Emery Smith, Ben Hill Griffin, Begins Year as Chair of the CFDC Board
Emery Smith will use his experience on the board of the Central Florida Development Council and as Executive Vice President at Ben Hill Griffin Inc. (BHG) as he begins to navigate his year as chair of the CFDC.
Smith, who has worked at Ben Hill Griffin for 28 years, outlined his goals for the next year. “I hope to continue to help the staff with the work they do on the community’s behalf. As an organization, the CFDC continues to meet and exceed goals set by the board. We need to continue to evaluate how we can be of assistance to our county as an organization as well as provide service to businesses seeking locations in Polk County.”
He will be joined by Brandon Clark, President of The Ruthvens, who will serve as Vice Chair. Kyle Story of the Story Companies will start his year as Secretary/Treasurer. Other new members or those taking on committee chairmanship roles are:
- Steve Crisman, Citizens Bank & Trust
- Jeremy Martin, Florida Southern College
- Corey Allian, Nucor Steel Florida
- Peveeta Samuel, Duke Energy, Community Stakeholders chair
- Brad Lunz, The Lunz Group, Competitiveness & Advocacy chair
“We are so grateful for Emery’s continued involvement on the CFDC board and his willingness to take on a new role. His expertise will help us continue to move forward as we elevate the business climate in Polk,” said CFDC President & CEO Sean Malott. He also thanked the three new board members and Samuel and Lunz, who are taking over as chair for two committees.
The CFDC is the Polk County Board of County Commissioners designated economic partner. It is a private, not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to focus on economic development initiatives to grow an economy based on high-skill, high-wage sustainable businesses. It also works to attract domestic and international businesses. They help those already here expand, advocate for business, facilitate collaborative partnerships and advance Polk County’s strategic initiatives.
Attracting Businesses
Smith thinks the CFDC is in a good position and will continue to attract new businesses like Nucor Steel Florida in Frostproof and Assure Infusions in Bartow. Both businesses have entered the market in the last few years, bringing high-paying manufacturing jobs to the county.
“I believe Polk County is well suited to attract competitive higher wage businesses,” Smith said. “One benefit for Polk County and our whole state is the removal of sales tax on commercial leases. This allows us as a state and county to be the same as the rest of the country.”
Relying on Experience
Having served on the board since 2019, Smith said he will use his experience to help him as chair. “I hope that I can be a benefit in the chairman’s role through the experience I have obtained from all the board members who have cycled through. The true strength comes from a very diverse board and investor membership. There are so many talented people who work in most aspects of the business community. If the staff has a question, chances are they have several people they can call on to assist.”
He also will rely on Immediate Past Chair David Shepp of The Southern Group. “Dave is well versed in all things that have to do with state politics and policies. Having someone so plugged in to the day to day in Tallahassee is a real asset to the CFDC.”
Smith’s time at BHG will also aid him in helping to attract new business. “I have been able to be a part of development, property management, rezoning and other projects that help me understand what companies are looking for and need to do as they evaluate establishing in our community.”
About Emery Smith
Smith was born in Apopka but moved to Frostproof when he was in fifth grade, so he considers Frostproof home. His father moved to Frostproof after the devastating freezes obliterated much of the citrus crop north of Polk County in the 1980s. His desire to start anew fueled much of the young Smith’s passion for citrus. He intended to start work in a production role in the fields after earning his citrus business degree from Florida Southern College. But, ended up taking a different route when an opportunity opened.
He and his wife live in the Avon Park area. Their twins are now in college, a son who is in the welding program at South Florida State College and a daughter who is studying at nearby Warner University.
