The Palm Beach 100 | 2024

2023 - 2024

Palm Beach County’s MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS LEADERS

AN OUTDOOR OASIS OF FASHION, FOOD, AND PURE FUN .

Skye Sherman

Jesse Scott

PUBLISHER Terry Duffy

SALES DIRECTOR Deidre Wade, 561-472-1902, dwade@palmbeachmedia.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Dina Turner, 561-472-2201, dturner@palmbeachmedia.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Daphne Nikolopoulos

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Olga M. Gustine EXECUTIVE EDITOR Mary Murray

EDITORIAL

EDITOR Kristen Desmond LeFevre

DESIGN

DESIGN DIRECTOR Laurie Spector

DIGITAL IMAGING SPECIALIST George Davis

CONTRIBUTING ART DIRECTOR Jorge Marquez

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Christiana Lilly, Michele Meyer, Jesse Scott, Skye Sherman, Jess Swanson, Sheldon Zoldan

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING SERVICES COORDINATOR Elizabeth Hackney

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Selene M. Ceballo

PRODUCTION MANAGER Lourdes Linares

DIGITAL PRE-PRESS SPECIALIST George Davis

ADVERTISING DESIGN COORDINATORS Anaely J. Perez Vargas, Jeffrey Rey

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Ileana Caban

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Tyler Sansone

OPERATIONS

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Todd Schmidt

OFFICE MANAGER Tanya Gomez

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SPECIALIST Ana Coronel

MARKETING MANAGER Rebecca Desir

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Judy Heflin

LOGISTICS MANAGER Omar Morales

CIRCULATION MANAGER Marjorie Leiva

CIRCULATION ASSISTANT Britney Stinson

CIRCULATION PROMOTIONS MANAGER David Supple

IT MANAGER Keith Gonzalez

SUBSCRIPTIONS 800-308-7346 IN

The Palm Beach 100

FROM THE EDITOR

Taking Care of Business

There’s no shortage of business buzz here in our palm-studded slice of paradise. Major firms are pulling up stakes in far-flung places to make Palm Beach County their new homes. Sure, hedge funds and the like are getting the lion’s share of the press (resulting in our new “Wall Street South” label), but it’s more than just finance bros who are flocking to our shores. Turn to page 9 to read about three consumer-driven firms that are new to our area in “Making Moves.”

Great growth is also taking place locally in the tech sector. While it may be too early to add “Silicon Valley East” as our newest moniker, a look at the local AI industry in “Ready, Robots” on page 12 tells the story of serious machine-assisted advancements in the private sector and in the classrooms of our educational institutions.

Of course, all this innovation will certainly mean big changes are on the horizon for the City of West Palm Beach as it grows to meet new needs. Don’t miss Skye Sherman’s in-depth look at what’s next for Palm Beach County’s seat of power in “Tomorrowland,” beginning on page 16.

Each year, the highlight of this publication is the prestigious honorees who make up The Palm Beach 100 . Starting on page 24, we present this year’s picks for Palm Beach County’s most influential and inspiring leaders.

We’re proud to present a mix of new and returning honorees—from Local Leaders to Advocates and Advisers, from Ideators and Innovators to Visionary Voices, from Creative Thinkers to Community Builders. These 100 residents help make the Palm Beaches the world’s most unique place to live, work, and play. Peruse their profiles, and you’ll get a glimpse into who they

are, what they do in our community, and what makes them tick. (And if you or your favorite candidate didn’t make our list this year, please be on the lookout for our call for nominations in 2024.)

Looking at this year’s honorees, I’m moved by how fortunate we are to have such an impressive group of richly diverse folks leading Palm Beach County. But this year’s crop also follows in some large footsteps of those who have been named to The Palm Beach 100 list in years past. Turn to page 57 to take a gander at all the honorees we’ve had the pleasure of highlighting in previous issues.

Here’s to our local business leaders of all stripes, who help brighten the outlook of our sunny economy.

Kristen Desmond LeFevre klefevre@palmbeachmedia.com

CAPEHART

Photo

Making Moves

Global brands are seizing the moment in Palm Beach County

By Christiana Lilly

Pardon the pun, but it doesn’t take a stretch of the imagination to see why tness rm TRX (manufacturer of the popular suspended exercise cords used in both professional and home gyms) made the move to Palm Beach County this year from California. The reason? Company o cials have said it’s a strategy that will help them reduce debt and “adjust to post-pandemic consumer demands.” And TRX isn’t the only major brand setting up shop in Palm Beach County. Turn the page to read more about TRX’s big shift, plus two other key businesses that have recently relocated to our slice of paradise.

The Palm Beach 100

STATE OF THE ART

WORKING IT

Tech tness training company TRX is saying farewell to the Golden Gate Bridge and hello to sunny Delray Beach, where it has leased a 12,000-square-foot property for its new headquarters. The tness brand is known for its black-and-yellow suspension straps found in gyms around the world, but this headquarters will usher it into a new era, acting as a destination for functional training for local tness enthusiasts and global industry leaders. “Delray Beach o ers an attractive combination of business-friendly environment, high quality of living, strong work ethic, and vibrant tness culture,” says TRX CEO Jack Daly. “The town’s leadership has done a great job developing the vibrant community while also thoughtfully developing business and commercial interests that bene t the public.” The multipurpose o ce and gym space will host daily tness classes as well as saunas and locker and changing rooms for guests. (trxtraining.com)

From the Norton Museum of Art to the Kravis Center, the Boca Raton Museum of Art, and The Society of the Four Arts, there’s no shortage of arts institutions in Palm Beach County. That’s what drew arts storage company UOVO to expand to the area with a new 50,000-square-foot facility in West Palm Beach. “Following the recent migration of many individuals and businesses from New York to South Florida, Palm Beach has reestablished itself as a vital hub for our clients in the art and fashion worlds,” says Andrew Barron, UOVO’s director of marketing. “We are thrilled to be part of this vibrant community as it continues to grow.” UOVO specializes in safe and climate-controlled storage for art collectors, designers, stylists, and arts institutions; this includes viewing rooms, proper packing and crating, installations, and other specialized tasks for well-heeled members of the art world. (uovo.art)

BACK IN THE TACK

equestrian center, the Winter Equestrian Festival, and a packed season of polo tournaments, so it’s no wonder that French equestrian brand Childéric selected the village in western Palm Beach County for its newest American home. From recreational to professional riders, equestrians of all stripes can now access the brand’s storied saddles and bridles, plus a host of other equipment and leather goods at the 1,050-square-foot space. For those looking for bespoke items, Childéric’s team of experts is at the ready to create custom equipment using artisanal techniques that have been passed down over the decades. (childeric.us)

HALKIN/MASON PHOTOGRAPHY

Balancing Act

How to cope with stress and achieve that ever elusive work-life harmony

By Michele Meyer

If you feel like you’re always choosing between your personal life and your work tasks, you’re not alone. But what’s the best way to make a healthy shift? Forrest T. Dykes, a licensed mental health counselor and the owner of Palm Beach Holistic Counseling in Palm Beach Gardens, says the first step is to review what’s throwing your work-life balance off-kilter. “Then change, starting with small steps,” he advises. We caught up with Dykes to get his top tips and professional insight into how to harmonize your work with your personal well-being. (palmbeachholisticcounseling.com)

STRESSOR: You believe you’ll be more productive if you work harder and longer.

REALITY: This behavior can be counterproductive, leading you to feel fried, frazzled, and less attentive to details.

RX: Set limits and stick to them. That may mean having a separate work email and silencing your phone. Also consider taking a day off. If that’s not possible, at least clock out earlier. “If you’re working till 9 p.m. regularly, maybe work only till 7 p.m. and see if everything falls apart,” Dykes says.

STRESSOR: You must do it all.

REALITY: You can’t be everything to everyone—and trying will burn you out, Dykes says.

RX: Often the need to be needed is fear-based. “You may be tying your self-esteem and self-confidence to what you do for others, at home and at work,” Dykes explains. “But you need ‘me’ time, which doesn’t make you selfish or weak.” Besides, others will respect you more for respecting yourself. So prioritize what you do best, and call upon your support system to share lesser responsibilities. You might even consider hiring a virtual assistant.

STRESSOR: The idea of time on your hands sparks anxiety. You don’t know what you’d do with it. Or do you?

REALITY: “Being your best and happiest depends on pushing your reset button,” Dykes says. That may mean recalling blasts from your less-stressed past.

RX: “Think about activities that brought you pleasure and

people who made you energized,” he says. Then embrace them for today. Call rather than text friends, hit the gym, take a dance or pottery class, read a book, or walk on the beach. “‘Me’ time looks different for everyone,” Dykes notes. “Find what makes you feel good and balanced.”

STRESSOR: You’re exhausted yet still go to bed late, only to mull over your to-do list or cruise social media on your phone, then stew about what you discover.

REALITY: Sleep is essential to good mental health. When you’re well rested, you feel and perform better.

RX: “Make sleep one of your top priorities,” Dykes says. “Be disciplined and put your phone and laptop away at least two hours before bedtime.” In their place, adopt a soothing ritual— perhaps taking a hot bath, writing in a journal, reading a good book, or listening to relaxing music on an app such as Headspace or Calm. By easing stress before bedtime, you’ll not only feel better, but you may wind up being a model of healthy behavior for your family, co-workers, and friends. «

Given the news about chatbots professing their so-called love on the record to a New York Times journalist and artificial intelligence (AI) technology generating a viral song mimicking Drake and The Weeknd, it can seem as if AI is coming for mankind—and fast. But this oft-misunderstood field of computer science isn’t coming for Palm Beach County. It’s already here.

At the Levatas Industrial AI Lab in the West Palm Beach Warehouse District, drones whiz overhead, quadripedal robots saunter about, and a large camera responds to visual cues by a team of more than two dozen data scientists, machine-learning engineers, and robot technicians. The human employees are “training” the machine-learning models in these inanimate objects to respond to the real-world environments of their clients, which include electric utility companies, automobile manufacturers, and oil and gas producers, explains Chris Nielsen, Levatas’ CEO and founder.

“Our AI software gives cognitive intelligence to robots, drones, and cameras,” Nielsen says. “It basically makes industrial tools smart and able to do things that so far only humans have been able to do.”

Levatas launched in West Palm Beach 16 years ago as a machine-learning consultancy. Three years ago, the company patented its own AI software and has since worked to upgrade conveyor

Ready, Robots

From businesses to universities, AI is making its mark locally

By Jess Swanson

above: Percepto’s autonomous drones offer an AI-powered way to monitor Florida Power & Light infrastructure to prevent breach or failure around the clock.

left: In partnership with Boston Dynamics, Levatas has developed “Spot,” a robot modeled after a dog, that has the potential to change the future of substation inspections.

right: At Levatas’ Industrial AI Lab, innovation teams explore the capabilities of the firm’s Cognitive Inspection Platform.

above: Proprietary AI software lets technicians control Percepto’s fleet of drones and other machine-learning robots.

belts and other manufacturing facilities across the country and even internationally. Rather than relying on humans to repeatedly check that pressure gauges, electrical boxes, and other pieces of industrial equipment are functioning safely and correctly, Levatas’ Cognitive Inspection Platform can automate the process to save time, money, and maybe even lives.

“We don’t want humans near highly electri ed power lines. We don’t want humans in a nuclear plant. We don’t want humans on an oil rig,” Nielsen says. “There’s a global, irreversible labor shortage for industrial jobs, and we’re automating things [that] humans don’t want to do.”

Truth is, human error can have devastating consequences. Take the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California that was traced back to a worn piece of equipment on a transmission tower. It was the deadliest re in the state’s history. The same type of re could be preventable now that AI-powered drone technology can facilitate more frequent inspections. That’s the cornerstone of Percepto, another Palm Beach County–based leader in arti cial intelligence.

The rm has developed a software program known as AIM that allows drones and robots to inspect and monitor infrastructure autonomously. AIM was listed among Time’s 100 best inventions of 2021; the following year, the robotics manufacturer opened a new facility in Riviera Beach. Percepto’s clients include Florida Power & Light and Fortune 500 companies such as Siemens Energy and Koch Industrustries.

“About two years ago at a Koch Fertilizer facility in Enid, Oklahoma, a polar vortex came down through the Midwest, forcing the facility to temporarily shut down operations,” explains Yorai Shmueli, Percepto’s vice president of operations. “Before using Percepto’s system, they would introduce steam into the pipes and send people out to work on ladders and cherry pickers to inspect where infrastructure damage had occurred and observe which equipment had enough ice thawed to restore operations. With Percepto, there was no need to send out people to inspect infrastructure. The automated drones can be operated remotely and identify ice buildup and damage to di erent pieces of equipment. Not only did Koch keep employees out of harm's way, but they were able to start up about two days earlier than they would have been able to otherwise.”

Shmueli acknowledges the recent headlines and news articles about the unintended consequencs of arti cial intelligence. He counters that Percepto has been around since 2014, and other AI innovators for even longer than that.

“AI is very trendy today as tools such as ChatGPT are available to the general public,” he says. “The reality is that AI has been harnessed by many companies for many years, including Percepto.” «

Machine Learning

Higher ed teaches a new kind of intelligence

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) professor William Hahn believes that “artifi cial intelligence is the new internet.” He foresees it influencing not just nearly every industry, but also society. These are the kind of big-picture thoughts Hahn deliberates as the program director for the university’s Center for the Future Mind, a 4,000-square-foot, open-access lab where students and the community can collaborate on the development of cutting-edge intelligent systems. It opened in December 2021 on FAU’s Boca Raton campus.

“The evolution of artificial intelligence underscores its transformative potential and drives us to prepare our students for a future where AI is an integral part of everyday life and work,” Hahn says. “Our mission is to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the evolving job landscape that awaits them post-graduation.”

Artificial intelligence isn’t just taught with textbooks; instead, students participate in hands-on collaboration with their peers and professors. For example, in a new course called “AI for Science Medicine,” students are working to create their own AI-driven microscope.

“Imagine connecting an AI system like ChatGPT to a medical microscope and asking it questions in English like, ‘Please look for cancer cells,’” Hahn says. “This is the type of technology our student researchers are developing here.”

But it’s not just FAU: Palm Beach State College (PBSC) recently received $1 million in federal funding to teach students and train faculty in artificial intelligence and virtual reality. The college is slated to have 225 faculty members incorporate artificial intelligence into existing courses across all academic areas. The institution is also investing in augmented reality and virtual reality learning systems.

“These systems are already enhancing several PBSC programs and courses by enabling students to visualize 3D anatomy and physiology and interact in simulated health care settings,” says Roger Yohe, vice president of academic innovation and strategy at Palm Beach State College. “Students preparing to become surgical technologists use a system where they can practice repeatedly how to select the correct surgical instruments and properly pass them to a surgeon.”

LEFT: Percepto founders Sagi Blonder, Raviv Raz, Dor Abuhasira, and Ariel Avitam with their Air Max drone.

Faculty at Palm Beach State College are working to integrate AI into courses across academic disciplines.

Riding the Wave

High inflation is here to stay for the foreseeable future

By Sheldon Zoldan

Shoppers don’t need the Consumer Price Index to tell them this is the worst inflation since the 1980s. All they must do is walk down a grocery aisle, pump gas, or book a flight.

Inflation peaked in June 2022 at 9.1 percent, and 2022 ended with a year-over-year rate of 6.5 percent. While these numbers are still below 1980’s rate of 13.5 percent, the cause for rising prices now is the same as it was in 1980, 1974, 1947, and 1918, the worst periods of inflation in the United States in the last 105 years.

“Inflation is always the result of too rapid growth of the money supply,” says Randall Holcombe, an economics professor at Florida State University.

The inflation the country is currently experiencing fits into this paradigm, with the COVID pandemic acting as a catalyst. When lockdowns occurred in March 2020, businesses closed, people lost their jobs, and unemployment rose to 14.8 percent by April 2020. The gross domestic product, which measures the production of goods and services, fell sharply, decreasing at an annual rate of 32.9 percent during the second quarter.

The federal government took action to mitigate this economic fallout. All in all, it spent roughly $5 trillion in pandemic stimulus money, according to a 2022 report by The New York Times. As part of its immediate response, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) purchased billions of dollars of treasury- and mortgage-backed securities and cut the federal funds rate to a range of zero to .25 percent to support spending. This increase in the growth rate of the money supply, coupled with broken supply chain issues and, later, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have likely led to the current inflation crisis.

was an expansionary monetary policy, where central bankers believed they needed to increase spending to keep unemployment low. The practice didn’t work, and it caused the stubborn inflation of the 1970s and ’80s. The Fed had to make painful, tightening monetary policy decisions—such as 18 percent interest rates—to snuff it out.

When faced with the economic hardships of 2008, the Fed didn’t want to make the same mistakes it made three decades earlier. “So, in 2008, instead of monetary policy being too loose as it had been in the 1970s, it was too tight, and it caused the recession to be much deeper than it needed to be and last much longer than it needed to,” Luther explains.

This recent example was top of mind for central bankers in 2020. “It seems at least with the benefit of hindsight, the Federal Reserve overreacted, engaged in monetary policy that was too loose, and brought about significant inflation as a consequence,” Luther continues.

He adds that, by the late summer and early fall of 2021, the Fed should have realized that prices were rising even though output was recovering. Therefore, this was not a production problem, but rather a spending problem. Had the Fed started raising interest rates by October 2021, Luther believes inflation wouldn’t have increased at such a rapid pace. But the Fed didn’t start raising interest rates until March 2022, and that was only by a quarter point, from an upper bound of .25 percent to .5 percent. In total, the Fed has raised interest rates 10 times, going from an upper bound of .25 percent to 5.25 percent (as of May 2023).

However, as the late Nobel laureate and economist Milton Friedman once observed, there are long and variable lags between changes in policy and shifts in the economy. Holcombe predicts inflation will remain around 5 percent this year, and the Fed has said that inflation will be elevated into 2025, when it should return to its targeted 2 percent.

