FEDC Leadership
Executive Committee

Michelle Bauer, CEcD – Chair
Chief Operating Officer, Tampa Bay EDC
Email: mbauer@tampabayedc.com

Suzanne Christman, CEcD, MEDP – Past Chair
Director of Business Development, Pinellas County Economic Development
Email: schristman@pinellascounty.org

Lucienne Pears – Chair Elect
VP Economic and Business Development, Babcock Ranch and Kitson Partners
Email: lpears@kitsonpartners.com

Casey Barnes, CEcD – Vice Chair of Finance
VP Business Development, Orlando Economic Partnership
Email: Casey.Barnes@orlando.org

David Coddington, LEED AP – VC of Advocacy and Communications
Vice President of Business Development at the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Alliance Email: dcoddington@gflalliance.org

Sherry Ambrose – Vice Co-Chair of Professional Development
Manager of Economic Development, Florida Power and Light
Email: sherry.ambrose@fpl.com

Heather Shubirg, MEDP – Vice Co-Chair of Professional Development
Chief Growth Officer, Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership
Email: heather@ocalacep.com

Scarlett Phaneuf, CEcD, MEDP – Vice Chair of Membership and Regional Strategies
Economic Development Representative, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative Email: scarlett.phaneuf@powersouth.com

Mary Swoope – Conference Chair
Manager, Industry Recruitment, Duke Energy
Email: mary.swoope@duke-energy.com

Jennifer Conoley, CEcD, MEDP – Chair Appointment
President & CEO, Florida’s Great Northwest
Email: jconoley@fgnw.org
Regional Directors

Verdell Hawkins – Northwest Regional Director
Manager, Economic Development, Florida Power & Light
Email: Verdell.Hawkins@fpl.com

Jimmy Norris – North Central Regional Director
Economic Development Director, Suwannee County Economic Development Office
Email: jimmyn@suwcountyfl.gov

Heidi Jameson – Northeast Regional Director
Director Of Business Development at JAXUSA Partnership
Email: hjameson@jaxusa.org

Adam Myers – Tampa Bay Regional Director
Director of Business Development, Tampa Bay EDC
Email: amyers@tampabayedc.com

Melanie Schmees, MBA – Southwest Regional Director
Manager, Sponsored Programs, Florida Gulf Coast University
Email: mschmees@fgcu.edu

James Kohnstamm, CEcD – Southeast Regional Director
Executive Vice President, Miami-Dade Beacon Council
Email: jckohnstamm@beaconcouncil.com

Denise Grimsley – South Central Regional Director
Executive Director, Hardee County EDC
Email: denise.grimsley@thedevelopmentgroup.net

Tracy Garcia, CEcD, MEDP – East Central Regional Director
Senior Director, Economic Development, Orlando Economic Partnership
Email: tracy.garcia@orlando.org
Chair Appointments and Ex Officios

Zach Gilmore – Chair Appointment
Vice President of Business Development, Jackson County EDC
Email: zach@jacksonedc.com

Dr. Byron Clayton – Chair Appointment
Senior Vice President and Chief of Sector Partnerships, CareerSource Tampa Bay
Email: claytonb@careersourcetb.com

Dan Sidler – Chair Appointment
Vice President, CareerEdge & Economic Development, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
Email: dsidler@sarasotachamber.com

Maria Grulich – Ex Officio
Director of Global Business, FloridaRealtors
Email: mariag@floridarealtors.org

Adrienne Johnston – Ex Officio
President & CEO, CareerSource Florida
Email: ajohnston@careersourceflorida.com

Greg Britton – Ex Officio
CEO, Florida SBDC Network
Email: gbritton@uwf.edu

Mark Wilson – Ex Officio
President and CEO, The Florida Chamber of Commerce
Email: mwilson@flchamber.com