Dream Come True

Why it matters: PGT, the largest locally based private employer in Sarasota County, will begin a calendar year in 2018 with a new CEO for the first time since 2005.

In his senior year of high school, Jeff Jackson got a class assignment to write a paper about his post-graduation plans.

Recently going through old boxes, he found his paper, circa 1983, and reread it. Jackson's plans back then included wanting to be the president or vice president of a company. The paper's next sentence says he thinks the chances of that dream coming true are slim.

So much for slim. Jackson, starting this month, is CEO of PGT Innovations, the largest locally based private employer in Sarasota County. The impact-resistant window manufacturer has 2,800 employees and had $458.55 million in sales in 2016, up 174% from $167.28 million in 2011. PGT's board promoted Jackson to the CEO role from his previous post, president and COO. As CEO, Jackson replaces longtime PGT executive and prominent Sarasota County business community cheerleader Rod Hershberger, who will remain chairman of PGT's board. Hershberger had been CEO since 2005.