In today’s environment, growth is no longer driven by strategy alone—it is driven by people. The organizations that scale successfully are those that invest intentionally in leadership, alignment, and culture. Carol Carlan, founder of…
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Not all markets are growing. As new industries rise, others fall. Below is a data-driven look at industry contraction, job shedding, and economic transition across Northwest Florida. Methodology: Analysis by David Ekrut, Ph.D. Data were extracted from the Bureau of…
Progress along the Panhandle can be seen with every downed stand of trees along the Northwest corridor. New suburb developments are sprouting faster than flowers in the spring, bringing new businesses, increased population, and changing demographics. One thing is certain:…
For more than 17 years, the award-winning 850 Magazine has been capturing the essence of Northwest Florida’s vibrant region to share with you, our readers. Northwest Florida is home to one of the states brightest and most promising economies, influenced…
The Tallahassee music scene is characterized by giants. Creed––as beloved in 2026 as ever––has put a globally recognized trademark on our gritty Southern character since 1994. Rapper T-Pain’s stage name stands for Tallahassee Pain, a bittersweet homage to his childhood.…
For decades, Doak S. Campbell Stadium has stood as one of Tallahassee’s most iconic landmarks, a cathedral of college football and the heartbeat of Seminole Saturdays. In 2026, that familiar roar will be joined by something entirely new: the thunder…
Northwest Florida is emerging as an under-recognized hub for coastal resilience expertise, anchored by engineering, environmental science, flood modeling, and civil infrastructure firms that serve both public agencies and private developers. The region’s unique geography, from the Forgotten Coast and…
Dr. Rosa Bernier has been working in health care for 14 years. In the last two, she says, real waves of rural health care advocacy are finally rippling across state as well as federal entities, stakeholders, and partners. “This is…
At meetings of the American Association of Community Colleges, school presidents nearing retirement are feted, their achievements summarized. Typically, recalls Dr. John Holdnak, presidents are saluted in terms of buildings built, degree programs added, or scholarship dollars raised. But for…
When Ryan McKillip, a former renewable-energy safety professional, first saw drones that were inspecting massive wind turbine blades, he was immediately intrigued. Traditionally, to perform this work, rope-access crews rappel hundreds of feet from the top of a turbine. After…
After 17 years of production as a print magazine, our business journal will be predominately online. We will remain in print as special sections inside Tallahassee Magazine and Emerald Coast Magazine, as well as an annual release in winter. As…
In the heart of Florida’s capital region, a quiet manufacturing transformation continues to take shape. The Danish company, Danfoss, and its growing campus in Tallahassee, is driven by energy efficiency, advanced engineering, and rising global demand for sustainable technologies. Through…
An emerging and quickly evolving field, regenerative medicine was just several years ago deemed by the Mayo Clinic as a practice caught between “hope and hype,” as the concept of utilizing stem cells to repair missing or impaired connective tissue…
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Some principles are so fundamental, they are accepted as law. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction in nature. An object in motion will remain in motion until external forces change the object’s trajectory. Heat will diffuse from a…
CAPITAL LOCAL HONORS Holland & Knight announced that 50 attorneys were elected to the firm’s partnership effective Jan. 1, 2026. Among those promoted is Kathryn Isted of the Tallahassee office. Isted’s practice focuses on commercial, administrative, and appellate litigation, with…
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla., February 26, 2026 – The Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bay County Tourist Development Council (TDC) announce collections for the month of November 2025 were up 7% compared to November 2024, followed…
Cyndi Warren, CPA, Local Partner in Charge – Growth for Warren Averett’s Daphne and Pensacola offices, has been named Professional Leader of the Year at the 2026 P.A.C.E. (Pensacola Area Commitment to Excellence) Awards. Presented by the Greater Pensacola Chamber…
In a not-so-far-off future, commercial flights will possess the ability to operate electrically, and the use of robots will become more commonplace. Piersica, a Tallahassee-based company specializing in high-powered batteries, has developed cutting-edge technology and materials that have the capabilities to…
NORTHWEST Fl. – ServisFirst Bank, a subsidiary of ServisFirst Bancshares (NYSE:SFBS), is pleased to announce the addition of Susan S. Thompson, Founding and Managing Member of Smith, Thompson, Shaw, Colón & Power, P.A., to the ServisFirst Bank Northwest Florida Advisory…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State University’s Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to approve a three-year contract extension for President Richard McCullough, reaffirming the board’s confidence in his visionary leadership. Since becoming president in 2021, McCullough has guided the university through an era of remarkable progress, strengthening FSU's position as…
EPSD, a decision-enablement advisory working with senior leaders at technology-intensive scale-ups, today announced the appointment of Steve Schwartz as Executive Vice President of Revenue. Schwartz, a South Walton Resident, brings over two decades of experience helping technology companies scale with…
Tallahassee, FL – Business and community leaders from across Northwest Florida descended on the state capital for the 5th Annual Northwest Florida Days. Organized by Florida’s Great Northwest (FGNW), the event served as a powerful demonstration of regional unity, bringing…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Capital City Youth Services (CCYS) has been awarded $200,000 from Chick-fil-A, Inc. through its 2026 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards® program, which celebrates the work of nonprofit organizations creating meaningful, lasting impact in their communities. The funding will…
Business, civic, and community leaders from across the Panhandle will convene March 4–5, 2026, for the FPL Northwest Florida Economic Symposium, hosted at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The annual symposium serves as a premier forum for collaboration, idea-sharing, and forward‑looking discussion…
