According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were approximately 2.7 million businesses in Florida in 2020. This represents over 99% of all businesses in the state. In addition, there are many large corporations headquartered in Florida, including Publix Super Markets, Office Depot, Hertz, and Darden Restaurants, among others. Overall, Florida has a diverse and vibrant business community with a range of industries, including tourism, healthcare, real estate, technology.
There are many successful and influential business leaders in Florida, but here are some of the most prominent:
- Jorge Pérez – Real Estate Developer and founder of The Related Group.
- Wayne Huizenga – Entrepreneur and founder of Waste Management, Blockbuster Video, and AutoNation.
- Armando Codina – Real Estate Developer and Chairman of Codina Partners.
- Joseph L. Carcello – Accounting and Corporate Governance expert and Director of the Corporate Governance Center at the University of Tennessee.
- Mike Fernandez – Healthcare and Insurance entrepreneur and Chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners.
- Craig Menin – Real Estate Developer and CEO of Menin Development.
- Shelly Broader – Retail Executive and former CEO of Chico’s FAS.
- Rick Case – Automotive Entrepreneur and Founder of Rick Case Automotive Group.
- R. Donahue Peebles – Real Estate Developer and founder of The Peebles Corporation.
- H. Wayne Huizenga Jr. – Businessman and Owner of Huizenga Holdings, Inc.
- John Henry – Investor and Owner of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club, as well as a significant stakeholder in Fenway Sports Group.
- Adriana Cisneros – CEO of Cisneros, a media and entertainment company with operations in Latin America and the United States.
- Nick A. Caporella – Founder and CEO of National Beverage Corp., the parent company of popular beverage brands such as LaCroix and Shasta.
- Brian J. Davis – Real Estate Developer and CEO of The Villages, a massive retirement community in Central Florida.
- Pat Geraghty – CEO of GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation, the parent company of Florida Blue, the largest health insurer in Florida.
- Miguel “Mike” Fernandez – Healthcare and Insurance entrepreneur and founder of MBF Healthcare Partners, which has invested in numerous healthcare and biotech companies.
- Tom James – CEO of Raymond James Financial, a diversified financial services firm headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida.
- Manny Medina – Technology entrepreneur and founder of eMerge Americas, a technology conference that brings together innovators from Latin America, North America, and Europe.
- Penny Pritzker – Entrepreneur and investor who served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Barack Obama.
- David Siegel – Real Estate Developer and CEO of Westgate Resorts, a timeshare company with properties throughout the United States and around the world.
