Trade and Logistics Leader Will Create Opportunities for Florida’s Families and Job Creators
Florida Chamber Congratulates Former Chamber Board Member Bill Johnson on Being Selected as New Enterprise Florida President and Florida’s Secretary of Commerce
Trade and logistics leader will create opportunities for Florida’s families and job creators
The Florida Chamber of Commerce is pleased to share that today, Governor Rick Scott appointed Bill Johnson as Florida’s new Secretary of Commerce and President of Enterprise Florida- Florida’s economic development organization. Bill succeeds Gray Swoope who recently announced his resignation, and plans to join the private sector.
The Florida Chamber welcomes Bill, a former Florida Chamber Board of Director member, and former Director of PortMiami, and we say thank you to Gray for his exemplary leadership during his four-year term at Enterprise Florida.
“Thanks to Governor Scott and Enterprise Florida’s effort to promote Florida’s business climate, companies like Amazon, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Deutsche Bank, Embraer, GE, Hertz, Lockheed Martin, Navy Federal Credit Union, Northrop Grumman, Darden, USAA, United Technologies Corporation and Verizon and more have either located or expanded in Florida- creating thousands of jobs and economic opportunities,” said Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “With Bill Johnson at the helm of Enterprise Florida, the Florida Chamber is confident Florida will remain competitive in its efforts to secure new private-sector jobs.”
In the early 1990’s, the Florida Chamber Foundation recommended the creation of Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI) as a public private partnership organization to place economic development and international trade at the helm of its mission and work in bringing jobs to Florida. Several years later, the Florida Chamber of Commerce led the effort to formally create Enterprise Florida in 1996.
As a member of the Florida Chamber’s Board of Directors, Bill Johnson was laser focused on helping ensure Florida becomes a global hub for international trade and exports.
“Through key infrastructure investments and business development, the Florida Chamber has set an aggressive state goal of doubling trade exports.” – Bill Johnson
“The Florida Chamber’s Trade and Logistics Study is the most insightful and actionable economic impact study and I have had the privilege of reading.” – Bill Johnson
Did You Know:
Enterprise Florida has seven trade offices around Florida and 15 international offices in 13 countries? International business accounts for 17 percent of Florida’s economy, and Florida has the second highest number of exports in the U.S., many of which are small businesses.
Join Us:
Register to attend the Florida Chamber Board of Governors Capitol Days March 4-6 in Tallahassee as Bill Johnson leads a panel discussion on more opportunities for global competitive growth. CEOs, small business leaders, local chamber executives and elected officials from across the state will gather to discuss Florida’s transitioning economy and top business priorities for the 2015 legislative session.
The Florida Chamber again congratulates Bill Johnson. We look forward to continuing to make Florida more competitive.