Transportation Transforms Communities

Beth Kigel, President and CEO of the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, recently sat down with Executive Vice President of the Florida Chamber Foundation Tony Carvajal to discuss the effect of Florida’s transportation planning on economic development efforts, and how new innovations will impact the future of our state’s transportation industry and quality of life.

“Whether it’s people or moving goods around the state of Florida, (transportation) is critically important to ensuring we continue to grow and become globally competitive.

Beth is also a Commissioner on the Florida Transportation Commission and her expertise as a local chamber executive gives her a unique perspective on how future transportation planning can positively impact our state’s economic development efforts and improve quality of life for residents.

“One of the things that is very exciting about being on the Florida Transportation Commission, as a chamber executive, is that transportation is totally interlinked with economic development.”

During the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2015 Transportation Summit in December, Beth called attention to the exponential rate of new technologies hitting the marketplace and why the business community must work to secure Florida’s future.

“If you look at technology, it’s moving at an exponential rate.”

Beth also highlighted her region’s collaboration between Florida Atlantic University, The Scripps Research Institute and Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience to focus on bio science.

“There’s a tremendous collaboration going on within those three entities. We are very excited because this is going to help realize the vision that was laid out 10 years ago to the future of bio science and diversifying Florida’s economy.”