CATHY CHAMBERS

SENIOR DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT, Juno Beach

FPL has helped power Florida’s growth for 100 years, making sustained investments to build a stronger, smarter grid to serve its customers in severe weather and improve day-to-day reliability. Through employee volunteer programs and educational and community grants, the company supports hundreds of organizations annually. Chambers has worked for FPL since 2019, but she has worked in economic development for three decades. “I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of companies to add jobs and capital investments across Florida since I relocated in 2002,” she says.

EDUCATION: Miami University (BA), Xavier University (MBA)

FIRST JOB: My first real job was processing mortgage loan applications for a bank in St. Louis, Mo.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: Stand-up comedian

SOMETHING SURPRISING: I got a hole-in-one during my fifth round of golf.

PASSION PROJECT: I love to travel and always have a trip planned. When I retire, I hope to spend time living all over the world.

NONPROFIT PASSION: The YMCA, for providing affordable access to wellness and programs that support youth development.

INDUSTRY TREND: When companies are looking to develop large industrial projects, electric power is fast becoming one of the top considerations in where they site projects. Nationwide, we’re seeing an increase in demand for electricity, driven by data centers, automated warehouses and other large-load facilities. Utilities are more critical than ever to help accommodate this growth and create economic development opportunities for communities.