Cue the "Succession" theme song. After 40 years at the Lakeland Economic Development Council (LEDC), President Steve Scruggs has announced a succession plan: Current Catapult President Christin Strawbridge will take the reins upon his retirement. It will be a quick move for Strawbridge since both organizations use the same downtown building.

Strawbridge has been named the LEDC's Executive Vice President, effective Monday, June 1, and she'll become president after a training period. Scruggs will act as an advisor through 2027. Catapult Operations Director Brett Chamberlain will succeed Strawbridge as president of the business incubator + coworking space.

Business is booming in Lakeland today, but when Scruggs joined the newly formed LEDC in 1987, the city had a 20% unemployment rate following widespread layoffs. Since then, Lakeland has generated 36,000 jobs and $3.2 billion in capital investment, thanks in part to LEDC members such as Publix and Lakeland Regional Health, and the unemployment rate is 5.4%.

Take a deeper dive into how the LEDC enriches the local economy.