AIF’s Vice President of Governmental Affairs & Chief Lobbyist Jose Gonzalez presents House Speaker Dean Cannon with a “Champion for Business” award for his support of the business community’s initiatives
Governor Rick Scott addresses AIF membership at our Annual Conference in Orlando
“Over the past 25 years AFCD has been in existence, we have
worked with and observed many companies’ governmental
relations activities. Without a doubt, AIF’s Lobbying efforts are
among the best. They are a great advocate that won’t back down
and doesn’t mind taking on the tough battles.”
– Bill Hunter, Association of Florida Community Developers
AIF lobbyists, representing centuries of accumulated experience in politics and government, spent more than 10,000 hours in the Capitol during the 2011 Legislative Session advocating for your business interests...
Officers
Jose L. Gonzalez
Vice President – Governmental Affairs for Associated
Industries of Florida … coordinates AIF’s lobbying team
and all research and advocacy efforts for the association
… nine years legislative experience … Master’s degree
in Public Administration with a specialization in Public
Policy and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from
the University of Florida.
Tamela Ivey Perdue, Esq.
General Counsel for Associated Industries of Florida… more than 20 years legislative and legal experience,
representing insurers and the business community
on tort, workers’ compensation, insurance and other
legal issues before the legislative and executive branches
of government … established legal practice specializing
in insurance defense and administrative law … formerly
worked in The Florida Senate … B.S. from Lee University
and J.D. from Stetson University
Ryan Tyson
Vice President – Political Operations for Associated Industries
of Florida … coordinates all of AIF’s political operations
and AIF’s Political Council … formerly served as Chief
Legislative Aide for Sen. Charlie Dean where he
advised on policy issues and managed campaigns… B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Florida.
Brewster B. Bevis Vice President – External Affairs for Associated Industries
of Florida … coordinates all corporate development
efforts and serves as an additional member of AIF’s
in-house lobby team … previously served as Senior
Director of Legislative Affairs for National Association of
Builders & Contractors … areas of expertise include
immigration and labor issues … B.S. in International
Affairs from Florida State University.
Chris Verlander
Vice President – Corporate Development of Associated
Industries of Florida … more than 32 years expertise in
insurance lobbying activities … former President
(1994-1997) and Vice Chairman (1997-1999) of American
Heritage Life Insurance Company … B.S. from Georgia
Tech and M.B.A. from the University of Florida.
Consultants
Keyna Cory (Senior Lobbyist)
President, Public Affairs Consultants, a public affairs and
governmental relations consulting firm and Vice Chair
of the Small Business Regulatory Advisory Council… more than 27 years experience representing a variety
of clients, from small entrepreneurs to Fortune 500
companies, before the Florida Legislature … majored
in Political Science at the University of Florida.
Slater Bayliss
Partner, The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners… over 13 years of legislative and campaign experience… former Director of Corporate Relations for the Office of
Tourism, Trade & Economic Development … former
personal assistant to Governor Bush serving as liaison
between the Governor’s office and agency secretaries
and members of the Legislature … former Finance
Director for House Speaker Daniel Webster …bachelor’s
degree in political science and communications from
the University of Iowa.
Sarah Busk
Director, The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners… with more than eight years of experience in legislative
and political affairs … served as a Special Events
Representative on the Inaugural Committee for Governor
Charlie Crist … former Deputy Finance Director for Senate
President Tom Lee’s statewide campaign for Florida’s
Chief Financial Officer … graduate of Florida State
University with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science.
Al Cardenas, Esq.
Partner with the law firm of Tew Cardenas LLP, chairs the
Advocacy and Governmental Affairs group in Miami,
Tallahassee and Washington, DC … over 33 years legislative
experience … served two terms as Chairman of the
Republican Party of Florida … twice-named one of
Washington, DC’s top lobbyists … currently represents
some of Florida’s largest corporate and governmental
entities before the Florida Legislature … graduate of
Florida Atlantic University and the Seton Hall University
School of Law.
