Director, Business Development
CurrentManage business expansion, recruitment, retention, and international trade initiatives for Pinellas County, an urban county with 1M+ residents and 38K+ businesses.• Supported creation of 13K+ high-wage jobs with new and expanding companies by hosting site tours, negotiating incentive packages, aiding staff with relocation, and connecting companies to local employees; created capital investment of $1.3B• Advised companies on available state grants; assisted in obtaining $15M+ in funds to train and develop 30K+ local employees • Developed formal business retention program and created survey tool to monitor county companies; conducted site visits, evaluated feedback, and collaborated with businesses to implement changes based on data received; survey tool is currently used across the state • Led marketing initiatives, including trade shows, conferences, print advertising, public relations efforts, market research, and website content, to attract businesses to the area & build relationships with key stakeholders • Manage international programs, including Int'l Trade Program, which allows companies to discover new international markets, and Foreign Direct Investment program, which attracts foreign-owned companies to the local community • Developed regional partnerships with organizations including Global Tampa Bay and the Alternative Sites Framework Foreign Trade Zone 193 that leveraged the area resources in advance of international business development efforts in the region • Obtained grants for Defense Reinvestment Program and EPA Brownfields Assessment Program, which provided funds for Phase 1 & 2 contamination testing for commercial and residential properties• Spearheaded establishment and development of the Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium, the first statewide industry group to advocate for advancement of medical manufacturing industry in Florida• Assisted in dispensing $55M in CARES grants to 5K+ local small businesses impacted by COVID-19
