Turner leads the Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Program which includes WorkforceCONNECT, and the International Program. He works with existing industry businesses in Pasco County to assist with their retention and expansion needs, provide workforce resources, and promote international business opportunities to expand their reach. In 2023, Turner was named “Workforce Development Professional of the Year” by the Florida Economic Development Council. He holds a B.S. in Global Business from the University of South Florida.

Michelle Bauer serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. She directs the organization’s strategic planning, competitiveness, talent development and attraction, legislative outreach, governance, and fundraising initiatives and oversees the Marketing, Research, and Investor Relations teams. As a member of the Tampa Bay EDC senior management team, Michelle provides strategic counsel to the Tampa Bay EDC President and CEO and Executive Officers of the organization’s Board of Directors. Michelle is also responsible for the career awareness and workforce training initiatives of the Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation, a 501 c 3 sister organization of the EDC.

Michelle became a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) in 2019. She currently serves as Chair for the Florida Economic Development Council.

I co-founded GIS WebTech in 2016 to provide advanced technology for economic development and site selection. My co-founders and I believed that economic developers and site selectors were hungry for innovation and tired of the glacial pace of improvements in legacy technologies. Our company's incredible growth since then, across North America and into Europe, has proven our thesis to be correct. From 2001 - 2016, prior to GIS WebTech, I served in CEO roles at energy and technology companies and as an operating partner with several private equity firms. Along the way I have also served on eight company boards, both as CEO and as an outside director.

My passion is making communities better. I enjoy using the vehicle of politics, local government, and economic development to achieve this goal.

I try to stay informed on the current events of the day, and I am someone who enjoys the fast-paced 21st century world going on all around us.

I am determined to work hard to make life better in a tangible way for the people in communities. I am currently fulfilling that goal at Amazon helping to create jobs and invest in communities and their residents around the Southeast US.

Nancy brings two decades of executive-level marketing, communications, government relations and economic development expertise to VisionFirst. Most recently, she served as the National Director of Communications for the Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd), a leader in designing policy and implementation strategies to improve our nation’s educational attainment and workforce competencies.

Nancy worked alongside VisionFirst’s principals as Vice President of Strategic Alignment & Communications at Enterprise Florida (EFI). In that position, she developed strategies to adhere to strict public records laws while at the same time balancing necessary client confidentiality. She also served in leadership roles at several state agencies in Florida.

VisionFirst’s clients have come to rely on Nancy’s marketing and communications background and capabilities. She recently led the development of a multi-media marketing campaign for Triumph Gulf Coast, a $1.5 billion economic development fund to expand Northwest Florida’s economy. The strategy included message and asset development to reach target audiences and motivate behavior.

Nancy’s efforts have also focused on workforce and education initiatives that grow talent pipelines, improve competitiveness and assist underserved populations. Currently, Nancy is leading the development and implementation of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s new Workforce Invest grant program. She is a certified JobsEQ user, combining her education outreach expertise with data analytics to assist communities in explaining and implementing education and workforce initiatives.

Outside the office, Nancy, a true fitness fanatic, can most likely be found at the gym or spending time with her family.

An experienced economic development professional with over fourteen years of increasing responsibility in regional, federal and private sector development. A detail oriented, community-focused consensus builder of stakeholders dedicated to projects that generate job creation and induce investments. A sound economic development project manager and facilitator with strong knowledge in:

Economic Development
Business Retention and Expansion
Project Development
CRM Systems
Business Development
Local-Federal level Incentives
RFI Response
Site Selection
Industrial Development
Industry Location Decisions
Tax credits

Austin is currently the Sales Director for EDOiQ. He works closely with hundreds of Economic Development Organizations on streamlining the processes for implementing software for project management, incentive tracking, impact forecasting and more.

Upon graduating from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelors in Business Management, Austin’s professional background has included time in minor league baseball and professional hockey sales groups, and digital marketing advertising in the home services industry.

Austin was born, raised and currently resides in Rockwall, Texas with his wife, 3 boys and 2 dogs. Outside of work, Austin enjoys playing golf, baseball and spending time with his family.

