLORIDA TREND’s editorial and creative teams were honored at both levels for their 2024 work.
Those honors included:
- National and Regional Gold Awards to Associate Editor Brittney J. Miller for her article “Rebuilding Paradise”
- A National Silver Award and Gold Regional Award to Managing Editor Mike Brassfield for his article “Sky-High Ambitions”
- A Regional Silver Award to South Florida Editor Mike Vogel for his article “Big Fish”
- National and Regional Gold Awards to Art Director Gary Bernloehr and Associate Art Director Jason Morton for their cover design of “Flying Cars”
- National Bronze and Regional Silver Awards to Bernloehr and Morton for their article design of “Wilderness Trap”
- Recognition of the entire Trend editorial team as a Magazine of the Year finalist
The Azbee judges shared these comments about Miller’s coverage of the rebuilding of two beach towns in Southwest Florida following Hurricane Ian: “There’s tremendous depth in this exceptionally strong narrative that never loses sight of the big picture … while making the most of the daunting mountain of details and data.” They went on to praise her “skillful use of the anecdotal lead and a keen focus on B2B small business impact without missing the human tragedy element” and her “smart, strategic use of a wide variety of sources.”
The judges’ words sum up the type of writing that readers have come to rely on from FLORIDA TREND. I could not be prouder of our editorial team’s accomplishments — and look forward to what the future holds.
— David G. Denor, Publisher, ddenor@floridatrend.com
David Denor
David is the publisher of Florida Trend, the highly regarded statewide magazine and website read and visited by business executives, government officials and civic leaders. David spent nearly 15 years overseeing the business and sales operations for Crain’s Chicago Business. David is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, majoring in criminal justice.
