The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Deborah Wilkinson will join the organization as Executive Director of the Tampa/Hillsborough International Protocol and Trade Council. In this new role at the Chamber, she will lead the international protocol and existing business trade activities for Tampa and Hillsborough County under the direction of the Chamber.
“Deborah brings an outstanding track record of working with many partner organizations with outstanding results for everyone’s benefit. We are fortunate to have someone with her experience leading this joint effort in Tampa and Hillsborough County” said Bob Rohrlack, president and CEO of the Chamber.
Wilkinson will join the Chamber on November 12, and currently serves as the Economic Development Manager and Chief of Protocol for the Broward County Office of Economic & Small Business Development. At Broward County, Wilkinson managed and coordinated the Business Development section of the sixth largest county in the United States. From 2002-2011, she assisted in the creation of approximately $900 million foreign direct investment and sales for targeted industries and in 2011, was directly involved in creating over 1500 jobs, retaining approximately 2500 jobs and assisting 366 businesses totaling a capital investment in excess of $92 million.
Wilkinson is a past Chair of the Florida Economic Development Council, Six Pillars Caucus Member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation on Innovation and Economic Development and serves on the International Advisory Board of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. She is also active in the community, serving as a member of the Kenya Children’s Advisory Board, Member of Sister Cities International and she was an award recipient at the United Nations International Women’s Day earlier this year. Wilkinson is a graduate of Broward College, the University of Maryland and the American Graduate School of International Management at Thunderbird.
Tampa Bay Chamber 