One look at the latest businesses to call Palm Beach County their home reveals a dynamic destination in constant evolution.
The world-class companies to hang their flags here—either as a corporate HQ or regional office—include banks, financial services and hedge funds; the Tiger Woods, Rory Mcllroy and Mike McCarley-backed TMRW Sports and its TGL tech-driven professional golf league planned for Palm Beach State College; and even agricultural innovators taking root in the county’s western corridor.
Smart businesses, ideas and talent have become the foundation of Palm Beach County’s future. Still the home of a world-class leisure, business and convention destination known as The Palm Beaches, we continue to evolve as the market changes.
We’ve long considered many of the businesses and entrepreneurs here as hidden gems. Our life sciences cluster is improving global health outcomes. Our sports sector reflects a changing marketplace, from water sports to the east, equestrian to the west, even the growth of competitive squash as northerners arrive and bring with them their passion for the sport.
As this summer’s Quarterly reveals, Palm Beach County is the perfect combination of earth and life science, technology, innovation and future-focused business.
We’re not resting on our laurels. Read about educational leaders who this spring traveled to New York City to show why the county has the right public, private and parochial schools to steer their children to successful futures.
For executives looking for a home for a regional office, a corporate headquarters or company expansion, or those parents hoping to find the right schools for their children, the Business Development Board and our network of partners can help. We're the partner that both your business and family need for success.
Kelly Smallridge President and CEO
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA is Home to 39 Cities and Towns, Including:
City of Atlantis
City of Belle Glade
City of Boca Raton
City of Boynton Beach
Town of Briny Breezes
Town of Cloud Lake
City of Delray Beach
Town of Glen Ridge
Village of Golf
City of Greenacres
Town of Gulf Stream
Town of Haverhill
Town of Highland Beach
Town of Hypoluxo
Town of Juno Beach
Town of Jupiter
Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony
Town of Lake Clarke Shores
Town of Lake Park
City of Lake Worth Beach
Town of Lantana
Town of Loxahatchee Groves
Town of Manalapan
Town of Mangonia Park
Village of North Palm Beach
Town of Ocean Ridge
City of Pahokee
Town of Palm Beach
City of Palm Beach Gardens
Town of Palm Beach Shores
Village of Palm Springs
City of Riviera Beach
Village of Royal Palm Beach
City of South Bay
Town of South Palm Beach
Village of Tequesta
Village of Wellington
City of Westlake
City of West Palm Beach
Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. 310 Evernia Street West Palm Beach, FL 33401 561.835.1008 | bdb.org
Kelly Smallridge
President & CEO
561.835.1008 Ext. 4121 ksmallridge@bdb.org
Gary Hines
Senior Vice President – Administration 561.835.1008 Ext. 4111 ghines@bdb.org
Lisa Anderson Vice President – Private Funding 561.835.1008 Ext. 4110 landerson@bdb.org
Kristen Boyd Liberman
Vice President – Marketing & Media Relations 561.835.1008 Ext. 4106 kliberman@bdb.org
Tim Dougher
Vice President – Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion 561.835.1008 Ext. 4131 tdougher@bdb.org
Shawn Rowan
Vice President – Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion 561.835.1008 Ext. 4108 srowan@bdb.org
ON THE COVER
Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience
Photo: © Brad Feinknopf/OTTO
PUBLISHED BY
Passport Publications | passport media group 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 1550 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 561.472.8778 | PassportPublications.com
Palm Beach County Business Quarterly is published and written by Passport Publications & Media Corporation, on behalf of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, and the publisher.
