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Economic Impacts Brief. The Economic Development Return on Public Investment in Indian River County .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. J. Antonio Villamil Founder and Principal Tony Villamil is a nationally recognized economist, with over thirty-five years of successful career as a business economist, university educator and high-level policymaker for both federal and state governments. He was appointed by President George H. W. Bush as US Undersecretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs, receiving unanimous US Senate confirmation. Tony is the Founder and Principal of a successful economic consulting practice, The Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG), a Florida -based firm established in 1993 upon his return to the State from his public service in Washington, D.C. Dr. Villamil is the immediate past Chairman of the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors of Florida, and during 1999-2000, he was selected by Governor Bush as his first Director for Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. Presently, he is on the Board of Directors of the Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS), Mercantil Commercebank, NA, and Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG). He was most recently appointed by the US Secretary of Commerce to serve in the Florida District Export Council. Among other professional and civic leadership positions, Tony was selected in 2008 as the founding Dean of the School of Business of St. Thomas University, serving successfully until December 315, 2013 at which time he resigned to return full time to his growing economic consulting practice. He is currently Chairman of the Economic Roundtable of the Beacon Council -Miami -Dade County's official economic development organization. He is also Senior Fellow and a member of the Research Advisory Council of the James Madison Institute (JMI). Tony earned Bachelor and Master Degrees in Economics from Louisiana State University (LSU), where he also completed coursework for the Ph.D Degree. In 1991, Florida International University (FIU) awarded him a Doctoral Degree in Economics (hc), for "distinguished contributions to the Nation in the field of economics." He frequently speaks to business, government and university audiences on economic topics. He is a resident of Coral Gables, Florida, where he lives with his family, traveling frequently throughout Florida, the US and globally to conduct research and presentations for clients of The Washington Economics Group, Inc. ...................................... _...................... ............................................................ ...................................................................................Pa...... The Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG) Page -7. A. 12 -