DEAN CANNON

PRESIDENT & CEO, GRAYROBINSON, TALLAHASSEE

Cannon has led GrayRobinson since 2019, but his first job with the firm was in 1985 as a runner in its Lakeland office. It's a legal and lobbying firm with nearly 300 attorneys, advisors and consultants in 16 offices throughout Florida and Washington, D.C. “Strategic foresight and a people-first approach guided us through a global pandemic without layoffs, produced five consecutive years of record revenue and profit growth, attracted nationally recognized talent and positioned the firm for future success,” Cannon says. He's also a former speaker of the Florida House, where he helped lead substantial reform of the state's Medicaid program.

EDUCATION: University of Florida (BS), University of Florida College of Law (JD)

DAILY RITUAL: The older I get, the more I appreciate that the spirit/mind/body connection and strength training are the foundation for top performance. I try to meditate and exercise every day and keep a healthy spiritual life, which helps me bring my best to every day.

INDUSTRY TREND: The legal industry has shifted from whether to use AI to how to use it responsibly. Equally significant are the growing demand for specialized expertise and increasingly complex risk management. Florida's legal, political and business landscapes never stand still, requiring agility, innovation and empathy to serve clients effectively.