As Director of Business Development, Suzanne Christman leads an expert team of economic development managers focused on growing a diverse cross-section of businesses in Pinellas County. Suzanne has a wealth of experience in economic development, having served over 22 years with Pinellas County Economic Development and in positions at Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. She has assisted companies at every stage, including startups, emerging companies, commercial-stage businesses, and global corporations. With her unmatched expertise, she has led complex relocation and expansion projects for Fortune 500 companies, has been the architect of strategic incentive and investment tool programs, has led disaster and COVID recovery programs, and serves as the immediate past Chair of the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC). Suzanne’s extensive experience in the economic development field makes her a valued partner to organizations such as Global Tampa Bay, FEDC, and the International Economic Development Council as an instructor. She has served various professional, civic, and community organizations including the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Florida Economic Development Council, and the Florida Medical Manufacturer’s Association.

Paul Crawford currently serves as the Director of Business Development in the Office of Economic Development. Mr. Crawford has a variety of experience in his over 30 years of work in both the public and private sectors. In the Office of Economic Development, he works to implement programs in the City’s Public Investment Policy in order to:

• maintain a competitive business environment;
• help to expand and recruit targeted industries;
• generate high wage jobs;
• and stimulate significant capital investment in Jacksonville.

Mr. Crawford is tasked with aiding the Director in implementing the Mayor’s vision and is instrumental in business development and small business initiatives, development at Cecil Commerce Center and the City’s Community Redevelopment Areas (CRA’s).

Mr. Crawford has worked in multiple areas of City government over the past 20 years including the Planning and Development Department’s Strategic Planning Division Chief, the Director of Parks and Recreation, City Council Liaison for Mayor Peyton as well as establishing the Jacksonville Downtown Investment Authority and serving as its Interim Executive Director. Prior to his work in the Public Sector, Mr. Crawford served as the Project Manager on a myriad of projects like the master planned communities including Grand Haven and Ocean Hammock (Palm Coast, FL); development of roadway plans such as I-95 and A1A in Brevard County; and various military installation projects throughout the US, Puerto Rico and Dubai.

Bill joined the Pasco EDC as President/CEO as of January 2016 after a nation-wide search. He has a long career in economic development spanning 25 years in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Bill has extensive knowledge and experience which includes ten years with Enterprise Florida, specializing in international trade and business development. Bill holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs and Political Science as well as a certificate in Asian Studies from Michigan State University.

From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, state, local and global projects, Meghan has a passion for location strategy and its impact on communities large and small. She brings nearly a decade of economic development experience to GLS, working the Small Business Development Center in Orlando, Enterprise Florida, and Highlands County’s Economic Development Department. As a senior consultant at GLS, she addresses clients' location, workforce, and incentives inquiries by taking the time to understand the company’s process, key cost drivers, preferences, and key risk considerations. Meghan holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and an MBA from the University of Central Florida.

Bruce leads a workforce system consisting of eight Career Centers within a six-county region of Northeast Florida. He has over 30 years of experience in workforce development, beginning in 1990 in Athens, GA as a Job Developer for a regional training company. In 1992, Bruce began work in Northeast Florida with the Private Industry Council and served in a variety of front line and management positions. After working in the private sector for a couple of years, he returned to the workforce development profession in 1996.

Bruce is very involved with economic development entities and Chambers of Commerce in Northeast Florida; acting as a catalyst in forming strong relationships with these vital partners. He recently served as a consultant for the US Department of Labor as part of their Driving Transformation Summits in Seattle, Baltimore and Chicago. Bruce is sought as a guest speaker to demonstrate how workforce, economic development and educational entities and systems can and should work together. He has spoken at national conferences such as Workforce Innovations, National Association of Workforce Boards and the International Economic Development Council.

Bruce serves on several Boards of Directors:
Florida Workforce Development Association – Past President
Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce - Board of Trustees
Innovate Northeast Florida
United Way of Northeast Florida - Income Strategy Council
Enterprise Florida - Stakeholders Council
Boy Scouts of America, Black Creek District - Chairman, 2011-12
Grace Episcopal Day School – Past Chairman
Early Learning Coalition of Duval County

2003 graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute.

