Destin Wells serves as Vice President of Strategic Growth & Partnerships at FloridaMakes, where he leads initiatives to strengthen Florida’s manufacturing ecosystem, expand strategic partnerships, and drive statewide business growth. In this role, he works closely with economic development organizations, government partners, and industry leaders to align resources, enhance competitiveness, and deliver meaningful results for manufacturers across the state.
Wells brings extensive experience in economic development, site selection, and industry-driven growth strategy, with a proven ability to translate opportunities into real-world investment, job creation, and long-term economic impact. His work has consistently focused on advancing innovation, attracting global investment, and aligning workforce and infrastructure assets to support business expansion.
Prior to joining FloridaMakes, Wells served as Senior Vice President of Economic Development at the Orlando Economic Partnership, where he led regional efforts to attract, expand, and retain businesses while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive position. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Business Development at Enterprise Florida, Inc., where he led statewide business recruitment and expansion efforts, working with domestic and international companies across key sectors to secure significant capital investment and job creation. Earlier in his tenure, he served as Director of Aviation and Aerospace Business Development, helping to grow one of Florida’s most strategic and globally competitive industries.
Earlier in his career, Wells was Vice President of Business Development Services for the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, where he supported local business expansion and regional economic competitiveness.
Wells holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. Having worked across local, regional, and state-level economic development, he understands both the distinct challenges at each level and the importance of aligning them to drive meaningful, sustained growth.