PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA—Destination Panama City is proud to announce that President & CEO Jennifer Vigil has been selected by Florida’s Great Northwest (FGNW) Foundation to participate in Class IV of the Leadership Northwest Florida program. The program is designed to focus on regional collaboration through community, content, and connection.

 

Class IV participants will be immersed in a seven-month educational program and meet other leaders from a variety of backgrounds who represent Northwest Florida’s diverse composition. The program will offer participants a holistic view of the conditions, challenges, and opportunities shared throughout the region, focusing on the areas of Business Vitality, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Infrastructure, Talent, and Quality of Place.

 

“The FGNW Foundation Board selected individuals most likely to utilize their leadership abilities for the long-term benefit and betterment of Northwest Florida,” said Jennifer Conoley, President and CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest & FGNW Foundation. “Jenn was selected for demonstrating the ideal characteristics sought after in program participants.”

 

“Tourism is not only about welcoming visitors—it’s about building communities that thrive,” said Nirav Banker, Chairman of Destination Panama City. “Jenn’s participation in Leadership Northwest Florida is an exciting opportunity to connect our work in tourism with the broader vision for economic growth, innovation, and quality of life across the region.”

 

The program kicks off with an opening retreat in November and will run until May 2026.

 

To view the press release featuring all class members, please click HERE.

About Leadership Northwest Florida

For Northwest Florida to continue to compete, diversify and thrive, it will take informed, dedicated leaders who understand the complex and competitive environment of economic transformation. Leadership Northwest Florida is designed to be an educational program offered for professionals in all industry sectors desiring to grow their knowledgebase, network, and skillset in the 13-county region of Florida’s Great Northwest footprint. This experience will ultimately result in long-term influence of the leadership graduates for the betterment of Northwest Florida.

 

About Florida’s Great Northwest Foundation
The Florida’s Great Northwest Foundation was established to improve the business growth and economic competitiveness of Northwest Florida. In addition to the Leadership Northwest Florida program, the Foundation also supports Northwest Florida FORWARD, a regional strategy for economic transformation. The Foundation operates as a support organization of Florida’s Great Northwest, the regional economic development organization for the 13-county region of Florida’s panhandle. The organization’s purpose is to promote Northwest Florida for economic growth and diversification, to advocate for economic development issues that affect the region, and to collaborate to improve regional competitiveness. For more information, visit FloridasGreatNorthwest.com.