DiBella Recognized Among “Under 50 to Watch” by Southern Business & Development

Click here to read the SB&D Winter 2025 magazine

Adams & Reese Government Relations Advisor Laura DiBella is recognized among the “Under 50 to Watch” by Southern Business & Development in the publication’s Winter 2025 issue. SB&D covers economic development, site selection, and expanding or relocating business to the American South, the world’s third largest economy. 

“Under 50 to Watch” features professionals in the South that just turned 50, or are under 50, who have impressed the publication’s editors with their prowess and their capture of job- and investment-generating projects that create wealth in the areas that they serve. SB&D staff has gotten to know many of them through events like the Southern Economic Development Roundtable (SEDR) and Southern Auto Corridor Summit, and through organizations like state economic development associations and the Southern Economic Development Council.

DiBella was Florida’s first female Secretary of Commerce. Her former role combined with economic development experience has enabled the Adams & Reese Governmental Affairs Advisor to use her business, government, capitol connections, and knowledge of the regulatory and procurement processes to provide clients with government relations and consulting services.

DiBella is a dynamic ambassador for Florida’s business, assisting clients at the intersection of business and government that need legislative and executive branch representation, economic development strategy and consulting, site selection, recruitment and retention project assistance, international trade, venture capital, and knowledge of the processes of the State of Florida government. DiBella works with businesses looking to relocate into Florida, maximizing their investment opportunities and incentives. She is also experienced in business development, project management, marketing, planning, public relations, and public speaking.

Prior to joining Adams & Reese, DiBella was the former President of Business Development at FloridaCommerce; President/CEO at Enterprise Florida; President of the Florida Opportunity Fund (Florida’s Venture Capital arm), gaining knowledge of the state funded startup ecosystem; Executive Director of Florida Harbor Pilots Association; Port Director of Port of Fernandina Ocean Highway and Port Authority; and Executive Director of Nassau County Economic Development Board. She has also been a Florida licensed real estate broker for over 20 years.

DiBella currently serves on the Florida Semiconductor Institute (FSI) Stakeholder Advisory Board and the NOAA Enterprise Accelerator "The Continuum," Industry Advisory Committee. She formerly served in leadership positions in the Aerospace Alliance, FDOT Freight Advisory Committee, Florida State College at Jacksonville District Board of Trustees, Florida Ocean Alliance Board, Florida Economic Development Council Florida 2030 Task Force, U.S. Constitution Scholarship Foundation Advisory Committee, MARAD America’s Marine Highway Advisory Panel, and FEMA National Business Emergency Operations Center.

Southern Business Development “Under 50 to Watch”

• Andrea Anderson – Ardmore (Okla.) Development Authority
• Megan Baker – Roanoke County, Va.
• James Bateman – Greenwood, D.C.
• Anita Begnaud – Virginia Economic Development Partnership
• Mackenzie Bennett – Georgia Department of Economic Development
• Richard Blackwell – Agracel
• Joseph Burchfield – TVA
• Andrew Camp – Thomas & Hutton
• Lindsey Cannon – Quest Site Solutions, McCallum Sweeney Consulting
• Chad Carping – Electric Cities of Georgia
• Tyler Chaffee – TVA
• Cedric Colbert – Global Location Strategies, Alabama Department of Commerce
• Nolan Corder – Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Gizelle Curtis – Dominion Energy
• Kimberlyn Daniel – Georgia Department of Economic Development
• Mallory Darby – Mississippi County, Ark. Economic Development
• Kim Williams Davis – Quest Site Solutions
• Karen Davison – Chester County Economic Development
• Megan Delgado – North Louisiana Economic Partnership
• Laura DiBella – Adams & Reese
• Susan Donkers – Strata Platforms
• Meredith Dubree – Breckinridge County United
• Zachary Dykes – Development Authority of Bryan County, Ga.
• Dewey Evans – Site Selection Group
• Power Evans – Georgia Department of Economic Development
• Eli Falls – Moffatt & Nichol
• Bryan Farlow – Thomas & Hutton
• Kelly Forbes – Madisonville-Hopkins County, Ky. Economic Development
• Brian Gwin – Norfolk Southern
• Molly Hall – Maynard Nexsen
• Tray Hairston – Butler Snow
• Kris Hopkins – Greylock Midstream, West Virginia Development Office
• Will Johnson – Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd
• Lee Lilley – North Carolina Department of Commerce, McGuire Woods Consulting
• John Longshore – Newmark
• Ben McDaniel – Barrow-Braselton Joint EDA
• Anthony T.J. Michelic – Jorgenson Pace
• Scott Poag – Yates Construction
• Andrew Ratchford – Site Selection Group
• Kellen Riley – CSX
• Courtland Robinson – Brasfield & Gorrie, Virginia Economic Development Partnership
• Harry Schmidt – TVA
• Anna Walker – North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives
• Jake Weir – RJ Corman, Norfolk Southern
• Moriah Williams – Wichita Falls Chamber
• Parker Wyatt – Global Location Strategies