Elizabeth Godwin is Senior Manager for Duke Energy Florida economic development. Elizabeth is responsible for the attraction and location of new business, as well as retention and growth of existing companies in Duke Energy’s 35-county service area in Florida. With a focus on Central Florida, her work includes site location services, demographic analysis, rate and cost comparisons and support for state, regional and local partners. Prior to working for Duke Energy, Elizabeth spent five years at the Orlando Economic Partnership in a variety of roles. Most recently she was a member of the Business Development team and was responsible for recruiting manufacturers to the Orlando region. Prior to that role she worked in Business Intelligence where she conducted competitive research and analysis to support the organization's economic and community development mission. Elizabeth began her career in Austin, Texas where she worked for AngelouEconomics and The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Elizabeth graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors of Arts degree in International Relations and Global Studies. She has also completed coursework through the International Economic Development Council.

Robert Harvey serves as Executive Director of Florida Opportunity Fund, Inc. (“FOF”), and the Executive Director of Florida Development Finance Corporation (“FDFC”).

Prior to joining the above entities, Robert was a Founding Partner of the law firm Jenks & Harvey LLP in West Palm Beach, specializing in securities litigation, arbitration, and regulation.
Robert currently serves as Chair of the 15th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission (“JNC”) for Palm Beach County. Robert was initially appointed to the JNC by Governor Rick Scott in 2015 and reappointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2019 and most recently in July 2023.

Robert began his career with the United States Navy, where he served on active duty from 1987-1990 as a Navy Judge Advocate and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. After leaving active duty, he entered private practice in Chicago, Illinois.

Robert has over 30 years of legal and business experience. In 1992, Robert joined startup Meridian VAT Reclaim North America in New York, NY (“Meridian”). Meridian, now known as Meridian Global Services, is the worldwide leader in providing corporate international Value Added Tax compliance and consulting services. Mr. Harvey became Meridian North America’s Senior Vice President of Operations & General Counsel in 1996. Headquartered in Ireland, Meridian was acquired in 1999 by Profit Recovery Group International (NASDAQ: PRGX) and is now privately held.
After leaving Meridian in 1999, Mr. Harvey became Director of Operations for MBIA MuniServices Company, a subsidiary of MBIA, Inc. (NYSE: MBI) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Harvey later served as Chief Operating Officer of Imperial Software in Great River, New York.

For the past 17 years, Marc Hoenstine has been with the Economic Development Department for Duke Energy Florida (formerly Progress Energy Florida) He is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the company's economic development strategic plan.
Marc also directs the company's efforts to retain and expand the existing commercial and industrial customer base as well as attract new commercial and industrial customers to Duke Energy Florida's 35-county service territory. His work includes site location services, demographics analysis, rate and cost comparisons, and support for state, regional and local partners.
Prior to working for Duke Energy Florida, he spent five years working at Enterprise Florida as one of the first members of Enterprise Florida's Business Recruitment team Responsible for marketing Florida as the nation's premiere location for business expansion and relocation, he was successful in recruiting many domestic and international companies to the State.

Marc was also employed by Enterprise Florida's predecessor, the Florida Department of Commerce. He served in many areas of the Department between 1994 and 1996. including the Bureau of International Tourism. the Division of International Trade and Development and the Division of Economic Development

From 1995 to 1996, Marc assisted in the administration of the Economic Development Transportation Fund (also known as the Road Fund) and the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) He has also had extensive involvement in Florida's Enterprise Zone Program.
Marc graduated from Florida State University with a BA in International Affairs and a minor in German. He is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma and a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD).

Marc has served on numerous Board of Directors and Committees. Most recently, he sits on the Florida Economic Development Council Board.

A Florida native and lifelong resident, Marc lives in Windermere with his wife, Karen, and their children, Katie and Sam.

