Branan Jacobs, the director of communications for the Sarasota communications firm MagnifyGood, was recently selected as a member of Leadership Florida Connect Class VIII. Jacobs joins up to 45 other professionals chosen to participate in the statewide leadership institute, which is designed to educate, engage and inspire emerging Florida leaders between the ages of 25 and 39. The program convenes each class in some of Florida’s major cities over a 10-month period to cover key issues affecting the state's residents. Since 2014, Jacobs has developed communications strategies for local and national nonprofits and philanthropic foundations through his work with MagnifyGood, a communications firm specializing in social sector clients.