There is this idea that economists and central bankers are always fighting the last war, says William Luther, an economics professor at Florida Atlantic University. The philosophy in the late 1960s and ’70s

Could the long and variable lag mean a recession is still imminent? The odds remain high, due in no small part to the Fed’s course-correcting tight monetary policy. “That’s what happens when you fight inflation,” Holcombe says. “You end up having an economic downturn.” «

TOMO R ROW LAND

With residential and office towers rising, community-centric districts in the works, and a surplus of exciting new energy, West Palm Beach is poised to become the country’s next great city

By Skye Sherman

West Palm Beach is booming. Billions of development dollars are pouring in, homes are snatched up in record time (and for shocking prices), and population demographics are shifting. Average age? 41. Unemployment rate? 2.8 percent. Palm Beach County has the highest average salary in Florida at $68,331 and is leading the state’s growth in terms of income and population. And, even though it may seem like it, not every newcomer is from New York; just 41 percent of moves to PBC were from the Empire State, according to a 2020 Unacast study.

Perhaps the most visible changes are happening to the downtown skyline. Luxury residential towers have risen along the waterfront, and there are more to come. When the 24-story Bristol debuted in 2019, it stood alone—and scandalized locals with condo sales breezing past $40 million. But numerous similar towers are making their way into the neighborhood, from La Clara just south of downtown up to Alba Palm Beach in the city’s north end. Inland (with one notable waterfront exception), office towers are popping up faster than palms.

Leading the charge is the New York–native Related Companies, which has $1 billion in the development pipeline in West Palm Beach alone and a dedicated local office known as Related Southeast. Following the success of The Square and the Hilton West Palm Beach, the company opened the 360 Rosemary office tower in 2021; next on the docket is the 25-story 515 Fern and two Hibiscus Street office high-rises. Other Related projects include 575 Rosemary, a 21-floor luxury residential and retail tower on the former Macy’s site, and One Flagler, which will debut 277,000 square feet of waterfront Class-A office space in 2024 and be the site of a new public art installation by Fred Eversley. Related also purchased the neighboring Esperante and Phillips Point office buildings in pursuit of its goal to establish a waterfront business district.

COURTESY OF WPB CRA

Related Companies is changing the face of West Palm with new buildings such as One Flagler. right: Construction on West Palm Point should begin by the end of this year.

Meet Your New Neighbors

THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY LEADS THE WAY IN WEST PALM BUSINESS GROWTH

West Palm Beach’s collection of new office towers is impressive, but who, exactly, will fill these millions of state-of-the-art square feet? A whole lot of bankers.

Financial services is the top sector signing leases in what is becoming a veritable Wall Street South, with tenants from Goldman Sachs to Siris Capital, Point 72, and beyond. It turns out that’s on purpose: A decade ago, the Business Development Board (BDB) of Palm Beach County, which exists to facilitate economic development through corporate relocations and expansions, launched an initiative then called Behind the Gates, for which it researched 47 miles of county coastline and identified executives who were buying second homes along the water to determine if these high-net-worth individuals had any business in Palm Beach County.

“It was a very, very long and arduous process 10 years ago to convince people that Palm Beach County was the right location. We started with three or four very small wins. Today, over 100 financial service firms have expanded or relocated their operations to Palm Beach County ”

“We accumulated nearly 200 names of CEOs who had bought a second home and when we identified [them], we realized the vast majority were running a financial service firm in either Manhattan, Boston, or Greenwich,” says Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the BDB. “It was a very, very long and arduous process 10 years ago to convince people that Palm Beach County was the right location. We started with three or four very small wins. Today, over 100 financial service firms have expanded or relocated their operations to Palm Beach County.”

Landing these multibillion-dollar, internationally recognized names is due to a combination of factors working in our favor, Smallridge says, including technology, development, and the state’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The stars were aligned,” she adds. “We had a pro-business government wanting to expedite permits to help them get in their office space, we had a developer in Related building world-class office space that was turnkey, and we had a governor who made it very clear that Florida was open for business.”

While Wall Street South gets all the buzz, the BDB is after other industries, too: aviation/aerospace/engineering, technology, corporate headquarters, distribution/logistics, manufacturing, agribusiness, and life sciences, including biotech and medical devices, a success evidenced by the University of Florida takeover of the world-renowned Scripps Research center in Jupiter. (In 2021, UF also announced its intent to establish a graduate school campus in downtown West Palm Beach, though those plans have since been put on hold.) With 45 billionaires and 71,000 millionaire households in Palm Beach County, our area is particularly attractive to all sectors, Smallridge notes.

—KELLY SMALLRIDGE

ABOVE: Portals public art installation by Fred Eversley at One Flagler

RIGHT: One of Related Companies’ proposed towers to occupy the former AMC theater site

515 Fern

One Flagler boardroom

Nearby, developer Charles Cohen, who has frequented the area since 1970, has big plans for the tent site on Okeechobee Boulevard. Upon completion, his 23-story, Pelli Clarke–designed West Palm Point will present a landmark gateway into downtown with more than 400,000 square feet of office and retail space and a nine-story garage. Situated between the office building and the parking structure will be Paseo, which will feature retail, outdoor seating, and cross-block circulation. Cohen plans to break ground by the end of the year.

“It will be a spectacular addition to the West Palm Beach business community, given its central location,” Cohen says. “I think it’s transformative architecture that will be timeless [and] will be a poster child for what’s possible.”

Another focus for Cohen is redeveloping the former Carefree Theatre site just south of downtown. He’s planning a restaurant, rental apartments, showrooms, and a Landmark Theatre, an independent theater circuit of which he is owner and chairman. He predicts breaking ground in mid-2024.

Nearby, fast-casual franchiser Martin Sprock, who has been familiar with the area for 25 years, is “riding the West Palm wave.” He is renovating historic homes, mostly in Prospect Park and El Cid, to rent out and has at least two West Palm restaurants in the works: Kid Cashew on Antique Row and the Flying Biscuit breakfast joint near Clematis.

“We think West Palm is ripe for investment,” says Sprock, who is now a Florida resident operating some aspects of his film company, Sprockefeller Pictures, and Atlanta-based restaurant franchise group, Big Game Brands, locally. “You’ve got to think where West Palm was just 10 or 15 years ago and where it is today. I think it’s just going to be spectacular even in another decade. ... The crime is about as bad as I’ve seen it in a decade in all these major big cities, and I think these people are going, ‘You know what? I don’t have 100 more years to live and I’m gonna move somewhere where, right now, I’m gonna feel real good about it.’”

Another developer in the mix is Jeff Greene, whose decades of well-timed investments have paid off. Today, Greene can stand atop his 30-story One West Palm and point out lot after lot, in every direction, that he owns.

“I live in the community, I work in the community, I have three young children who are growing up in the community, I have very deep roots in the community,” says Greene, who has been visiting the area since he was 14 and now resides on Palm Beach. “I saw this town go from a nice little town to abandoned. I came in and started investing hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars here

because I could see it was such a unique, beautiful place and I could really make an impact on this small town.”

Though he’s behind many local projects, such as The Greene School and 198 residential units— including workforce housing—on Congress Avenue, his current focus is One West Palm, which is set to be completed late this year. The two-tower site will have a 200-room hotel, 200,000 square feet of Class-A office space, 188 luxury residential units, three pools, a 10,000-square-foot gym and spa, and the only indoor tennis courts in Palm Beach County.

“I grew up Jewish and one of the values I grew up with was tikkun olam ,” Greene shares. “In Hebrew, it means ‘repair the world.’ You feel like you want to get in a position to make a difference in the world—that’s the highest calling. To me, the greatest kick I have is making a difference in people’s lives. It’s great to build towers and hopefully make a lot of money on it, but honestly, my biggest thrill is [things like] The Greene School.”

He’s in the right place to make a difference. Greene also owns 17 acres of land in the Currie Corridor, where he has designed and intends to build a series of tall towers. The area is also set to see a $32 million redevelopment of Currie Park led by the city. “I think the whole north end is going to be the future of West Palm Beach,” Greene says.

COURTESY OF ROCKWELL GROUP

ARQUITECTONICA

ARQUITECTONICA

GEO

Near One West Palm, a Wynwood-esque district called Nora (North Railroad Avenue) is coming to fill the warehouses along the train tracks with shops, restaurants, apartments, and office space. At an estimated cost of $1 billion, it’s the largest planned redevelopment since CityPlace (now known as The Square). Developers broke ground in late May and expect to complete the first phase of the project by the end of 2024. Nora will be nestled between Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and Quadrille Boulevard, just east of the Historic Northwest, where the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has spearheaded a revitalization of the Sunset Lounge.

The city may seem to be developing at breakneck speed, and there is no doubt that West Palm Beach, especially downtown, is coming into its own as an urban center. But that’s because it’s exactly what the city set out to do in the early 1990s with the establishment of the Downtown Master Plan, the aim of which was “to develop a 24-hour, live-work-play environment.”

In 1994, at a time when small American cities were declining, shopping was relegated to the suburbs, and our population was diminishing, city officials made revitalizing what was then a dead downtown their No. 1 goal.

“The mayor at the time, Nancy Graham, made a lot of great decisions to hire the right people and bring in the right urban planners and consultants to set us up for the growth—what I’ll call success—that we’re seeing today,” says Raphael Clemente, executive director of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA). “There’ve been undulations and there’ve been turns and twists, but overall, the trajectory of West Palm’s center has been up and, in my opinion, in the right direction. Growth is what is supposed to happen in an urban center.”

Rodney Mayo, owner of Subculture Group and an OG downtowner, has been “a firm believer” in the master plan, but he says the city hasn’t always stuck to it, citing towers directly on the waterfront and long-vacant storefronts. “We kind of had a boom post-COVID ... and I think everybody’s translating that boom to mean that things are going great, but we have as many vacant storefronts as we’ve had two, three, four, five years ago,” points out Mayo. “To me, an important goal is to have continuity so you can walk five or six blocks of stores and not hit a dead block.”

“West Palm Beach got everything it said it always wanted,” says Aaron Wormus, who keeps tabs on downtown life as “A Guy on Clematis.” But, he adds, it has come at a cost. “The city continues to be a great place to live, but the cost of living is now unaffordable for the working class. Buying a home in West Palm Beach is only an option to the highest of wage earners. I don’t see my kids coming back from school and starting a life here, which saddens me.”

Wormus touches on just one of the concerns of locals who are excited about West Palm’s success story but leery of its baggage. The idea that astronomical prices and big-city traffic may redefine “home” is sobering to some residents, though diehards are committed to being welcoming even as the fabric of their neighborhoods shifts around them.

“There has been a great deal of turnover within the Flamingo Park, Grandview Heights, and Sunshine Park historic districts,” shares Linda Cullen, president of the Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association, who has lived in Flamingo Park since 1985 and previously chaired the city’s Historic Preservation Board for many years. “There are so many new faces. Most of them don’t know the background of our existing neighborhoods and associations, so we are making our best efforts to welcome them ... while we also regret the loss of many of our old-time residents who couldn’t resist the high offers they were getting and left us.”

Clemente feels that despite its literal upward trajectory, West Palm has maintained the big-city, small-town feel that attracted so many in the first place. “It’s growing tremendously, but it still feels like a town,” he says. “I hear people say all the time that they like the energy and vibe and intensity ... but that it still has maintained this charming character.”

That’s in part thanks to its geography: West Palm proper is a narrow strip of land east of I-95 with a densifying urban center, as well as protected historic neighborhoods north and south of downtown, hemmed in by the hard boundaries of lakes and the Intracoastal Waterway.

“The amount we’re adding is a lot for our city, but it’s still not that much in total,” Greene insists. He predicts a brief development slowdown, believing we’ve gotten a little ahead of ourselves, but he feels that at the end of the day, “Florida is all just going to grow.”

So, while West Palm Beach is in a boom cycle and the evolution may seem rapid, the plans were laid 30 years ago, strategically and with intention. It’s not Miami sprawl, nor are we “Browardizing.”

“I know it appears to a lot of people like development’s a bit out of control, just because there’s so much demand,” says Ken Himmel, president and CEO of Related Urban, which is part of Related Companies. “But I can tell you the way that especially this mayor, Keith James, has set up all of his planning staff, all the regulatory processes that you have to go through, it’s very rigorous, and there’s a lot of community involvement as well.” From Himmel’s perspective, there are zones that simply deserve to densify: “Nothing creates a better thriving economic climate for a city than great jobs,” he says. “There’ll be some towers built, there’s no question … [but] this city does not want to be Miami.”

Transit Village

Growing Pains

DEVELOPMENT CAN BE A DOUBLEEDGED SWORD, AND TWO OF THE CITY’S MOST PRESSING ISSUES ARE TRAFFIC AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Traffic will be one of West Palm’s biggest challenges, given that the region’s transportation system hasn’t evolved past its suburban model. That’s why containing growth to the urban center is key; with most downtown car trips less than 3 miles, it’s easy to switch to other modes, such as biking or the free Circuit Shuttle service, which saw a 1,000 percent increase in use between September 2021 and August 2022.

Downtown’s success is dependent, in part, on regional decisions, and one collaborative solution in the works is revitalizing the well-positioned Clear Lake district, the crown jewel of which will be Transit Village. When complete, the $1.3 billion intermodal transit hub will have four towers comprising residential units, office and retail space, a hotel, and a new Fern Street cut-through into downtown.

Inextricably tied to traffic and density is housing affordability, which is reaching crisis level. If you have 40,000 jobs in the city center, where do the people filling those jobs live and how do they get there? With mostly luxury units hitting the market, the workforce cannot live anywhere near downtown, engendering further sprawl—and more cars driving in and out daily.

There’s a word for what happens when neighborhoods are overrun by an influx of wealthier newcomers: gentrification. The process of improving housing, setting the stage for new business, and enhancing quality of life “for all” runs the risk of displacing current inhabitants, especially renters and low-income households. Mitigating this process is a hard-to-strike balance between doing what must be done to attract opportunity while protecting existing residents from being priced out of their own hometown.

Luckily, affordable housing alternatives are top of mind for developers and city officials. The City of West Palm Beach, which has a goal of 600 workforce or affordable housing units in three years, recently passed a program that requires developers to provide such restricted-rate units in exchange for additional density.

“We don’t want just high-end condominiums,” says Ana Maria Aponte, deputy director of the West Palm Beach CRA. “We want people of other income levels to have the chance to enjoy the downtown and live close to our employment center.”

Last summer, Related Companies acquired the waterfront St. Andrews and St. James Residences and will renovate and preserve those 325 units of affordable senior housing; Related is also allotting 15 percent of the units in 575 Rosemary to workforce housing. With loan aid from the city’s Housing and Community Development Department and funds from the county’s Home Investment Partnership Program, the Housing Trust Group opened Flagler Station, an eight-story affordable housing project reserved for residents who earn at or below 30, 60, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income or AMI (the midpoint of a region’s income distribution, established annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). The city has also worked with Affiliated Development on The Spruce and The Grand, two mixedincome workforce housing projects. While lowincome housing is set at 60 percent or below AMI, workforce housing is typically between 80 percent and 140 percent of AMI.

One neighborhood remains insulated from the hoopla, and that’s the fully built-out South End. Aside from what will become of Palm Coast Plaza and its adjacent empty lot, the top development concern for many residents in this region—which includes the trending SoSo (south of Southern Boulevard) neighborhood—is whether the charmingly outdated home across the street will be replaced with a modern McMansion. But South End Neighborhood Association president Richard Pinsky believes even that’s not such a bad thing. “The fact that they’re building their forever home—[or at least] what they think is going to be their forever home, until someone offers them twice—is good, because that means they want to put down roots,” he says.

A prominent project that recently debuted in the South End is a re -

“You have to have a city that has something for everybody,” says Nick Rojo, president and co-founder of Affiliated Development. “You can’t just have super expensive housing downtown because where are the people who support all those businesses going to live? There’s got to be a place for them. A community is vibrant when you have people from all backgrounds, all income levels, living there together.”

imagined golf course on the site of the former West Palm Beach Golf Course. The Park features a public, 18-hole, Gil Hanse–designed course and facilities and programs aimed at servicing the local community, opening the golfing experience to those with various skill sets and financial means. The changes span “absolutely everything,” says Brian Conley, The Park’s general manager. “The property has been transformed as if we had a blank canvas.”

While a recreational outlet like The Park hearkens to the Palm Beaches’ original appeal as a vacation destination, the evolving downtown signals a new era for locals and visitors alike. Perhaps the best version of West Palm Beach can be found in a marriage of the two, where the city at once embraces its small-town feel as it sprints toward its big-city future. «

The Grand

The Spruce planned amenity deck

COURTESY OF AFFILIATED DEVELOPMENT

PENDING & UPCOMING PROJECTS (South To North)

Forté on Flagler luxury residential tower 1217 S. Flagler Drive

320 Lakeview hotel and residential tower

320 Lakeview Ave.

Hibiscus

Clear Lake district

Between Okeechobee Blvd., S. Australian Ave., 1st St./Banyan Blvd., and S. Tamarind Ave.

Residences of Palm Beach West apartment tower with ground-floor grocery store

401 S. Dixie Hwy. (entire city block bounded by Fern St., Gardenia St., S. Quadrille Blvd., and S. Dixie Hwy.)

Marriott AC Hotel

414 Gardenia St.

Viana Hotel & Spa 609 Evernia St.

120 S. Dixie Highway and Datura residential tower and retail

120 S. Dixie Hwy. and 325 to 333

Flagler Station affordable housing 991 Banyan Blvd.

The Grand mixed-income workforce housing 609 2nd St.

Hotel Indigo West Palm Beach N.W. corner of W. Railroad Ave. and 3rd St.

