Speaker Profile

Maribel Feliciano serves as Director of the Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD), where she leads initiatives that stimulate economic growth by attracting, retaining and expanding key industries with a strong emphasis on supporting small businesses. She works closely with community partners to provide the programs, resources and technical assistance entrepreneurs need to start, grow and scale their businesses.

Under Feliciano’s leadership, OESBD oversees local and federal small business certification and compliance programs, economic and workforce development initiatives, international trade, business development, communications and outreach, and Film Lauderdale, Broward County’s film attraction program.

With more than 28 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Feliciano has extensive expertise in economic development, urban and regional planning, community engagement, sustainability, strategic planning and small business development. She holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University and is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and Cornell University’s Women in Leadership program.

Feliciano has received numerous honors for her leadership and service, including the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Partners Council Leadership Award, the Health Foundation of South Florida’s Inspiring Women of Health Award, Hispanic Women of Distinction, the Empowering the American Dream Award and the Women Economic Forum Florida’s Leader of the Decade Award.