© 2023 Passport Publications & Media Corporation
AGRIBUSINESS
n 556 companies
n 12,455 jobs
n $55,109 average salary
n $1.1 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
n Estimated $1.397 billion in total agricultural sales for 2019-20 economic impact
AVIATION/AEROSPACE /ENGINEERING
n 1,692 companies
n 19,883 jobs
n $120,611 average salary
n $4.3 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
CLEANTECH
n 736 companies
n 8,024 jobs
n $106,113 average salary
n $1.2 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
HEADQUARTERS
n 519 companies
n 14,440 jobs
n $207,171 average salary
n $3.7 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
DISTRIBUTION & LOGISTICS
n 655 companies
n 5,417 jobs
n $72,927 average salary
n $658.6 Million Total Gross Regional Product
HEALTH CARE
n 5,656 companies
n 79,674 jobs
n $75,651 average salary
n $7.3 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
TECHNOLOGY
n 2,506 companies
n 19,599 jobs
n $102,482 average salary
n $4.5 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
LIFE SCIENCES
n 608 companies
n 7,604 jobs
n $112,820 average salary
n $1.6 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
MARINE INDUSTRIES
n 202 companies
n 2,607 jobs
n $60,542 average salary
n $219.0 Million Total Gross Regional Product
MANUFACTURING
n 1,493 companies
n 21,837 jobs
n $96,376 average salary
n $4.7 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
WALL STREET SOUTH
BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES
n 19,757 companies
n 269,451 jobs
n $88,917 average salary
n $39.9 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
HEDGE FUNDS AND PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS
n 2,924 companies
n 42,291 jobs
n $94,975 average salary
n $5.7 Billion Total Gross Regional Product
KNOWN as the “king of the winter vegetables,” the county’s year-round agricultural community serves the nation’s kitchens—and economy. From large growers to family farmers, the 550 farms here are exploring the latest technology to raise and harvest more crops with fewer resources. Here are just some of their stories …
City: Belle Glade, Pahokee
Acres: 200+
Year founded: 1926
Products: Sugarcane, corn, beets, beans, sod and soon, a premium rum from master distiller Marianne Eaves
About: Sugar & Spice is an all-woman-owned company run by Donia Roberts, her mother, and two sisters. Donia Adams Roberts’ roots run deep in western Palm Beach County. Her grandfather was a merchant in the 1920s; her father was a judge—“the law west of 20-mile bend.” Today, Sugar & Spice is part of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of 42 small farming families with thousands of sustainably run acres between them. “We’re the epitome of mom-and-pop,” she said. “Although it’s a big industry, it’s a very small, closeknit group.”
Belle Glade
20,000 across South Florida
170
City: South Bay, Belle Glade
Acres: 194,500 farmed
Year founded: 1960
Product/Output: 7 million tons of sugarcane milled annually
Employees: 2,000 in Florida
About: This year, the company’s rice mill in Belle Glade began receiving clean, renewable energy from a new 900 solar panel array, which includes a Tesla Megapack battery. Florida Crystals was already more than 80-percent powered by renewable energy, including sugarcane fiber. “The solar panels, and particularly the Tesla battery, provide reliable electricity throughout the day and night,” said Andy Sauber, Sr., Director of Sustainability, “ensuring continuous operation of the mill and the protection of our staple food products no matter what Mother Nature has in store.”
Since its founding as a packing house in 1932, Wedgworth Farms has produced winter crops, sugarcane, rice and cattle. Today, along with crops, Wedgworth is the largest manufacturer and distributor of fertilizer products in the Southeast U.S., says VP and fourth-generation farmer Keith Wedgworth, whose uncle, Dennis, is CEO. They also lease land for fellow farmers who grow corn, radishes and lettuce. “People kind of forget; you drive west of Palm Beach island, and you don’t realize how much farming is taking place out here,” he said.
are surprised to learn of his location—in the West Palm Beach city limits, and close to Palm Beach International Airport. “We love where we live and wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
vegetable troughs. This means zero waste, with those “bare roots soaking up all those nutrients,” he says. “We want to prove this is a viable commercial enterprise in an urban environment close to your customer.”
QUICK: Name a business sector in Palm Beach County that drives thousands of room nights, more than a quarter-billion dollars of economic impact, and is at home on horseback as it is the diamond, the course, the court or the water?
By any measure, sports tourism is big business in The Palm Beaches, with last year being its biggest draw ever.
“Sports in Palm Beach County goes beyond just wins and losses,” says George Linley, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. “From the thrill of professional sporting events to premier competitions at the amateur level, The Palm Beaches truly has it all. Sports powers a thriving economy, generating millions in economic impact through hotel room nights, job creation, visitor spending, and community development.”