One West Palm mixed-use project with offices, a hotel, and residences

550 N. Quadrille Blvd.

Soleste Palm Station luxury apartment community 550 N. Rosemary Ave.

Tortoise One luxury apartment complex

740 and 840 N. Dixie Hwy.

Nora mixed-use district with hospitality, retail, residences, public space, and more

Between N. Railroad Ave., Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., N. Dixie Hwy., and 7th St.

above:

CLEAR LAKE

NOT PICTURED

La Clara luxury residential tower

1515 S. Flagler Drive

The Ritz-Carlton Residences

1717 N. Flagler Drive

South Flagler House luxury residential tower 1355 S. Flagler Drive

Olara West Palm Beach luxury residences with private marina 1919 N. Flagler Drive

Northwood Square mixed-use project with retail, public space, and apartments

23rd St. to 25th St.

The Spruce mixed-income workforce housing 2585 Spruce Ave.

Icon Marina Village luxury waterfront residences 4444 N. Flagler Drive

Alba Palm Beach luxury residential tower 4714 N. Flagler Drive

1. PAUL ADKINS

2. SARAH ALSOFROM

3. LOUISE ARMOUR

4. MIKE BAUER

5. CHARLES BENDER

6. BLAKE BENNETT

7. LORI BERG

8. MARGARET BETTEN

9. MARTHA BJORKLUND

10. ALAN BOTTORFF

11. ROGER BROWN

12. FABIOLA BRUMLEY

13. MICHAEL BURKE

14. ANTHONY BURKS

15. DANIEL CANE

16. LOUIS CARTER

17. KATRINA CARTER-TELLISON

18. DANIEL CATALFUMO

19. MUKANG CHO

20. STANTON COLLEMER

21. CLAY CONLEY

22. FRANNY FRISBIE CRIDDLE

23. NICOLE CUMMINGS

24. DANITA DEHANEY

25. ANDY DEHART

26. DEAN DIMKE

27. GERI EMMETT

28. DOUGLAS EVANS

29. CHARLENE FARRINGTON

30. DAVID FAUS

31. JOSEPH FISHER

LOCAL LEADERS

CHELSEA

REED Mayor City of Palm Beach Gardens

Reed is mayor of her hometown and principal consultant for Smith Reed Partners. She is the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Recipient for The Benjamin School, the 2022 Public Sector Excellence Award Winner for Leadership Palm Beach County, and the 2022 Complete Streets Champion. She serves as chair of the Governing Board and Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board and vice chair of the Southeast Florida Transportation Council for the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency, as well as vice president of the Palm Beach County League of Cities. Reed and her husband built their careers in Palm Beach County as business owners and philanthropists while raising two children. She is an avid distance runner and adventure traveler.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES: Being chosen as the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient for The Benjamin School the same week as being appointed mayor of my hometown, Palm Beach Gardens, for a rare second consecutive term.

FIRST JOB: Making culinary gift baskets at Chef’s Corner in Crystal Tree Plaza in North Palm Beach.

SECRET TO HER SUCCESS: Being a part of amazing teams. Plus, always elevating collaboration, authenticity, grit, and gut.

WHAT MAKES HER SMILE: Seeing butterflies. Monarchs are endangered. I am taking personal and professional steps to help protect pollinators. At home, we have a butterfly garden, and I spearheaded our beautiful butterfly habitat in the city.

FAVORITE BOOK: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

HIDDEN TALENT: Teaching myself (very slowly) to play the harp. So far, I can only tune my harp and play one song. Perhaps one day it will become a talent.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS LEARNED (SO FAR): Always trust your gut. Eliminate toxic people immediately.

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: I once ran with the Rarámuri Tribe (or Tarahumara) in the Copper Canyons region of remote northwestern Mexico. They are legendary for their long-distance running ability.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Be unwavering in the pursuit of your hopes and desires. Write down your goals each year as reference to your wishes for the future, and then plan each step—read this daily! Once you complete a goal, take time to celebrate your achievement.

The Palm Beach 100

● LOCAL LEADERS

PAUL ADKINS

Chairman and CEO

Florida Peninsula Insurance Company

Adkins is the chairman of Florida Peninsula and Edison Insurance Companies, two homeowner’s insurance companies headquartered in Boca Raton that serve nearly 150,000 customers in the State of Florida. Previously, he acted as the strategy and operations consultant at Booz-Allen-Hamilton and general manager of Americas for the Stratos Global Corporation. Adkins lives in Boca Raton with his wife, Kathy. They have two daughters: Lauren, who graduated from Vanderbilt, and Caroline, who is a student at Princeton.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” —Walt Disney HIDDEN TALENT: I used to play saxophone in a jazz group that played in local nightclubs.

FIRST JOB: I was a bag boy at the local A&P grocer.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES: Being named Business Leader of the Year for the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce and a recipient of the Men with Caring Heart Award.

FAVORITE BOOK: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams WHAT HE WOULD TELL HIS YOUNGER SELF: Do the right thing and good things will happen.

DANIEL CATALFUMO

CEO

Catalfumo Companies

For more than 40 years, Catalfumo has played an instrumental role in the growth and development of Palm Beach County. Through his development, construction, and management firm, Catalfumo Companies, he has made an impressive contribution to the area. Catalfumo Companies is the largest privately owned development firm in Palm Beach; it has successfully completed more than 75 million square feet of real estate with a value above $9 billion. Catalfumo is favored by national corporations and government entities that rely on his expertise throughout every stage of development, construction, and management of landmark projects that have shaped the South Florida skyline.

FIRST JOB: When I was 13 years old, I started working with my father at his legendary cobbler store, Danny Shoe Repair.

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HIM: I didn’t finish high school. As a dyslexic, I was unable to take written tests, but I excelled in verbal tests and in mathematics.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Never settle for a no.

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: Working smarter and harder than anyone else.

FIND HIM ON WEEKENDS: Boating, scuba diving, and riding my Harley

CHARLES L. BENDER III

Founding CEO, Board Member Place of Hope

Bender is the founding CEO and a board member of Place of Hope, a faith-based and state-licensed, family-style residential child-caring agency for abused and neglected children. In his 20-plus years at the helm, the nonprofit has built campuses in Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, and Hobe Sound, plus newly acquired properties in Stuart and West Palm Beach. He is known as a thoughtleader in foster care, adoption, homelessness, and human trafficking, as well as fundraising, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. His capital campaigns have built reserves that ensure Place of Hope can operate debt-free and that its mission can continue to leave a lasting legacy.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you.” —Matthew 6:33

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Live a life of purpose. Pursue your calling. Life is short—make it count.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Requiring and maintaining organizational excellence while experiencing significant growth and expansion. Also, maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit and principals when interfacing with bureaucracy.

FRANNY FRISBIE CRIDDLE Broker

The Frisbie Group

As a broker who has worked in commercial and luxury residential real estate for more than a dozen years, Criddle specializes in sales in Palm Beach and its neighboring communities. With a master’s degree in real estate finance from Georgetown University, she presents buyers with rational, analytics-based investment opportunities and sellers with insightful market data on how best to maximize their real estate investments. An integral part of the Frisbie Group, Criddle’s quantitative background, in-depth field experience, and commitment to service have earned her the loyalty of an extensive roster of high-net-worth clients.

BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: Treat people how they want to be treated.

HOBBIES: Yoga, tennis, boxing, walking

CAUSES SHE SUPPORTS: Educational and enrichment programs curated at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium are vital to the successful progress of our West Palm Beach community. Helping families and working mothers provide stability and inspiring resources for their children is extremely important.

WHY SHE CHOSE HER LINE OF WORK: I grew up in a real estate–focused family and I enjoyed the work. It was an easy decision.

DOUGLAS C. EVANS

President, CEO

The Palm Beach Chamber Of Commerce

Before helming the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, Evans held C-level positions with the Pérez Art Museum Miami and Fashion Scholarship Fund, and founded a classical music radio station serving all of South Florida. He has produced or presented more than 100 Broadway plays and musicals, including the blockbuster production of Frankenstein , and produced national tours of “ The Who’s Tommy , Chess , and Company . He is a past governor and member of the Executive Committee of the Broadway League, a Tony Awards voter, a founding member of the Independent Presenters Network, a former director of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, and a member of Arts Presenters.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “You only live once, but if you live right, once is enough,” —Mae West

HIDDEN TALENT: Classically trained opera singer

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Neil Patrick Harris

WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: My husband

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: A good attitude

MELISSA

GANZI

President, Owner Grand Champions Polo Club

One of the nation’s top amateur women polo players, Ganzi is team captain of Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. She co-founded the World Polo League, the only 26-goal polo held outside Argentina. She is the president and top fundraiser for the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame board of directors, chair of the Polo Training Foundation, and board member of Best Buddies, founded by Anthony Shriver in 1989. She is one of only a few women in the world to compete in the C.V. Whitney Cup, USPA Gold Cup, and U.S. Open. She was the first woman to win the coveted Molina Cup at the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships, which she has won an unprecedented five times.

BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: You can teach skills, but you cannot teach attitude. WHO WOULD PLAY HER IN A BIOPIC: Charlize Theron

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Singapore; St. Moritz, Switzerland; and Kitzbühel, Austria SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: I have a master’s degree in marital and family therapy.

JOSEPH FISHER

Managing Director

PGA National Resort

Fisher brings a wealth of knowledge to his current role, with more than 20 years of experience in both hotel operations and club management. He joined the hospitality industry working for the Four Seasons Hotel Company and progressed his career path to Ian Schrager Hotels while working at the Delano Hotel. Fisher then moved on to the Gansevoort New York City hotel and The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, where he received outstanding guest and employee engagement scores during his tenure. He is currently the managing director at PGA National Resort, where he oversaw the completion of the $100 million transformation and oversees all resort operations.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “I’d rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.” —Elon Musk PERSONAL MOTTO: We are all a work in progress.

TOP TRAVEL PICK: Florianopolis, Brazil

FIRST JOB: Delivering newspapers

FAVORITE BOOK: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

FIND HIM ON WEEKENDS: Playing tennis

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: Talk less and listen more.

SPERO GEORGEDAKIS

Founder, CEO Good Greek Relocation Systems

Georgedakis is the owner of Good Greek, the largest independent moving company in Florida now celebrating 25 years in business. A former police officer who investigated moving scams, Georgedakis created a company to clean up the industry. He is now a thought leader in business and the moving and relocation industries. Good Greek Relocation Systems is the world’s first company to offer a complete package of relocation services under one company banner.

HOMETOWN: Crete, Greece

PERSONAL MOTTO: I call it the “Good Greek way:” faith, honesty, strength, and courage. I have those words put on the walls of every o ce, warehouse, and storage center that we own, and they are words that I live by.

FAVORITE BOOK: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

FIRST JOB: Delivering the New York Post on my bicycle.

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: It’s okay to disrupt. When I started Good Greek, I took what I learned as a member of the police force and implemented strict hiring practices that included background checks, extensive training, and retention practices. That had never been done (and still isn’t, in some cases). Don’t be afraid to rewrite rules to make sure your customer service exceeds industry standards.

KEITH JAMES

Mayor City of West Palm Beach

Focused on creating a community of opportunity for all, James’ vision for West Palm Beach is resident-driven. He is committed to creating a customer-friendly culture in city hall, focusing on neighborhood initiatives, regional collaboration, and community partnerships. James is the City of West Palm Beach’s first African American “strong mayor,” whereby the mayor is the city’s chief executive officer directing the administrative structure. As District 4 City Commissioner from 2011 to 2019, James helped create West Palm Beach’s strategic plan, finance plan, water plan, and mobility plan. His leadership has been instrumental in transforming West Palm Beach into a booming metropolis.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Dream big. Anything is possible.

PERSONAL MOTTO: To whom much is given, much is required.

HIDDEN TALENT: Cooking

FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: The diversity of people, entertainment, and dining options.

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Paris, France

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED (SO FAR): A setback is a setup for a comeback.

DROR PALEY

CEO, Medical Director

Paley Orthopedic and Spine Institute

Paley founded the Paley Orthopedic and Spine Institute at St. Mary’s Medical Center in 2009. It has 23 surgeons and 200 employees; treats patients from 50 states and 100 countries; has offices in Warsaw, Poland, and Abu Dhabi, UAE; and is opening a facility in Medellín, Colombia. Paley is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He has authored 10 books, 75 book chapters, and 180 peerreviewed articles. Paley lectures around the world in six languages. He has developed 100 surgical procedures, is named on 12 patents, and has created and sold six biotech companies.

PERONAL MOTTO: Dream, dare, do.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Ignore what people say behind your back. Keep your head down, work hard. Publish your ideas and they cannot ignore you.

INSPIRED BY: Steve Jobs, for his innovation and ability to rise from the ashes like a phoenix

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Antarctica

WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: Saving a child’s limb from certain amputation and restoring them to normal function.

DAVE LONG

CEO, Co-Founder Orangetheory Fitness

Long has been on the ground floor of several successful brands, blending his passion for fitness with his business acumen. As CEO and co-founder of Orangetheory Fitness (OTF), Long has spearheaded rapid growth, opening more than 1,500 studios in 24 countries in 13 years. He has a wealth of franchise experience, having previously worked with Massage Envy and European Wax Center. Zealously committed to nutrition and overall wellness, Long is a sports enthusiast who has a knack for biohacking. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle; you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” —Bruce Lee

STARTS HIS DAY: With a co ee and cold plunge, followed by a workout of the day: OTF, strength, run, or jiu-jitsu.

FAVORITE BOOK: Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia

HOBBIES: Surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, mountaineering, running, and learning

PAMELA STEWART

President

Palm Beach County Black Business Investment Corporation and Pathway Capital Funding, Inc.

As president of Palm Beach County Black Business Investment Corporation and Pathway Capital Funding, Stewart spearheads efforts to expand access to capital, financial literacy training, and technical assistance for Black, minority, and woman-owned businesses. Through her commitment to inclusive growth and lasting partnerships, she aims to create opportunities and support the economic success of diverse communities. Stewart has an extensive background in community and economic development. She also serves as treasurer of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County and as a board member of the West Palm Beach Center for Arts and Technology.

PERONAL MOTTO: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: I have nine (soon to be 10) grandchildren. Family is everything to me.

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO GRAB A DRINK: Sailfish Marina. I always feel like I’m in the Caribbean.

SECRET TO HER SUCCESS: Having the ability to communicate on all levels, which is really important when dealing with our clients as well as diverse business partners.

President

The Breakers Palm Beach

As president of The Breakers Palm Beach, Taylor brings an immersive and inspired approach to her pivotal leadership role at this multifaceted, luxury oceanfront resort, where she has built a successful 27-year career. With her unwavering commitment to team member fulfillment, outstanding guest experiences, and pursuit of the highest standards of excellence, Taylor oversees all facets of this independent hospitality enterprise and its operating divisions, as a thriving, ever-evolving resort.

President Duffy’s Sports Grill

Webb is the president of Duffy’s Sports Grill, Florida’s largest family-owned restaurant group with more than 30 locations. In his three years with Duffy’s, Webb has guided the company through the most challenging times in the history of restaurants with the pandemic, and it has emerged stronger than ever. Webb has more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry with leadership roles at Pei Wei, Corner Bakery Café, and Boston Market.

FIRST JOB: Cleaning swimming pools at 12 years old.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: “Watch your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.” —My grandfather (and Andrew Carnegie)

FAVORITE QUOTE: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

FIRST JOB: I was a cashier at Mu n Break, a bakery in our local shopping mall.

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO GRAB A DRINK: The Seafood Bar at The Breakers. Where else can you marvel at the Atlantic Ocean while enjoying air-conditioning and tropical fish swimming beneath your beverage?

WHY HE CHOSE HIS LINE OF WORK: I have always been drawn to the people-driven culture of hospitality. I fell in love with the restaurant industry as a 15-year-old busboy.

AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: Play golf at Pebble Beach

COLLECTS: Logo’d golf balls

FIND HIM ON THE WEEKENDS: Downtown Clematis is one of my favorite places to relax.

ADVOCATES & ADVISERS

MUKANG CHO Founder, CEO Morning Calm Management

Cho founded Morning Calm Management, a vertically integrated real estate investment and management firm with a focus on special situation investing. Through its affiliates, the firm owns and manages approximately 10 million square feet of commercial real estate throughout the United States on behalf of private and institutional capital. Cho is a member of the President’s Council of The Real Estate Roundtable and the Cornell Real Estate Council. He is also a vice chairman of the Medical Peace Foundation, a nonprofit organization started by his father, Ambassador Key-Sung Cho, that develops free medical centers around the world. Cho graduated with a JD from Harvard Law School and a BA with distinction from Cornell University.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Follow the path that your heart directs you. It will never lead you astray.

HIDDEN TALENT: I speak three languages.

STARTS HIS DAY: With meditation, followed by CrossFit.

TOP TRAVEL PICK: Anywhere in Latin America

INSPIRED BY: My wife and children for teaching me something new every day of the week.

FAVORITE BOOK: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Márquez is a close second.

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: Surrounding myself with colleagues who inspire me to work even harder every day. WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: Creating opportunities for people who work for me.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED (SO FAR): Never lose sight of your goal and always have faith, no matter how windy the road might be at times.

MARTHA C. BJORKLUND

Head of Lower School Palm Beach Day Academy

As the head of Palm Beach Day Academy’s Lower School, Bjorklund oversees more than 340 students from pre-primary through the third grade and more than 60 faculty and staff members. She has implemented new programs, a webbased assessment tool to evaluate students, the school’s Student Success Team, an improved STEAM program, a student-driven digital portfolio, Entrepreneur Day for students in grades 2 and 3 (a student-led event that this year raised $8,000 for Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League), and bountiful vegetable and butterfly gardens. Bjorklund has also played an instrumental role in creating the campus’ Science and Innovation Lab.

