Every year Capital Analytics has the chance to interview 1000s of the nation’s top level executives and leaders. Our Spotlight On series is an exclusive opportunity for readers to receive these leaders’ thoughtful insights and perspectives that ultimately help to inform the editorial in our publications. The following are all of the Spotlight On‘s released in August 2022.
Nashville
Jennifer Turner, President & CEO, Tennessee Performing Arts Center
2 min read August 2022 — Jennifer Turner, president and CEO of Tennessee Performing Arts Center, talked with Invest: about the highlights for the organization over the last 12 months, and what the team has been focused on concerning programming. Turner also discussed how their team is meeting demand for the arts. Read more
Jacksonville Numa Saisselin, President, Florida Theatre
2 min read August 2022 — In an interview with Invest:, President of the Florida Theatre Numa Saisselin talked about the theater’s role within the local economy as well as the challenges it faced over the past two years while dealing with the pandemic. Saisselin also discussed the future of live performance and how the theater is approaching marketing in an ever-changing landscape. Read more
Nashville Jim Durrett, Mayor, Montgomery County
2 min read August 2022 — Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett spoke with Invest: about how the county is approaching the region’s growth while addressing the best interests of residents. Between a new middle school, a 400-acre industrial park with a childcare facility on site and talks of a possible fire department restructuring, further economic development is on the horizon. Read more
Raleigh-Durham Scott Levitan, President & CEO, Research Triangle Park
2 min read August 2022 — Research Triangle Park (RTP) is an innovation community campus situated in the middle of the urban area comprising Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and their surrounding suburbs. In an interview with Invest:, Scott Levitan, president and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation of NC, discussed the new developments going on in the area and the outlook for RTP in the coming years. Read more
Dallas R. Gerald Turner, President, SMU
2 min read August 2022 — A nationally ranked private university located near the heart of Dallas, SMU (Southern Methodist University) is a distinguished center for global research with a liberal arts tradition and more than 12,000 students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. In an interview with Invest:, President R. Gerald Turner discussed milestones and achievements, lessons learned during the pandemic, affordability, shifts in demand and strategies to meet diversity and inclusion goals. Read more
Philadelphia Jami McKeon, Chair, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
3 min read August 2022 — Jami McKeon, chair of legal firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, discussed with Invest: the current evolution of the firm and industry. Topics such as diversity and mental health are becoming much more prominent across the industry, and Morgan Lewis, soon to have its 150th anniversary, is leading the way. Read more
Palm Beach Laura Beebe, Airport Director, Palm Beach International Airport
2 min read August 2022 — In an Interview with Invest:, Laura Beebe, airport director of the Palm Beach International Airport, talked about how they fared during the pandemic and managed to make gains during a time when the industry was struggling. Beebe discussed that although they are receiving funding and revenues are up, the national issues of supply chain are slowing down the progress of their renovation projects. Beebe also shared the airport’s unique take on street pricing as well as her outlook for the future of the airport and aviation in Palm Beach County. Read more
Dallas Matthew Myers, Dean, Southern Methodist University – Cox School of Business
2 min read August 2022 — Matthew Myers, dean of the SMU Cox School of Business, talked with Invest: about the lessons learned during the past two years and the achievements for the school over that time. Moreover, Myers discussed his priorities for the Cox School of Business in the near term. Read more
South Jersey Dean Paranicas, President & CEO, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey
3 min read August 2022 — Invest: interviewed Dean Paranicas, president and CEO of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, about the importance of the public, private and academic sectors in the growing life sciences industry in the state. “The pandemic has impacted so many things and the life sciences are right at the forefront of that,” he said. Read more
Jacksonville Ike Sherlock, COO & Executive Vice President, AGX Freight
2 min read August 2022 — AGX Freight is a full-service transportation and logistics platform. Invest: spoke with Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Ike Sherlock about the company’s plans for expansion in Florida, the value of the human component in their operations and the top priorities for AGX Freight in Jacksonville. Read more
Raleigh-Durham Jim Holmes, Managing Partner, Sentinel Risk Advisors
2 min read July 2022 — Jim Holmes, managing partner for Sentinel Risk Advisors, spoke with Invest: about what has kept his organization busy over the last year and how they are expanding their service offerings. Holmes also discussed his outlook for the current market and priorities moving forward. Read more
Nashville Lyndi Berrones, Northern Middle Regional Director, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
2 min read August 2022 — Invest: spoke with Lyndi Berrones, Northern Middle regional director of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development in Greater Nashville, and discussed the department’s banner year in economic development, which has led to significant job growth and investment in the business-friendly environment of the City of Nashville. Read more
Philadelphia Jennifer Berrier, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
