Introducing the Florida 500

Each year, when we are finalizing all the pages and getting ready to send the Florida 500 off to press, I like to take a moment to pause and reflect on all the hard work and extra hours that go into producing it. Across our organization, there is not one department that does not play an integral role in the production of the Florida 500 — it is truly a group effort. To our entire team at Florida Trend, my sincere gratitude goes out to each one of you for the additional time, energy and focus that you put into this product.

Though I may be dating myself a bit, when I think of the Florida 500, it is Florida’s premier Rolodex. It provides readers with insight and information on Florida’s most influential industry leaders who are helping to lead and drive Florida forward.

The level of engagement this year by those being recognized has far exceeded any previous year. The sharing of personal insights, thoughts and reflections by these business leaders is unmatched. Whether talking about their first job, a dream alternate career, a passion project, something surprising you may not know about them, a personal hobby, an industry trend, a favorite nonprofit or an impact they’ve made with a mentee, their insights and life lessons will keep you turning the pages.

I challenge you to use the Florida 500 for the resource tool that it is. Utilize it as your own personal customer relationship management tool. Search, learn and absorb information that you didn’t already know about those highlighted within the following pages. Reach out to them, have a cup of coffee with one another, break bread together. Use the Florida 500 to connect, interact and get to know one another in an even more impactful way.

As Florida’s growth continues, and we work to manage it, collaboration will be needed from all and across all industries. Listening, interacting, sharing, respecting and partnering together is and will be essential. Let the Florida 500 introduce you to business peers across the state who also have a vested interest in seeing Florida’s success continue.

Just as I used the beginning of my column to thank our team at Florida Trend, I would like to close my column by saying “thank you” to all of you — our readers, our online viewers, our vendors, partners and advertisers — for without you all, none of this would be possible. I hope you enjoy, engage, appreciate and value the forthcoming pages as much as we’ve enjoyed the research, data collection, interviewing and vetting it takes to bring them to you.

— David G. Denor, Publisher
ddenor@floridatrend.com