FIRST JOB: Tennis instructor; this is where I discovered my love for teaching young children.

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: I cooked on the Food Network’s Ready, Set, Cook!

WHAT MAKES HER SMILE: Seeing happy children arrive at school each morning.

SECRETS TO HER SUCCESS: Treating people the way you would like to be treated, being straightforward, and building relationships.

LOUIS CARTER

CEO, Founder Best Practice Institute, Most Loved Workplace

An organizational psychologist, Carter is recognized as a global authority in leadership development. As the founder and CEO of Best Practice Institute, Most Loved Workplace, and the MLW HR Analytics and Machine Learning SaaS platform, he has revolutionized how companies approach employee engagement and workplace culture. With a portfolio of 12 books and the coveted “Most Loved Workplaces” lists featured in Newsweek , Carter shapes the future of leadership with his expertise. He also hosts the renowned Leader Show for Newsweek , amplifying his impact and sharing his insights with a broad audience.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” —Peter Drucker

PERSONAL MOTTO: Embrace growth, empower others.

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Paul Rudd. He’s goofy and self-deprecating like me.

TOP TRAVEL PICK: Undisclosed Lake in North Carolina; I say “undisclosed” because I don’t want anyone moving there. It’s located about one hour west of Charlotte in the Blue Ridge mountains, and it’s peaceful the way it is.

FIRST JOB: I worked as a file clerk for my grandmother at the Louis Levine Insurance Agency.

FAVORITE BOOK: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

FABIOLA BRUMLEY

Palm Beach County President, Senior Public Policy Lead Bank of America

Brumley is the president of Bank of America Palm Beach County. She is responsible for connecting clients, teammates, and communities to the full power of the franchise, driving integration across Bank of America’s eight lines of business. She also leads the effort to deploy Bank of America’s resources to help advance economic mobility and build strong communities. Based in Boca Raton, Brumley is senior public policy lead for the Southeast at Bank of America, covering Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. She is the current chair of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County and has led efforts to help form Pathway Capital Funding to ensure Black- and minority-owned and -controlled businesses have the opportunity to obtain financing and other resources.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” —Maya Angelou

FIRST JOB: At the age of 13, I worked for my father as a data entry clerk. He was a CPA/CFO. SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: English is my third language. WHAT MAKES HER SMILE: Watching my children and grandchildren learn something new.

KATRINA CARTER-TELLISON

Vice President, Academic Affairs Lynn University

Since joining Lynn University in 2004, Carter-Tellison has served as assistant professor of sociology, College of Arts and Sciences dean, and academic dean. Among her achievements, Carter-Tellison was instrumental in building Lynn University’s Dialogues core curriculum into a nationally recognized program. She supports Lynn’s Social Impact Lab, introduced a new bachelor of fine arts degree in drama, and launched Lynn’s annual Celebration of the Arts festival. CarterTellison’s vision is rooted in collaboration, academic excellence, and a focus on the whole student. She serves on the board of trustees for the YMCA and the Boca Raton Historical Society.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” —Maya Angelou ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Always learn from those who have come before you, support the work of those around you, and lift up those who are coming behind you.

WHY SHE CHOSE HER LINE OF WORK: I believe in the transformative power of higher education.

JEFF GREENE Investor, Philanthropist Ocean Boulevard Investments

Greene’s real estate career began during his graduate studies and continues to thrive as he remains intimately involved in every aspect of his investments. He discovered his entrepreneurial spirit early on. During winter breaks while in school, he worked diligently at The Breakers Palm Beach, showcasing his work ethic as a waiter and busboy. His determination led him to finance his own education at Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and sociology. Fueling his drive for success, he honed his skills at Harvard Business School, graduating with a master’s in business administration. Greene resides in Palm Beach with his wife, Mei Sze, and their three sons.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): It’s always better to buy something great at a fair price than to buy something fair at a great price.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Creating balance in my life.

HIDDEN TALENT: I can still play the trumpet pretty well, despite not playing much since high school.

STARTS HIS DAY: I drive my three boys to school every morning.

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: I am always willing to work harder than all my competitors.

CASSIUS

JOHNSON

CEO, Co-Founder Perceptist, LLC

Johnson specializes in developing strategies, designing and implementing solutions, and advancing policies that improve the life outcomes of low-income and vulnerable populations and advance economic growth. His career has centered on social impact, working at the Texas House of Representatives, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Jobs for the Future, Year Up Inc., Education Strategy Group, and as a member of the Massachusetts State Workforce Board. Johnson attended the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs in Austin, Texas, where he was a Barbara Jordan Scholar.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Siempre adelante—Always forward!

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Denzel Washington. He portrays characters with the level of intensity required to match the seriousness with which I take matters of social justice and the public good.

WHAT HE WOULD TELL HIS YOUNGER SELF: There is nothing wrong with you. Your passions, drive, and uniqueness are the fuel you will use to realize your destiny and meaning on Earth.

BARBARA MINELLI JAMES

Vice President

Baptist Health Foundation

Since joining Baptist Health in November 2017, James has raised an impressive $50 million through annual giving, private donors, fundraising campaigns, events, and corporate sponsorships. This money has been used to bring preeminent health care to South Florida through updated technologies and the expansion of world-class medical offerings, including the nationally recognized orthopedic total joint–replacement program; cardiovascular care; cancer care; vascular, endovascular, and robotic surgery; general surgery; and emergency medicine. The current Emergency Services Capital Campaign to modernize the Bethesda Hospital East Emergency Department with private rooms, smart technology, and optimized patient care is nearing completion.

BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: Work is one of our greatest privileges. Use it wisely.

HIDDEN TALENT: My linguini al fruitti di mare

WHO WOULD PLAY HER IN A BIOPIC: Jennifer Garner

STARTS HER DAY: With gratitude, lemon water, and then co ee!

ERIC M. KELLY

President Quantum Foundation

Kelly has a bachelor’s of science in communications from Florida State University and a master’s in business management from Florida Atlantic University. He is president of Quantum Foundation, a West Palm Beach–based health corporation that manages a $170 million investment portfolio. As president, Kelly works with the board of directors in formulating a strategy to deploy $7.5 million annually to qualified organizations in Palm Beach County to improve community and health outcomes. He is a corporate officer of the foundation and manages the governing affairs of the corporation with the board of directors. Kelly oversees all administrative duties.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Seize the opportunity of a lifetime within the lifetime of the opportunity.

TOP TRAVEL PICK: Blue Ridge Mountains

GUILTY PLEASURES: Doughnuts and cereal

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES: Sun Sentinel Excalibur Award for Business Leadership, Florida Trend’s Florida 500, Education Foundation of Palm Beach County Outstanding Community Leadership Award, Florida Atlantic University President’s Talon Award, Legacy Magazine’s South Florida’s Most Influential Business Leaders

PATTY MCDONALD

President, CEO

Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation

With more than 37 years as a nonprofit leader in Palm Beach County, McDonald joined Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation in 2005 as founding president. She is responsible for raising funds to advance and enhance pediatric health care and has proven herself to be a champion for the foundation and the children it serves. Under McDonald’s leadership, the foundation has grown from a small charity with a local focus to one that has impacted the lives of children across the nation and the globe. The organization has raised nearly $170 million and given more than $100 million in grants.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The legacy you leave on Earth is measured by the hearts you touch.”

—Barbara Nicklaus

WHAT SHE WOULD TELL HER YOUNGER SELF: Take risks! They are often the best decision you will ever make.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Don’t confuse activity with accomplishment.

FIRST JOB: I was a cashier at Publix in Palm Beach Gardens.

GUILTY PLEASURE: The perfect handbag

ARTHUR MENOR

Office Managing Partner Shutts & Bowen LLP

As the managing partner of Shutts & Bowen’s West Palm Beach office, Menor is a member of the firm’s executive committee and chairman of the Real Estate Leasing Practice Group. A nationally recognized real estate lawyer, he has more than 40 years of experience in all facets of commercial real estate, focusing on commercial leasing and the acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate.

EDUCATION: University of Florida

AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: Run the Tokyo Marathon

FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Cut 432 in Delray Beach

FAVORITE BOOK: Peter the Great: His Life and World by Robert K. Massie

WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: My baby granddaughter

FIRST JOB: Working for my family’s business (Lake Worth Monument Company which is one of the oldest continually operating businesses in South Florida) at 11 years old.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Everyone makes mistakes. The di erence between winners and losers is that winners learn from their mistakes and losers repeat them.

PATRICK MCNAMARA

President, CEO Palm Health Foundation

McNamara joined Palm Health Foundation as president and CEO in March 2017. He has spent the past 30 years in the nonprofit health and human services sector, including 18 years with Community Partners of South Florida, where he also served as president and CEO. Having spent most of his professional career in cross-sector work to improve communities, McNamara has designed and implemented initiatives in behavioral health, housing, family services, health, and nonprofit leadership. A native of New Orleans, he and his wife, Ana, are the proud parents of three children.

STARTS HIS DAY: I have three di erent sources of morning reflections that I receive daily by email. I read these three meditations before my first cup of co ee.

AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: Alaskan cruise

WHAT HE WOULD TELL HIS YOUNGER SELF: Fear less and love more.

FIRST JOB: Mowing lawns with my brother.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Always keep your sense of humor, especially about yourself.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” —Alfred Lord Tennyson

DONTÉ MICKENS

Board Chair

Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches

Mickens is a financial consultant for NCCI in Boca Raton. He is the board chair for Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches and a member of the Palm Tran Service Board. He is also a two-time Paralympian and medalist in the sport of goalball. As a person who is legally blind, Mickens has dedicated his life to volunteering and advocating for persons who are visually impaired or have other disabilities. He has received appointments from Florida Governors Crist, Scott, and DeSantis to serve on state councils charged with overseeing services for those with disabilities. Mickens is a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter and a graduate of Florida State University, where he received his master’s in risk management/insurance. He was born and raised in West Palm Beach and currently resides with his wife and daughter in Delray Beach.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Set smaller goals that will guide you toward your bigger ones.

HIDDEN TALENT: Poetry

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO GRAB A DRINK: Deck 84 in Delray Beach

EMILY PANTELIDES

President Pantelides PR & Consulting

For more than 10 years, Pantelides has worked as an award-winning news anchor and reporter for TV stations across the nation. She left news and opened her own PR firm, Pantelides PR & Consulting, because she could offer something other PR firms couldn’t—a direct connection to the media. Pantelides PR is now one of the most influential and best-recognized public relations brands in Palm Beach County.

HOMETOWN: Athens, Greece

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): I wish somebody told me when I got started that failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a part of your success.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADE: I was voted woman of the year by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce.

INSPIRED BY: Strong women. I truly study the habits of women who work and have children and somehow manage it all. I compare them to gorgeous diamonds that can’t be broken.

BEST ADVICE: Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good. That really resonates with me. Don’t stop working on something because it’s not 100 percent perfect. Sometimes the good really does turn into the perfect.

DAVID A. RUTHERFORD

Vice President for Institutional Advancement and CEO Palm Beach State College Foundation

A seasoned executive with 40 years of extensive nonprofit, educational, and ministry experience, Rutherford has spent a lifetime dedicated to service. As vice president for institutional advancement and CEO of the Palm Beach State College Foundation, he has launched a $100 million capital campaign, grown the endowment by 56 percent, and secured more than $43 million in funding since 2018. Previously, he served as assistant vice president for development at Florida Atlantic University and headmaster at Zion Lutheran Christian School. He holds a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in counseling psychology. He is blessed with his wife of 46 years, three daughters, and seven grandchildren.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Humble yourself, work hard, be optimistic, listen to understand, and serve others.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Do the right things for the right reasons with the right people.

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Dennis Quaid

STARTS HIS DAY: In daily prayer

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Alaska and Tuscany

CALVIN PHILLIPS

Vice President of Housing Services

The Lord’s Place, Inc.

Phillips provides administrative and strategic leadership to the agency’s housing programs. He has more than 25 years of experience serving low-income families and individuals in Palm Beach County. He is an expert in leading high-performing supportive housing programs. Phillips is particularly knowledgeable about how to conduct housing operations in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including the Fair Housing Act. In his personal life, Phillips is involved with Connect to Greatness, a mentoring initiative for African American boys ages 10 to 13. He has a bachelor’s degree in social work.

FIRST JOB: Dishwasher at a restaurant STARTS HIS DAY: With prayer and a good 3-mile walk.

COLLECTS: Watches

WHAT HE WOULD TELL HIS YOUNGER SELF: Stay true to yourself no matter what others think or feel about your choices in life.

WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: Seeing others meet their goals or succeed where most people feel they will fail.

REGAN TARPEY

Executive Director, Communications and Events

Jupiter Medical Center Foundation

Tarpey has served as the executive director of communications and events at Jupiter Medical Center Foundation for more than eight years. With a passion for philanthropy and health care, she brings a wealth of experience in strategic communication, event planning, and fundraising to her role. Her expertise in crafting compelling narratives and managing high-profile events has played a pivotal role in enhancing the foundation’s visibility and helping to raise more than $375 million during her tenure for Jupiter Medical Center. Tarpey’s dedication to advancing health care initiatives and her commitment to community engagement help advance the mission of Jupiter Medical Center Foundation.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” —Henry Ford

PERSONAL MOTTO: Solutions not problems

STARTS HER DAY: Early before everyone is awake to exercise and set the tone for my day.

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Kauai, Hawaii, and Tuscany

FAVORITE BOOK: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED (SO FAR): Quality relationships are what feed the soul.

IDEATORS & INNOVATORS

WILLIAM “BILL” KOCH

Founder, CEO Oxbow Carbon LLC

Koch is the founder and chief executive officer of Oxbow Carbon LLC, a company that is integral to the production of aluminum worldwide and among the largest privately held businesses in Florida. The native Kansan is also the winner of the 1992 America’s Cup and four other world sailing championships, an unparalleled art collector, and a nationally recognized philanthropist. He is especially proud of Oxbridge Academy, an acclaimed middle and high school he started in West Palm Beach. The list of honors he has received for his generosity as well as business and academic accomplishments could fill a book. Koch resides in Palm Beach.

COLLECTS: Fine art, American western historical items, and America’s Cup items

FIRST JOB: A working hand on a Montana cattle ranch

SECRETS TO HIS SUCCESS: Very hard work, learning reality, ignoring perceptions, commitment, and encouraging teamwork.

WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: Seeing people I love being very happy.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): You need to have a deep understanding of your customers’ needs and economics, the costs of o ering services and products, your capital needs and how to get them, how to get an excellent team with outstanding teamwork, and your your management skills and abilities.

INSPIRED BY: My father, who was strong and intelligent. He was a builder with very high ethics, a sense of fairness, very productive, and who cared for the success of his children.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE: Don’t give up.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES: Hunneman Prize for Outstanding Originality from MIT, America’s Cup Hall of Fame, National Sailing Hall of Fame, Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, CEO of the Year Award from The South Florida Business Journal, Excalibur Award from The Sun Sentinel, Outstanding Business Leader of the Year from Northwood University, Knight of the Grand Cross, Gold Good Citizenship Medal from Sons of the American Revolution

MARGARET “MARGIE” BETTEN

Executive Director and Market Manager of Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Betten leads a team of private bankers in delivering wealth management advice, strategies, and services to clients. Betten ensures her team has the resources necessary to help clients achieve their goals and leave a legacy for the next generation. She is also an ambassador for J.P. Morgan in the local community. She brings special insight to this role as a second-generation native of Palm Beach County. With a career in finance that has spanned more than 20 years, Betten joined J.P. Morgan in Chicago, where she served as the regional trust practice leader for the Midwest and West regions of the private bank. Interested in returning to her roots, she moved back to Palm Beach in 2019 for the opportunity to live and work in the area she has always considered home.

HOBBIES: The whole Florida menu: golf, tennis, and swimming

AT THE TOP OF HER BUCKET LIST: A golf trip to Ireland

WHAT SHE WOULD TELL HER YOUNGER SELF: Apply even more sunscreen.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Keep calm and carry on.”

FIND HER ON WEEKENDS: At the Palm Beach Par-3 playing golf with my husband and our son, Charlie

DANIEL CANE

CEO, Co-Founder ModMed

Cane is the co-founder and CEO of ModMed, a South Florida–based software company. Founded in 2010, ModMed aims to prioritize doctors and patients through an intelligent, specialty-specific cloud platform. Under Cane’s leadership, ModMed has been consistently recognized nationally and regionally. It currently serves numerous ambulatory surgical and medical specialty practices, enhancing provider and patient interactions efficiency. In 2023, ModMed was honored as company of the year by the BIG (Business Intelligence Group) Innovation Awards. The SouthFloridaBusinessJournalalso recognized ModMed as business of the year in 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2022.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” —attributed to Sun Tzu

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Your career should be at the intersection of something you love to do and something you are good at doing.

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Iceland, Japan, and New Zealand

FIRST JOB: Associate photocopy technician at Kinko’s

ROGER BROWN President ACS Laboratory

Brown co-founded Florida’s first cannabis testing lab, ACS Laboratory, in 2016, growing it to the largest third-party testing and compliance lab for cannabis and hemp in the eastern United States. ACS has developed unique testing methods for cannabis, hemp, and mushrooms, promoting industry-wide standards for clean and safe products. ACS has achieved 82 cumulative Emerald Test badges, the highest among U.S. labs. As a member of ASTM International, Brown helps establish global standards for cannabis laboratory tests and supply chain procedures. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and resides in Highland Beach, where he indulges in cycling and boating.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Trouble with you is the trouble with me; got two good eyes and you still don’t see.” —from Casey Jones by the Grateful Dead ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): For any new journey, my advice would be to commit to hard work, seek out a mentor whose guidance you trust, and value their insights from their wealth of experience. Above all, remember to never ever give up, ever.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Trust few, verify everything, and never follow the crowd.

