Jim Rosica
A 30-year veteran of marketing and public relations has been tapped to become Enterprise Florida’s new Chief Marketing Officer.
Joseph S. Hice Jr. will be the organization’s senior vice president for marketing, overseeing its marketing and communications, according to a Tuesday press release. Enterprise Florida is the state’s public-private economic development agency.
“Joe will take Enterprise Florida’s marketing program to a new level in raising awareness, managing perceptions and influencing public opinion,” Florida Commerce Secretary and Enterprise Florida CEO Bill Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson lately has been tussling with lawmakers over funding for his agency’s financial incentive programs, used to entice businesses to the Sunshine State. State senators have complained that the group keeps asking for more money than it can spend in a given year.
Earlier this year, Johnson asked for $85 million in incentive funding, but only got $43 million. Senate records show Enterprise Florida hasn’t spent more than $19 million in a given year.
Gov. Rick Scott relies on a pot of money called the “quick action closing fund,” from which he draw up to $2 million without legislative approval.
Hice has worked for the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, the University of Florida, North Carolina State University, the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. and Segway Inc., according to the press release.
“Currently, he is a partner with Tampa-based Well Strategics, a communications firm specializing in clients doing business in the healthcare and wellness industries,” the release said.
Added Johnson: “I look forward to working with him to aggressively and effectively market Florida as the best state in the nation for business. Our state has an incredible business story to tell and I know Joe will lead us in our efforts to get that story out there.”
