WEG - Washington Economics Group, Inc.

MARIELENA A. VILLAMIL - President & Chief Executive Officer

Outstanding record of accomplishments in business consulting, higher education and civic leadership. Currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of a growing economic and governmental advisor firm, The Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG), at present time in its fifteenth year of successful operations. She founded the firm with economist, Dr. Tony Villamil, former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs who serves as principal advisor to WEG clients.
Extensive and high level contacts in the corporate, public-sector and educational communities of Florida, Washington, D.C. and Latin America and. Former Associate Dean and Director of the InterAmerican Center of Miami-Dade College.
Serves on the District Board of Trustees of Miami-Dade College since 2006, appointed by former Governor Jeb Bush and by the current Governor Charlie Crist and confirmed by the Senate of the State of Florida.
Significant experience in governmental relations, the management of economic consulting services and in the education and training of multicultural and multilingual workforces.
Serves on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys since June of 2003, and she was recently named Chairman-elect of the Chapter. Currently serves in the Executive Committee and as Chairperson of the Chapter’s Latin American and Caribbean Leadership Committee. She also serves as the Chair of the South Florida Humanitarian Network for Cuba, a network to coordinate humanitarian assistance for the South Florida community that would be activated when a major humanitarian event, natural disaster or a political transition in Cuba affects the South Florida community.
Twice appointed by Governor Jeb Bush of Florida to the Third District Court of Appeals, Judicial Nominating Commission and served as Vice Chairman of the Commission during her first year of tenure.
Elected in December 2007 to serve on the Board of Directors of the Coral Gables Community Foundation whose mission is to promote programs and initiatives that enhance the quality of life for people living and working in the Coral Gables community.
Appointed by Senator Mel Martinez to serve on the regional board of the Military Academy Nominations Selection Committee in November 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from St. Mary’s Dominican College in New Orleans, Louisiana and a Master’s Degree from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. Completed Ph.D. coursework at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.

J. ANTONIO VILLAMIL - Principal Advisor to WEG Clients

Tony Villamil has over thirty years of successful experience as a business economist, university educator and high-level policymaker at both federal and state governments. He has served as a Presidential appointee as the U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs, and is the founder of a successful economic consulting practice, The Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG). Since August 2008, Tony is the Dean of the School of Business of St. Thomas University, Miami Florida, while continuing to serve as Principal Advisor to the clients of WEG.
Tony is a member of the President’s Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations in Washington, D.C. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors of Florida, and during 1999-2000, he directed the Tourism, Trade and Economic Development activities of the State in the Office of Governor Jeb Bush. Presently, he is on the Board of Directors of the Spanish Broadcasting System (NASDAQ), Mercantil Commercebank, N.A. and Enterprise Florida – the State’s principal economic development organization.
Among other leadership positions, he served in 2008 as the economist of the Constitutionally mandated Tax and Budget Reform Commission of Florida (TBRC), and is currently Chairman of the Economic Roundtable of the Beacon Council – Miami-Dade County’s official economic development organization. He is also a Senior Research Fellow of Florida TaxWatch, an established fiscal and policy research organization of the State. After winning the gubernatorial election in November 2006, then Governor-elect Charlie Crist appointed him as his Economic Advisor during the transition period.
Tony earned Bachelor and advanced 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 speaks frequently to business, government and university audiences on economic topics, and was until the summer of 2008 a member of the Graduate Business Faculty of Florida International University (FIU).

HORACIO SOBERON-FERRER, Ph.D. – Associate Consultant for Economics

A professional economist with over twenty years of experience in applied microeconomics, consumer policy, demand forecasting and the economics of aging.
He has held positions as Senior Analyst for Forecasting, Director of Planning and Evaluation and Director of the State of Florida Infrastructure Bank, among others. Additionally, he has also taught courses on consumer economics, public-policy analysis, finance and statistical methods.
Ph.D. in Applied Economics from Clemson University specializing in quantitative policy analysis and consumer behavior. He also has a Licentiate degree in Actuarial Science and an M.S. in Management.

CHARLES K. YAROS - Associate Consultant for Economics

Consultant for financial risk management and financial economics and specialist in developing, implementing and managing interest rate risk and capital optimization strategies for financial institutions.
Over 20 years of experience as a financial economist and financial risk manager, having worked in a number of positions of progressive responsibility in the South Florida business community. Additionally, he has spoken and taught courses on financial risk management.
Bachelor's degree in Economics with Honors, Trinity College, and Master's degree in Economics, Duke University, where he also completed course work for the Ph.D. degree.

JERRY HAAR, PH.D. - Senior Consultant for Marketing Strategies

Professor of Management and International Business at the College of Business Administration of Florida International University (FIU).
B.A., American University, Master's Degree from Johns Hopkins University and Ph.D. from Columbia University.

MARY A. SNOW - Manager of Client Services

Ms. Snow is experienced in public and governmental relations, with particular expertise in State of Florida legislative issues and community developments.
Prior to joining WEG, she served as an Associate of Robert M. Levy Governmental Relations firm, where she represented the clients' interests to local and state-elected officials.
B.A. degree in Political Science from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

HAYDEE M. CARRION - Executive and Research Assistant

Executive and Research Assistant of the firm, specializing in the preparation and design of reports and documents for clients. Significant experience in data computerization, research through the Internet and in Desktop Publishing.
A.A. and A.S., Miami-Dade Community College, Business Administration and Office System Technologies.