Katie joined Florida Power & Light Company in 2022 and serves as lead economic development project manager. In this role, she works to diversify Florida’s economy by facilitating business attraction and expansion efforts with a focus on supporting the state’s aerospace & defense sectors. Katie assists businesses in the identification of sites and buildings, electric and infrastructure assessments, incentives and clean energy programs.
Prior to joining FPL, Katie supported economic development efforts in Florida at the state and local levels. She previously served as the state of Florida’s economic development representative for the aviation/aerospace & defense/homeland security sectors at Enterprise Florida, the state’s principal economic development agency. Katie also held roles at FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance and the Mississippi Defense Initiative.
Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies and a Master of Science Degree in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi. She resides in West Palm Beach.
https://www.poweringflorida.com/how-we-help/meet-our-team/katiehogan.html

Adrienne Johnston was appointed as President and CEO of CareerSource Florida in February 2023. CareerSource Florida is driven by a business-led Board of Directors, appointed by the Governor, to guide workforce development policy and services. Johnston leads efforts to ensure the CareerSource Florida network anticipates and responds to the needs of businesses and job seekers throughout Florida.

To date, her achievements in this role include increased collaboration within the state workforce system and implementation of REACH Act priorities, such as the Credentials Review Committee, Master Credentials List, and Florida Workforce System Transformation Plan. With extensive experience in workforce services and applied research, Johnston takes a strategic approach to helping Florida become the global leader for talent. Her most recent leadership positions include serving as deputy secretary of Workforce Services and chief economist for FloridaCommerce. She holds a master’s degree in economics from Florida State University.

Todd G. Kocourek has served as President and CEO of Florida First Capital, an SBA Certified Development Company and largest Florida SBA lender, since 1998. He is also a practicing Florida attorney, focusing on international commercial law and government relations, and serves as Adjunct Professior of Law at Florida State University. In addition to service on the Florida Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, he chaired the Chamber’s International Business Council for 5 years. He served as Committee Counsel to the Commerce Committee of the Florida House of Representatives, where he oversaw commercial legislative projects including the revision of Florida's domestic and international banking codes and the revision of Florida’s Limited Liability Company Act, and also served in the Office of the Governor as General Counsel for the Florida International Affairs Commission. A past Chair of the International Law Section of the Florida Bar, he currently serves as Chair of the Florida Export Finance Corporation.

Conexon’s Business Development Manager, Leslye Krampe, is a seasoned electric co-op fiber broadband leader. She joined Conexon after serving with one of western Kentucky’s largest co-ops in an economic development leadership role, while also managing the co-op’s large industrial accounts. Prior to that, with Kenergy, Leslye was instrumental in championing the cooperative’s broadband project where more than 59,000 homes and businesses across 14 counties will have access to high-speed, fiber-to-the-home services with Conexon Connect. Thanks to Leslye’s dedication and work, that project is now coming to fruition with Kenergy members enjoying the benefits of vital high-speed internet service. In her role at Conexon, Leslye helps educate counties, facilitate funding opportunities and encourages electric cooperatives and local entities to collaborate in stepping up to bridge the digital divide.

Robert Long serves as Space Florida’s president and CEO, leading the state’s aerospace finance and development authority to advance the aerospace industry and solidify the state as the premier global and interplanetary capital for aerospace commerce. He is a proven leader with more than 25 years of experience overseeing large organizations across the aerospace spectrum from launch operations and mobility to logistics and spaceport operations. Long has spent his career improving and enhancing the transportation to, from, and in space, managing complex aerospace programs, leveraging innovative technologies to improve both government and private sector outcomes, and developing new business models and operating concepts to create value for the commercial aerospace industry.

Long has nearly two decades of experience crafting defense industrial, aerospace, and fiscal policy and strategies, which included key roles advising the Defense Department’s Chief Technology Officer and senior Defense Department space leaders. He has a long track record of building partnerships across and within government & industry toward mutually beneficial outcomes.
Long most recently served as the Commander for Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range, Vandenberg Space Force Base. In this role he managed $8.4 billion in assets, a $280 million annual budget, installations spanning more than 118,000 acres, and oversaw 11,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel.

Long received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington, earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and has master’s degree from the College of Naval Command and Staff, the School for Advanced Air and Space Studies and the Eisenhower School. He retired as a colonel from the United States Space Force in July 2023.

Tim began working as in intern in 1999. He was named company president in 2017 and CEO in 2019. He looks forward to the day when the indentured servitude clause in his contract expires.

