Florida Lobbyists Elect New Officers

The Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists (FAPL) announced in a press statement Sunday the results of its election of officers for 2015-2016.

Officers elected are as follows:

• Chairman, David R. Mica, CAE, DPL, executive director of the Florida Petroleum Institute;
• Vice chairman, Mike Hightower, senior policy adviser with the Holland & Knight law firm;
• Secretary-treasurer, Lori Killinger, Esq., DPL, shareholder with Lewis, Longman & Walker, one of Floridas pre-eminent law firms where she chairs the Legislative, Lobbying and Governmental Affairs Practice Group.

Appointed to the executive committee by Chairman Mica, with the board's concurrence, were Jose Gonzalez, DPL, state affairs director with Anheuser-Busch; and Michael Carlson, Esq., DPL, executive director of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida.

Continuing their service as directors are Mike Brawer, M.S.Ed, DPL, executive director, Association of Florida Colleges; Eric Eikenberg, DPL, executive director, Everglades Foundation; Candice Ericks, DPL, partner, Adams Street Advocates; former state Rep. Susan Goldstein, DPL, founder, Susan Goldstein Consulting; Jennifer Green, CAE, DPL, president and founder, Liberty Partners of Tallahassee; Fred Leonhardt, Esq., DPL, shareholder, Gray Robinson, PA; Andrea B. Reilly, Esq., DPL, Smith, Bryan & Myers; John Wayne Smith, DPL, partner, Peebles-Smith Consulting; and Doug Wheeler, DPL, president, Florida Ports Council.

FAPL represents government affairs professionals regulated and registered with the state of Florida.

According to the association, its mission focuses on education and ethical conduct. Each member must complete an initial course in lobbying regulation and ethics and then participate in periodic continuing education.

The association's code of ethics sets out explicit standards of conduct in dealing with public officials, clients, and with one another that are based on "principles of honesty, candor, integrity, and respect for the process."