Doug Bartel to Lead Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance
November 4, 2024 – Doug Bartel, senior director state and regional communications for Florida Blue, has been named the 2024-2025 chair of the board of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. He succeeds Erick Strati, South Florida commercial banking market executive for Wells Fargo, who served as chair in fiscal year 2024.
As the primary economic development organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance focuses on creating, attracting, expanding and retaining high-wage jobs and capital investment in high value targeted industries, developing more vibrant communities, and improving the quality of life for the area’s citizens.
Over the last decade, the Alliance, working with its members, Broward County, CareerSource Broward, local municipalities and other partners helped create or retain more than 30,000 direct jobs that are estimated to generate through direct, indirect and induced effects total employment of approximately 57,750 jobs, $2.1 billion in annual personal income and $10.7 billion in annual economic impact in Broward County.
Currently Bartel leads statewide and regional communications for Florida Blue, the state’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan. He joined Florida Blue in 2006 and has served in a number of regional and statewide executive roles.
A South Florida native, he has more than 30 years of experience in health care, business, strategic communications, community engagement, and corporate social responsibility, as well as media relations and broadcast journalism.
Earlier in his career, he had a distinguished 15-year tenure in the television news industry as a producer, executive producer, and as a reporter/anchor where he earned two Emmy Awards – including leadership roles at South Florida stations WTVJ, NBC 6 South Florida, and WPLG, Local 10.
Bartel has served on the board of and is active in various charitable, civic, and professional organizations across South Florida and the state. He has also been recognized and honored by several Florida organizations and publications for his community service and leadership.
He holds a B.S. with honors in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida, an M.B.A. in Health Care from the University of Miami, and a certification in Leadership and Health Care from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Bartel is also a Certified Health Insurance Executive (CHIE) and a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program from America’s Health Insurance Plans.
About Florida Blue
Florida Blue has been providing health solutions to residents of Florida for 80 years. Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, the company serves more than five million members and all 67 Florida counties. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., with more than 9,000 employees, it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. For additional information visit www.FloridaBlue.com.