DAVID C. FAUS

Head of School

The Benjamin School

Faus has spent most of his life in independent schools. Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, he has served for a quarter-century in various leadership capacities at nationally esteemed institutions. Since the fall of 2020, he has served as Head of School at The Benjamin School. Throughout his career, Faus has shepherded several educational initiatives, including international and artistic programming, curricular alignment, and strategic planning. He holds a bachelor’s in history and sociology from Kenyon College and a master’s of education from the University of Pennsylvania. Faus and his wife, Holly, are the proud parents of children Elizabeth and John.

HIDDEN TALENT: Competitive sailor

STARTS HIS DAY: In the school carpool line, greeting children

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Tuscany

FAVORITE BOOK: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet

HOBBIES: Fishing and boating

FIRST JOB: Picking string beans and strawberries on a local farm.

DREW LEVINE

Chief Operating Officer—East Allied Universal

Levine started his career with Wackenhut in 1987 and worked his way up through the business. Since 2005, he served as president of G4S Secure Solutions USA, growing the business to earn more than $2.3 billion in annual revenue. Through the recent Allied Universal acquisition of G4S, Levine was promoted to Chief Operating Officer—East, where he will continue driving the growth of Allied Universal from Canada to Puerto Rico. He is currently vice chairman of the Advisory Counsel for the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University.

HOMETOWN: Ridley Park, Pennsylvania

HIDDEN TALENT: I can build a house from the ground up.

FIRST JOB: Short-order cook at a hamburger joint in Folsom, Pennsylvania. Best burgers in all of Delaware County!

GUILTY PLEASURES: A Mike and Emma’s special hoagie with long hot peppers and a lemon Tastykake

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED (SO FAR): It takes years to build a business and 45 days to destroy it. Stay sharp, put the right team around you, and check your ego.

NICK LINCA

Managing Partner Provident Jewelry

Linca has been in the fine jewelry profession for nearly 20 years, bringing an exceptional level of customer service to the company. His passion for fine timepieces and his dedication to his clients have been the keys to his success. In his spare time, Linca frequently travels to the headquarters of many different brands to further build relationships and gain a true understanding of their approach and direction. He feels education and training are pivotal pieces of the business.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Step outside the realm of what has already been done and it could lead you to what could one day be the norm.

STARTS HIS DAY: With a cup of co ee and by contacting at least five clients before noon for non-selling conversations.

FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Sunset Sushi in Boca Raton

GUILTY PLEASURE: Fine Swiss chocolate

FIRST JOB: Making bagels, baking bagels, and being a short-order cook at Brooklyn Bagels, WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: Seeing older married couples still in love

COLLECTS: Watches

DAVID LICKSTEIN

Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon, Owner Lickstein Plastic Surgery

A Harvard-trained and board-certified plastic surgeon, Lickstein enjoys creative problem solving, helping people feel better about themselves, and treating people of all ages. He is best known for his consistent natural surgical outcomes in complex revision breast surgery (augmentation and explantation), facelifts, and breast and skin cancer reconstruction, as well as his caring bedside manner and impactful community service.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” —Pat Riley WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Steve Martin

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES: Newsweek’s Top 100 Plastic Surgeons in America, named by members of the Palm Beach County Medical Society as a physician to whom they would refer their own families, being twice voted by my peers to serve as chief of the department of surgery at Jupiter Medical Center, numerous teaching awards, and thank you notes from patients

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: Always be prepared and kind.

STARTS HIS DAY: Energetically at 5:15 a.m.: Co ee, read about my cases, scan the news and sports, complete the Wordle, walk the dogs, and arrive at work by 6:15.

COLLECTS: Bobbleheads

JORGE PESQUERA

President, CEO

Discover The Palm Beaches

A more-than-45-year travel and tourism industry veteran, Pesquera joined Discover The Palm Beaches in November 2007 to lead the region’s destination marketing organization. Pesquera was formerly the president and CEO of the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association. He spent 10 years as president of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, spearheading the construction of the $450 million Puerto Rico Convention Center. Pesquera was a founding member of the Accreditation Board of Destinations International (DI), and he currently serves on the Destination and Travel Foundation board.

HOMETOWN: San Juan, Puerto Rico

PERSONAL MOTTO: The devil is in the details; be thorough.

HIDDEN TALENT: I do a decent imitation of Plácido Domingo.

FAVORITE BOOK: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HIM: I hitchhiked from Paris to Berlin and back.

GUILTY PLEASURE: Mushroom, artichoke, and onion pizza

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED (SO FAR): Be passionate about what you do and enjoy it.

JOE SARDANO

Chairman, CEO Sensus Healthcare

A recognized leader in the health care industry, Sardano has spent more than 30 years in management and marketing. He has a successful history of introducing and commercializing new technologies and services in many areas, including electronic brachytherapy, PET and PET/CT, SPECT, MRI, lithotripsy, and digital radiography. Before joining Sensus Healthcare, Sardano held leadership and management roles at CTI Molecular Imaging, GE Medical Systems, Siemens Medical Systems, Elscint Inc., and Toshiba America Medical Systems.

HOMETOWN: Montreal, Canada

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Create a plan to follow your vision.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Anticipating the unknown. WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: George Clooney; not for looks, but for his humor.

STARTS HIS DAY: Over a cup of co ee with my wife.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Take the door that opens to you.

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Canada, Italy, France, Israel, and New England

FAVORITE BOOK: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

BRUCE SEIGEL

General Manager

The Colony Hotel

A 35-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Seigel has held property, regional, and area operational/sales leadership roles with The Ritz-Carlton Group and other privately-owned properties throughout the United States, Caribbean, and Canada. He assumed the role of general manager for the iconic Colony Hotel in 2019. He is the recipient of many prestigious industry awards and serves as an adjunct professor and lecturer. Seigel holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s of science from the State University of New York. He is married and has two daughters.

HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, New York

PERSONAL MOTTO: Never give up, never!

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: My first wife’s cancer battle

INSPIRED BY: My late mother. After my father passed when I was 8, she kept us together.

FAVORITE BOOK: Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson

GUILTY PLEASURE: Ice cream

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED (SO FAR): Listen, then react.

DEBRA A. SCHWINN

President

Palm Beach Atlantic University

Schwinn has led Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) since May 2020. An accomplished higher education leader, innovator, scientist, and physician, she previously served in senior leadership roles at the University of Iowa, University of Washington, and Duke University. A member of the National Academy of Medicine, she earned her medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine, which has honored her with its Lifetime Alumni Achievement Award. After ably guiding PBA through the pandemic, she presided over the development of a multiphase campus master plan, and in August welcomed the largest incoming class in the university’s history.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Your life/career is a marathon, not a sprint. Work hard and set a doable pace.

STARTS HER DAY: With co ee, 45 minutes of reading scripture and other books, 30 minutes of silent meditation, a one-hour CrossFit class, shower, and o to work.

GUILTY PLEASURES: Cashews and caramel

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Seattle and the Pacific Northwest

BEN SPOONT CEO, Co-Founder Misfits Gaming Group

Spoont is the CEO and co-founder of Misfits Gaming Group (MGG), a global esports, gaming, and entertainment company focused on fueling creator talent and fielding competitive teams. MGG invests in creators and dreamers, everywhere from Minecraft blocks to chess squares, and competes in the most successful video game titles worldwide, including permanent partnerships in franchised leagues such as the Overwatch League (Florida Mayhem) and the Call of Duty League (Florida Mutineers) along with other titles including Rocket League, Valorant, and Minecraft. MGG utilizes world-class management and a deep understanding of the esports and gaming ecosystems to capitalize on the rampant global enthusiasm for gaming and establish fruitful partnerships with international brands and organizations.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE: Never burn bridges.

STARTS HIS DAY: Getting the kids ready and o to school.

HOBBY: I love playing video games with my kids.

FIND HIM ON WEEKENDS: At the local parks and beaches with my family

HEATHER STEWART

Director, General Manager

Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems

As the director and general manager for Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) West Palm Beach Operations, Stewart is responsible for leading all aspects of the organization’s assembly operations in support of delivery of production aircraft and successfully executing flight test operations on development aircraft programs. Stewart also provides management oversight to the Sikorsky Training Academy in Stuart and operational execution of helicopter flight test activities in Patuxent River, Maryland. She joined Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, in 2010. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University.

HOMETOWN: St. Catherine, Jamaica

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: I graduated high school and started at an Ivy League university at 15 years old.

SECRETS TO HER SUCCESS: Positivity, grace under fire, and always taking a second look rather than assuming first impressions are true.

INSPIRED BY: I’m inspired by my kids and the need to leave a world that is better for them.

STACY VOLNICK President Florida Atlantic University

Volnick is a longtime member of the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) community, with more than 30 years of experience in higher education administration. Since 1991, she has served FAU in many leadership roles—most recently as chief operating officer and vice president for administrative affairs, in which she provided leadership and administrative oversight of university operations across six campuses. A proud first-generation college graduate, Volnick received her bachelor’s degree in communication and her master’s and doctoral degrees in educational leadership from FAU. In addition to her role as president, she serves as an affiliate clinical professor for the Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology in the College of Education.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Don’t be a person of success, be a person of value.” —the Dalai Lama

STARTS HER DAY: Walking my two little fur babies, Rocco and Gucci.

FIRST JOB: Baskin Robbins ice cream shop

SECRETS TO HER SUCCESS: Being humble. Appreciating every single person who impacted me in some way and providing opportunities for those that I can. Knowing that everyone on my team, no matter their role, is a piece to a much larger puzzle.

PAM TAHAN

CEO

Wellington Regional Medical Center

Tahan serves as the CEO at Wellington Regional Medical Center and has more than 26 years as a seasoned, senior health care executive. Her focus and commitment are patient safety and quality patient care, which has earned Wellington Regional Medical Center numerous accreditations and accolades. Prior to her role as CEO, she most recently served as the COO at Wellington Regional Medical Center, where she was responsible for the daily operations and implementation of strategic initiatives for the hospital. Tahan’s experience includes serving as chief operating officer at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in Pennsylvania and Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center.

HOMETOWN: Marlboro, New Jersey

EDUCATION: Cornell University

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Tokyo, Japan

STARTS HER DAY: With breakfast at Taco Bell

FIRST JOB: Waitress

HOBBIES: Travel and reading

SCOTT WEBB President Kolter Hospitality

As president of Kolter Hospitality, Webb oversees hotel development, acquisition, and management. His extensive background in the commercial sector includes his previous role as president of Kolter’s Commercial Division, where he handled the expansion of the company’s office and commercial development/acquisition opportunities in North America. Under Webb’s leadership, Kolter Hospitality recently developed, built, and opened the award-winning AC by Marriott Hotel in downtown Orlando and the Hyatt Centric Las Olas in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, and also purchased the Embassy Suites in Sarasota.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): You will face a myriad of challenges. Don’t stress about them. They will work out. Focus on achieving your goals and keep moving forward.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Work hard, be dedicated to your craft, and do not sacrifice family for your work.

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: A photography safari in South Africa with my daughter

FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Captain Charlie’s Reef Grill in Juno Beach

VISIONARY VOICES

KELLY SMALLRIDGE President, CEO Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, Inc.

As the longest tenured economic development president in Florida, Smallridge has a track record in facilitating some of the largest job creation projects for Palm Beach County. She oversees all operations of the Business Development Board (BDB), one of only five accredited economic development boards in Florida. In 2004, she became the first female president of a South Florida economic development board. Under her leadership, the BDB has transformed the economy of Palm Beach County, and the organization has received numerous state and national awards. Her aggressive style in facilitating relocations and expansions has led to big announcements of jobs for the county from companies like Carrier Corporation, Amazon, Fed Ex, and TBC Corporation, to name a few.

HIDDEN TALENT: Tap dancing

STARTS HER DAY: My morning ritual includes getting up at 5 a.m., cooking breakfast for my husband, walking 2 miles, co ee, prayer, and out the door for meetings.

CAUSES SHE SUPPORTS: HomeSafe, South Florida Fair, Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, and Education Foundation of Palm Beach County

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Sunset Key in Key West and the Edgewater Hotel in Naples Beach

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES: Being inducted into the Academy of University of Florida Golden Gators, named Economic Developer of the Year by the Florida Economic Development Council, selected as a Business Ambassador by Governor Rick Scott

LOUISE ARMOUR

Managing Director J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

As the head of the Armour Group, Armour is responsible for leveraging the firm’s resources to provide comprehensive wealth management to high-net-worth families, corporations and their executives, family offices, and entrepreneurs. She is a wealth partner, named to the J.P. Morgan Wealth Partner’s Council to represent her peers, and was recently a recipient of the inaugural J.P. Morgan Chairman’s Award. She is passionate about advancing women’s opportunities in the workplace and supporting diversity and inclusion. Armour and her husband live in Wellington and have two grown children, Alexandra and Michael.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most adaptable to change.” —Charles Darwin

BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: There’s no such thing as a fair fight.

FIRST JOB: Working at Belmont Racetrack during high school and college summers.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES: The Chairman’s Award at my firm as it is voted on by management and my peer group. Also being named to the Barron’s Top 1,200 and Top Women Wealth Advisor, and the Forbes Top Wealth Advisor Best-in-State, Top 100 Women Wealth Advisor, and Top Wealth Management Team Best-in-State.

ALAN BOTTORFF

Co-Founder, CEO Teledactyl Blockchain

While on active service in the U.S. Navy, Bottorff earned one of the highest ranks as an enlisted member. He was instrumental in worldwide operations that included the tsunami in Indonesia, the rescue of Captain Phillips from Somali pirates, and the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Bottorff acquired almost 30 years of professional leadership, entrepreneurship, and business/team development experiences. He has successfully founded five startup companies in the past 10 years. He developed Teledactyl Blockchain (health-care technology), Calla Genics Med Spa, and SugarKane Cigars. Bottorff enjoys being involved in his community. In addition to serving as a board member, trustee, and chairman of five organizations, he also is the financial secretary of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Delta Delta Lambda, and Prince Hall Freemasonry Thurgood Marshall Lodge No. 121.

EDUCATION: Duke University, Strayer University, and the Fuqua School of Business

PERSONAL MOTTO: The power is never in the position, but in the people who got you there.

HIDDEN TALENT: I’ve always been great at inspiring people when speaking or as an emcee.

MIKE BAUER

General Manager

Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium

A Florida native, Bauer is in his thirteenth season at the helm of America’s busiest ballpark, serving as general manager of Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium and Jupiter Stadium Ltd. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the 110-acre complex, which is home to six teams and year-round baseball. When he’s not at the ballpark, the University of Florida graduate is often found supporting Palm Beach County and serving on various boards. Bauer is heavily involved with the Jupiter Police Foundation, United Way of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission; he also was recently named president of the Leadership Palm Beach County board.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE FACED: Managing a baseball complex during the COVID-19 pandemic.

STARTS HIS DAY: I run through my daily calendar over a Diet Coke. I have tried co ee, but never grew to like it. I then listen to a podcast or YouTube to learn something new while getting ready.

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Yellowstone National Park. I cannot wait to see the mountains and natural beauty of that area.

NICOLE CUMMINGS

Deputy Program Manager Aerojet Rocketdyne

Cummings is the deputy program manager for the RL10 Exploration Upper Stage Rocket Engine for the Artemis Rocket. She works to promote STEM within the community and is widely known as the “Rocket Lady.” She regularly visits local schools and other community organizations to help expose students to the excitement and thrills of being an engineer and working in the aerospace industry. She also serves as a member of Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science Executive Advisory Board and was recently inducted into the Florida Atlantic University Hall of Fame.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Never count yourself out. Trust the process, trust yourself, and be patient with yourself.

BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: Never try to be the smartest person in the room. Walk into rooms filled with people smarter than you.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Getting out of my own head. I tend to be my worst critic.

HIDDEN TALENT: I have a private pilot’s license.

WHO WOULD PLAY HER IN A BIOPIC: Keke Palmer

FAVORITE BOOK: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

DAVID FITZPATRICK

CEO, Scientific Director

Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience

Since his appointment as scientific director and CEO of Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience in 2011, Fitzpatrick has led the institute’s expansion to eight research laboratories that are exploring fundamental questions critical to understanding brain function, development, and disease. Prior, he was the James B. Duke Professor of Neurobiology at the Duke University School of Medicine and founding director of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. Fitzpatrick’s research has earned him international recognition as a leader in the field of neuroscience, with discoveries that have profoundly changed our understanding of the brain’s neural circuits.

STARTS HIS DAY: With a good cup of co ee and an hour of exercise.

AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: I would really like to go on an African safari. It would bring together two of my favorite things: nature and photography.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Take the time to really listen, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Aspen, Colorado; the Dolomite Mountains of Italy; and Shanghai, China

DANIEL HOSTETTLER

President, CEO

The Boca Raton

Hostettler is guiding The Boca Raton’s evolution into an unrivaled luxury resort destination. An esteemed luxury hospitality leader with 25 years of experience, he is known for his innovative management approach. Prior to joining The Boca Raton, Hostettler was president and group managing director of the Ocean House Management Collection for 12 years, where he oversaw five award-winning New England properties, including Rhode Island’s Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn; they are part of the Relais & Châteaux collection of luxury hotels and restaurants around the world, for which Hostettler served as North American president for four years. He is a member of the Cornell Hotel Society and a trustee of the Culinary Institute of America. He was recently appointed to the advisory board of the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality at New York University.

HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, California

HIDDEN TALENT: I’m a Culinary Institute of America–trained cook, which means I have been known to roll up my sleeves and help in hotel kitchens when things get extra busy.

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Tom Selleck. He’s a great actor, and my wife loves him.