3 min read August 2022 — In an interview with Invest:, Jennifer Berrier, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, talked about some of the initiatives that are underway to provide residents with equitable access to jobs of the future and to upskill them so they can earn family-supporting wages. She highlights pending legislation and investments that will ensure industries coming to the region have the workforce needed to thrive. Read more
Palm Beach David Faus, Head of School, The Benjamin School
2 min read August 2022 — In an interview with Invest:, David Faus, head of school at The Benjamin School, discussed the value of independent schools for students and how the strength of Florida’s education system is sometimes underrated. “For The Benjamin School, it’s an opportunity to be more selective because we have absolutely exploded on the enrollment front,” he said. Read more
Dallas Marianne Auld, Managing Partner, Kelly Hart
2 min read August 2022 — Kelly Hart Attorneys brings a community-focused ethic to the legal services it has been providing its clients over the last 40 years, with 150 legal experts covering 20 specific disciplines, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Invest: spoke with Marianne Auld, managing partner of Kelly Hart, about trends shaping the legal services industry, attracting and retaining top talent and how the firm is giving back to the local community. Read more
Nashville Mark Nolan, Managing Partner, Batson Nolan
2 min read August 2022 — In an interview with Invest:, Managing Partner of legal firm Batson Nolan, Mark Nolan, discussed common concerns among clients, the growth of the region and his outlook for the legal sector of Nashville over the coming years. “There will be growth in every area of the practice of law,” said Nolan. Read more
Philadelphia Mark Biedermann, SVP & Division Head, PA, Valley Bank
3 min read August 2022 — In an interview with Invest:, Mark Biedermann, senior vice president and division head for Valley Bank, talked about the bank’s unique place in the Philadelphia market, the impact of the Federal Reserve’s rate increases and how technology has become “the equalizer in our industry.” Read more
South Jersey Jean-Pierre Issa, President and CEO, Coriell Institute for Medical Research
3 min read August 2022 — In an interview with Invest:, Jean-Pierre Issa, MD, president and CEO of Coriell Institute for Medical Research, talked about accomplishments in recent months and how the organization is focused on building New Jersey’s reputation when it comes to medical research. Issa shared what partnerships Coriell Institute has in place to accomplish this goal and keep the state competitive with neighboring states. He also discussed efforts that have been made to diversify research and the participants involved. Read more
Jacksonville Richard Ramsey, Managing Partner, Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy & Ford, PA
2 min read August 2022 — Although the economy could be headed toward a recession, Richard Ramsey, managing partner of Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy & Ford PA, still sees a lot of growth for his legal practice in Jacksonville because of the booming activity in the region’s economy. Read more
Dallas Ron Jensen, Mayor, City of Grand Prairie
2 min read August 2022 — The city of Grand Prairie has a clear vision for the future. “We’re trying to become one of the Top 5 destinations for entertainment in North Texas,” said Mayor Ron Jensen in an interview with Invest:. Jensen discussed a variety of topics from handling the influx of new residents to supporting the small business community. Read more
Pittsburgh Dan DeBone, President & CEO, Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce
5 min read August 2022 — Westmoreland’s appetite for growth is as large as its determination to work together across the public and private spheres to address what Dan DeBone, president and CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce, believes is the county’s top priority: workforce development. DeBone spoke about this and more in a wide-ranging interview with Invest:. Read more
Jacksonville Tyler Hodges, President & Head of School, The Bolles School
2 min read August 2022 — In an interview with Invest:, Tyler Hodges, president and head of school at The Bolles School, discussed the institution’s service leadership program and its partnership with the Mayo Clinic. He added that, “We, along with most independent schools, have seen a lot of growth and interest in the school. We will open this year at our largest enrollment since the early 2000s, prior to the Great Recession.” Read more
Palm Beach Sandra Marin Ruiz, Regional Director, Florida SBDC at Florida Atlantic University
2 min read August 2022 — Sandra Marin Ruiz, regional director of the Florida SBDC at FAU, and assistant vice president for innovation and business development spoke with Invest: about the SBDC’s role in local economic development and social impact, plans to expand on data capabilities and ways the organization approaches diversity. “If you look at a group of consultants, we represent the communities we serve,” she said. “It’s not just demographics; it’s languages, origins and cultural approach.” Read more
Palm Beach Charles Cross, Market President – South Florida, Seacoast Bank
2 min read August 2022 — Invest: spoke with Charles Cross, market president of South Florida for Seacoast Bank, about their recent expansions and acquisitions, online banking security upgrades and audits, and their focus on community values through local branches. Read more
Pittsburgh Michael Cherepko, Mayor, City of McKeesport
3 min read August 2022 — In an interview with Invest:, Mayor of McKeesport Michael Cherepko talked about the city’s plans to facilitate economic growth, specific industries in focus as well as unique attributes of the area. “Through our demolition projects we are trying to take control of the situation and bring more development in,” said Cherepko. Read more
