Doug Wheeler currently serves as the Director of the George Gibbs Center for Economic Prosperity at The James Madison Institute. In this role, he works with a wide variety of business leaders, policymakers, researchers, and free market partners & stakeholders to promote market-based policies supported by the principles of limited government, free market capitalism, and individual freedoms.
Most recently, Wheeler served as President of D. Wheeler Strategies, a full-service public affairs firm providing strategic consulting services in the areas of local, state, and federal government affairs, brand & business development, communications, and strategic planning.
Wheeler also served as President & CEO of the Florida Ports Council (FPC), a nonprofit corporation that serves as the professional association for Florida’s 15 public deep-water seaports and their management. The FPC provides leadership, advocacy, and information on seaport-related issues before the Legislative and Executive Branches of State and Federal Government. During his more than 10 years leading the Council, he facilitated increases in infrastructure funding for seaports, led multiple international trade missions to expand Florida’s presence globally, and grew the global brand and advocacy efforts of Florida’s seaports.
Wheeler has more than 25 years of governmental affairs and association leadership at both the state and federal levels. He has also previously served as Vice President with the Florida Chamber of Commerce where under Wheeler’s leadership and management of the Florida Chamber’s federation of businesses, associations, and local chambers of commerce – encompassing more than 130,000 grassroots members – the Chamber worked aggressively and effectively to represent the free-market interests of Florida’s business community.
Previously he was also with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) as the Southeast Political Manager covering local Chapters across seven southeastern states where he worked on all areas of political affairs, primarily at the federal level, including candidate outreach, lobbying, fundraising, and grassroots advocacy.
Wheeler serves as an Executive Committee and Board Member of the Economic Club of Florida; Board member of the Network of Entrepreneurs & Business Advocates; Is a graduate of the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship – Small Business Executive Program; and a Leon County Honorary Sheriff’s Deputy.Doug is a graduate of The Florida State University with a degree in Political Science, with an emphasis in Political Communications and currently lives in Tallahassee, Florida with his wife Ami and their two children.
