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Wilson Takes Reins at Florida Chamber

Mark Wilson has been named the president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Previously the Chamber’s executive vice president, Wilson has focused on making the organization a more potent political force in Tallahassee and on building ties with other business organizations. He created the Florida Business Agenda and the Florida Chamber Grassroots Federation. Wilson was also the first President of the Florida Justice Reform Institute, which organized the 2005 battle over tort reform. Wilson also spearheaded successful campaigns to pass constitutional amendment reforms in 2004 and 2006.

As CEO, Wilson will lead all the political, advocacy, grassroots and research operations for the Chamber, the state’s largest business federation. In the coming legislative session, the Chamber will focus on issues ranging from commercial property insurance to property tax relief, economic incentives and growth management. The Chamber will also have a strong focus this year on integrating education and workforce training efforts, says Susan Story, who is president and CEO of Gulf Power and chairs the Chamber’s board of directors this year.

Before joining the Florida Chamber in 1998, Wilson served as vice president of the Chicagoland Chamber and in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s midwestern grassroots office. Wilson has a B.A. in business from the University of Georgia and is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals and is a board member of the Association of State Chamber Professionals.

Wilson replaces Frank Ryll, who is retiring after more than 25 years as the Chamber’s president. Ryll began his career at the Florida Chamber in 1980 after holding positions at both the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Greenville, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.