Economic Impact: $288 million
Room nights: 290,000-plus room nights
Hosted events: 178 (FY 2022)
WEST PALM BEACH-BASED GUMMYWORKS, the distributor of vitamins and supplements in gummy form, recently grew its operations in the county. Its relocation will add 350 new jobs and 95,301 square feet of space.
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
n 350 new jobs
n Nearly 96,000 sq. ft. of space
n Located at 386 N. Haverhill Road
n Manufacturer and distributor of vitamins and supplements in gummy form
The Business Development Board assisted with expedited permitting with help from Palm Beach County’s Planning, Zoning & Building Department and connected the company with CareerSource Palm Beach County for job placements. “We are excited to be a part of the thriving business community in Palm Beach County and to contribute to the region's economic growth and development,” said Brad R. Satz, CEO of GummyWorks.
SINCE THE STATE spearheaded efforts to spend more than $1 billion to lure research institutes to Palm Beach County, the region has led the way to innovative new discoveries. Meet some of the scientists and students discovering tomorrow’s cures today...
a gene called PTEN, which is involved in autism spectrum disorder, and the function of local circuitry in the amygdala, which helps to process social and emotional information.
Why I love working in Palm Beach County: The tropical climate and proximity to great restaurants and beaches. If I need to decompress after work, I can be at a beautiful beach park within minutes.
What I’m working on: Applying neuroscience experiment techniques on a project within the realm of optogenetics.
Why I love working in Palm Beach County: Palm Beach County entices people from across the globe for work opportunities, so being able to grow up here has exposed to so many different and highquality examples of fields across the sciences and humanities. Not to mention, the benefit of being able to enjoy nature by biking to work year-round.
What I’m working on: I work with Palm Beach County District Schools in collaboration with the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and Mobile Minds on “Neuro NETS,” an outreach program that teaches kids neuroscience concepts through athletic games.
Why I love working in Palm Beach County: It allows me to combine my passion for neuroscience and sports by providing a unique and engaging way for kids to learn complex concepts in a fun environment.
THE FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY COLLEGE of Business Executive Education program earned the prestigious global endorsement of the 2023 Financial Times rankings for open enrollment professional education programs. Its No. 2 ranking in the U.S. made FAU the only Florida university and one of only seven in the U.S. to be honored. FAU also ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 4 worldwide for female participation, and No. 17 globally for overall satisfaction. “It’s clear that we are making a difference in the professional advancement of all our students,” said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s College of Business.
recently held its annual Palm Beach Family ce Forum at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. R. Scott Beach, Chair of its Corporate and Family Office practices, oversaw the interactive forum covering current issues, challenges, and opportunities that impact the financial health, longevity, and success of family offices. Included were family ce principals, executives, and members; entrepreneurs; business owners; investors; and their advisors from across the U.S. and Latin America.
PICTURED:
(L to R): R. Scott Beach (Partner, Day Pitney), Don Peebles (Keynote Speaker, The Peebles Corporation), Meghan Shue (Keynote Speaker, Wilmington Trust), Manuel Garcia Linares (Partner, Day Pitney), and Tasha Dickinson (Partner, Day Pitney).
TEN PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute in Jupiter are members of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center that in June was designated a National Cancer Institute cancer center. The designation opens new sources of research funding for scientists conducting cancer research within UF Health, and accelerates its ability to move discoveries to cancer patients. Cancer research by Wertheim UF Scripps Institute scientists focuses on cancers with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options.
WHEN FAMILIES consider relocating to a new community, they often put schools to the test. To help the county’s schools earn passing grades, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County and superintendents and heads of school of 16 public, private and parochial grade schools took a field trip to New York City to showcase what they have to offer.
Working with host The Related Companies, school officials met with more than 15 families of executives who are considering a relocation to the Palm Beaches and brokers who represent hundreds of clients. The event was a resounding success. A 2024 trip is being planned.
“As one Palm Beach, we had ‘one’ collective goal: to let the attendees know that Palm Beach County is home to some of the top public and private schools in the country,” says Mickey Zitzmann, Director of External Affairs, A.D. Henderson University School and FAU High School.