LIA T. GAINES

Executive Director Center for Enterprise Opportunity

Gaines is the co-founder and executive director of the Center for Enterprise Opportunity. Since 1996, the center has provided $20 million in direct loans, grants, and community investments to small, Black, women-owned, and community-development enterprises. Gaines has been recognized at the local, regional, and national levels for her leadership and work in racial, economic, and social equity. Throughout the pandemic, she led the Center for Enterprise Opportunity in advocating for and assisting more than 200 micro-enterprises, including small, Black, and women-owned businesses, in successfully securing more than $3 million in local CARES Act grants from Palm Beach County.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE FACED: Learning that respect is more important than being liked. WHO WOULD PLAY HER IN A BIOPIC: Tessa Thompson because she is brave and beautiful

AT THE TOP OF HER BUCKET LIST: Attend the Havana Jazz Festival

GUILTY PLEASURE: Any kind of potato chips—the whole bag!

SECRET TO HER SUCCESS: Being prepared for failure.

SAM KATO President, CEO TBC Corporation

Kato is a 30-year veteran of global automotive businesses. He served as a director of the board of TBC Corporation from 2015 until 2018 when he was leading Sumitomo Corporation of Americas’ transportation businesses. Kato was an instrumental part of the Sumitomo leadership team that formed a strategic joint venture with Michelin North America, Inc., in 2018 to create the current TBC Corporation. As TBC’s first chief administrative officer, Kato maintained responsibility for legal and compliance, human resources, IT, digital, corporate strategy, and communications. In May 2023, Kato was named president and CEO of TBC.

HOMETOWN: Tokyo, Japan

PERSONAL MOTTO: Stay confident on rainy days, stay humble on sunny days.

FIND HIM ON WEEKENDS: On the golf course at PGA National STARTS HIS DAY: Texting my family in Japan

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED (SO FAR): Be a good listener rather than a good speaker.

AMY KIGHT

Executive Director

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary at Loxahatchee River District

Kight serves as the executive director of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, an organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of Florida’s wildlife and natural resources. Kight served as the sanctuary’s education director for five years before being promoted to animal care director and then executive director in 2017. Prior to coming to Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, she served as Palm Beach County’s wildlife officer and holds multiple certifications including Florida Animal Control Officer and Chemical Capture, and is an internationally certified Wildlife Rehabilitator. Kight has degrees in both psychology and veterinary technology.

HOMETOWN: Lantana, Florida

STARTS HER DAY: Scrolling on social media until my dogs force me to get up.

FIRST JOB: I started volunteering for a local veterinarian when I was 6 years old. Once I was of legal age, they employed me.

WHAT SHE WOULD TELL HER YOUNGER SELF: Trust your gut. It is actually quite accurate. People will question it, but you will prove them wrong.

SECRETS TO HER SUCCESS: I am stubborn, determined, and only work harder to prove anyone wrong who tells me “no.”

WILLIAM A. MEYER

Chairman Meyer Jabara Hotels

Meyer is chairman of Meyer Jabara Hotels, which owns and operates 31 hotels from offices in Danbury, Connecticut, and West Palm Beach, Florida. His real estate projects in Palm Beach County include office buildings, shopping centers, large raw land tracts, hotels, and Devonshire at PGA National. He also serves as chair of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Campaign for the Future, a bold initiative to support the Jewish community today, tomorrow, and forever. Meyer is on the boards of the Kravis Center, Quantum Foundation, Palm Beach’s United Way and Civic Association, and the West Palm Beach Police Fund. Following his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, London School of Economics, and Georgetown Law School, Meyer became a member of the New York and Florida Bars. He later graduated from Harvard Business School.

STARTS HIS DAY: With 40 minutes of stretching and calisthenics

ADMIRES MOST: Bill Marriott. He started with a single co ee shop.

COLLECTS: Watches and cars

PERSONAL MOTTO: You get what you inspect, not what you expect.

JEFF LICHTENSTEIN Founder Echo Fine Properties

Lichtenstein got his start in the home furnishings textile business, traveling more than 35 weeks a year selling fabrics. After the family business was sold, Lichtenstein moved to Florida and became a real estate agent. Today he is the owner and broker of Echo Fine Properties, a luxury residential brokerage that year after year has been voted best brokerage of the year. Lichtenstein manages a nontraditional model of real estate that mimics a traditional business model. Echo has 80 agents, an average of $1 million per transaction, and more than $500 million in annual sales.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “You can’t do a good deal with a bad guy.” —my Grandpa Gerald

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: I loved Iceland in the 1990s, but then everybody discovered it. I have been to all 49 states. My missing state is North Dakota.

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: The Galapagos Islands

FIRST JOB: Popcorn vendor at the Ravinia Festival

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: We don’t take ourselves too seriously. All our agents feel like Echo Fine Properties is a good and fun place to be.

ARMANDO PIMENTEL

President, CEO Florida Power & Light

Pimentel was appointed president and CEO of Florida Power & Light (FPL) in February 2023. Previously, he served as president and CEO of FPL’s sister company, NextEra Energy Resources. He also served as executive vice president, finance, and chief financial officer of NextEra Energy. Prior to joining NextEra Energy, Pimentel was a partner at Deloitte & Touche, and from 1996 to 1998, he worked in the Office of Chief Accountant of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a professional accounting fellow. Pimentel holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Florida State University.

FAVORITE BOOK: Islands in the Stream by Ernest Hemingway

WHY HE CHOSE HIS LINE OF WORK: I love math and economics.

WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: A family dinner around the holidays

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HIM: I lived in Cuba from age 2 to 7.

HOBBY: Fishing

COLLECTS: Sea glass

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: Curiosity

JOHN PRINCE

CIO, Founder HotelPlanner

Prince graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern University with a degree in computer science and minor in mathematics. For the first few years of his career, he worked as a software engineer for IBM and Capital One. In 2003, Prince co-founded HotelPlanner and has bootstrapped the company to approximately $1 billion in gross hotel bookings. In 2016, South Florida Business Journal named Prince as CIO of the year in South Florida as well as to South Florida’s 40 under 40 list. Prince and his wife, Jessica, have three children. He is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Everything e ects everything” —Jim Rohn

INSPIRED BY: I’ve always been a huge Tony Robbins fan. He was my mentor as a young man when I didn’t have one. He continues to be a tremendous force of good in the world on many levels and topics.

WHAT HE WOULD TELL HIS YOUNGER SELF: Speak your mind more. People want to hear what you have to say.

WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: Helping my kids and other people in my life improve their lives.

AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: A family vacation to Iceland

BURT RAPOPORT

President Rapoport’s Restaurant Group

A visionary third-generation restaurant aficionado and award-winning restaurateur, Rapoport has led an impressive legacy in the South Florida restaurant scene for more than four decades. Rapoport started his career in New York City, where his family owned and operated a successful kosher dairy restaurant for 50 years. He is recognized for his dedication to providing highquality cuisine for a good value, a warm and welcoming ambience, and truly attentive service at all his restaurants.

HOMETOWN: Long Beach, New York

EDUCATION: Arizona State University

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Larry David

AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: Bike trip in Portugal

PERSONAL MOTTO: Do what you say you’re going to do.

FIRST JOB: Other than working in my grandfather’s restaurant when I was young, I was an ocean lifeguard during college summers.

FAVORITE BOOK: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

GUILTY PLEASURE: Ice cream

DIANE QUINN

CEO

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

Prior to her appointment as CEO of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Quinn was the chief creative officer for Cirque du Soleil Entertainment, overseeing show creations and innovation. Quinn has helmed several other arts organizations—including The American Repertory Theatre and the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University—and was the producer for Soulpepper Theatre Company and Festival of Classics. Quinn has taught at several universities and spoken at events including SXSW, C2MTL, and in Scandinavia on topics including creativity, innovation, and arts management.

HOMETOWN: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

PERSONAL MOTTO: Say yes. It’s incredible what can happen!

HOBBY: Watching live theater—I never tire of seeing great work.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “We rise by lifting others.” —Robert Ingersoll

FIRST JOB: I worked for a local farmer picking tomatoes. I am still not fond of tomatoes all these years later.

HIDDEN TALENT: I am licensed to race motorcycles.

JANNA RONERT

Founder, Chairwoman of the Board Image Skincare

Before pursuing her passion as an aesthetician, Ronert established herself as a successful businesswoman working with numerous Fortune 100 companies. Leveraging her expertise in both business and beauty, she founded Image Skincare in 2003, which is headquartered in Palm Beach. Over the last 20 years, Image Skincare has become the No. 1 professional spa and salon brand in the United States, and it is used by celebrities like Margot Robbie, Megan Fox, and Jennifer Coolidge. The clean clinical skin care collection is now the go-to brand for more than 50,000 beauty professionals across more than 60 countries.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The lazy are never lucky.” —my father

HIDDEN TALENT: I’m very good at word games. I was even a winner on Wheel of Fortune when I was in college.

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Tuscany, Italy; Berlin, Germany; Dubai, UAE; and Dublin, Ireland

FIRST JOB: Milking cows on our farm before school every day

FAVORITE BOOK: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

COLLECTS: Starbucks mugs. Every city, state, and country I visit, I buy a mug. I have over 300.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED (SO FAR): If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody will.

CREATIVE THINKERS

DEAN W. DIMKE

Executive Director West Palm Beach Library Foundation

Dimke has provided leadership and vision to both for-profit and nonprofit organizations for the past 30 years. He is a passionate and tireless advocate to better the community throughout Palm Beach County. Previously, Dimke served as the CEO of American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, where he directed the response to five major hurricanes that impacted the area in 2004 and 2005. He has also worked in the private sector in leadership positions. He lives in West Palm Beach and has three sons: Tate, Lowell, and Blaise.

HOMETOWN: Louisville, Kentucky

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” —Mike Tyson ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Focus on what you can do—not on what you cannot do.

PERSONAL MOTTO: When growth stops, decay begins.

HIDDEN TALENT: I’m not a bad cook!

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Matthew McConaughey

FIRST JOB: Lifeguard

INSPIRED BY: People who keep moving forward and never let a setback keep them down. That’s the di erence between those who reach their dreams and those who do not. We all fail many times—the key is to not let that stop you.

WHY HE CHOSE HIS LINE OF WORK: I started training lifeguards at age 17. That led me into a career with the Red Cross. I enjoyed helping people. That passion shaped my life and my career.

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: Do two or three things well—not 10 things average.

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO GRAB A DRINK: E. R. Bradley’s Saloon

BLAKE BENNETT

Principal A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

Bennett has been an educator for 25 years, working as a teacher, assistant principal, middle school principal, and high school principal. As principal of A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, she offers students a world-class academic and arts education. It is her responsibility to make sure students reach their highest potential, academically and artistically. She has worked in different kinds of schools over the years and focused on instruction, systems, and culture to provide the highest quality of education that leads to student achievement. She assisted in raising a struggling school through focused efforts on those three components, along with arts programming. Bennett believes all students should have the opportunity to explore learning through a passion for the arts; offering arts classes to students is often the thing that makes them enjoy coming to school.

HOMETOWN: Bu alo, New York

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Don’t ever doubt your ability to be the best you can be.

HOBBIES: Exercising, the arts, reading, crafts, learning new things, and spending time with family and friends

ANTHONY BURKS SR.

President ATB Fine Art Group, Inc.

A Palm Beach County native, Burks Sr. has more than 30 years of experience in the field of fine and commercial art. He is a visual artist, curator, mentor, art educator, and co-founder of ATB Fine Art Group Inc., an art-based consulting firm that creates, sells, promotes, and teaches about art of different disciplines. He provides exhibition opportunities to emerging, mid-career, and established artists with his business partner and wife, Trina Slade-Burks. Two of his works, MirrorBlackand Juneteenth , were acquired by the Norton Museum of Art and put into the R.H. Norton Permanent Collection. Burks Sr. has received numerous awards, grants, and other honors throughout the years.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Less is more.

HIDDEN TALENT: I bake a mean pound cake.

STARTS HIS DAY: I pray and thank God for my blessings.

WHY HE CHOSE HIS LINE OF WORK: It chose me. From the time I was a little boy I always knew I wanted to be an artist.

LORI BERG

General Manager

The Royal Poinciana Plaza

Since the beginning of her career, Berg has been immersed in luxury fashion. She has held executive leadership roles at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Henri Bendel. Prior to rejoining The Royal Poinciana Plaza, Berg was the vice president of retail at Baha Mar in the Bahamas. Berg is deeply ingrained in the Palm Beach community, serving on multiple charity leadership boards and committees as well as the board of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Find a mentor and recognize that with every action in your career, no matter how big or small, you are building your reputation.

FAVORITE BOOK: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

PERSONAL MOTTO: Another day in paradise!

WHY SHE CHOSE HER LINE OF WORK: I’ve always known my path. I’ve loved fashion since childhood, and that love has always steered the course of my career.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be di erent.” —Coco Chanel

HOBBIES: Being on the water…boating, beach, pool!

COLLECTS: Shoes and handbags

CLAY CONLEY

Chef, Owner Buccan, Imoto, Grato, Buccan Sandwich Shops, Buccan Provisions Non-Profit Corporation

Now a six-time James Beard Award nominee for “Best Chef: South,” Conley has worked his way around the kitchen since his teenage years washing dishes. In 2011, he opened Palm Beach–favorite Buccan, followed by Imoto, Grato, and Buccan Sandwich Shop. In April 2020, Conley launched Buccan Provisions to mitigate Palm Beach County’s unprecedented hunger resulting from the pandemic. Today, the organization provides emergency food relief through highvolume production meal distribution, community anti-hunger partnerships, and holiday distribution operations.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: My first 25 years in this business, I was living the #chefslife drinking and partying. I took my last drink six years ago and my whole world changed.

HOBBIES: Chicken and pig farming

FIRST JOB: My first job was on “Hardway Farm” (because they did everything the hard way). This job consisted of cleaning cow poop, building stone walls, working in a sawmill, and haying in the summer.

WHAT HE WOULD TELL HIS HIS YOUNGER SELF: Relax, enjoy the journey, everything will work out.

GEORGE FORD

Owner

Leeds Custom Design, Seabreeze Building

Ford founded Seabreeze Building, LLC in 2014 to fill the need for a “best in class” custom home building company to serve the clients of his successful cabinet and millwork business, Leeds Custom Design. The company has grown to include more than 40,000 square feet of showroom, design, workshop, and finishing facilities. Ford, a native of North Palm Beach, graduated from St. Andrews High School and received a bachelor of science degree from Vanderbilt University. Ford is also a licensed residential building contractor in the State of Florida and has built luxury homes throughout the Palm Beaches.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: My dad used to say, “You’ll never get ahead working an eight-hour day.”

FAVORITE BOOK: The Toyota Way by Je rey Liker

HIDDEN TALENT: Picking talented people

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Architectural wonders throughout America and Europe

FAVORITE QUOTE: “There is nothing quite so useless, as doing with great e ciency, something that should not be done at all.” —Peter Drucker

DAVID HARRISON

Senior Vice President Related Companies

Harrison has worked for both prominent architectural and real estate firms. Following a year in London, he joined with architect Philip Johnson in New York to design projects that include Boston’s International Place and Times Square Center. In 2006, he joined Related Companies to oversee W South Beach. Since moving to West Palm Beach in 2012, Harrison has led the design of the Hilton West Palm Beach, 360 Rosemary, 575 Rosemary, One Flagler, and the reimagination of The Square. Harrison lives in Palm Beach Gardens with his wife, Elizabeth.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” —Gandhi

PERSONAL MOTTO: From Thoreau: “Simplify, simplify.”

WHY HE CHOSE HIS LINE OF WORK: From an early age, I loved art, design, drawing, and construction. Architecture combined them all.

COLLECTS: Art, photography, and music. I have a large collection of vinyl albums.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Find your passion.

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Petra Temple in Jordan

FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO GRAB A DRINK: Galley at the Hilton West Palm Beach, but I’m biased since we also designed the space.

SCOTT FRIELICH

Restaurateur

Subculture Restaurant Group, 3 Amigos Hospitality Group

Frielich opened his first bar, Lost Weekend, in West Palm Beach in the 1990s, followed by an outpost in South Beach. Alongside partner Rodney Mayo, Frielich activated 20 more bars, nightclubs, and restaurants around South Florida and eventually formed Subculture Restaurant Group. In 2017, he conceived Papichulo Tacos and rolled out two locations with partners Angelo Abbenante and Cleve Mash. After forming 3 Amigos Hospitality Group with executive chef and copartner Tim Nickey, Frielich debuted Blackbird Modern Asian in Jupiter, an innovative hospitality concept whose accolades include Best New Restaurant in the PalmBeachPost2023 Best of the Best Awards.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Our prime purpose in life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” —The Dalai Lama

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: Laying o 650 employees and closing 16 stores during COVID-19.

HIDDEN TALENT: Playing drums

FIRST JOB: Burger King

SECRETS TO HIS SUCCESS: Passion, hard work, and a little luck

NICHOLAS “NICK” KORNILOFF

Executive Vice President, Director Art Miami Show Group, Informa Markets Art

Korniloff oversees the management and creative direction for Art Miami, Context, Aqua Art Miami, Art Wynwood, and Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary fairs. Korniloff has more than two decades of experience in media, art fair management, and live event production industries. His commitment to creating new opportunities for the international art community through the development of art fairs and collaborative partnerships has attracted some of the most prestigious galleries in the contemporary and modern markets to participate in the fairs he manages.

HOMETOWN: Roslyn, New York

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Return every phone call. Be a better listener than talker. Don’t think you’re the smartest person in the room. Find the balance between patience and persistence.

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: George Clooney

SECRETS TO HIS SUCCESS: Making myself available to others and their creative thoughts. Connecting good and like-minded people. My discipline, work ethic, and ability to walk my talk through teamwork.