R. Justin Day
Director, The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners
(TAG)….brings nearly ten years of experience in the
political and governmental fields to TAG….former aide to
Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Director of Cabinet
Affairs at the Florida Democratic Party ….graduate of
Florida State University with a Bachelors degree in
International Affairs and a Master’s degree in Political Science
Hayden Dempsey
Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Governmental Affairs
Practice for the State of Florida … extensive government
experience having served in four governors’ administrations… former Special Counsel to Gov. Rick Scott where
he oversaw the Legislative Affairs Office and advised the
Governor and his staff on legislative and public policy
matters … former Legislative Affairs Director, Deputy
General Counsel, and Special Counsel for Gov. Jeb Bush
… B.A. from Wake Forest University and J.D. from Nova
Southeastern University.
Leslie Dughi
Assistant Director of Greenberg Traurig’s Tallahassee
Governmental Affairs practice … state legislative practice
spans over 24 years representing health and life insurers,
investor-owned health care facilities, and assited living
facilities … formerly served as the Director of Government
Affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce …
well-versed in grassroots and campaign development
techniques having previously served as AIF’s Chief
Political Officer.
John French, Esq. AIF Special Counsel for Election Law …. 41 years of
experience in the legislative process… expertise in
elections, health care, and taxation… A/V rated
attorney with B.A. and J.D. degrees from Florida
State University.
Richard Gentry
Head of Gentry & Associates, a government consulting
firm in Tallahassee … prior General and Legislative
Counsel for the Florida Home Builders Association … in
his 28 years with the association, Mr. Gentry was actively
involved in legislation which included growth management,
affordable housing and environmental laws.
Rheb Harbison
Senior governmental consultant with Carlton Fields law
firm in Tallahassee … 31 years of senior level experience
in communications, public affairs, marketing and business
development…principally responsible for advocating on
behalf of the firm’s clients before the legislative and
executive branches, asserting positions on a variety of
state business issues…holds a B.S. in Communications
from Florida State University.
Nick Iarossi, Esq. Founding Partner of Capital City Consulting, LLC …
with more than 10 years legislative experience …
formerly worked in The Florida Senate, Florida House of
Representatives and the Office of Insurance Regulation …
expertise in banking and insurance, privacy and public
records, health care, procurement, parimutuels, technology,
and education … graduate from Florida State
University College of Law.
Frank Meiners
President, Frank Meiners Governmental Consultants, LLC
… formerly with BellSouth as their Executive Director in
Tallahassee where he lobbied communications issues… more than 33 years legislative experience … graduate of
the University of South Florida in Mathematics and of
the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
Jim Rathbun
President of Rathbun & Associates … more than 23 years
experience representing individuals and entities before
the legislature, state agencies, Governor, and Cabinet …
formerly worked with the Florida House of Representatives
and served as Staff Director of the House
Republican Office … B.S. from Florida State University.
Bo Rivard, Esq.
Partner with the law firm of Harrison Rivard Duncan and
Buzzett … more than 15 years governmental relations
experience with an emphasis on health care and land use
… recently appointed by Gov. Scott to the Republican
Party of Florida Executive Committee … graduate of
the University of Florida and Samford University’s
Cumberland School of Law.
Stephen W. Shiver
Partner, Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners … over
13 years legislative and campaign experience … former
aide to House Speaker Tom Feeney and Majority Office
Liaison to House Majority Leader Mike Fasano … former
Executive Director for the Republican Party of Florida… has represented some of Florida’s largest corporate and
governmental agencies before the Florida Legislature… graduate of Florida State University.
Gerald Wester
Managing Partner, Capital City Consulting, LLC… former Chief Deputy over Florida Department of
Insurance’s regulatory staff … more than 36 years
lobbying experience … expertise in insurance, banking,
and health care issues … Bachelor’s and Master’s
degrees from Florida State University.