In all seriousness, Tim oversees brand planning and marketing strategy for partner clients. He is the chief supervisor and strategist for the Mississippi Development Authority/Visit Mississippi, the Mississippi State Department of Health, Visit Jackson, Entergy Nuclear, and the Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau. He also works with Visit Hattiesburg and Visit Vicksburg. Tim is a primary contact with our destination digital media partner, Advance Travel & Tourism, and helps coordinate projects with destination marketing companies such as Matador, Otocast, Lou Hammond Group (LHG), and DCI.
Tim has been a featured presenter at various state and national conferences on marketing communications/digital media in the areas of tourism, public health, and entrepreneurism, in addition to being an alumni speaker of TEDxAntioch and TEDxWindham. He serves on the boards of several organizations including TEDxJackson and The Entrepreneur Policy Planning Group; and is on the executive committee of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership. Tim was selected as part of the Mississippi delegation that attended the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) at The Hague in 2019.

The work of the Economic Development Council (EDC) aims to market and develop St. Johns County as a top-notch destination for companies considering expansion or relocation. This effort is supported by our membership and our other local, state, and regional economic development partners. EDC activities and events are designed to support the success of both new and existing businesses in St. Johns County. We offer resources to businesses and support start-up ventures by providing information and connectivity to a variety of local resources. Learn more about the Economic Development Council.

Paul Mitchell has over 25 years of private and public sector business development, corporate strategy, and team leadership experience. For the last 19 years, his career focus has been economic and international trade development at the local, regional and state levels. Paul’s journey in economic development started in 2005 in Volusia County, FL where he led the business retention and expansion program. In 2012, he joined Enterprise Florida where he managed the statewide export development, supply chain promotion, and international air show programs for aerospace, aviation and defense companies. Over the five plus years in that role he achieved over $1 billion in documented export sales for Florida companies. In 2018, Paul continued his tenure with EFI as VP of Business Development where he helped lead the business recruitment and expansion project team, which helped communities land projects with companies like Boeing, Amazon, Dun & Bradstreet, UPS, Chewy and dozens more.

In 2021, Paul joined JEA’s leadership team as VP of Economic Development to build a team to baluster partnerships and provide a strategic direction for the utility’s economic and business development efforts in Northeast Florida. Additionally, he is charged with overseeing JEA’s strategic and utility related real estate portfolio and team.

Paul has a degree in Business Administration from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ (’95). He has served on numerous boards including the President’s Export Initiative Roundtable, GrowFL Advisory Board, the UCF Business Incubator Advisory Board, and the JaxUSA Advisory Council. Paul and Frances Mitchell have been married for 24 years and they have two children, now grown men, Austin and Gabriel.

Denise Mullis is a Senior Vice President and Partner of J.M. Mullis, Inc., a project location specialist firm which provides services on a global basis for a variety of internationally recognized companies. Denise specializes in labor market analytics, ensuring to the highest degree possible the identification of qualified locations with access to a sustainable talent pipeline.

Denise has experience consulting for a variety of industrial projects across the United States, including aviation, aerospace and automotive-related manufacturing; and distribution. Prior to joining J.M. Mullis, Denise garnered more than a decade of experience working in real estate, economic development and small business ownership.

Some major clients with whom Denise has provided site location services include Spirit AeroSystems; Blue Origin LLC (a Jeff Bezos Company); Continental Corporation AG; Envision AESC; Dollar Tree, Inc.; Walmart; AutoZone, Inc.; Tractor Supply Company; Orgill, Inc.; Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc.; and E. & J. Gallo Winery.

Denise holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management; and she is a member of the Site Selectors Guild and the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC).

Dave is co-founder of Localintel, an award-winning government technology company making online economic development tools that hundreds of organizations have added to their website to promote their community’s advantages and assist businesses. Learn more at www.ecdev.org

Dave's professional background includes senior roles in consulting and local government where he specialized in economic development and strategic planning. Dave's career also includes roles with Deutsche Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of Scotland and the Australian Army.

He holds a Master of Public Administration, Master of Environmental Planning and Bachelor of Commerce and has guest lectured at Macquarie University and the University of NSW.

