Palm Beach County is not one story. It is several from 39 cities and towns across the Palm Beaches. Wellington, known globally as the equestrian capital of the world, is expanding its economic identity amongst its world-class equestrian sport into a broader civic and business destination. Boca Raton has become one of the strongest concentrations of Fortune 500 companies and corporate headquarters that continues to attract national attention. West Palm Beach has emerged with a strong focus in finance and technology. The entire county has a growing roster of AI, quantum, and defense tech companies choosing to stay in the region for their next chapter.
Understanding what is happening across certain markets is how top executives stay ahead — and that is exactly the kind of first-hand insight Business Development Board Upper-Level Members receive – a privately funded membership organization of local leaders invested in the future of economic development.
The Inside Scoop
On the morning of August 12, 2026, Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches will convene its upper-level members for a panel featuring three economic development voices in Palm Beach County:
- Jim Barnes, Village Manager, Village of Wellington
- Jessica Del Vecchio, Economic Development Manager, City of Boca Raton
- Christopher Roog, Executive Director, West Palm Beach CRA
Together, the panel will share what is unfolding across their communities — from redevelopment plans and active municipal projects to incentive strategies and investment activity. It is the kind of intelligence executives typically piece together over months of meetings, delivered in a single morning by the people leading it.
Presented by Bank of America, the breakfast is one of several quarterly settings where BDB upper-level members access strategic information before it reaches the broader business community.
Recognizing a Palm Beach County Alum Leading One of America’s Largest Companies
The morning will also feature a presentation of the Ed Tancer Distinguished Alumni Award by the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. Presented each year to a graduate of the Palm Beach County public school system who has achieved extraordinary success in the local business community, this year’s honoree is Armando Pimentel — a proud graduate of John I. Leonard High School in Greenacres and the newly appointed Vice Chairman of NextEra Energy, Inc.
Pimentel previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Florida Power and Light Company, America’s largest electric utility, before stepping into his current role in May 2026. His trajectory is a reminder of the caliber of leadership Palm Beach County develops and sends into some of the country’s most consequential companies.
Why This Matters for BDB Upper-Level Members
The value of BDB upper-level membership is not the events themselves. It is the room — the direct access to municipal decision-makers, corporate leaders, and civic voices that few other settings in the county provide.
For top executives evaluating expansion plans, tracking competitor moves, or making long-horizon investment decisions across the Palm Beaches, that access translates into better information, stronger relationships, and earlier awareness of the projects and policies shaping the region.
Explore more about BDB upper-level membership, the companies choosing Palm Beach County, or how the Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches supports business leaders at every stage.
The Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches is the official economic development organization for Palm Beach County, recruiting new business, assisting local companies with expansions, and retaining the quality industries that create career opportunities for current and future generations.
