What They Are Saying

“

Alex Kelly understands the critical connection between education, workforce development and economic opportunity. In his role as Florida’s Secretary of Commerce, I have seen firsthand his ability to bring education, business and government leaders together around a shared goal of building a stronger workforce and creating opportunities for Floridians. He understands that our state colleges are essential to Florida’s economic future, and he brings a deep history and appreciation for the role they play in preparing students for high-demand careers and strengthening the communities we call home.

“

I can think of no better person for the prestigious role of President of Pensacola State College than my good friend and professional colleague, Alex Kelly. For the past seven years, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Alex excel as executive director of two state agencies and as a chief of staff for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Throughout his distinguished career, Alex has championed Veterans’ education and workforce issues, impacting Florida’s nearly 1.4 million Veterans. I know my father, Dr. Ed Hartsell, who served as President of Pensacola Junior College from 1980-1997, would strongly agree with me that Alex Kelly will serve the students, faculty, and alumni of PSC with honor and distinction.

“

Having worked closely with Secretary Alex Kelly across Northwest Florida and through my role as Vice Chair of the SelectFlorida Board, I have seen firsthand his unmatched drive and transformative leadership in economic and workforce development. When he stepped into his role leading FloridaCommerce, he immediately hit the ground running right here in our region to listen, collaborate, and align state strategy with local needs—making one of his very first stops right here in Pensacola at a Florida’s Great Northwest Board meeting. I also vividly recall his familiarization tour across Northwest Florida, spanning seven counties in just two days, with his very first stops right here in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. He has continuously impressed me with his genuine personal engagement, all while guiding massive state operations and driving economic growth. Alex has proven time and again that he is a pragmatic builder, an effective consensus-maker, and a true champion for our state’s future. He intimately understands the vital bridge between higher education, targeted workforce pipelines, and thriving local communities. Pensacola State College would be exceptionally fortunate to secure an action-oriented, visionary leader of his caliber as its next President, and I offer him my absolute and enthusiastic support.

“

Having worked closely with Alex Kelly through both the Florida Council of 100 and our service together on the SelectFlorida Board, I have seen firsthand his ability to connect education, workforce development, and economic growth. Alex understands what employers need to grow and, just as importantly, how our state colleges and workforce system can prepare Floridians to access the opportunities that growth creates. He has led large, complex organizations and has a rare ability to bring business, education and government leaders together around a common objective and turn strategy into action. That combination of experience, leadership and deep commitment to Florida would make Alex an exceptional leader for Pensacola State College and a tremendous asset to Northwest Florida.

“

I first met Secretary Alex Kelly around 2010 through his work on Florida’s redistricting process, and over the years I have watched him become a leader who genuinely understands both government and business. More recently, he has met with me to discuss the growth of our advanced-composites operations and practical options for investment and workforce development in Northwest Florida. Secretary Kelly understands that advanced manufacturing and the maritime industrial base are important to our region’s future—and that colleges must work directly with employers to prepare students for those opportunities. His executive experience, economic-development knowledge and ability to unite education, government and industry would serve Pensacola State College and our region extraordinarily well.

“

The views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of the members of the Triumph Gulf Coast Board of Directors.

I’ve got several different vantage points to use in supporting Alex Kelly’s application to serve as the seventh President of Pensacola State College. One is my time as Director of the Haas Center at UWF, the second is as Senior Policy Advisor on Economic Development to the Florida Senate, and the third is as Economic Advisor to Triumph Gulf Coast. Those experiences have taught me that while there are plenty of projects to choose from, the most important driver of a better standard of living in Northwest Florida is the skills and training of the workforce. Luckily, this is PSC and Secretary Kelly’s strong suit.

Alex Kelly’s qualifications will help drive that better standard of living for our region. He already represents our state at the intersection of postsecondary education, workforce delivery, and business capital deployment, and this is where PSC needs to be. Secretary Kelly has served as Chief of Staff of the Florida Department of Education, where he worked directly with the state’s 28 state colleges and 48 technical colleges; he sits on the CareerSource Florida Board, which governs the workforce system Pensacola State partners with daily; and he chairs the Florida Development Finance Corporation, focused on training facilities and equipment that meet the needs of Florida businesses.

I have worked alongside him as he has engaged with exactly the aviation and aerospace, the defense-adjacent manufacturing, and shipbuilding supply-chain questions that define the high-wage opportunities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The constraints Pensacola faces are not just in available capital or shovel-ready sites, but in welders, machinists, marine electricians, industrial technicians businesses need, as well as healthcare providers and cybersecurity experts. A president who has already helped structure the state’s side of that equation can accelerate Pensacola State’s role in supplying it.

He currently runs an agency with roughly 1,488 authorized positions and a total budget of approximately $2.88 billion, spread across Tallahassee headquarters and a statewide network of field offices. He has managed complex, geographically dispersed, heavily regulated public organizations through recessions, hurricanes, and federal compliance regimes, and he has done so while accountable simultaneously to a governor, a legislature, and federal grantors. Sounds a lot like running a college or a university.

Secretary Kelly is uniquely positioned to fulfill Pensacola State’s mission to drive high-wage opportunities for students and families because of his experience in business, education, and workforce development. I strongly believe that he will build effectively on the foundation that Dr. Meadows and others have laid. The Board could not have chosen a better candidate, and I look forward to further collaboration.

“

Working with Alex over the years has been a genuine privilege and an absolute blast. From day one, he actually took the time to understand Santa Rosa County—our quirks, our big ideas, and where our real potential was. He’d probably tell you we basically kidnapped him that one afternoon to tour Whiting Aviation Park, but once we had him trapped in the truck, he was all in. He was right there in the trenches helping us move the needle on our key assets like Leonardo Helicopters, bringing a level of energy that hasn’t been seen in years at the State level. But for as hard as he pushes, Alex is about as down-to-earth as they come. There’s zero ego with him; he’s just plain easy to talk to and fun to work with. I’ve seen firsthand how his leadership lights a spark and rallies a team, and while his team at FloridaCommerce couldn’t be happier for his next chapter, I know they’re hurting a bit to see him go. That’s the mark of a true leader—when you leave, everyone is cheering for your future while dreading your next move. Pensacola State College is getting an absolute powerhouse, and they should be beyond honored to have Alex as their next president.

“

I’ve known Alex Kelly for decades – and the best way to describe him is ‘public servant.’ His Florida roots run deep. He’s served in the Florida Legislature and the Jeb Bush Administration and later joined his Education Foundation where he gained an appreciation for education policy. He went on to serve in the Florida Department of Education and make his way to Secretary of an agency whose mission is to grow the state’s workforce. I’m a big fan of experience, and every step of Alex’s career has built a knowledge base and rolodex to deliver maximum benefit to the students and community of Pensacola State College. With his experience with the Legislature and Governor’s office he’s going to be a sort of Swiss Army knife for the College that’s going to pay dividends for the students and community.