PENSACOLA, Fla. – [FEB 9, 2026] – Florida Blue, the leading health insurer in the state, has named Hong Potomski as market president for Northwest Florida, a newly created position. This role will oversee regional business strategy and community engagement…
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast has been named to Newsweek’s prestigious 2026 list of the best-in-state hospitals, placing them alongside just 30 other hospitals in Florida. Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is the only hospital in the…
MILTON, Fla. – Buffalo Rock Company celebrated the grand opening of its new Santa Rosa Campus, a 352,800-square-foot facility designed to support growing customer demand across the Gulf region. Local leaders, business partners and community members joined Buffalo Rock leadership and…
Pensacola, Florida (December 5, 2025) – Gulf Winds Credit Union is pleased to announce that Craig Vinson Sr. has joined the leadership team as Vice President of Wealth Management. In this strategic role, Vinson will oversee all wealth management services,…
Out of over 19,000 municipalities across the United States of America, only 20 are invited by the National Civic League to apply for the prestigious All-America City Award. Last June 2025, Tallahassee emerged as one of 10 finalists who took…
In a world that tends to be fast, companies are seeking what lasts. Fueled by the need to create a resilient and relevant regional workforce, FSU InSPIRE (Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education) was conceptualized. InSPIRE’s mission is…
Diane Scholz has spent more than two decades advancing economic development across rural Florida. As the economic development director at the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government at Florida State University, she works closely with the North Florida Economic…
Since its unassuming beginnings in 2009 as a luncheon for patent-holding faculty at one of Florida State University’s “neighbor” schools, the University of South Florida, the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has settled in the academic scene as the premier…
After a 30-year career in politics, including serving as the chief of staff to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and as a White House staffer under President George H.W. Bush, Sally Bradshaw stepped away from political life to pursue a…
Dr. Sherry Hartnett is a leader in workforce development, mentoring, and higher education. After a successful corporate career in marketing and executive leadership, she transitioned into academia at the University of West Florida, where she founded the Women in Leadership…
According to the U.S. Organ Donation & Transplantation System, more than 100,000 patients are awaiting organ transplantation, with roughly 16 people dying per day on the waiting list. Patients with advanced kidney disease make up approximately 87% of these cases.…
Monique Ellsworth serves as chief executive officer of Second Harvest of the Big Bend, leading regional hunger-relief efforts across North Florida with a focus on access, dignity, and long-term community well-being. Under her leadership, the organization navigated the heightened demands…
Sue Dick served as president and CEO of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce for 25 years, becoming the first woman to lead the organization. Under her leadership, the chamber expanded programming, strengthened regional economic development efforts, launched workforce and…
If a picture can tell a thousand words, then Sean Murphy, Skye Bailey, and Tyler Trant could fill volumes with their art. Impressively, intricate tattoos canvas their bodies—creative works they are proud to share. “Storytelling is most important,” Murphy says.…
Dana Brooks is managing partner and a shareholder at Fasig Brooks, where she combines her legal expertise with a deep commitment to advocacy and community service. A graduate of Florida State University (BSW, cum laude) and FSU College of Law…
Setting up a wet lab for biotechnical research can easily cost up to $225,000 for core equipment common in biological research. Some specialized machines can cost up to $500,000 each, adding to the cost for innovative research in fields such…
CAPITAL LOCAL HONORS Leon county is winning Leon County Government has been honored with 12 state and national awards for outstanding public relations from the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO), and the…
What began with seven founders gathered around a folding table has evolved into one of Northwest Florida’s most dynamic tech success stories. Beast Code, known for its cutting-edge digital twin technology and data aggregation software, has grown from a start-up…
More than a change of address, the new offices of James Moore & Company in Tallahassee represent a strategic signpost: a firm rooted in regional heritage expanding into the next chapter of advisory services, community partnership, and workforce attractiveness. The…
Shantelle Dedicke is the founder of Frances Roy Agency, established in 2016 after a successful career in hospitality management and destination marketing. Known for her ability to uncover and elevate a brand’s authentic identity, she leads her agency with a…
Growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah, I can remember the excitement of the 2002 Winter Olympics being held in my hometown. The International Olympic Committee selected Salt Lake seven years prior, after many failed attempts to secure the games.…
Remembering our founding principles: Soon after the Articles of Confederation were enacted in 1777, debate arose over the balance of power between the states and the federal government. Federalists such as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton argued for a stronger…
Katrina Tuggerson is a transformational leader with more than 30 years of experience in higher education, community development, and economic empowerment. As president and CEO of the Capital City Chamber of Commerce, she revitalized the organization after a period of…
Jennifer Vigil, MPA, CDME, TMP, has built her career in public service with experience across municipal, county, and state government. A former gubernatorial appointee, she has worked in governance, finance, utilities, engineering, real estate, and tourism. Today, as president and…
Tiffany Edwards is a nationally recognized leader in the vacation rental industry. She is the owner of Weatherby Consulting, overseeing operations for a multi-state portfolio of vacation and long-term rental properties, and the founder of Coletta Consulting, where she leads…
Research and development in the Motor, Drive Systems & Magnetics (MDSM) affects all aspects of technology, from automation, robotics, and manufacturing to renewable energy, medical devices, and aerospace engineering, as well as electric vehicles and industrial equipment. Using statistics from…
