March 28, 2024

April Update: Thoughts from Florida Trend's Publisher

David Denor | 4/7/2020

As I sit here in early April, it is unbelievable to think back to what has transpired over the past 30 days — and almost mind-numbing to imagine what we could be facing over the next 30. 

Working conditions and habits have changed overnight for all of us — regardless of the industry, we are in. Our personal lives have been turned upside-down as well, with college students returning home to finish their semester online, high school students moving to virtual learning and middle and grade-schoolers adapting to being taught digitally. I can assure you that my wife, Jessica, a third-grade teacher, never dreamed that she would be teaching her class virtually from our kitchen table — yet this has become our new norm (at least for the time being). 

Given the immense disruption, COVID-19 has created, I have been extremely impressed with how the business community has come together. Tragically, we will lose a number of vendors, partners and suppliers, but it will not have been for a lack of effort. Associations and organizations across the state have been incredible in providing financial assistance and knowledge to their members. Almost immediately upon the signing of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, we saw government agencies and the private sector step up to the plate to help educate and provide help to those in need. Webinars and conference calls were organized. Call centers were set up to answer questions. I applaud the Florida Chamber, Florida’s SBDC, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Enterprise Florida, local chambers, economic development corporations, law firms, accounting firms, banks, credit unions and many others who jumped right in to provide the assistance so urgently needed. 

We are all wading in unchartered waters, learning to adapt our businesses to the current — and hopefully short-lived — circumstances. 

During these challenging times, Florida Trend’s editorial team is working in overdrive to deliver the most relevant news and information. You can access our daily news updates twice a day — morning and afternoon. Our industry-specific news updates focusing on health care, education and real estate, along with our Movers & Influencers, are delivered weekly. All of our eNews alerts are free. You can sign up for them at floridatrend.com/alerts

We understand that subscribers to the print edition of Florida Trend may not be able to get their office copies because they are working remotely from home. So for the coming months, we are providing all of our print subscribers with full access to our digital edition — a replica of the monthly issue that you can read on your desktop, tablet or phone. As long as we have your e-mail address, you will receive a link to the digital edition. If you are a print subscriber and not sure whether you’ve provided us with your e-mail, you can send me a note directly. I’ll make sure you are set up with full access to the digital edition. 

We understand how important it is to be informed, especially during these difficult times. I want to reassure you that Florida Trend is committed to providing you with the business news and analysis you need — whether in print, where we have more than 270,000 readers monthly or at FloridaTrend.com, which garners nearly a million page views every month. 

We wish you, your family, employees and businesses the best. Be safe. And remember, this, too, shall pass.

— David Denor, Publisher
[ddenor@floridatrend.com]

Florida Business News

Florida News Releases

Florida Trend Video Pick

Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Should Congress ban the popular social media app TikTok in the U.S.?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Need more details
  • What is TikTok?
  • Other (Comment below)

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2024 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.