Tony Carvajal is returning to a familiar post as executive vice president of the Florida Chamber Foundation.
The Foundation announced Carvajal’s hiring Friday following a national search. He will help guide its research, strategic initiatives and statewide partnerships while advancing the Florida 2030 Blueprint and helping develop its successor, the Florida 2040 Blueprint.
Carvajal previously spent a decade as the Foundation’s Executive Vice President. During that tenure, he helped develop the strategy and partnerships behind the launch of The Florida Scorecard and the Florida 2030 Blueprint. He also worked on the Florida Prosperity Initiative, the Florida Business Alliance for Early Learning and the creation of the Future of Florida Forum.
“Tony understands how to take a big vision and turn it into a strategy that people can actually use and participate in,” Florida Chamber of Commerce and Foundation President and CEO Mark Wilson said. “He helped lay the groundwork for some of our most important research and long-term planning, and he now returns with even more experience and perspective.”
Carvajal returns after serving as President and CEO of The Able Trust, Executive Vice President of Florida TaxWatch and, most recently, CEO and executive director of the Association of Florida Colleges. In that role, he worked with Florida’s 28 state colleges and the Florida College System Council of Presidents.
“Florida’s state colleges stand at the intersection of education, workforce development, and economic opportunity,” said Fred Hawkins, president of South Florida State College and Chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents. “Tony brings a unique understanding of that connection and the role our colleges play as Florida’s workforce engine. We are excited about what we will continue to work on together in his new role.”
Working with business and community leaders and the Chamber Foundation’s research team, Carvajal will help translate economic research, emerging trends, and long-term challenges into actionable strategies across the Chamber’s Six Pillars of Florida’s Future Economy.
“I’m excited to return to the Florida Chamber Foundation and help advance the mission of building a stronger, more competitive Florida,” Carvajal said.
“When I first joined the Foundation, Florida was the world’s 20th-largest economy. Today, we are 14th, building toward becoming a Top 10 global economy by 2030. That progress reflects the vision, commitment, and collaboration of business and community leaders across Florida. Our opportunity now is to build on that momentum, use research and data to drive meaningful results, and help ensure that Florida’s growth creates greater prosperity and opportunity for all Floridians.”
