
Lakeland Linder International (LAL) Airport Director Kris Hallstrand is the only Polk County person named to the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s prestigious “25 People to Watch” in the 2025 list. The list includes heavy hitters from the Tampa Bay region, including the CEOs of BayCare and Tampa International Airport, the president of the University of […]

Rawa Adla, a professor at Florida Polytechnic University, is using her interest in traffic safety and her degree in computer engineering to make Interstate 4 safer for everyone. Especially those driving past the college that sits along the Polk County stretch of the 132-mile highway. Adla, Assistant Professor of Computer Engineering, is working with the […]

Summit Broadband offers a comprehensive suite of fiber-focused telecommunications solutions. Their services are designed to address the unique needs of companies of all sizes. They have been a trusted partner in Florida for 30 years. Summit Broadband is headquartered in Orlando. However, they have a local Polk County team that understands the unique challenges and […]

The Citrus Connection is moving ahead with a new program to connect Florida Southern College with downtown Lakeland. They also have a survey open until November 30 to get input to help the mass transit system move forward with services the community desires. New Services The Squeeze is a free golf cart shuttle service that […]

The 2023-24 fiscal year was a record-setting one for the Central Florida Development Council. This translates into positive outcomes for Polk County, its cities and its residents. “Last year was another banner year for the CFDC with $800M in new capital investments by existing and new businesses to Polk County, adding 1,000 new jobs that […]

Polk State College is going nationwide as part of the XploreFLEd pilot program. They will offer online courses in high-demand careers at an inexpensive price. The college is one of three in Florida to offer select online courses for out-of-state students at a reduced cost. Alongside Miami Dade and Tallahassee State colleges, students will have […]

David Shepp has served on the Central Florida Development Council’s Board of Directors for five years, chairing a committee and moving up the ranks. In October, he became Chair of the Board. During his term he plans to further collaborative efforts, tap into relationships to continue the CFDC’s mission and continue the work of his […]

Approaching its 55th anniversary in 2025, the GrayRobinson law firm in Lakeland continues to be successful by focusing its energies on building relationships and serving its clients and the communities it operates in. “GrayRobinson was built on our founder and chairman emeritus’ vision. ‘When you build your community, you build your firm,’” said shareholder Sandy […]

Lakeland law firm Peterson & Myers has been a long-time supporter of the Central Florida Development Council. One of its attorneys, Bart Allen, recently served a year as chairman of the board, using his legal mind to navigate land use, environmental and other complex issues. “Bart is very approachable, and he has an incredible legal […]

When Maggie Mariucci started working at Florida Polytechnic University before it’s official opening, she knew it must connect with the community. It was important to her that Florida Poly, the state’s only all-STEM university, become part of the region’s economic landscape. “We joined the CFDC as a university in 2013 when we were working on […]