Posted: March 18, 2020
NICEVILLE, FLORIDA - Florida’s Great Northwest (FGNW) announces that Jennifer Conoley has been selected as the organization’s new President & CEO.
FGNW, the regional economic development organization representing 12 counties across northwest Florida, embarked on a national executive search at the end of 2019 for a qualified professional to facilitate and oversee business development, marketing, advocacy efforts and regional collaboration for the organization.
“Jennifer is an accomplished leader in our industry with an intimate knowledge of northwest Florida,” said Scarlett Phaneuf, Chair of FGNW. “We are excited for Jennifer to take the helm, and look forward to celebrating many successes with her and the team.”
Conoley has over a decade of experience of practicing economic development across the region. For the past seven years, she has served as Senior Economic Development Project Manager at Gulf Power, and prior to that, worked at the local level with the Bay Economic Development Alliance in Panama City, Florida.
She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Florida State University and, in 2011, received her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) by the Universal Accreditation Board. In 2018, Conoley earned the prestigious designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) by the International Economic Development Council.
Last year, Conoley was recognized as one of “North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers” by Consultant Connect. In 2017, she was a recipient of 850 Magazine’s Pinnacle Award, which recognizes outstanding northwest Florida women in business, and was recognized as a “40 Under 40 – Rising Stars in Economic Development” by Development Counsellor’s International.
“Living in several parts of the region, from Port St. Joe to Pensacola to Panama City, created a deep-rooted passion for the area and seeing it prosper,” said Jennifer Conoley, President & CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest. “I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our investors, partners and local economic development organizations, building off of FGNW’s rich 20-year history, and transforming it in a way that achieves unprecedented success.”
Her service to the area is demonstrated through her volunteer leadership as Chair of CareerSource Gulf Coast and Co-Chair of Alignment Bay County’s operating board. These are just two of the many economic development, workforce development and community-based organizations that she lends her time.
Jennifer lives in Panama City, Florida with her husband Kevin and their two boys, Braxton (7) and Chase (4).
About Florida’s Great Northwest
Florida’s Great Northwest, www.floridasgreatnorthwest.com, is the regional economic development organization for the Florida Panhandle. The organization is an investor‐supported 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation created to promote Northwest Florida for economic growth and diversification, advocate for economic development issues that affect the region, and collaborate to improve regional competitiveness.
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