Siegel sons step up amid Westgate Resorts leadership shakeup; UCF among nation's most selective schools; 40 Under 40 Class of 2025 revealed & more

Welcome to Orlando Business Journal's LinkedIn newsletter. I'm Associate Managing Editor Steven Ryzewski, rounding up business news to keep you in the know when time is short.

The future of timeshare powerhouse Westgate Resorts is becoming clearer following a leadership shake-up this week that saw 11 executive changes at once.

Two of founder David Siegel’s sons — David Alexander (25) and Daniel (24) — are now co-vice presidents of real estate. Both have told Orlando Business Journal they plan to build their careers in the family business and ascend to top leadership positions as they grow.?

OBJ's Sarah Kinbar spoke exclusively with the brothers here.

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40 Under 40 Class of 2025 revealed

Central Florida's young leaders of today — whether they be owners, partners, C-level executives, managers or any of many other roles — play no small part in paving the region's future. This week, Orlando Business Journal revealed its Class of 2025 40 Under 40 honorees in two parts, recognizing professionals across industries including construction, professional services, nonprofits, sports, finance, tourism, education and entertainment.

Orlando Business Journal's annual 40 Under 40 awards program honors Central Florida's outstanding young professionals age 39 and younger. Honorees come from Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia and Brevard counties, but their impacts reverberate across the entire region and state.

See this year's honorees below:

• Introducing Orlando's Class of 2025 40 Under 40 — Part 1
• Introducing Orlando's Class of 2025 40 Under 40 — Part 2

Real estate news of the week

• Canceled Area15 Orlando site gets new plans
• Party City to auction these local store leases
• The Villages to get Costco store
• 4 Orlando properties to watch for changes in 2025
• DeLand hotel near airport trades hands. Here's what to know.
• Developer buys Lake Nona-area land for upscale community
• Live Local Act apartments in works near Baldwin Park
• $250 million hotel near Disney Springs gets construction timeline
• Investment firm scoops up outdoor storage properties
• Orlando homes linger on market as supply increases: Report

Orlando news bites

Don't miss these other top stories:

• UCF joins elite Florida colleges with tighter acceptance rate
• Orlando expands flight options with 9 airlines adding routes
• What Blue Origin's New Glenn launch will mean for Florida's Space Coast
• See Orlando Health debuts new Lake Mary hospital (PHOTOS)
• SunRail riderships jumps up in 2024
• Nightclubs clap back as city, police demand downtown nightlife lawsuit dismissal
• New CEOs named for Innovate Orlando and Give Kids the World
• Central Florida's public companies affected by Donald Trump Jr. appointment, more in 2024
• Tupperware buyer takes over contracts in post-bankruptcy maneuvers
• Orlando ranks among top tech hubs in South

Restaurant and retail news & notes

Check out the latest news on popular local places to eat, drink, shop and be entertained:

• Broken Strings Brewery closes, owners blame downtown ‘ghost town’
• Nuri's Tavern to replace The Robinson Coffee Room in downtown Orlando
• Craving tacos? Top-rated restaurants for unforgettable bites.
• 5 high-end dining, retail openings in Central Florida
• PickleHall to open pickleball courts in former Pep Boys

On the cover: A Planner's Paradise

As Central Florida swells with new residents, developers are looking to Lake County for cheap, unadulterated land that can serve as bedroom communities for expensive urban centers such as Orlando and Tampa.

But in the stillness before the storm of shovels and bulldozers transforms the pastoral hills, Lake is being given a moment to reflect on what kind of future it wants. Lake County’s unprecedented growth and rural texture are creating opportunities for planners, municipalities and developers to build new places that incorporate modern design ideas.

Read Trevor Fraser's cover story here.

Nominate now for the OBJ awards programs!

• 2025 Best Places to Work (deadline: April 4)
• 2025 Most Influential Leaders (deadline: June 5)

That's all for this week's top headlines, and thanks for supporting OBJ. This weekly round-up of Orlando business news was compiled by Steven Ryzewski, associate managing editor. Questions? Comments? Concerns? News tips? Send them to [email protected].