About Us

Marielena Villamil has an outstanding record of accomplishments in business consulting, higher education and civic leadership. Ms. Villamil is cofounder and serves as Chief Executive Officer of an established economic and governmental advisor firm, The Washington Economics Group (WEG). She founded the firm in 1993 with nationally recognized economist, Dr. Tony Villamil, former US Undersecretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs.  Ms. Villamil has extensive and high-level contacts in the corporate, public sector and educational communities of Florida, Washington, D.C. and Latin America. In addition to significant experience in governmental relations, Ms. Villamil has engaged in the management of economic consulting services and in the education and training of multicultural and multilingual workforces.

Ms. Villamil has a significant record of accomplishments in community relations, serving in leadership positions. Ms. Villamil was appointed to the Board of Directors of the United Way of Miami-Dade County where she served for 2 years in their Executive Committee and as Chair of the Public Policy Committee. Ms. Villamil is the recent past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys, where she has been a director since June of 2003. Most recently, Ms. Villamil served on the South Florida Board of Advisors of BBVA Compass Bank until their acquisition by PNC Bank.

In January 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida appointed Ms. Villamil to the Florida Small Business Development Center Network Advisory Board whose mission is to aid and educate small businesses throughout the State. Ms. Villamil has served as past Chair, and still serves on the South Florida Board of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), a nationally recognized organization whose mission centers on awarding scholarships based on merit to Hispanic students. From 2007 to 2016 she served 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.  She has also served as the Chair of the South Florida Board of the Sistema Universitario Ana G. Mendez (SUAGM), South Florida Campus, an accredited institution of higher learning specializing in programs and degrees through dual-language learning.  Ms. Villamil served until March of 2014 on the District Board of Trustees of Miami-Dade College, appointed by two Governors of Florida, and confirmed each time by the Senate of the State of Florida.

Ms. Villamil has received numerous community recognitions.  In August 2015 she received the Latina Pioneer Award as the Latina Woman of Distinction representing Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. In June 2016, Ms. Villamil was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year by the United Way of Miami-Dade County.  She received the first Dr. Mario Villarroel International Leadership Award in 2005 for her work with the Latin American communities, the Southeast Service Area International Humanitarian Service Award in 2007 “for exceptional humanitarian actions” and the 2008 Cynthia Wedel Award for “superior and outstanding leadership services to the community.”  Most recently, Ms. Villamil received the Good Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America, as well as the American Red Cross Spectrum Award for her service to the organization.  Marielena was inducted into The Inner Circle of 12 of the American Cancer Society in the Fall of 2014 and was recognized by The Big Boys Big Girls Club as a Miracle Makers Honoree for 2015 because of her community and charitable commitments.

Ms. Villamil earned a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Mary’s Dominican College in New Orleans, LA, a Master’s Degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, and completed PhD coursework at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL.  She currently resides in Coral Gables, Florida with her husband, Tony Villamil.