ROCCO MANGEL

Co-Owner

Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar

Mangel is the visionary behind Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar, one of South Florida’s most beloved staples for authentic Mexican cuisine, serving more than 400 varieties of tequila. With eight restaurants throughout Florida and New York, Mangel’s commitment to success extends beyond his restaurants and into the communities they serve. In 2017, he announced that he was living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Since then, he has raised $500,000 for the National MS Society and was the recipient of the MS Hope Award in 2018.

HOMETOWN: Hauppauge, Long Island, New York

FAVORITE QUOTE: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.” –Paulo Coelho

HIDDEN TALENT: I am like MacGyver; I can fix anything!

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Jason Statham

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: It’s not who is right, it is who is left.

GUILTY PLEASURE: Ice cream

INSPIRED BY: My wife and my two daughters They inspire me to be a better man. I try to behave like the man I want my daughters to marry.

MICHAEL OAKES

Vice President of Sales and Marketing Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Since 2017, Oakes has led a team of hoteliers focused on marketing, sales, revenue management, and public relations at Eau Palm Beach. He started his hospitality journey in Boston working for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in 2003, spending more than 12 years with Ritz-Carlton properties in Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Fort Lauderdale. After many years working with Marriott International, he was eager to learn and understand more about the business behind independent hotels. In 2013, he took on the role of director of sales in Palm Beach at the newly independent five-star, five-diamond Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. Oakes resides in Boynton Beach with his wife, Jessica, and their children, Julia and James.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Try to learn something new each day and focus on personal growth.

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Lake Tahoe, Nevada; Colorado Springs, Colorado

FIRST JOB: Washing dishes at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

FAVORITE BOOK: A Time to Kill by John Grisham

GUILTY PLEASURE: Pretzels from Wawa

CAMILLE MURPHY

General Manager, Buyer Pioneer Linens

Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Murphy is one of the four generations working in her family business, Pioneer Linens, one of Palm Beach County’s oldest retail businesses. Murphy joined Pioneer Linens in 2007, taking over the marketing and advertising. In 2015, she took on the position of buyer, later developing the Pioneer Linens Private Label Collection of fine linens and accessories. Murphy serves on multiple charitable committees and is a board member of the South End Neighborhood Association. When she’s not working, she spends time at home with her husband and two daughters.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “More is more and less is a bore!” –Iris Apfel

STARTS HER DAY: Making breakfast with my husband and girls and then rushing to make lunches and get dressed and out the door.

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: India

COLLECTS: I’ve collected hat pins since I was 10 years old.

FIRST JOB: Selling shoes at JC Penney’s.

JACOB D.

STEIGER

Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon, Owner Steiger Facial Plastic Surgery

Steiger is an accomplished facial plastic surgeon whose background and credentials reflect his commitment to the highest standards of patient care, treatment innovation, and leadership within his specialty. Steiger is boardcertified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. Steiger’s philosophy is centered around enhancing the lives of his patients by achieving natural-appearing results using the most advanced and proven techniques. He believes in customizing each patient’s care based on their unique anatomical features, desires, and expectations.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” —Steve Jobs

PERSONAL MOTTO: The Golden Rule: Treat others as you would want to be treated.

HIDDEN TALENT: Sewing. My grandmother, a seamstress, taught me to sew when I was 8 years old. It’s almost like meditation for me.

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: I want to go to Indonesia to explore, scuba dive, and surf.

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: I love what I do and wake up every morning excited to go to work.

OLGA VAZQUEZ

Director of Artistic Operations Palm Beach Symphony

Since joining the Palm Beach Symphony in 2016, Vazquez has aimed to build capacity for educational and community outreach initiatives as well as expand and diversify programming efforts, to include an increased concert schedule, developing collaborative artistic partnerships, and national broadcasts. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master of music degrees from the University of Miami and a PhD in education, curriculum, and instruction from Florida Atlantic University.

WHO WOULD PLAY HER IN A BIOPIC: Sandra Bullock

STARTS HER DAY: With a shot of espresso

WHY SHE CHOSE HER LINE OF WORK: My life always revolved around music, but I neither wanted to play professionally nor become a full-time teacher. So, I decided that working in the business of music made sense.

WHAT MAKES HER SMILE: Anything Christmas

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: My favorite orchestral instrument is the bass clarinet, which I also play.

DAVID

General and Artistic Director Palm Beach Opera

Walker joined Palm Beach Opera in 2015 as director of institutional advancement and was promoted to managing director in 2016. In 2019, he became the company’s first-ever general and artistic director. He has excelled at growing the stability of the company, record attendance and support, educational programs, and the resident artist training initiatives. Walker also oversees all company artistic and production aspects. Prior to joining the Palm Beach Opera, he had an 18-year singing career, performing with the most prestigious opera houses and orchestras throughout the world.

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Greg Kinnear

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATIONS: Southeast Asia or New Zealand

WHAT HE’D TELL HIS YOUNGER SELF: While you think you do, you really don’t know everything yet!

FIND HIM ON WEEKENDS: Bike riding or walking on Singer Island, or strolling on the beach.

FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Malakor Thai Café in Northwood

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

DANITA DEHANEY

President, CEO Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties

DeHaney brings an expansive skillset to her executive leadership of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. In addition to 25 successful years in higher education managing a portfolio of major donors and prospects, she has 14 years of private industry experience working at global giants like Xerox Corporation. As the foundation’s president and CEO, DeHaney provides leadership for all aspects of the organization’s operations, emphasizing long-term goals and growth.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to far, go together.” —African proverb ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Immerse yourself fully in the culture of the organization. When you understand the culture, you are better able to navigate through challenges and issues as they arise. When you have a sense of the politics, the people, and the systems involved, you are better able to achieve e ciencies with your work.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Maintain joy; it should be fun.

HIDDEN TALENT: Pilates practitioner

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: The U.S. National Parks

WHO WOULD PLAY HER IN A BIOPIC: Halle Berry

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Paris and Monaco

FIRST JOB: I worked at the snack bar in a bowling alley.

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: I cook a mean osso buco.

COLLECTS: Personal stationery

GUILTY PLEASURE: Gummy bears

FIND HER ON WEEKENDS: Beaching it or playing tennis.

SARAH ALSOFROM

Senior Director of Community Relations

GL Homes

As senior director of community relations for Florida-based GL Homes, one of the largest private homebuilders in the nation, Alsofrom manages statewide philanthropic giving for the company. Each year, GL Homes donates to 150 charities in the Sunshine State and beyond. A Florida native, Alsofrom’s professional background includes careers in the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors. She is a past president of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches and past chair of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

HIDDEN TALENT: I’ve got a green thumb, particularly with orchids.

HOBBIES: Pilates, yoga, gardening, and letter writing

AT THE TOP OF HER BUCKET LIST: Attending the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris

FAVORITE QUOTE: “A party without cake is really just a meeting.” —Julia Child ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Don’t burn bridges. In this town, everyone and everything is connected.

STANTON COLLEMER

CEO

Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope

Collemer moved to South Florida in 1980 and began a 16-year career in hospitality at the renowned resort The Breakers Palm Beach. Stanton took his work ethic to the nonprofit sector, and from 1996 through 2015 he held positions at the Intracoastal Health Foundation benefiting Good Samaritan and St. Mary’s Hospital, followed by launching Palm Healthcare Foundation. He later joined the Center for Family Services as chief fundraising officer. In 2016, he sought new challenges as CEO of the Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope, where he has grown the organization from small, grassroots beginnings to a mainstream agency, increasing the annual budget from $250,000 to $2.3 million.

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Listen more than you speak.

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Hugh Jackman, obviously. Uncanny resemblance.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.” —Gandhi

HIDDEN TALENT: I’ve been told recently that my culinary skills are top-notch.

HOBBIES: I am an avid gardener and I love to host dinner parties at my home.

MICHAEL J. BURKE

Superintendent School District of Palm Beach County

As the superintendent of the A-rated School District of Palm Beach County, Burke is passionate about ensuring academic excellence and paving the way to post-graduate success for the district’s approximately 170,000 students. With a district employing more than 23,000 people, he oversees Palm Beach County’s largest workforce. His tenure as superintendent began in July 2021 when the school board unanimously elected him, a testament to his extensive experience with all aspects of district operations and administration spanning 25 years.

EDUCATION: Florida State University and Florida Atlantic University

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Greece

IF HE COULD START OVER, HE WOULD: Be in the U.S. Coast Guard

FAVORITE QUOTE: “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt

HIDDEN TALENT: I’m pretty good with basic carpentry.

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Edward Norton

HOBBY: Fishing

FIND HIM ON WEEKENDS: On the boat

GUILTY PLEASURE: Potato chips

ANDY DEHART

President, CEO Loggerhead Marinelife

Center

Dehart has more than 30 years of experience working in the public aquarium industry. In this time, he served in many capacities at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Dehart has been fortunate enough to be part of the construction and opening teams for three world-class aquarium facilities, including Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska; Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto; and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami. He brings his passion for education and research to Loggerhead Marinelife Center to promote conservation of ocean ecosystems with a focus on sea turtles.

PERSONAL MOTTO: “No one wins alone.” —Mark Messier

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Be persistent. If there is something you want to do, don’t give up.

HOBBIES: Scuba diving, underwater photography, ice hockey, canoeing, and camping

FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN PALM BEACH COUNTY: The amount of natural and protected spaces.

WHAT SCARES HIM: Failing my team.

GERI M. EMMETT

Founder, Chairwoman Duffy’s Foundation

Emmett is the founder and chairwomen of Duffy’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 in memory of her late husband, Paul Emmett. The foundation directly supports nonprofits, including the local branches of the Girl Scouts of America, American Red Cross, and Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches. It also sponsors special causes aimed at increasing awareness and support of important local initiatives including The Palm Beach School for Autism’s Project Next, Forgotten Soldiers, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and Brigham Women’s Hospital. A resident of the Palm Beach area for more than 23 years, Emmett is the mother of Alex and stepmother of Jason and Heather.

PERSONAL MOTTO: You only have one first at everything. Make it your best.

FIRST JOB: Camp counselor at Friends Academy

INSPIRED BY: Trish McEvoy, because she taught me everything I know about business. Also by my late husband, Paul Emmett, because he was a true renaissance man and my biggest cheerleader.

GUILTY PLEASURE: A cold vodka with lime

JULIO A. FUENTES

President, CEO Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Fuentes is president and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FSHCC). In 2000, he founded the chamber in response to the tremendous growth of Florida’s Hispanic population. Today, the chamber has grown to 38 chapters and manages a database of more than 80,000 minorityowned businesses—the only statewide economic development organization serving the Hispanic community. He resides in Wellington with his wife and children, Nicholas and Gabriella.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Please do the right thing, even when it might be easier to avoid it. You must look at yourself in the mirror each day. Are you pleased with that person?

STARTS HIS DAY: With a Cuban co ee

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADE: Named to the 100 Most Influential People in Florida Politics

WHAT HE’D TELL HIS YOUNGER SELF: Your struggle will be part of your success story.

FIND HIM ON WEEKENDS: At the Wellington Wave Soccer Fields

FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Devine Bistro in Wellington

CHARLENE FARRINGTON

Executive Director

Spady Cultural Heritage Museum

Farrington is the executive director of the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, a Delray Beach nonprofit established to preserve and share Black history through educational programming and exhibitions. Farrington has a bachelor’s of business administration from Mercer University and most recently received the TwentyFirst Century Innovative Leader certification from Carolina Christian College. She holds leadership positions in the South Florida branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and the local chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She is also a member of the Palm Beach County Public Art Committee.

BEST ADVICE: Everything will be alright in the end…if it’s not alright, then it’s not the end.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Guard your karma

FIRST JOB: Part-time sales at Jordan Marsh

GUILTY PLEASURE: Candied pecans

FAVORITE QUOTE: “You can’t teach what you don’t know and you can’t lead where you won’t go.” —Rev. Jesse Jackson

GREG HAZLE

Executive Director Boca Helping Hands

Hazle is the executive director of Boca Helping Hands, a multiservice agency that helps meet the basic needs of underserved residents of Palm Beach County and helps them achieve self-sufficiency through job training. Prior to this role, he served as a senior executive at local Fortune 500 companies NextEra and Cemex. Hazle and his wife, Tina, live in Boca Raton and have two daughters and three grandkids.

HOMETOWN: Kingston, Jamaica

PERSONAL MOTTO: What’s the worst that could happen?

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Denzel Washington

FIND HIM ON THE WEEKEND: Making bogeys.

FAVORITE BOOK: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

WHAT HE WOULD TELL HIS YOUNGER SELF: Eat more vegetables.

FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Bamboo Fire in Delray Beach

COLLECTS: Kindle books

WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: My grandchildren

THOMAS M. KIRCHHOFF

Principal Kirchhoff & Associates Architects

Kirchhoff is an architect and the principal of Kirchhoff & Associates Architects, a Jupiter-based firm established in 1994. Originally from Philadelphia, Kirchhoff earned a degree in architecture from the University of Miami and moved to Palm Beach County, where he’s practiced architecture for the past 40 years. His awardwinning firm specializes in the design of high-end custom homes, primarily in the Palm Beach and Jupiter Island communities. His work with charitable organizations includes serving as chairman of the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and past chairman for the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

PERSONAL MOTTO: Measure twice, cut once.

HIDDEN TALENT: Baking

TOP TRAVEL PICK: Down East Maine in the summer is heaven on earth.

FIRST JOB: Paperboy for the Philadelphia Bulletin

FAVORITE BOOK: Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HIM: I love playing on my John Deere tractor.

NOEL MARTINEZ

President, CEO Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

Martinez is the president and CEO of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. With a deep understanding of the local business landscape, he has been instrumental in driving economic growth and fostering a thriving business community in the Palm Beach North region. Through his strategic vision and effective advocacy, Martinez has successfully spearheaded initiatives to attract investment, promote entrepreneurship, and enhance the overall business climate. His passion for collaboration and building strong relationships has resulted in impactful partnerships between the chamber, businesses, and government entities.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” —Helen Keller

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Italy, Portugal, and the Bahamas have captured my heart with their unique charm, beauty, and food.

GUILTY PLEASURE: Indulging in the enjoyment of a fine tequila.

FIRST JOB: Selling T-shirts for my father at a Flea Market in Miami.

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO GRAB A DRINK: The Moose Lodge in Jupiter

SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS: Leading with my heart.

DAVE LAWRENCE

President, CEO Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

Lawrence serves as the chief advocate for the arts and cultural community, leads constituent engagement, and represents the cultural sector in local, regional, and national matters. Since joining the Cultural Council in 2018, he has worked to rebrand the organization, build a robust artist services team, and launch new initiatives to provide direct funding to the sector. He created the Artist Innovation Fellowship program, awarding established Palm Beach County artists with career-enhancing funding, and the Cultural Resiliency Fund to help cultural organizations recover post-pandemic. Lawrence led the development of the first Arts & Tourism Summit for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in 2021.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” —Walt Disney

HOBBIES: Pottery and riding rollercoasters (currently 635 coasters all over the world)

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Australia

BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Keep it about the work.

IF HE COULD START OVER, HE WOULD: Be a theme park designer

FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Renato’s in Palm Beach

TAYLOR MATERIO

Chief Development Officer

Historical Society of Palm Beach County

Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Materio has a 15-year career in nonprofit development, management, and fundraising. After graduating from the University of Florida, Materio worked in Washington, D.C., where she advocated for affordable housing rights on Capitol Hill. In 2010 she returned to South Florida and joined her family’s business, McMow Art Glass. Materio values the importance of serving her community and has served on an extensive list of committees and boards, including the Commission on Women and Homeless Advisory Board at the Palm Beach County Commission and as the past chair of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Committee.

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Safari in Kenya

FIRST JOB: I worked for our family business when I was 13 years old in the retail studio and learned from a young age the importance of hard work.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADE: Young Professional of the Year from the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce.

SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: I love scary movies.

ANN MCNEILL

President

M.C.O. Construction and Services, Inc.; Constructively Speaking, Inc.; MCO Consulting, Inc.; National Association of Black Women in Construction

McNeill is the “Master Wealth Builder” helping entrepreneurs gain greater clarity in the highest income-producing areas of their business and life. She’s an expert speaker, coach, author, contractor, and the president and CEO of one of South Florida’s few African American female-owned construction companies, a multimillion-dollar construction company. She is the 2022 awardee of the Better Investing Founder Award and has been featured on CBS, Black Enterprise, and World News and in USA Today and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

M.C.O. Construction and Services Inc. was founded more than 40 years ago and is still one of the leading Black-owned firms in Florida in construction management and project controls.

BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: Invest and max out all my retirement accounts every year.

PERSONAL MOTTO: You must have a dream to have a dream come true.

TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Senegal and Cape Town, South Africa

STARTS HER DAY: With a daily date with myself by writing my daily a rmations and goals.

HOBBIES: Reading, walking, and traveling

ERIC ROBY Executive Director

American Red Cross Palm Beach and Treasure Coast

Formerly a television news anchor for more than a quarter century, Roby now enjoys a successful career as a nonprofit leader. He took the reins of American Red Cross Palm Beach and Treasure Coast chapter during the post-pandemic recovery, charged with re-engaging volunteers, supporters, and crucial programs. During his short tenure, Roby has focused on humanitarian recovery efforts across Florida after the costliest natural disaster in the state’s history while relaunching the annual International Red Cross Ball.

EDUCATION: American University

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Know there will be scary and di cult days, but trust that your passion will lead you in the right direction.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE FACED: I am the first in my family to graduate from college. You cannot underestimate the challenges faced by first-generation college graduates, often due to the lack of support. For many students in this situation, there is no safety net and no second chances.

FIRST JOB: While looking for a job to earn money for college, I found an apprentice position as a professional dog trainer. I held this position in high school and through college for nine years.

