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 FloridaCommerce, where he led efforts to create, retain, and attract highpaying 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 publicprivate partnership that enhances relationships with corporations and businesses across Florida.
In both roles, TJ led international business delegations and missions to countries including Japan, Israel, the UK, Canada, Brazil, and France. TJ also led Florida’s delegations to major global trade shows such as the Paris Airshow in 2023. During his tenure with the state, TJ and his team achieved significant milestones:
- July 2021 – August 2024 FDI: 119 projects, 6,373 jobs, and $743 million in capital expenditures.
- July 2021 – August 2024 Trade: 58 overseas events involving 603 Florida companies, resulting in $466 million in actual sales and $2.7 billion in total sales.
- July 2023 – August 2024 Business Development: 71 projects, $3.128 billion in capital expenditures, and 8,630 jobs.
- Leadership missions with the Governor, Lt. Governor, and state secretaries, as well as Memoranda of Understanding signed with Japan and the UK.
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.