Of all the streets in Tallahassee, there is one that feels like home for Taylore Maxey.
“My entire professional life has been on Bronough Street,” she laughs. After growing up in Tallahassee and then returning home to build a dynamic career in public relations and broadcast journalism, Taylore is grateful for the city that took her from public relations intern to one of Tallahassee’s 25 Women You Need to Know for 2026.
“It’s the sense of community,” she explains. “Tallahassee is big enough to have incredible talent and ideas, but small enough that people still collaborate and support each other. You see it in the arts, in nonprofits, and in local businesses. It’s a city where people show up for their community, and that’s something I really appreciate.”
Community is at the heart of Maxey’s work. As Director of Media and Public Relations for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, she leads statewide communications strategy, using storytelling to build community around Florida’s economic future while providing strategic counsel to executive leadership.
“The way information is shared can shape how people understand issues and even their own communities,” she says. “I’ve always been drawn to the strategy behind storytelling and figuring out how to connect the dots so people see the bigger picture.”
Her bigger picture includes stops at the Florida League of Cities, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, and Sachs Media, along the way earning a Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) State Image Award of Distinction and recognition as FPRA Capital Chapter Communicator of the Year.
“I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors throughout my career, particularly women like Heidi Otway, Sharon Berrian, and Cecka Rose Green, who showed me what strong, principled leadership looks like,” she says. “They taught me that credibility is the most valuable currency you have.”
She pays it forward. Her contributions to LeMoyne Arts and the Chain of Parks Art Festival have elevated the festival to national visibility and earned recognition as the top fine art festival in the nation and in Florida.
“Watching that event grow into a nationally ranked and recognized fine arts festival has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a great example of how the arts can bring people from all walks of life together while also supporting artists and small businesses,” she says with satisfaction.
Beyond her professional roles, Maxey demonstrates leadership through mentorship and board service for the Capital Chapter of Florida Public Relations Association, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication Capstone Panel, and The Charmettes, Incorporated, a national service organization focused on cancer prevention as well as academic achievement, leadership, and civic responsibility of young women through their Debutante Presentation and Ball.
Storytelling is part of everything she does. As the creator and host of “The Wandering Fork,” a segment on Live in Tallahassee airing on Fox 49, she highlights locally owned restaurants, showcasing Tallahassee’s diverse culinary culture while strengthening local commerce and community engagement. “It’s a great way to showcase small businesses and the culture of our community,” she says.
She gives thanks to the family that has encouraged and supported her, reflecting on the lessons she learned and their place in her story. “My mom, dad, and grandmother, the late Dr. Eva C. Wanton, instilled a strong sense of responsibility to give back and stay connected to the community. They raised me to believe community service isn’t optional, it’s part of being involved where you live.”
Through sustained service, mentorship, and advocacy, Maxey continues to make a lasting impact on our community, and she’s not slowing down any time soon.
Whether you see her enjoying local cuisine, mentoring young professionals, or behind the scenes at LeMoyne’s Chain of Parks Art Festival next month, you can be sure that Taylore Maxey is working for the betterment of all around her.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 25 Women for ’26: Taylore Maxey builds community with storytelling
Reporting by Heather Fuselier, Special to the Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
