School of Communication alumnus Dave Fiore (B.S. ‘86), founder and CEO of Fiore Communications, has had his company recognized among the Florida State University Alumni Association’s Seminole 100.

Seminole 100 recognizes the 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned or alumni-led businesses at a celebration on FSU’s campus each year. It is the company’s fourth time on the list.

Fiore’s path to leading a communications company was an unexpected one. “I came to Florida State to be a band director and ended up in the PR program,” Fiore said. “I had no idea what I wanted to do, but my last two years and internships gave me real-life experiences that would shape my career path. It also is where I fell in love with Tallahassee.”

He decided to stay in Tallahassee with his wife (who he met through FSU Marching Chiefs), working at the Tallahassee Democrat, Tallahassee Magazine and later at a local PR firm, where he learned about working in an agency.

In 2001, Fiore took the leap and opened Fiore Communications, where his skills would be put to the test. “The scariest part of owning a business, especially at the start, is building up enough clients so that you have some buffer between income and expenses. There were a lot of times I had to wait for a client payment to come in before I could make payroll,” Fiore said. “I just kept working and hiring people smarter than me, and everything has worked out.”

Fiore credits much of his success over the past 20+ years to the employees and clients he surrounded himself with. He also established relationships throughout the community that inspired him to create a podcast, How I Got Here, which highlights the journeys of Tallahassee-area leaders.

“Find something you have an interest in, and even if it is not the perfect position, look for opportunities to learn and grow,” Fiore advised current students. “And do all the little things – show up on time, meet deadlines, show some initiative and build relationships. Be patient – you will get there!”

Dave Fiore will be honored along with the other Seminole 100 recipients at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center on February 24, 2024.