The inaugural meeting of the newly seated Select Florida board of directors was held on January 18 in Tallahassee. Select Florida is a Direct Support Organization (DSO) of Florida Commerce. Both Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly and Select Florida President TJ Villamil along with Chief Operating Officer Matt Swanson were present.
The meeting was chaired by FEDC Board Member Greg Britton, State Director of the Florida SBDC Network. Of Florida's 41,000 exporters, 95% of them are small businesses. FEDC Board Members, Jennifer Conoley, President & CEO of Florida's Great Northwest, and Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber are also serving Select Florida. Additional board members include Kelly Smallridge, FEDC Past Chair and President/CEO of the BDB of Palm Beach County, Nick Primrose, JAXPort, and Beth Kigel Vice President Intelligent Transportation and Emerging Mobility Solutions for HNTB Corporation. Rounding out the Select Florida board is Mike Simas, President and CEO of the Florida Council of 100.
These appointments are a 4 year commitment. Officers were established and members received briefings on the budget, open government, sunshine, and ethics along with an overview of planned and executed trade missions/shows. The board officers are Jennifer Conoley, Vice Chair, Mark Wilson, Secretary, Beth Kigel, Treasurer. Select Florida has 16 FTEs between offices in Coral Gables and Orlando and 5 FTEs that are shared between Florida Commerce and Select Florida.
Initiatives include the development of a soft landing program for international companies, private sector investment and the establishment of an advisory council from those investor companies. Long-range, Select Florida aspires to become financially self-sufficient.
