Invest: Palm Beach leadership conference to highlight countywide innovation

January 2026 — As Palm Beach County enters the new year, its business community is well positioned to build on strong momentum and confront the challenges shaping the regional economy. Those opportunities and pressures will take center stage at the Invest: Palm Beach 6th Edition Leadership Summit, taking place Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Amrit Ocean Resort.

Join us at the Invest: Palm Beach 6th Edition Leadership Summit! This premier event brings together hundreds of Palm Beach’s business and regional leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses and investors. Buy your ticket now!

The leadership conference marks the official release of caa’s sixth edition of Invest: Palm Beach and will convene public- and private-sector leaders to examine how innovation, workforce readiness and healthcare transformation are shaping the county’s long-term growth trajectory.

Throughout the morning, panelists will explore how emerging technologies are influencing business strategy, how educators and employers can better align to meet evolving workforce needs, and how advances in healthcare delivery and research are redefining care across South Florida.

“We are excited to celebrate the release of our sixth edition of Invest: Palm Beach with the region’s business and civic leaders,” said Abby Lindenberg, CEO and founder of caa. “Palm Beach County continues to stand out for its collaborative leadership and forward-thinking approach. This event is an opportunity to highlight the people and strategies driving sustainable growth across the region.”

Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by opening remarks and three panel discussions focused on innovation, talent development and healthcare.

Intelligent growth and AI integration

The opening panel, “Intelligent Growth: How companies leverage AI to outpace traditional limits, and the steps leaders can take to integrate it with impact,” will examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping business operations, decision-making and competitive advantage across industries.

Teneka James-Feaman, executive director of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, will serve as panel presenter, with Matthew Chait, office managing partner for West Palm Beach at Shutts & Bowen LLP, moderating the discussion. Panelists include Sandra Marin Ruiz, regional director of the Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Atlantic University; Valerie Neilson, executive director of the Palm Beach Metropolitan Planning Organization; Paul Gabriele, partner in private client services at EisnerAmper; and a representative from City National Bank.

Preparing the workforce of tomorrow

The second panel, “The Skills Economy: How educators are preparing tomorrow’s workforce, and what businesses must do now to close skills gaps,” will focus on aligning education, training and employer needs in a rapidly evolving labor market.

David Dech, executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail, will serve as panel presenter. Charles Stembler, president of Cardinal Newman High School, will moderate the discussion, which will feature Ralph Maurer, head of school at Oxbridge Academy; Chuck Maddox, head of school at Boca Prep International School; and Judi Robinovitz, founder and co-owner of Score Academies (Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties).

The future of healthcare

The final panel, “The Future of Healthcare: How technology is reshaping care, discovery and delivery, and what leaders should consider moving forward,” will explore how innovation is transforming healthcare systems, research and patient outcomes.

Panelists include David Fitzpatrick, scientific director and CEO of the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience; Lewis Nelson, dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University; Kevin Beiner, chief operating officer-elect at Northwell Health; and a representative from NYU Langone Health.

Together, the discussions will offer insight into how Palm Beach County’s leaders are positioning the region for long-term resilience and competitiveness — from integrating advanced technologies to strengthening talent pipelines and advancing healthcare innovation.

Hundreds of high-level guests and officials from across the Tri-county area are expected to attend the in-person conference. Click here to register.

About caa & Invest: Palm Beach 6th Edition

caa is an integrated media platform that produces in-depth business intelligence through its annual print and digital economic reviews, high-impact conferences and events and top-level interviews via its video platform, Invest:Insights.

Invest: Palm Beach 6th Edition is an in-depth economic review of the key issues facing the economy in the area, featuring the exclusive insights of prominent regional leaders. Invest: is produced with two goals in mind: 1) to provide comprehensive investment knowledge on Palm Beach County for local, national and international investors, and 2) to promote the region as a place to invest and do business.

The report conducts a deep dive into the top economic sectors in the region, including real estate, construction, infrastructure, banking and finance, legal, healthcare, education and tourism. The publication is compiled from insights collected from more than 200 economic leaders, sector insiders, political leaders and heads of important institutions. It analyzes the leading challenges facing the market and uncovers emerging opportunities for investors, entrepreneurs and innovators.

For more information, contact:

Ryan Gandolfo

Senior Editor

305-938-0293

Want more? Read the Invest: Palm Beach report.