December 8, 2023

Movers & Influencers

Personal promotions, transfers, board appointments, civic accomplishments and philanthropic activities for the week of December 6, 2023.

Floridian of the Year 2023: Mark Wilson

Florida Trend's Floridian of the Year this year is Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Legal Elite: NOTABLE Women Leaders in Law

See 92 profiles of women leaders across the state in our special Legal Elite NOTABLE publication featuring Women Leaders in Law.

Florida Icon: Hugh D. Hayes

"The goal of a judge should be to do both justice and law. If you are successful, they should be one and the same," says retired 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida judge Hugh D. Hayes.

Women in Leadership: When teachable moments become business advantages

Over the course of her 35-plus-year-career, Bridgette Heller says the best-performing teams she's worked with have been diverse ones.

Florida 500: Florida's Most Influential Business Leaders

Welcome to the 2023 edition of the Florida 500, a special publication that highlights the 500 most influential executives in different economic sectors throughout the state. This immense, year-long research initiative by the editors of Florida Trend has resulted in a personal, engaging look at the state’s most influential business leaders.

NextGen: Text support

Maria Barrera, left, and Melissa Pelochino, who is based in Oregon, share a passion for the intersection of education, teaching and mental health. The duo founded Clayful, a text-based coaching app.

Women in Leadership: Full circle

Madeline Pumariega came back to her alma mater, "the community's college," as its first woman president. "I am just that girl from Hialeah, I'm just one of you."

Women in Leadership: Change agents

Deborah Ellinger is a former CEO with 20 years of board experience. She's part of a group that cold-calls businesses to find boardroom opportunities for women.

Do you work with top talent at a great company? The 100 Best Companies To Work For In Florida will be recognized in the August 2024 issue of Florida Trend. Be one of the best! Register at www.BestCompaniesFLA.com. The deadline to register is fast-approaching: February 16, 2024.

Diabetes: How sweet it isn't

More than one in 10 Floridians has diabetes, and the numbers are growing. While doctors have more medications in their arsenal, many patients can reverse Type 2 diabetes — the more common form of the disease — by eating better and exercising.

In Memoriam: Buffett the businessman

The late Jimmy Buffett's recordings and tours were estimated to top more than $570 million.

Women in Leadership: In her own league

When a new women's professional volleyball venture set out to build a premiere league, there was one person organizers needed to help set it up for success: former Florida State University coach Cecile Reynaud.

A nursing reboot

The number of jobs for RNs in Florida increased 14.78% between 2012 and 2021 to 187,920.

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Florida Business News

Floridians likely to factor inflation into their holiday budget

The Florida Retail Federation expects consumers in the state to spend an average of $875 on gifts, decorations and other items this holiday shopping season.

Florida escapes ‘Judicial Hellhole’ designation as tort reform measures take effect

Following a series of legal reforms, the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF) has removed Florida from its ‘Judicial Hellhole‘ list, a long-held designation reflecting the state’s history of excessive litigation and frivolous lawsuits.

Hard Rock sports betting app is now available to everyone in Florida

The full launch comes amid two lawsuits filed by a group of betting companies that seek to halt mobile sports betting, one before the Florida Supreme Court and the other before the U.S Supreme Court.

Publisher's column: 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. This year, the choice of Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson was one that came together quite easily.

Citizens tries to tamp down concerns

Saying the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has “never sought a federal bailout, period,” Citizens President and CEO Tim Cerio took issue with a U.S. Senate Budget Committee request for information about the insurer’s finances.