North Florida Land Trust President and CEO named one of Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders

Florida Trend chose Allison DeFoor for inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Florida 500 

Jacksonville, Fla., Nov. 20, 2025 – Florida Trend has named North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) President and CEO Allison DeFoor one of Florida’s 500 most influential business leaders. Each year, Florida Trend chooses 500 people who have made a difference in the state to be included on the Florida 500 list. This is the second year DeFoor has been selected as one of the top executives in the philanthropy/nonprofit category.

“I am honored even to be nominated for this prestigious list and am greatly appreciative that Florida Trend has chosen me for inclusion,” said DeFoor. “Conservation in Florida is so important; it is now or never. The greatest threat to conservation in Florida is the rapid and inexorable growth of our state. In two generations, we have grown from smaller than Mississippi to larger than New York. It is Now or Never to conserve what we can. I am proud of our accomplishments and look forward to continuing our work to protect Florida’s natural spaces.”

DeFoor has served as president and CEO of NFLT since 2022 and has always been a staunch advocate for conservation. Under his leadership at NFLT, the nonprofit has conserved approximately 13,000 acres with another 76,000 in the Ocala to Osceola (O2O) wildlife corridor coming in early 2026, when the State will close on a conservation easement that NFLT was instrumental in procuring. His efforts advocating conservation funding in Florida led to the legislature allocating $400 million for conservation.

DeFoor has held many leadership positions throughout his career. He has been a prosecutor, public defender, private lawyer, judge, sheriff, law professor, Lieutenant Governor of Florida candidate, and Episcopal priest. He was appointed to oversee restoration in the Florida Everglades and helped to pass the Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative, also known as Amendment 1.

DeFoor added, “Over the years, I have been blessed with many opportunities to serve Florida and my town. It is sweet for this Florida Cracker to wind up where it all began, with the land. Let‘s make sure our grandkids get to see Florida, too.”

Florida 500 is a special publication from Florida Trend that highlights the most influential business leaders in Florida in more than 60 business categories based on a year-long research initiative. Nominees are asked to fill out a questionnaire, and the staff conducts months of research through their extensive contacts in regional business circles and hundreds of interviews to compile the list of the 500 people who play an important role in shaping the state. For a complete look at the list of this year’s Florida 500, visit floridatrend500.com/index/.

About North Florida Land Trust

North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida's irreplaceable natural environment. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through the donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations. For more information, visit nflt.org.