West Palm Beach - October 2025

O C T O B E R 2 0 2 5 | W E S T PA L M B E A C H 11 Under her guidance, the BDB has attracted more than 200 financial service firms through its “Wall Street South” initiative, assisted corporate giants like Amazon, Pratt & Whitney, and Carrier in expansions, and helped launch countless education and workforce development programs. Her deep institutional memory, dating back to the 1980s when she joined the BDB in her 20s, informs her rare combination of historical context and future- focused energy. Smallridge is the longest-tenured economic development president in Florida—and for good reason. Her command of the county’s assets, infrastructure, and leadership network is unparalleled. “I started at 7 a.m. in Boynton Beach, was just at a press conference in West Palm, headed to Jupiter, and then out west this evening,” she shared. “Given that’s my day, I have to very carefully know and study the assets of this county because you never know where an executive’s mind is going to go.” That full-picture knowledge is central to her effectiveness. Created in 1982 by the county’s business leaders and supported by the Board of County Commissioners, the BDB was designed to be “one voice” for economic development, free of political allegiance or local favoritism. “We don’t represent any one municipality,” Kelly explained. “As long as we land them within the 2,000 square miles of this county, we win.” Ask Smallridge what makes the BDB different from other economic development organizations, and she doesn’t hesitate: “We will go the extra mile to do anything for anyone. You can call 24/7...We are your concierge service.” That means organizing whirlwind, 48-hour tours for CEOs, complete with face-to-face meetings with university presidents, airport and port directors, workforce leaders, utility leaders, and school administrators, all curated based on the company’s specific industry and needs. “When a company walks in, we are going to hold their hand for the entire relocation or expansion process. In their first visit, they will meet university presidents, Mayors, airport director, Port, FPL, CareerSource, School superintendent, private school headmasters, zoning and permitting agencies, and whoever else will play a role in the project. We are a one-stop shop. You don’t get that anywhere else.” This comprehensive, hands-on model creates long-term relationships, not just site visits. “The courting process takes anywhere from three months to three years until we land them,” she added. “And we don’t make a dime off of the expansion or relocation. We’re not real estate brokers. We are here to create a sustainable, diversified, and innovative economy.” Smallridge has spent years rebranding the county away from the stereotype of leisure and toward a center of innovation. “Decades ago, this was a placewhere youwent to retire, to visit your grandparents, or to go on vacation,” Smallridge said. “We had to shift that. And it has taken all of three decades to make that shift. This has now become an innovation hub.” That transformation, as you might imagine, wasn’t always met with open arms. “It was no after no after no. What are you kidding? There’s nothing here but beaches,” she shared. “Now, Palm Beach stands on its own. You don’t even need a slogan. We’re the Palm Beaches.” Smallridge’s leadership philosophy centers on empowerment, transparency, and accountability. “Take a backseat,” Kelly said. “Hire the right people and give them the opportunity to soar.” She begins every day with an hour-long staff meeting and encourages open- door dialogue. “I walk in every day and say, give me the good, the bad, the ugly,” she added. “The ugly is actually the most important. I can’t fix it if I don’t know what’s wrong.” Her leadership values: activity, collaboration, accountability, and vision, are also personal values. “There’s no org chart here where the president sits at the top. My door is never closed. I don’t care if you want to call me at 8:30 at night to tell me about your kids or to tell me something that didn’t work in our strategy. That’s totally okay with me.” Smallridge’s leadership is grounded in her deep roots in Palm Beach County. Raised in the Village of Palm Springs and now living