March 19, 2024

Publisher's column

Editorial Growth from Within

FLORIDA TREND'S editorial success derives from its team of extraordinarily talented award-winning journalists. Their focus, dedication and attention to their craft is undeniable. Throughout its history, FLORIDA TREND has guided itself on its editorial integrity, its unbiased news approach and its ability to be a loyal and trusted source of business news and information for its readers. Read more »
Published on 2/29/2024

The Villages: The ‘Non' Final Frontier

I have a personal connection to this month's cover story, “Endless Horizon” (p. 52) by Associate Editor Michael Fechter. It has been nearly 12 years since my parents bought their home in The Villages. At first it was their “second” home as they split time between Wisconsin (where they had lived their entire lives) and The Villages. Each year, the time they spent in Florida became longer and longer, until they decided to sell their home up north and make The Villages their permanent residence. Read more »
Published on 2/1/2024

Welcoming in a New Year

Happy New Year and welcome to 2024. It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting down to write my column for the January 2023 issue of FLORIDA TREND. Boy... Read more »
Published on 1/1/2024

The Impact of a Floridian

One of the editions I treasure most each year is our annual Floridian of the Year issue, published each December. The process begins in mid-summer when members of our editorial team narrow the list of candidates they believe are worthy of the honor. It is a process that is both objective and subjective in its nature, but our team is methodical in its research as we work to reach a consensus decision. Read more »
Published on 12/1/2023

Exceptional Leadership

For many years now, the cover story and main theme of our November issue has been dedicated to the topic of women in leadership. Throughout the year, we aim to provide some of the most robust coverage of all executives across the state, both male and female, in our monthly print issues, on our website (FloridaTrend.com), across our daily and weekly eNews alerts and via our weekly Business Beat newscast. Read more »
Published on 11/1/2023

Continuing to Deliver on Florida's Workforce Needs

As I meet with business executives from across the state, the number one topic that comes up in our conversations is the importance and need for Florida to continue to grow its workforce. Read more »
Published on 10/1/2023

Strategic Economic Development is Florida's Future

Florida's growth is impressive — from the Panhandle to South Florida and all areas in between. The population expansion our state has been experiencing is quite extraordinary, with nearly 1,000 new residents moving here each day. Along with the population boom, business sector growth has followed. When looking at recent U.S. Census data, of the nearly 6 million business applications filed nationally, almost 700,000 of them (nearly 12%) were in Florida. Read more »
Published on 9/1/2023

A Tradition of Excellence

This month’s issue of FLORIDA TREND is one that hits close to home for me. Our Economic Backbone feature focuses on pediatric health care, a topic most of us can... Read more »
Published on 8/1/2023

65 Years and Counting

It is an honor and privilege to lead an organization with roots going back 65 years, and one that is an indispensable authority on the issues, people and ideas defining Florida and its business community. Read more »
Published on 7/1/2023

Success Breeds Success

I have had the pleasure of working with Managing Editor John Annunziata for nearly eight years. John is one of those unique individuals who lights up a room every time... Read more »
Published on 6/1/2023

The Key to Florida's Success

The growth of Florida's economy over the past few years has been impressive. Yes, we have great weather and beaches, but we also have a terrific post-secondary education system, a strong talent pool and workforce readiness programs that are second to none — not to mention no state income tax and a business-friendly environment. Read more »
Published on 5/1/2023

Florida Delivers

Education is the differentiator. It helps define who we are and what is important to us, while providing an opportunity to grow personally and professionally while uncovering new career paths and opportunities. Whether it is in the form of a technical degree, certificate program, micro-credentials, a traditional two- or four-year degree, a graduate degree or post-graduate studies, higher education provides the ladder to help individuals climb higher. Read more »
Published on 4/1/2023

Beacons of Hope

Access to trusted, quality health care is important to all of us — regardless of background or economic standing — especially when it comes to our children. Read more »
Published on 3/1/2023

A Side of Success

Sixty years ago, a 15-year-old boy named George Guito was headed down the path to trouble when he asked for a job at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. César Gonzmart, then the third generation of his family to lead the iconic restaurant, hired George as a busboy and later sent him to school to become a butcher — along the way making him part of the family and a de facto brother to sons Richard and Casey. Read more »
Published on 2/1/2023

Lessons Shared

This past December, I had the distinct honor of delivering the commencement address at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Read more »
Published on 2/1/2023

Delivering for Florida

As you know from my past columns, education is an important topic to me. My parents instilled in me at a very young age the value of a good education. They emphasized that education is the key that unlocks so many doors. Both of my parents were the first in their families to get college degrees. My siblings and I heeded their advice, though we took different paths. My sister earned her master's degree, my older brother and I graduated from a four-year university, one of my younger brothers received an associate's degree and another pursued a technical degree. It didn't matter which route we took, we all understood the importance of a post-secondary education. Read more »
Published on 1/1/2023

65 years and counting

As the end of the year approaches, I like to look back at the past 12 issues of FLORIDA TREND. It gives me a great sense of gratitude and appreciation for our entire staff and the work that they accomplish. Every department — from editorial, art, administration, circulation, marketing, production, digital publishing and advertising — plays a critical role in keeping FLORIDA TREND moving in the right direction. Read more »
Published on 12/1/2022

Standing Together

We will not soon forget the devastation that Hurricane Ian brought to Florida. Our two youngest boys, both finishing their final year at Florida Gulf Coast University, saw firsthand the power of a Cat 4 hurricane as they remained in Fort Myers during the storm. Even though they were safe and well-secured, my wife and I were still naturally on edge. We were glad when they returned safely to our home near Indian Rocks Beach after the hurricane passed. Read more »
Published on 11/30/2022

We've Got You Covered

Every month, our editorial team impresses and amazes me with the quality of the content they produce. Read more »
Published on 10/1/2022

Ensuring a Bright Future

Every issue of FLORIDA TREND has special meaning and purpose. You will always find stories to grab your attention and challenge your thinking. I find myself constantly applying what I've learned and read in Trend to my work and personal life. Read more »
Published on 8/1/2022

A state of higher learning

As a father of four and the husband of an elementary school teacher, I never questioned the importance of a college education for our children. Going to college wasn't up for debate. Read more »
Published on 7/31/2022

Florida's Future is Strong

As publisher of Florida Trend, I travel the state from its most northern regions to its southern tip and all the places in between. As many Floridians know, many of the state's most precious treasures can be found in the lands tucked between the coasts... Read more »
Published on 6/30/2022

A nod to the past - and future

This month's FLORIDA TREND is bittersweet for me. It is the final issue that our longtime executive editor, Mark Howard, and I are collaborating on. Mark has been an amazing leader of our editorial department for nearly three decades. His many accomplishments, awards and recognitions are a testament to his hard work. Mark's mastery of his craft has been inspirational... Read more »
Published on 5/31/2022

Staking a claim to tech

I had the pleasure of participating in the Synapse Summit in Tampa in February. More than 5,600 people attended the summit, which connects entrepreneurs, investors and others in an effort to accelerate Florida's thriving tech sector... Read more »
Published on 4/1/2022

Growth and Opportunity

As our staff returns to the office after having spent almost two years working remotely, I realize how grateful I am for their accomplishments during the extraordinary times we've gone through. Read more »
Published on 3/7/2022

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