RICKY PETTY

Director

Healthier Boynton Beach

Petty is the project director of Palm Beach Health Foundation’s Healthier Boynton Beach initiative led by Pathways to Prosperity. He also owns Petty Capital Realty Inc., a real estate brokerage firm located in Boynton Beach. Petty’s dedication to and passion for his community are driven by his upbringing in his hometown. He understands the importance of mentorship and giving back. He pays it forward through motivational speaking and mentoring youth and young adults to help them overcome adversity and obstacles. He serves on the board of several organizations and is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

EDUCATION: Bethune Cookman University

HOBBIES: Sports, reading, and traveling

WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Omari Hardwick

HIDDEN TALENT: I’m a pretty good baker.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Omega Man of the Year; Bethune Cookman University 40 under 40 Movers & Shakers Award; Alumni of Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2021

SUSAN SHULMAN PERTNOY

Chairman, Board of Directors

Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County

A longtime resident, philanthropist, and leader of the Palm Beaches, Shulman Pertnoy serves as board chair of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. She hosts Mosaic, the federation’s longtime Jewish community news magazine show that airs on WPBF 25 (ABC) and via podcast. She has held numerous senior community leadership positions, including board chair at the Mandel JCC of the Palm Beaches and chair of the federation’s Israel & Overseas Committee. She received her juris doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and her bachelor of science in psychology at Syracuse University. She currently works in real estate development in Palm Beach.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The promise of a wonderful tomorrow is today.” —Barbara Kay

PERSONAL MOTTO: Every day is a new opportunity for a fresh start.

HIDDEN TALENT: Most people don’t know that I sing and love to play the piano at home.

STARTS HER DAY: With co ee and pilates. I feel stronger, grounded, and ready for the day.

TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Japan

GUILTY PLEASURE: Dark chocolate

CHRISTINE SYLVAIN

Founder, Executive Director Path to College Fellowship

Sylvain is the founder and executive director of the Path to College Fellowship, whose mission is to secure the acceptance of as many high-achieving, low-income students into top-tier universities as possible. Her vision is to answer and address one of society’s most urgent educational inequities: access to higher education. Path to College Fellowship is the way beyond these obstacles for the most overlooked and most hardworking students.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.”—Stephen Jay Gould

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Follow your passion, and do not stop working toward that goal until you are proud.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGES: Moving four times in three years in high school, and single motherhood.

BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: Hard work beats talent.

SECRET TO HER SUCCESS: I am undeterrable.

ANDREA VIRGIN

President, Chairman of the Board

The Center for Arts & Innovation

Virgin is a professional ballerina-turned-land development engineer. After nearly 20 years of working in both commercial real estate and the performing arts, the Boca Raton native decided to combine both passions with her love of the community to spearhead the proposed Center for Arts & Innovation, filling a 60mile cultural gap that’s existed for decades. Since co-founding the center, she has amassed nearly $13 million in donations and in-kind support, engaged major stakeholders and world-renowned consultants, will soon secure a 94-year ground lease with the city, and has commenced exciting and meaningful discussions for major philanthropic support.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “It always feels impossible until it’s done.” —Nelson Mandela

BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: When they go low, we go high.

HOBBY: Ballroom dancing! If I’m not working, with family or friends, or volunteering, you can find me at Boca’s Fred Astaire Dance Studios.

STARTS HER DAY: I try to get up before the family, sip on co ee, and meditate before the madness of the day begins.

CLASS OF 2020

Almira, Manuel

Amidon, Roger

Anthony, Laura

Arrizza, Kate

Atherley, Susan

Barsoum, Wael

Beaud, Thierry

Bellissimo, Mark

Berry, Ashley

Bingham, Douglas

Bone, Bill

Bostwick Davis, Elliot

Brinker, Nancy

Bucher, Lloyd

Buker, Robert Jr.

Chouris, Victoria

Devries, Jim

Diament, Scott

Dunkin, Bob

Elbanna, Mohamed

Elmore, George

Fanjul, Alfonso Jr.

Fennoy, Donald

Fiser, Jeffrey

Fitzpatrick, David

Fleming, William Jr.

Freeman, Alyssa

Frisbie, Dave

Goddard, Patrick

Godek, Bernard

Hearon, Fanning III

Hedrick, Dale

Herbst, Todd

Hoffman, Michael

Huizenga, H. Wayne Jr.

Jacobs, Michele

Jergensen, Glenn

Johnson, Jeremy Wayne

Jones, Yvonne

Kato, Andrew

Kelly, John

Kennerly, Kenneth

Kolich, Todd

Kroeger, Leslie

LaTour, Marti Lawrence, Dave

Leas Ferreira, Lilly

Le Clerc, Natalie

Leone, Paul

Lesser, Gary

Lighton, Jack

Maurer, Ralph

Mayeux, Sara

McCann, Sara

McCauley, Cynthia

McClymont, David

McMakin, Mimi Maddock

McKernan, Bill Mendez, Lincoln

Miranda, Jaene

Mitchell, Judith

Murphy, Penny

Nardi, Tim

Nowlin, Joanne

Oyer, Harvey Parker, Ava

Perry, Bill

Pesquera, Jorge

Pettis Jester, Whitney

Pope, Lois

Prakas, A. Tom

Prince, J. Michael

Pumo, Michael

Rajegowda, Gopal

Rastogi, Amit

Reid, Thomas

Rendina, Richard

Robo, James

Ross, Kevin

Rowling, Keith

Russell, Byron

Sabin, David

Saldaña, Sal

Samuels, Rob

Schack, Ryan

Schumacher, Amanda

Shapiro, Ethan

Shearouse, Joseph III

Smith, Gerry

Spina, Keith

Spirou, Denise

Sweet, Andry

Taplett, Caroline

Tiano, Sal

Tolbert, John Carlton

Trethewey, Linda

Vesely, Liv

Willlams, Keith

Wetenhall, Sarah

Whaley, Suzy

CLASS OF 2021

Arizza, Kate

Atherley, Susan

Almira, Manuel

Anthony, Laura

Beaud, Thierry

Bellissimo, Mark

Berg, Lori

Betten, Margaret

Bingham, Douglas

Bone, Bill

Brinker, Nancy

Bucher, Lloyd

Buker, Robert Jr.

Chouris, Victoria

DeVries, Jim

Diament, Scott

Dunkin, Bob

Elbanna, Mohamed

Elmore, George

Fanjul, Alfonso Jr.

Farrington, Charlene

Faus, David

Fennoy, Donald

Fiser, Jeffrey

Fitzpatrick, David

Franklin, Patrick

Frisbie, Dave

Forbes, Clinton

Freeman, Alyssa

Gaff, Richard

Gaines, Lia

Goss, Chauncey

Hamilton, Terrence

Hazle, Greg

Hearon, Fanning III

Hedrick, Dale

Herbst, Todd

Hoffman, Michael

Huizenga, H. Wayne Jr.

Iannotti, Joseph

Jacobs, Michele

Jergensen, Glenn

Johnson, Jeremy Wayne Jester, Whitney Pettis

Jones, Yvonne

Kato, Andrew

Kelly, John

Kennerly, Kenneth Larkin, Mark LaTour, Marti Lawrence, Dave Lazo, Nelson

Leone, Paul

Lesser, Gary Maurer, Ralph McCann, Sara McCauley, Cynthia McClymont, David McDonald, Patty McKernan, Bill McMakin, Mimi Maddock Melby, Gina Mendez, Lincoln Menor, Arthur Miranda, Jaene Murphy, Penny Nardi, Tim Parker, Ava Perry, Bill Pesquera, Jorge Pope, Lois

Prince, J. Michael Pumo, Michael Rajegowda, Gopal Rastogi, Amit Robo, James Ross, Kevin Rowling, Keith Russell, Byron Sabin, David Saldaña, Sal Samuels, Rob Scarpa, John Schack, Ryan Schumacher, Amanda Schwinn, Debra Shapiro, Ethan Shearouse, Joseph III Sheehan, Daniel Smith, Gerry

Spirou, Denise Sweet, Andry Tahan, Pam Taplett, Caroline Tiano, Sal Trethewey, Linda Vesely, Liv Wetenhall, Sarah Whaley, Suzy Zadanosky, Suzann

CLASS OF 2022

Almira, Manuel

Alsofrom, Sarah

Anthony, Laura Arrizza, Kate Beaud, Thierry Bellissimo, Mark Bennett, Blake Berg, Lori Betten, Margaret Bingham, Douglas Bone, Bill Bonnett, Yolette Bottorff, Alan Brinker, Nancy Burke, Michael Burks, Anthony Sr. Chang, Stephen Collemer, Stanton Diament, Scott Dunkin, Bob Edmonds, Jervonte Elmore, George Farrington, Charlene Faus, David Fitzpatrick, David

Ford, George Frisbie, Dave Gaff, Richard Gaines, Lia

Ganzi, Melissa

Goss, Chauncey

Greenwald, Michael Hazle, Greg Hearon, Fanning III Hedrick, Dale Herbst, Todd Hoffman, Michael Jacobs, Michele James, Barbara Minelli Jergensen, Glenn Johnson, Jeremy Wayne Jones, Yvonne

Kato, Andrew

Kelly, Eric

Kelly, John Kennerly, Kenneth

Lawrence, Dave

Lazo, Nelson

Leone, Paul

Lesser, Gary

Levine, Drew

Maurer, Ralph

McCann, Sara

McCauley, Cynthia

McClymont, David

McDonald, Patty

McKernan, Bill

McMakin, Mimi Maddock

Melby, Gina

Mendez, Lincoln

Menor, Arthur

Mickens, Donté

Miranda, Jaene

Murphy, Penny

Nardi, Tim

Nicholson, David

Paley, Dror

Pantelides, Emily

Parker, Ava

Perry, Bill

Pesquera, Jorge

Petty, Ricky

Pope, Lois

Prince, J. Michael Pumo, Michael

Rajegowda, Gopal Rapoport, Burt

Rastogi, Amit Ross, Kevin Rowling, Keith Sabin, David Samuels, Rob Schack, Ryan Schumacher, Amanda Schwinn, Debra Shapiro, Ethan Shearouse, Joseph III

Sheehan, Daniel Smallridge, Kelly

Spirou, Denise Stewart, Heather

Tahan, Pam

Tiano, Sal Trethewey, Linda

Vatske, Sari Webb, Joe Wetenhall, Sarah

Whaley, Suzy

Zadanosky, Suzann Zietz, Sam

CLASS OF 2023

Almira, Manuel Alonso, Alina Alsofrom, Sarah Arrizza, Kate Bauer, Mike Beaud, Thierry Bellissimo, Mark Bennett, Blake Berg, Lori Betten, Margie Bone, Bill Bottorff, Alan Brinker, Nancy Brumley, Fabiola Burke, Michael Burks, Anthony Sr.

Cavers, Kelly

Collemer, Stanton

Dehart, Andy

Diament, Scott

Dreyfoos, Alex

Elmore, George Farrington, Charlene

Faus, Dave Fitzpatrick, David Ford, George Frisbie, Dave Gaines, Lia

Ganzi, Melissa Hathaway, Lisa Hazle, Greg Hearon, Fanning III

Hedrick, Dale Herbst, Todd Hoffman, Michael Hostettler, Daniel Jacobs, Michele James, Barbara Minelli Johnson, Cassius Johnson, Jeremy Wayne Kato, Andrew Kelly, Eric Korniloff, Nicholas Lawrence, Dave Lazo, Nelson Leone, Paul Lesser, Gary Levine, Drew Maurer, Ralph McCann, Sara McCauley, Cynthia McClymont, David McDonald, Patricia McMakin, Mimi Maddock McNamara, Patrick McNeill, Ann Melby, Gina Mendez, Lincoln Menor, Arthur Meyer, Bill Mickens, Donté Miranda, Jaene Murphy, Penny Nardi, Tim Nicholson, David Paley, Dror Pantelides, Emily Parker, Ava Perry, Bill Petty, Ricky Phillips, Calvin Pope, Lois Prince, J. Michael Pumo, Michael Quinn, Diane Rajegowda, Gopal Rapoport, Burt Rastogi, Amit Rausch, Pam Roby, Eric Ross, Kevin Sabin, David Samuels, Rob Schack, Ryan Schwinn, Debra Shapiro, Ethan Shearouse, Joseph III Smallridge, Kelly Spirou, Denise Spoont, Ben Stewart, Heather Sylvain, Christine Tahan, Pam Trethewey, Linda Virgin, Andrea Volnick, Stacy Webb, Joe Wetenhall, Sarah Whaley, Suzy White, Marlon

BUSINESS OVER BREAKFAST

WHO: Town of Palm Beach United Way

WHAT: Thirty-First Annual Business and Professional Breakfast WHERE: The Breakers, Palm Beach HIGHLIGHTS: Supporters enjoyed breakfast and learned about the American Dream Academy, a tuition-free, six-month, online certification program that prepares adults switching to technology-related jobs or advancing their current careers.

BRAM MAJTLIS AND NICK GOLD

STEPHANIE BRANSCOMB, JANET LEVY

COLLEEN ORRICO, EMILY CLIFFORD, EMILY REED

CLAY AND JESSICA SUROVEK

STACIE HALLINAN, JAY CLIFFORD

STEPHANIE BRANSCOMB, JANET LEVY

JORGE CABRERA, BILL HORN

BILL TIEFEL, KERRY HEALEY, RICHARD ROTHCHILD

KAREN HOLLOWAY, JAY ZEAGER

MARY CARHART, RUTH MAGERIA

PALM BEACH MAYOR DANIELLE MOORE, CARLA COVE

ROBERT DEBBS, HEATH RANDOLPH

CAPEHART

LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON

WHO: Executive Women of the Palm Beaches

Foundation WHAT: Fall Luncheon WHERE: West Palm Beach Marriott HIGHLIGHTS: Guests celebrated the impact of the organization’s grant and scholarship programs, while marking its fortieth anniversary.

TRIXY WALKER, AMY BRAND

DEBRA SCHWINN, KATIE NEWITT, AVA PARKER

DENISE VALZ, KELLY SKIDMORE

MICHELLE GONZALEZ, JULIE SWINDLER

DENA FOMAN, JESSICA CLASBY

KATIE NEWITT, DENA FOMAN, LISA HUERTAS

JACKIE HALDERMAN, BARBARA STARK, VIRGINIA SPENCER

NECHAMA DEANA KARP

TRACEY BENSON PHOTOGRAPHY

LUXURY HIGH-RISE LAUNCH

WHO: Olara Luxury Residences WHAT: Sales

Launch Party WHERE: The Colony, Palm Beach

HIGHLIGHTS: Developer Savanna launched the sales of Olara, West Palm Beach’s new waterfront luxury condominium tower planned to rise along North Flagler Drive.

KAAREN AND CHARLES HALE

NICHOLAS BIENSTOCK, JAY PARKER, CHRISTOPHER SCHLANK, MICHAEL GABELLINI, BERNARDO FORT-BRESCIA

WEST PALM BEACH MAYOR KEITH JAMES

BRUCE LANGMAID, ANN FISHER, CHUCK POOLE

ELIZABETH STEINBERG, MARZIE PRECODA, PAOLA BACCHINI

CAPRESE WEBER, ELEANORA KENNEDY

PACO AND SUSI GIL

CINDY LEULIETTE, STACEY LEULIETTE

JAY AND DEBI SHAW, SUSANNE AND DAVID FRISBIE

ERIC DESIMONE, ANDREW KURD, BRANDON RINKER

CAPEHART

GRAND GATHERING

WHO: International Women’s Forum Palm Beach Chapter WHAT: Chapter Gathering Event WHERE: Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach HIGHLIGHTS: Guests were treated to a Q&A with Kravis Center executives Sherry Barrat and Diane Quinn.

GRACE SHAFIR REISS, JEREANN S. ZANN, SUSAN KELLEY

BOB GERSTMYER, DEBRA SCHWINN

SUSAN STAUTBERG, MARTI LATOUR, SANDI PETERSON

DINAH AND DWIGHT STEPHENSON

DIANE QUINN, SHERRY BARRAT, RENA BLADES

LAURIE SILVERS, DEB CAPLAN

JOHN JOHNSON, GIL WALSH

YOLETTE BONNET, JOE GIBBONS, AVA PARKER

JACEK GANCARZ

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

WHO: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

WHAT: Leadership Awards WHERE: Pelican Club, Jupiter HIGHLIGHTS: Guests celebrated Palm Beach North’s outstanding leaders and businesses with a silent auction, dinner, and live entertainment.

NATHALIE POZO

CAPEHART

SHIVA AHRENS, TERESA MILLER

DONNA AND BOB GOLDFARB, TRACI ROLLINS

GEORGE GENTILE, AVA PARKER

JOHN CARR, LIZ SOULEN, MARK LESSING

ALYSSA KOLB, NICOLE PLUNKETT, PETER BAYTARIAN

EARNIE ELLISON JR., KAREN MARCUS, DIANE D’AMICO, JULIE LAUDERBAUGH

DAVE MARKARIAN, JEFF ATWATER

The Palm Beach

RANGE ROVER

Golf

by the numbers in Palm Beach County

By Jesse Scott

The Palm Beaches are known as “Florida’s Golf Capital,” a moniker that is not only official, but trademarked and well-deserved, given the spectrum of courses, facilities, and golf-related activities available across our area. Here, we break down Palm Beach County’s golf scene by the numbers.

192 acres at The Park, West Palm’s newest course that opened in April on the site of the former West Palm Beach Golf Course

160+

Total private and public courses countywide

200,000+ Fans attending the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic, held annually at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens

$53.5 million

The local economic and tourism impact from golf (2021-2022, Palm Beach County Administrator’s Annual Report)

60 + F amous golfers who call the Palm Beaches home, including Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Rory McIlroy—plus homegrown greats like Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger

1897

The year Florida’s very first nine-hole golf course was brought to life: the Ocean Golf Course at The Breakers Palm Beach

6 Palm Beach County golf courses on Golfweek ’s prestigious “Best Private Courses” list in 2022