With rigorous programs and more than 330 choice and career programs taught by credentialed and certified teachers, School District of Palm Beach County Superintendent Mike Burke believes “public schools are the best choice for anyone considering relocation to Palm Beach County.”
Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Preparatory School, American Heritage Schools, The Benjamin School, Cardinal Newman Catholic High School FAU High School & A.D. Henderson University School (K-8), Gulf Stream School, Jupiter Christian School, Oxbridge Academy, Palm Day Academy, Rosarian Academy, Saint Andrew’s School, School District of Palm Beach County, St. Mark’s Episcopal School, The Pi
For more information and availabilities, please contact:
CHRISTOPHER THOMSON, SIOR
Executive Managing Director
+ 1561 227 2019
christopher.thomson@cushwake.com
CHRIS METZGER
Executive Managing Director
+1 954 415 9155
chris.metzger@cushwake.com
CUSHMAN & W AKEFIELD OF FLORIDA,LLC
225NE Mizner Boulevard, Suite300
Boc a Raton, FL 33432| USA cushmanwakefield.com
15791 Corporate Circle
Centrally located in the heart of prestigious Palm Beach County, in one of the nation’s strongest growth regions, Palm Beach Park of Commerce is a fully-served premier commercial and industrial Master-Planned Business Park.
Palm Beach Park of Commerce provides easy access to the region’s extensive transportation network, including major highways and airports. Home to tenants such as Amazon, Walgreens, and Niagara, the Park is also one of the few premier business locations that offers rail service, foreign trade zones, heavy industrial options, plus a direct link to the Port of Palm Beach.
connections.
She also knows finding the next job often is about chance encounters and trusting the professionals to do their jobs.
At last year’s SunFest music festival in West Palm Beach, she popped into the booth of CareerSource Palm Beach County, an organization she knew from her time in HR in Brevard County. The PR pros started talking shop. Kovall learned of EmployFlorida, and signed up for CareerSource’s local job alerts.
Soon, while visiting the Delray Beach Public Library, she learned of CareerSource’s Professional Placement Network (PPN) development program for experienced professionals. While in the three-day PPN program led by Eustus Fagan and his team, Alice Hepburn, Jacqueline George, and Abner Pedraza, CareerSource recruiter Robin Parsons approached Kovall about an HR job in the market.
The next week, Kovall had an interview. By the following Monday, she had an offer to become a human resources generalist with Medical Specialists of the Palm Beaches, Inc., in Boynton Beach.
“From my first meeting with CareerSource to getting the job was less than two weeks,” she said.
As a single mom with a son in college, Kovall was relieved. But she wasn’t really surprised. It’s how talent placement should work. Skilled placement professionals can spot talent—and are connected with hiring managers.
“These people are amazing at what they do, so it all kind of fell into place naturally,” said Kovall, who let the professionals take the lead for her next career step. “It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the industry. We all need help sometimes.”
Central Career Center 3400 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
561.340.1060
CareerSource Palm Beach County’s full-service centers are staffed with career coaches and consultants who are dedicated to serving first-time, experienced and professional job seekers. The services include career consulting, computers for job searches, internet access to our statewide jobs database Employ Florida, job search and placement services, workshops, training opportunities, work assessments and more. To learn more, go to careersourcepbc.com.
Connecting business with talent | www.careersourcepbc.com
CareerSource Palm Beach County, Inc. is the direct service provider for various workforce programs supported by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and other agencies as part of awards totaling $15,851,406 (revised annually). Unless otherwise stipulated, all statements, news releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other applicable documents are fully funded from federal sources. (As of July 2, 2022)
There are many sides of care at Baptist Health. And each one stays true to our values. Bringing humanity, warmth and understanding to every person that comes through our doors. Which is why we’re here to stand by you, through all of life’s moments.
There are many sides of care at Baptist Health. And each one stays true to our values. Bringing humanity, warmth and understanding to every person that comes through our doors. Which is why we’re here to stand by you, through all of life’s moments.
Welcome to Baptist Health.
Welcome to Baptist Health.