William R. Parsons is a Manager at Ryan, LLC, who focuses on site selection and business tax credits/incentives. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida with bachelor’s degrees in political science and international studies, and an associate degree in astronomy. With ten years of experience, William has worked on a diverse book of projects. Currently William is focused on assisting aerospace, defense, and manufacturing clients meet their future growth requirements and Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance (ESG) goals. Outside the office, William is a well-rounded individual who enjoys ice hockey, shooting sports, photography, watercolor, and wine. While he will always be a Virginian at heart, where he was born and raised, he now calls Florida home after living there for over fifteen years.

David Pollock is the CEO/Founder of Mirari and MetaCity3D, two innovative companies that provide cutting-edge 3D solutions for Transportation, AEC and Smart Cities. With over 20 years of experience in leading, developing, and delivering digital media production, 3D, XR, and AI technologies, we have built a talented and diverse team of creative, UI/UX, and product visualization experts, and established strategic partnerships with CyberCity3D and Nextspace.

Experienced civil litigator and public policy attorney admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Board Member of the Inaugural Select Florida Board of Directors, Chair of the Florida Freight Advisory Committee, MaverickPac 2022 Future40 Honoree, American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network, and Leadership Florida Connect Class 11. Former Deputy General Counsel for Florida Governors Ron DeSantis and Rick Scott.

Eric Silagy is the past chairman, president and chief executive officer for Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc., and the largest vertically integrated rate-regulated electric utility in the U.S. He worked for NextEra Energy companies for over two decades and led FPL for 11 years. At FPL he held a number of positions, including senior vice president of regulatory and state governmental affairs and as chief development officer, managing all generation development, including solar, natural gas and nuclear energy projects. At NextEra Energy Resources, Mr. Silagy served as vice president and general manager of the Southern region, and vice president of business development.

Prior to joining NextEra Energy, Mr. Silagy served as vice president, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures for Entergy Wholesale Operations, and as vice president and managing director, Southeast Asia, for The Wing Group, a subsidiary of Western Resources. He also worked for U.S. Sen. J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana in several capacities, including chief of staff.

Mr. Silagy serves on a number of boards including as a Director of Aegis Mutual Insurance Company and is the current Chairman of the Florida Council of 100, a private, non-profit, nonpartisan organization that is focused on improving the life and economic well-being of all Floridians. Additionally, he is a constitutional officer of the State of Florida, currently serving as a member of the Board of Governors (BOG) for the State University System. Since joining the BOG, he has served as vice chair of the board and chair of the budget and finance committee. He currently serves as a board member of the Cognizant PGA Tour event and serves on the Energy Security Leadership Council of Securing America’s Future Energy, a bi-partisan council of business and military leaders supporting a comprehensive, long-term policy to reduce U.S. oil dependence and improve energy security. Mr. Silagy is a licensed pilot, holds a racing license from the Sports Car Club of America and is an avid golfer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin, a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center and is a member of the Maryland and U.S. Supreme Court bars.

Michael Simas is the President & CEO of the Florida Council of 100, a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of chief executives committed to promoting economic growth and improving the quality of life for the people of our state. Now representing more than 150 businesses with over 1.3 million employees, for more than six decades, the Council has been charged with providing advice on key economic development issues from the business community’s perspective to Florida’s elected leaders and government officials across the political and ideological spectrum.

Having engaged with Fortune 500 CEOs for the past twenty years, Michael brought his economic development acumen to Florida after serving as Executive Vice President of the Partnership for New York City, the city’s most powerful business association. While there, he forged groundbreaking alliances between many of the state’s largest companies and top elected officials to increase talent, infrastructure, and sector-driven investments in New York’s emerging industries. His accomplishments include spearheading the creation of the $1.2 billion Excelsior Jobs Program to expand the footprint of the city’s growth sector businesses, and leading initiatives that generated $2.7 billion in savings over 10 years for city businesses through coalition building and the negotiation of New York’s first business tax changes in nearly two decades.

