December 11, 2023
Floridian of the Year
Mark Wilson: Man on a Mission
In his 15th year as CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Mark Wilson has vastly broadened the organization's influence into areas that might seem unconventional. Breaking the stereotype of a clubby establishment focused solely on the business community, the Florida Chamber has set ambitious goals — such as cutting Florida's childhood poverty rate in half, helping working families gain access to quality daycare and focusing on mental health — to strengthen the social fabric of the state amid its surging growth.
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Published on 11/27/2023
The Advocate: Yolanda Cash Jackson
The first time Yolanda Cash Jackson saw the sculpture of Mary McLeod Bethune was in 2021 in Pietrasanta, a small town along the Tuscan coast where master sculptor Nilda Comas had carved the three-ton figure out of marble from the same quarry Michelangelo used to create David and other masterpieces. Bethune is known as the “First Lady of the Struggle” for her efforts to pave the way for Blacks in education and civil rights; the towering stone figure depicts Bethune in academic regalia adorned with a simple pearl necklace and holding a single black rose.
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Published on 12/1/2022
Florida sports blockbusters in 2020
Super Bowl LIV
Feb. 2, Hard Rock Stadium
Attendance — Super Bowl organizers project 52,000 out-of-state adult fans, 1,100 youth and 250 players, coaches, trainers and officials, plus 2,000 media....
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Published on 11/26/2019
Ocala's horse business growth
Ocala's horse business has grown in size and political clout, even as thoroughbred racing draws fewer people to tracks.
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Published on 11/26/2019
Florida Trend's Floridian of the year is the Florida teacher
This year, FLORIDA TREND recognizes the foot soldiers — Florida's 177,000 teachers — as the collective Floridian of the Year.
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Published on 11/26/2019
Florida teacher Shannon Kraeling helps other teachers incorporate art into their lesson plans.
As students learn about cell structures in biology class, for instance, Kraeling teaches them impressionistic painting techniques to re-create what they see under the microscope.
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Published on 11/26/2019
Challenges of teaching math in Florida schools
‘Everybody can do math,' says Samantha Neff, who shares her methods with other teachers.
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Published on 11/26/2019
Lessons from Glades County's Teacher of the Year: Joy Prescott
For two years running, teachers at Pemayetv Emahakv have been honored as Glades County's Teacher of the Year.
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Published on 11/26/2019
Marion County's Teacher of the Year Hollie Cunningham bases her teaching style on her students' personalities
Before she became a high school teacher, Hollie Cunningham worked full time as a cardiovascular nurse. She hasn't abandoned the nursing process.
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Published on 11/26/2019
A Florida Native American teacher is helping to preserve the Creek language
Jade Osceola is fighting to keep her tribe's native language from becoming obsolete.
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Published on 11/26/2019
Florida environmental science teacher Nikki Mosblech encourages students to practice her lessons in society
Test scores are one thing, says Nikki Mosblech, but her goal is to create good citizens.
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Published on 11/26/2019
FLVS Teacher of the Year Lisa Fabulich shares her reflections on “virtual” teaching
Gifted teacher Lisa Fabulich was set to go to med school until she took a career-altering course her senior year.
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Published on 11/26/2019
The new Florida teacher
Three years into teaching, Jeff Becker is already ‘feeling the weight of the job.'
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Published on 11/26/2019
Broward County's Teacher of the Year Kristine Murphy shares her journey becoming a Florida middle school teacher
Unhappy practicing law, Kristin Murphy, 44, heard about a teaching job. ‘It was a very scary but exciting time.'
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Published on 11/26/2019
In Memoriam: Victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
On Feb. 14, 2018, a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland took the lives of 17 students and staff and wounded 17 others. They were sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and fathers. Some spent their last moments shielding schoolmates from gunfire.
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Published on 11/28/2018
Brightline Passenger Train: Floridian of the Year
Private passenger rail is back in Florida. Once upon a time, private passenger rail helped create modern Florida. This year, it began reshaping Florida again, with the state emerging as a national rail leader thanks to the Brightline passenger train. Brightline began service between Miami and West Palm Beach, started construction on the leg to Orlando and broached the idea of extending the line on to Tampa.
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Published on 11/28/2018
Newsmaker of the Year: Hurricane Michael
Hurricane Michael came out of nowhere, late in the storm season as Florida seemed poised to exhale at having escaped a summer without incident.
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Published on 11/28/2018
Floridian of the Year: Kiran Patel: ‘First, I give to charity'
Tampa entrepreneur Kiran Patel has made hundreds of millions of dollars growing and selling health care companies...
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Published on 12/28/2017
Floridian of the year: Frank DiBello, rocket man
Space exploration has lent itself to outsized figures: Alan Shepard, John Glenn and the rest of the Mercury Seven. Neil Armstrong and the New Nine. So too with the 21st-century private space industry: Elon Musk and SpaceX, Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin, Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic, Greg Wyler and OneWeb.
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Published on 12/28/2016
Floridian of the Year: Colin Brown
In a year dominated by discussions of wage inequality, JM Family Enterprises' CEO, Colin Brown, decided to share more of the company's success with its workers.
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Published on 12/28/2015
The Mormon Church - Land Lord
The Mormon Church became Florida's largest private landowner in 2014, now owning more than 670,000 acres.
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Published on 12/26/2014
John Morgan - Impact Player
The attorney left his stamp on Florida in 2014 by supporting Charlie Crist and marijuana.
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Published on 12/26/2014
Gov. Rick Scott - Outside In
Scott became just the second two-term GOP governor in Florida history.
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Published on 12/26/2014
Florida's Fallen Soldiers
Three American soldiers from Florida died serving their country in 2014.
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Published on 12/26/2014
Miami - 'The Most Exciting City in the World'
The city of Miami was at the forefront of every trend in 2014.
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Published on 12/26/2014
