JUNO BEACH, Fla. — Long before she was overseeing largescale events at NextEra Energy Resources, Shay Jackson knew exactly what she wanted her work to do: give back.
Raised in the Midwest and drawn to Florida to play collegiate soccer at Florida Gulf Coast University, Jackson learned early that meaningful impact is rarely a solo effort. Sports taught her teamwork, accountability and the power of people working toward something bigger than themselves.
That mindset followed her into her early career, where she gravitated naturally toward nonprofit work. Jackson worked for a nonprofit supporting families with critically ill children and later led events and volunteer programs for an animal rescue. The work was demanding but also deeply fulfilling.
“I loved working with kids. I loved working with animals,” she says. “And I loved working with people who cared deeply about helping.”
Even as her career evolved, those values never faded. When Jackson stepped outside the nonprofit world, she found a place where they were already embedded.
What set NextEra Energy apart wasn’t a job description or a recruiter’s pitch.
“Any time the nonprofits I worked with needed help, NextEra Energy was always the first call I made,” she says. “They volunteered. They were engaged. That told me everything I needed to know.”
When Jackson joined NextEra Energy in recruiting, she saw that same commitment reflected internally. The company’s investment in employees—and in the communities where they live and work—felt intentional.
“It was easy to believe in the mission because I could see how people come first,” she says. “Extending a job offer can change someone’s life.”
Today, as part of the Marketing & Communications events team, Jackson has found what she describes as the perfect blend of her professional journey—service and sincere connection.
“People usually see the finished event,” she says. “They don’t see months of planning, the trust you build, the relationships behind it. If it feels seamless and personal, that’s success.”
Supporting events across the company with a small, tightknit team, Jackson says proximity and partnership make all the difference.
“We get to know our internal clients really well,” she explains. “We’re not just executing events—we’re part of the experience. That’s what makes it authentic.”
That authenticity is especially visible at customer gatherings. One example is an event Jackson supports that’s grown from a small meeting into a national event drawing hundreds of attendees.
“I love watching people come from all over the country and genuinely feel proud to be there,” Jackson says. “You just don’t create that kind of connection on a screen.”
Outside of work, Jackson remains deeply involved with the causes that shaped her early career, continuing to volunteer with organizations focused on children and animals. Through NextEra Energy’s community programs, she’s often joined by her coworkers to volunteer—turning personal passion into shared action.
“That’s one of the things I love most about NextEra Energy Resources,” she says. “You’re encouraged to raise your hand, to get involved. If you care about something, you’re supported.”
When she steps back, Jackson says she’s proud of the events she helps bring to life and even more so of the team behind them.
“I’m proud to be part of a team that works incredibly hard and supports each other,” she says. “You have to think fast, solve problems and stay positive—and that’s exactly what we do.”
For Jackson, giving back is the through line—now amplified by a company that shares her values and gives her opportunities to build moments that matter, for the business and for the causes she cares about.