Additionally, Michael has long been an ardent supporter of innovation as a key driver of economic success. While in New York City, he created the Partnership’s Innovation Council, which brought together the city’s top tech entrepreneurs and investors to advocate for the city’s competitiveness. He also launched the Transit Tech Lab, which for the first time in a century brought private sector solutions to solve the city’s transit crisis, and successfully led advocacy efforts for a city and state government investment of $1.5 billion to accelerate the development of wet lab space, support creation of multiple incubators and accelerators, and attract venture capital investors to the region to scale the city’s life sciences industry.

Michael has also held private-sector leadership positions in the financial services and technology industries. He was recognized as one of New York’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars by City and State Magazine.

Following the lead of many top executives, Michael moved to Florida full time in 2022. He lives in Sarasota with his wife Cara and their two sons, Logan and Blake.

Erica directs project and brand management for several of MWB’s partner clients, for both economic development and tourism. In addition to working with Florida’s Economic Development Council (FEDC), partner clients include Highlands County Economic Development Commission, Charlotte County Economic Development, Lake Economic Area Development Partnership, Glades County Economic Development Council, the city of Palm Coast, and Florida Power & Light. In addition, she also oversees projects for Visit Corinth, Grenada Tourism Commission, Entergy Nuclear, HOPE Credit Union, and the Mississippi State Department of Health.
Erica recently completed the Basic in Economic Development Course at the University of South Florida. She also is a certified grant writer and manages MWB’s grant research and writing functions. With over 20 years industry experience, Erica has a background also in project/traffic management and print production services, and handles all agency print production coordination with vendors, including specialty and large format printing, signage, non-traditional print projects, and collateral materials.

Mary is the 2024 FEDC Foundation Annual Conference Committee Chair and a member of the FEDC Board of Directors.

Matt Tackett serves as President at the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC), covering 17 states in the southern United States. At SEDC, he oversees a membership network that generated roughly $200 billion in capital investment in 2023, promising to create a quarter-million new American jobs. As President, Tackett serves as the Council's principal executive and liaison to industry and government, both domestic and international. His leadership has led to significant expansion of the SEDC network and services, notably the AmericanSouth foreign direct investment initiative. Before joining SEDC in June 2022, Tackett served as President and CEO of the Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED), a multi-business economic development membership organization. During his tenure, he revamped KAED through administrative and programmatic enhancements, introducing strategic platforms to bolster professional capacity and drive economic development in the Commonwealth. Under Tackett's guidance, KAED implemented impactful initiatives, including a $100 million grant program, global marketing efforts, research, legislative endeavors, certified educational programs, and a COVID recovery and resilience project aimed at strengthening economic prosperity in Kentucky. This propelled KAED to become, at one time, the nation's largest state economic development membership association.
Prior to his role at KAED, Tackett served as Executive Director of the Kentucky Gas Association, where he established a comprehensive membership service portfolio covering legislative affairs, workforce development, and legal services. He also contributed to federal grant programs and worked in the Office of the Governor of Kentucky. Tackett holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration. He resides in eastern Kentucky with his wife Ashton and their children Brooks and Olivia

I teach people how to compete every day with themselves. By winning the day, we win in business and in life.

Through lived experiences as an athlete, entrepreneur and speaker, I’ve battle-tested and mastered the secret to success.

To achieving goals and making the impossible, possible.

To being great, not just good enough.

From my first ‘sales job’ at 7, going door-to-door selling Christmas cookies, to my initial business selling branded t-shirts in the trunk of my car, and onto today, as a leading keynote speaker and corporate coach, I’ve unlocked what it takes to be a winner.

The life we desire is closer than we think. It’s the small shifts in our daily focus, mentally and practically, that build a winning life.

Through my CE³ Model, I help teams, CEOs, athletes and students develop mental toughness, master consistency, and improve day after day.

We all have a gift inside of us, but it takes courage, systems, and a competitive mindset to access it. I’ll show you how, so you’re not sitting on the bench, waiting for life.

TJ Villamil is the President of Business Development at FloridaCommerce working in the agency’s Economic Development division. This division administers over 35 programs focused on job creation, retention, and attraction improving economic prospects for Floridians. Also, TJ is the President of International Commerce at SelectFlorida, Inc. SelectFlorida is the state’s official trade and investment promotion agency tasked with supporting Florida’s economic development mission and goals through international partnerships, trade, and foreign direct investment.

