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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261118T173000
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SUMMARY:Florida Won the Last Decade. Now What?
DESCRIPTION:\n\nEvent Details:\nFlorida Won the Last Decade. Now What?\nDescription:\nFlorida spent the last decade trying to attract talent, companies and capital, and it succeeded. Now comes the harder test: turning that growth into better jobs and higher wages for all Floridians. Weeks after a new governor is elected, business and economic development leaders will draw on their experience to identify near-term wins, promising industries and the obstacles holding the state back. The discussion will make the case for Florida as the best place to build the next generation of American businesses, and show how getting this next phase right could make the state a model for the nation.\n\n\nAbout our speakers: \n\nMichael “Mike” Simas is President and CEO of the Florida Council of 100, an independent, nonpartisan organization of more than 200 leading CEOs dedicated to advancing Florida’s long-term competitiveness and prosperity.\nSince assuming leadership in 2024, Mike has focused on transforming Florida’s remarkable growth into lasting economic opportunity. Under his direction, the Council launched Beyond Sunshine, a statewide economic roadmap identifying industries and investments driving Florida’s future.\nHe subsequently spearheaded a unified economic development strategy for South Florida’s Gold Coast, encompassing Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, and launched the Gold Coast Tech Accelerator to connect emerging fintech and defense companies with business leaders, capital and customers. These efforts helped secure a $10 million commitment from Stephen Ross and Ken Griffin to position the region as a destination for investment and innovation.\nMike is now expanding this model statewide through Ambition Accelerated, developing regional economic initiatives focused on Florida’s competitive advantages. The Council is also advancing initiatives in transportation, infrastructure, resilience and workforce development.\nMike brings more than two decades of experience spanning business, government and economic development. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President of the Partnership for New York City, collaborating with Fortune 500 CEOs and government leaders on economic policy and innovation. His accomplishments included helping establish the $1.2 billion Excelsior Jobs Program and supporting New York’s $1.5 billion life sciences investment.\nHe later served as Chief of Staff to the Co-CEO of First Republic Bank and previously led Northeast Government Relations for General Electric.\nMike serves on the boards of SelectFlorida and Embarc Collective and advises investment firm Juxtapose. He was named to Florida Trend’s Florida 500 and previously recognized among New York’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars.”\nHe lives in Sarasota with his wife, Cara, and their two sons.\n\nMelissa Medina\nCEO & Co-Founder, eMerge Americas\nMelissa Medina has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, operator, investor, community leader and philanthropist. A native to Miami, FL, Melissa Medina is CEO & Co-Founder of eMerge Americas with a mission of helping transform South Florida into a global tech hub. The eMerge Americas signature event, launched in 2014, is a global tech conference held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. With Melissa’s leadership, the eMerge Americas conference now attracts more than 20,000+ attendees from over 50 countries. In addition to the annual conference, eMerge organizes year-round executive summits, innovation challenges, startup pitch competitions, masterclasses, webinars, a world-class global accelerator program, as well as publishes venture activity and investment insights reports.\nMelissa is also a Partner at Medina Ventures, an early-stage venture fund, as well as the President of the Medina Family Foundation, which has a mission to fund local initiatives that focus on mentoring children and empowering families. Melissa was named by the South Florida Business Journal as one of the “2023 Power Leaders in Technology.” Melissa also sits on the Board of The Miami Foundation. She is passionate about transforming Miami into a global technology hub and supporting Miami-based non-profits who seek to empower tomorrow’s leaders. Most importantly, Melissa is a mother and most passionate about her 5 children.\nEric Silagy serves as Vice Chairman at Related Ross, where he champions South Florida’s transformation into a national hub for sustainable urban development, technology, and dynamic economic growth. In his role, Eric orchestrates major initiatives to attract leading companies and jobs to West Palm Beach, creates innovative partnerships with public and private entities, and accelerates projects at the forefront of real estate, mobility, and community advancement.\nPreviously, Eric was Chairman, President, and CEO of Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), the country’s largest electric utility. He directed more than $60 billion in statewide investments, driving large-scale expansions in clean energy, infrastructure, and grid reliability, and positioning Florida as a leader in innovation. Through his vision, FPL launched award-winning economic development programs, in collaboration with universities and local governments, that spurred business growth and opportunity across the state.\nEric’s leadership extends to championing Florida’s business and educational sectors. As past Chairman of the Florida Council of 100, he fostered collaboration among senior business, civic and political leaders to address some of Florida’s biggest challenges such as economic competitiveness, access to clean and safe water and resiliency.  From 2019 to January 2026, he also served as a Governor of the Florida University System Board of Governors, including as Vice Chair and Chair of the Budget Committee, with overall responsibility for a $4.5 billion annual budget.  Ranked number one in the United States for the past 12 years in a row, Florida’s public university system, which serves over 400,000 students, remains steadfastly focused on student success, workforce readiness and affordability.\nEric holds a BA in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center. He resides in Palm Beach Gardens with his family.\nDate: Wednesday, November 18\nRegistration Opens: 11:30 AM\nProgram: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM\nLocation: The Rusty Pelican, 3201 Rickenbacker Cwy, Key Biscayne FL 33149\nHosted by: The Economic Club of Miami\n\n\n\n\n\n
URL:https://econclubmiami.org/events/florida-won-the-last-decade-now-what/
ORGANIZER;CN=The Economic Club of Miami:MAILTO:econclubofmiami@gmail.com
CATEGORIES:Upcoming
LOCATION:The Rusty Pelican, 3201 Rickenbacker Cwy, Key Biscayne FL 33149
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://econclubmiami.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ECOM-11.18.2026-Key-Biscayne-Medina.jpg
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