Meet TJ Villamil

About the Speaker

TJ Villamil is the President of Business Development at eMerge Americas, where he spearheads initiatives to grow Florida’s brand as a leader in innovation and position the state as a global technology hub. With over 15 years of experience driving economic growth through entrepreneurship and international collaboration, TJ plays a pivotal role in expanding eMerge’s influence both within the U.S. and internationally. eMerge is Florida’s largest innovation platform culminating with the largest technology conference in the Southeast annually in the spring. Before joining eMerge Americas, TJ served the state of Florida for three years, most recently as President of Business Development at Florida Commerce, where he led efforts to create, retain, and attract high paying jobs in targeted industry sectors, significantly enhancing Florida’s economic landscape. FloridaCommerce is the state’s public agency overseeing economic development, and TJ reported directly to the Secretary of Commerce. He also concurrently served as the President of International Commerce at SelectFlorida, promoting global commerce, trade, and foreign direct investment (FDI) for the state. SelectFlorida, Inc. is the state’s official investment promotion agency and a model public private partnership that enhances relationships with corporations and businesses across Florida. A proud double Gator, TJ holds a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and a Bachelor’s in Telecommunications from the University of Florida. He lives in Coral Gables, FL, with his wife Christina, their two children, and their Goldendoodle, Luna.