FloridaCommerce and SelectFlorida offer numerous services for prospective investors seeking to expand or invest in Florida. These services include:

• Confidential Site Selection • Property Search Assistance • Industry Sector Experience • Demographic and Workforce Information • Permitting and Regulatory Assistance • Incentive Programs • Liaison with Local Economic Development Organizations and State of Florida Agencies

The Division of Economic Development facilitates Florida's economic development partnerships and is responsible for supporting job creators and businesses, providing the tools and resources necessary to foster business growth, retain existing business, and attract new businesses.

For existing Florida companies interested in exporting, our network of six Regional Trade Offices through SelectFlorida provides:

• Export Counseling Services • Educational Seminars/Events • Overseas Trade Missions • International Trade Show Participation • Trade Development Grants • Trade Statistics • Certificates of Free Sale • Monthly Trade Events Newsletter

Serves as the President of JAXUSA Partnership, the private, nonprofit regional economic development arm of the JAX Chamber overseeing efforts of the seven counties of Northeast Florida. Directs a staff of 15 in the areas of business development, international investment, workforce development, research and marketing. JAXUSA’s mission is to be a catalyst for economic growth and maximize the region’s unique resources to aggressively recruit jobs and capital investment to the NE Florida region. Since joining JAXUSA in October 2018, has led the emergence of Jacksonville as economic powerhouse generating more than 11,800 jobs and $3.45 billion in private capital investment.

A leader in managing community, economic, housing and workforce development initiatives for over 20 years, has been directly responsible for managing more than $800 million of equity, grants, loans and tax-exempt bonding capacity in addition to creating and/or retaining 17,500 direct jobs and generating more than $2.5 billion in private capital investment. While serving as CEO for the Downtown Investment Authority of Jacksonville, facilitated the leveraging of over $150 million of public investment dollars to create over $800 million in private capital investments, producing a Return on Investment of 5:1 in favor of the tax payers. Generated more than 2,850 multi-family units planned, permitted and/or are under construction; with approximately 900 hotel rooms and 575,000 square feet of commercial space planned or permitted.

Results-driven C-Suite executive and organizational leader with outstanding management, communication, operations, strategic planning, fiscal and analytical skills. Well-respected professional, extensively experienced in managing diverse programs and teams, collaborating with government, community organizations, businesses and private citizens, improving access to capital for businesses, job creation and developing affordable/workforce housing in underserved markets. Highly resourceful senior executive who fosters optimum team productivity, streamlines operations and generates significant cost savings.

Serves on the boards of Goodwill NE Florida, World Affairs Council Jacksonville, Sulzbacher Village, Florida State College of Jacksonville Foundation, Volunteers In Medicine, LIFT JAX, Ascension St. Vincent’s Healthcare Foundation, Urban Land Institute - Public Private Partnership Council, LISC Jacksonville, Teach for America - Florida and Leadership Florida. Member of ICMA, IEDC and NAIOP.

David hails from the vibrant region of Chalatenango, El Salvador, where he was nurtured by the rich cultural heritage of his Salvadoran upbringing. As an Account Executive at Glue Up, a dynamic software company, David brings forth a wealth of expertise encompassing sales, marketing, and investing.
Graduating with a bachelor's degree in finance from Virginia Commonwealth University, David has honed his skills and knowledge to excel in the realm of business. At Glue Up, he specializes in cultivating relationships within the Non-profit and Chamber of Commerce sectors, employing a consultative approach to understand and enhance the operational efficiency of his clients' businesses.

David's dedication to community extends beyond the corporate realm. He previously contributed his talents to the outreach operations team of a gubernatorial campaign in Virginia, showcasing his commitment to effecting positive change on a broader scale.

In his leisure moments, David finds solace in the serenity of nature, indulging in activities like kayaking and fishing. An avid sports enthusiast, he channels his passion into friendly matches of soccer and basketball. True to his roots, David proudly supports Tampa Bay sports teams and actively serves as a board member of the Salvadoran American Chamber of Commerce, embodying his commitment to fostering growth and prosperity within his community.