Gulf Power hosts symposium on Northwest Florida’s economic future

Gulf Power hosted the 21st Gulf Power Economic Symposium, which focuses on Northwest Florida’s economic future, on Oct. 1 to 3 in Sandestin, Florida.

Nearly 600 business and community leaders, including Chamber of Commerce members, non-profits, faith-based groups, and small business owners, participated in the event.

Stan Connally, chair, president and CEO of Gulf Power, kicked off the event by discussing the success of the region and the need to work together to move the country forward.

“We are seeing amazing things happening across Northwest Florida, and all the ingredients are falling in place to move our region even further,” Connally said. “But we can create even more headlines as we work together. Now is the time to create the future together.”

The region needs 57,000 additional jobs by 2030, Connally said, to keep up with current levels.

Gov. Rick Scott also gave a presentation on Florida’s Outlook for the Future on the second day of the event.

Cissy Proctor, executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, presented a Florida Economic Update, while Zach Jenkins, director of the HAAS Center for Business Research and Development at the University of West Florida, also provided a Regional Economic and Prosperity update at the event.

Other speakers at the event included Peter Zeihan, geopolitical strategist and founder of Zeihan on Geopolitics; Molly Fletcher, CEO of the Molly Fletcher Company; and Tom Fanning, chair, president and CEO of Southern Company.