Hello, I’m Ben Iannotta

I moved to New Smyrna Beach in 2020 with my wife, Becky. My introduction to the area came before that, via Mosquito Lagoon, where I paddled and fished to unwind after an annual conference in Orlando. I was taken by the wilderness of the lagoon, the old shuttle VAB on the horizon, the rustic feel of Oak Hill, the artisan vibe of Edgewater. One afternoon I ventured up to NSB. I fell in love with our multiple personalities: beach getaway, artistic hub, culinary destination, home for entrepreneurs, party town.  When the pandemic hit, weathering it in NSB rather than in Northern Virginia felt right. We bought a house along the city golf course, and I commuted monthly to Reston, Virginia, home to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and its magazine, Aerospace America, where I was editor-in-chief. I left that job in March, and two months later I decided to attend a City Commission meeting to learn more about the Deering Park proposal. Local emotions ran high, but average people had tuned in too late to impact the rezoning decision. Publishing accurate news in time to make a difference became the driving force for “New Smyrna Beat,” a newsletter where I’ll apply my journalism skills to help citizens shape the future of NSB and surrounding communities. Beat is for you, but it’s also for me. I want to immerse myself in my community and leave the place better than I found it.