ABOUT
Our general guidelines for the 2019 edition of the Florida 500 remained the same as for last year’s inaugural edition: We organized our selections according to categories used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Additional rules: No elected officials. No more than three people from any one firm.
We, of course, considered the CEOs of companies on our 350 Biggest Companies list carefully but didn’t reflexively put them on the list. Longevity mattered. Visibility didn’t necessarily equal influence. We tried to include people who might not be visible but who seemed to have real influence, either within their professions or their communities.
We kept our Living Legends category — not counted against the final 500 — that includes people of enduring influence, some of whom are more active than others.
As was the case last year, making our final choices wasn’t easy. Florida Trend’s editorial department is entirely responsible for the list you see here.
No one made the list, or was left off, based on whether they advertise. As before, given the size of Florida and the complicated calculus of “influence,” we’re sure that opinions on some of our selections will vary. If you feel we left out obvious choices, or erred in others, let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.
THE FLORIDA 500
Welcome to the second edition of the Florida 500, a special section 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.
PURCHASE
The 2019 Florida 500 print edition is now available
The editorial staff of Florida Trend recognizes Florida’s most influential business leaders spanning across more than 60 business categories. The editorial selection of the 500 executives was based on extensive contacts in regional business circles, hundreds of interviews and months of research, culminating in a highly selective biographical guide to the people who really run Florida.
NOMINATE
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We are currently accepting recommendations for the 2021 Florida 500 issue.
To share an influential business leader recommendation with the editorial staff of Florida Trend – please compete and submit the information below.
All recommendations will be viewed and considered, but final selection will be made by Florida Trend’s executive editorial team.
The 500 executives are selected based on extensive contacts in regional business circles, multiple interviews, months of research, culminating in a highly selective biographical guide to the people who really run Florida.
Unprecedented in scope, the Florida 500 is the product of year-long research initiative by the editors of Florida Trend resulting in a personal, engaging look at the state’s most influential business leaders across major industries.
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