Writer: Felipe Rivas
2 min read June 2021 —Optimism, innovation and a vision of long-term success for the Greater Fort Lauderdale market abound as the local market begins to emerge from the pandemic landscape. Local civic and business leaders echoed this optimism throughout the official Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale launch conference on Wednesday, June 16. The conference featured two robust panel discussions centered around recovery from a civic leadership perspective and innovation across multiple industries.
Broward Health Medical Center CEO Heather Havericak kicked off the event with her keynote address. She thanked the invaluable work of frontline workers across all healthcare systems as they battled the COVID pandemic. Despite the uncertainty and pandemic-related challenges, key innovations stemming from this period are expected to influence the future of healthcare, Havericak said. “It is an exciting time for our city and county as we experience significant growth, economic resurgence and unparalleled opportunities for our collective futures,” she said.
With two panels featuring some of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s top civic and business leaders, the conference was the culmination of a rigorous research period that culminated in the release of the fourth annual Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale report, a robust analysis of the region’s main economic sectors.
Published by media platform Capital Analytics, the 2021 report showcases the strength and overall resilience of the local economy through C-level insider insights and key business intelligence. The official launch conference took place via Zoom and garnered over 275 registrations.
“In all our discussions with hundreds of businesses and political leaders, a common thread is how far we have come in such a short time,” Capital Analytics CEO Abby Melone said in her opening remarks. “We are looking forward with an optimistic eye, knowing we can apply the lessons from the past year to craft an even brighter future.”
World-renowned for its high-quality of life offerings, diversifying industries, strong banking and finance sector, growing logistics and industrial operations, and home to one of Florida’s most desirable and welcoming tourism markets, Greater Fort Lauderdale is poised for a strong economic bounceback in 2021 despite the challenges caused by coronavirus-related uncertainty.
The first panel, “Operation recovery: How our civic leaders are encouraging economic growth and community engagement in a recovering market,” featured Hallandale Beach City Manager Dr. Jeremy Earle, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, City of Oakland Park Mayor Jane Bolin, and Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Director Nguyen Tran. Moderated by Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Vice President of Business Development Todd Holt, the panelists discussed the economic growth and community engagement initiatives slated to carry the recovery process in the local market.
The second panel, “Innovative ideas: A glimpse into how innovation has thrived in Broward County over the last year,” explored the agility and innovation happening across the education, hospitality and tourism, and healthcare sectors. Panelists were Nova Southeastern University President Dr. George Hanbury, Visit Lauderdale President and CEO Stacy Ritter, The Restaurant People CEO and co-Founder Tim Petrillo, and Miami Jewish Health President & CEO Jeffrey Freimark. Moderated by Capital Analytics’ Regional Editor Max Crampton-Thomas, the conversation revolved around innovative ways the education, healthcare and tourism industries dealt with the pandemic challenges and how these innovations will carry these different sectors forward in a post-COVID world.
For more information, visit: https://capitalanalyticsassociates.com/
