Team

Rick Asnani serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Institute for Political Leadership, a non-partisan initiative by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, to recruit and train candidates across the state who want to be appointed or run for elected office. Asnani is also the founder and President of Cornerstone Solutions, a national political consulting, community relations and public affairs firm. He has 25 years of campaign, strategic communications and issue management experience. Asnani has guided Fortune 100 companies and other corporate, trade association and campaign clients to organize and implement political, crisis management and grassroots advocacy campaigns. So far, he has worked in 37 states and in two foreign countries.

Asnani worked extensively statewide in Florida on campaigns before being recruited by a major Washington, DC trade group to serve as their Senior Political Field Director. For eight years he traveled to over 30 states running campaign schools where he trained over 1,000 candidates and worked on over 250 local, state and federal campaigns. Asnani’s successes include getting members of congress, governors, mayors, state legislators, judges, county, and city leaders elected.

Asnani is also a frequent guest lecturer at campaign training schools, women’s leadership and judicial workshop programs. He annually serves as a guest lecturer and judges the Advanced Campaigning class at Florida Atlantic University. He has been a regular speaker at the Campaigns and Elections Magazine seminars held annually in Washington, DC. Campaigns and Elections Magazine named Asnani as one of their “Rising Stars in Politics”.

Asnani is a member of the American Association of Political Consultants, a 2019 graduate of Leadership Florida (Class 37), serves as a Palm Beach Chamber Trustee and is a volunteer board member of several non-profit organizations. He lives in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Contact Rick

Phone: 561.689.9787
Email: Rick@FIPL.org 

Mark Wilson serves as president and chief executive officer of Florida’s largest and most influential business advocacy organization. Wilson leads the substantial political, lobbying, grassroots, and economic research operations of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The Florida Chamber focuses on creating a business climate that generates prosperity and high-paying jobs, vibrant communities and global competitiveness in the state of Florida by focusing on job creation and the Six Pillars of Florida’s Future Economy: Talent Supply & Education, Innovation & Economic Development, Infrastructure & Growth Leadership, Business Climate & Competitiveness, Civic & Governance Systems and Quality of Life & Quality Places.

Through his focus on unifying the business community, Wilson created the Florida Business Agenda and the Florida Chamber Grassroots Network, which mobilizes the business community on issues ranging from taxes and talent, to insurance and constitutional amendment reform. Wilson was also the first president of the Florida Justice Reform Institute, a Florida Chamber partner organization focused on reducing frivolous lawsuits.

In addition to his legislative successes, Wilson is also the architect of groundbreaking statewide political campaigns in 2004 and 2006 that passed significant constitutional amendment reforms, as well as numerous legislative and issue campaigns. In 2010, he served as treasurer and co-chair of the Vote No on 4 campaign, an anti-growth proposal, in one of the most successful political campaigns in Florida’s history.

Wilson serves on the Board of Directors of Florida Association of Chamber Professionals, Enterprise Florida, Workforce Florida, Leadership Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Chamber Foundation, and the Council of State Chambers, as well as serving as an active member of the Florida Council of 100, the U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100, and the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.

A native of Illinois, Wilson received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and has earned the national designation of Certified Chamber Executive (CCE). Prior to joining the Florida Chamber in 1998, Wilson served as vice president of the Chicagoland Chamber and previously served with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Wilson resides in Tallahassee with his wife, daughter and two sons.

Contact Mark

Phone: 850.521.1209
Email: Mark@FIPL.org

Nick Catroppo serves as Vice President of Political Operations at the Florida Chamber of Commerce. In this role, he manages the strategic political plan and leads the political operations team.

As a battle-tested political, legislative, and policy professional, Nick brings over a decade of Florida and Washington experience to the Chamber. He joined the Chamber after serving as the Chief of Staff, Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the United States Department of Energy. While at Energy, he advised the Department on all matters pertaining to Congress, local and state elected officials, and external stakeholders.

Prior to joining the Trump Administration, Nick led Ashley Moody’s campaign for Attorney General, serving as Campaign Manager throughout the Primary and General Elections. With his leadership, the Moody campaign set historic records both in terms of fundraising and vote totals.

Previously, Nick served in leadership roles with two Members of Congress from Florida where he held the title of Deputy Chief of Staff, leading strategic communications and legislative efforts and worked with stakeholders to align coalition goals and priorities. He has also held senior leadership roles on congressional races and state legislative campaigns, successfully guiding some of the most expensive races in the country.

Nick is a graduate of the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He was raised in Brooksville, Fla., and now resides in Tallahassee with his wife, Amanda.

Contact Nicholas

Phone: 850.521.1298
Email: ncatroppo@flchamber.com