Q & A
RICK HERMANNS
CEO, HIREQUEST
Around 14% of Florida’s workforce worked remotely in 2023 — up from pre-COVID’s 6%, according to state data. But return to office (RTO) mandates are on the rise. Tampa-based president and CEO Rick Hermanns of HireQuest — a global staffing and recruiting company — shared his perspectives on Florida’s evolving remote work trends and their business impacts.
FLORIDA TREND: What are the remote working hotspots in Florida?
Hermanns: In 2023, St. Johns County, home to St. Augustine, ranked among the top U.S. counties with the largest share of people working remotely. Its percentage of remote workers nearly tripled from 8.6% in 2018 to almost 24% in 2023. Additionally, as of May 2024, Jacksonville was among the 10 fastest-growing cities for remote workers, seeing a 40% year-over-year increase
FT: How does remote work impact Florida’s business community?
Hermanns: At HireQuest, we’ve seen firsthand how remote work has contributed positively to productivity across various industries, prompting businesses to invest in digital infrastructure and flexible work policies. However, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for any one business or market. It’s key to balance all the pros and cons before mandating an RTO policy.
For example, a growing trend I’ve observed is how remote work can inadvertently slow career advancement, particularly for early- and mid-career professionals. I call this the ‘great career stunt.’ With fewer opportunities for in-person mentorship, networking and visibility among leadership, remote employees may find it harder to progress.
FT: What recommendations do you have to bolster Florida’s workforce amid economic uncertainty?
Hermanns: To ensure Florida maintains a resilient workforce, I recommend employers consider flexible work models to attract a broader talent pool. I encourage upskilling and reskilling programs to prepare workers for evolving job requirements, as well as comprehensive benefits packages that cater to the diverse needs of the modern workforce. Also, in today’s compliance-driven environment, companies can reduce legal and operational risks by partnering with staffing providers who rigorously follow I-9 verification and E-Verify protocols.
EDUCATION
- The University of South Florida is adding a bachelor’s degree in architecture for the 2026-27 academic year.
INDUSTRY
- Ashley Furniture purchased a 705,000-sq.-ft. building in Lakeland Central Park for $70.5 million, marking the industrial park's first major tenant.
REAL ESTATE
- A 15-acre waterfront estate in Naples sold for $225 million, the second-highest home-sale price in U.S. history and a record for Florida.
HOUSING
- National developer PMG and St. Petersburg-based developer Feldman Equities launched sales for Waldorf Astoria Residences St. Petersburg, a 50-story luxury property featuring 163 residences. It will be St. Petersburg’s tallest building.
HEALTH CARE
- TGH named Jennifer Crabtree — CEO John Couris’ former chief of staff and vice president of corporate communications — the first-ever president of the Tampa Medical and Research District.
CONSTRUCTION
- Sky Town, which is slated to bring 2,084 residential units and 92,000 square feet of retail to 34 acres in St. Petersburg’s Skyway Marina District, will break ground on the first of its six phases.
- The final piece of Wynn’s Downtown, a private-public partnership in the Naples Design District, is now under construction. It will add a 45,000-sq.-ft., three-story mixed-use building.
- TECHNOLOGY
- Tampa-based technology and advisory solutions company MGT acquired Ednetics, an IT provider for educational and government institutions in the Western U.S. It positions MGT as the second-largest provider of technology infrastructure to low-income school communities.
- ENVIRONMENT
- The Florida Department of Transportation started constructing Florida's first dedicated wildlife crossing overpass on I-4 located just east of State Road 33. The $18-million project will include a 44-foot-wide bridge and concrete noise barriers.
RETAIL
- After announcing longtime president and COO Thomas Benford will step down, Tampa’s Coca-Cola Beverages Florida has named a new president: Andy Hill, who will transition from chief customer and commercial officer.
Lakeland’s two-year-old, 168-acre Bonnet Springs Park was named USA Today’s “Best City Park” of 2025.
- Dick’s Sporting Goods is buying footwear and apparel retailer Foot Locker, which recently moved its global headquarters to St. Petersburg, for $2.4 billion.
GOVERNMENT
- Florida lawmakers passed a bill requiring all hoisting equipment for construction projects to be secured at least 24 hours before a hurricane’s impacts. Meanwhile, the downtown St. Petersburg office building that once housed FLORIDA TREND before a construction crane destroyed it during last year’s Hurricane Milton may be demolished, owners announced.
NONPROFITS
- Nonprofit STARability Foundation selected Naples-based Connor+Gaskins to build the first phase of its new five-acre campus for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Surge Protection
AquaFence’s deployable flood barrier system famously protected Tampa General Hospital from seven-foot storm surge during last year’s Hurricane Helene. This January, St. Petersburg officials purchased 518 feet of AquaFence for $628,000 to protect city wastewater infrastructure during future storms. Now, the Norway-based company is opening an office in Tampa, signing a 10-year lease for 3,500 square feet at the Thousand & One office tower.
Causeway Resurrected
The Sanibel Causeway — the only mainland connection for Sanibel and Captiva Islands — was destroyed by 2022’s Hurricane Ian. Much of its $328-million restoration has been completed, thanks in part to Jacksonville’s Superior Construction and Miami’s de Moya Group infrastructure companies. The critical three-mile lifeline was fortified with nearly 750,000 square feet of steel sheet pile wall systems, about 128,000 tons of armor stone, elevated seawalls and more.