ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eric Silagy, President of Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), was elected 2013-2014 Chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors during its annual meeting held earlier today.
"Eric Silagy is a highly experienced business leader who understands the importance of making Florida more competitive and the important role Florida businesses play in achieving a strong economy," said Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber. "As Chair of the Board of Directors, Eric will volunteer his time and talent in support of the Florida Chamber's efforts to champion free enterprise principles and solutions toward leading Florida to a new and sustainable economy."
Silagy replaces outgoing Florida Chamber Board of Director Chair Lars Houmann, President and CEO of Florida Hospital and President and CEO of the Florida Division Adventist Health System, whose term expires October 31, 2013.
"Florida's economy is on the right track, but we cannot afford to be complacent," said Silagy. "In today's competitive global economy, we must work as a team. I'm honored to chair the Florida Chamber team and look forward to building on our success and planning for our future."
Silagy was appointed president of FPL, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. and one of the largest investor-owned electric utilities in the nation, in December 2011. Previously, he served in a variety of executive-level roles throughout NextEra Energy, including FPL's chief development officer. Mr. Silagy holds a degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Silagy will serve a one-year term as Chair beginning November 1, 2013.
In addition to outgoing Chair Lars Houmann, Past Chairs of the Florida Chamber's Board of Directors have included: former Speaker of the House Allan Bense; Anthony Connelly, Senior Vice President-Operations, Disney Cruise Line; Marshall M. Criser, III, President of AT&T Florida; former Lt. Governor and Senate President Toni Jennings; Steve Halverson, President and CEO of The Haskell Company; Susan Story, President & CEO of The Southern Company Services.
Established in 1916 as Florida's first statewide business advocacy organization, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business and the state's largest federation of employers, chambers of commerce and associations aggressively representing small and large businesses from every industry and every region. The Florida Chamber works within all branches of government to affect those changes set forth in the annual Florida Business Agenda, and which are seen as critical to secure Florida's future. The Florida Chamber works closely with its Florida Political Operations and the Florida Chamber Foundation. Visit www.FloridaChamber.com for more information.
SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company