Former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez Joins Stephen M. Ross and Ken Griffin in Backing “Ambition Accelerated” Campaign as It Expands National Push at Formula 1 Miami

Suarez Named Senior Advisor of Campaign That Shows CEOs, Founders and Investors the Winning Conditions of Florida’s Gold Coast

THE GOLD COAST, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Florida Council of 100 and its Foundation announced today that Francis Suarez, the two-term former mayor of Miami, has joined their “Ambition Accelerated” campaign as a Senior Advisor. Seeded with $10 million from Related Ross CEO and Chairman Stephen M. Ross and Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin, the nationwide campaign targets CEOs, founders and investors weighing where to build and scale and makes the case that Florida’s Gold Coast has the right conditions around tax structure, regulatory clarity, talent and quality of life to accelerate growth for the next generation of American businesses.

Suarez joins right before the campaign activates at Formula 1 Miami — its largest activation since it launched at the Wall Street Journal Invest Live conference in West Palm Beach in February. The Miami activation will take the campaign’s messaging to a different level, bringing it directly to the national and international audience of key executives and decision-makers attending the sporting event.

The campaign is based on the understanding that different eras of American business have been forged by different cities. In the 20th century, New York, Chicago and Detroit built the nation’s financial and industrial base. San Francisco shaped the technology era that followed. “Ambition Accelerated” presents the data and proof points to argue that the next great chapter of American growth will be built on Florida’s Gold Coast because of the capital, leadership, talent and business predictability converging in the region.

As the campaign enters its next phase, Suarez will take its case directly to business leaders at Formula 1 Miami and beyond. As mayor of Miami, Suarez ran one of the most effective business recruitment efforts in recent U.S. history, successfully positioning the city as a magnet for capital and innovation on the national stage. During his tenure, at least $2.5 trillion in assets under management moved to Miami, and the city ranked first in the nation for tech job growth and migration. The former mayor also oversaw the implementation of the $400 million Miami Forever bond that supports climate resilience and affordable housing.

Suarez’s personal story reflects the opportunities offered by Florida’s Gold Coast. The son of Cuban immigrants, he grew up in a family whose achievements tracked with the rise of Miami itself. His father, Xavier Suarez, was the first Cuban-born mayor of the city. The success he and his family built and found in Miami is, in many ways, a variation of the Gold Coast story.

“I am proud to join the ‘Ambition Accelerated’ campaign because I deeply believe in its message,” said Francis Suarez. “I grew up here, I led this city and I’ve seen firsthand how Florida’s Gold Coast rewards people who choose to build. As mayor, I made it my job to make sure every CEO and founder looking at where to go next had a reason to choose Miami, and many of them did. What’s different now is the scale. When West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami are working together, the region offers something no single city can, which is real depth of capital, talent and connectivity. This campaign is about making sure decision-makers across the country see that clearly.”

Suarez joins at a point when national attention on the region is increasing and the coalition behind the campaign continues to grow. In partnership with award-winning creative studio The Mayda Creative Co., the campaign will debut a custom-built immersive race simulator in the Paddock Club during Formula 1 Miami from May 1-3, allowing participants to visualize themselves in the Gold Coast region and race cars against other participants on a custom “Ambition Accelerated” track. The first 500 racers will receive a limited-edition hat designed by renowned creative director Bobby Joseph.

Throughout race weekend and beyond, The Florida Council of 100 will engage senior decision-makers nationwide in conversations about how to grow their businesses on Florida’s Gold Coast. An open letter to CEOs, founders and investors laying out the business case for Florida’s Gold Coast will also be published in the F1 issue of Design District Magazine.

“This campaign started with the simple observation that while Florida’s Gold Coast offers winning conditions for winning companies, many decision-makers at these companies can’t visualize themselves here yet,” said Mike Simas, President and CEO of The Florida Council of 100. “The next phase of this campaign is all about closing that perception gap by giving these stakeholders a clear sense of what building here actually looks like. Formula 1 Miami places us directly in front of key executives who are actively deciding where to build and invest, while Francis Suarez will be instrumental in helping us turn those conversations into real commitments to the region. This is about making sure Florida’s Gold Coast is in consideration when decisions around building and growing companies are made.”

About The Florida Council of 100 and The Florida Council of 100 Foundation

The Florida Council of 100 is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of business leaders dedicated to improving Florida’s quality of life and economic well-being. Founded in 1961 at the request of Governor Farris Bryant, the Council serves as a trusted advisor to Florida’s elected officials and policymakers. Its membership represents over 200 companies employing more than 1.3 million Floridians, collectively shaping the state’s future through business-driven policy solutions and direct economic impact initiatives. The Florida Council of 100 Foundation is the Council’s nonprofit affiliate, focused on research, education and strategic initiatives that support long-term economic growth and prosperity across Florida. The Foundation plays a key role in identifying opportunities, funding forward-thinking programs and driving collaborative partnerships to strengthen Florida’s talent pipeline and innovation economy.