Pinellas economic development staffer wins innovator scholarship
October 10, 2020 - Benjamin Friedman, a market intelligence specialist with Pinellas County Economic Development, is the recipient of the 2020 Dan Webster Young Innovator Scholarship Award. The award, presented by the Florida Economic Development Council and sponsored by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, is given annually to recognize the achievements of an outstanding young innovator in economic development in Florida. The recipient receives a scholarship of up to $5,000 to be applied toward coursework and fees associated with achieving the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation. Friedman specializes in advanced data analysis techniques and recently created a project showing how automation could disrupt employment in Pinellas County. Friedman is an alumnus of Leadership St. Pete and the Tampa Bay Beaches Institute for leadership.