Keyna Cory knows her business. The chief lobbyist for Associated Industries of Florida can often be seen fighting to advance the agenda of high-profile business advocates to the state Legislature, and many lawmakers know her by sight.
Cory, who runs a lobbying firm on College Avenue in Tallahassee with her husband, lobbyist Jack Cory, took some time to speak with Sunshine State News about her job and her life.
What is your job? President of Public Affairs Consultants
Age? 55
Where were you born and where do you live now? I was born in Anderson, S.C., so Im a true southern girl. But I grew up in a little town called Boca Raton, before Boca grew to be a large city. I moved to Tallahassee almost 25 years ago. In fact, this month makes it 25 years. I live just a little bit north of the Capitol.
Where did you go to college? I didn't graduate, but I went to the University of Florida for two years, 1972-1974. I was seeking a major in political science. I always had an interest in politics -- even as a kid I ran to be mayor for a day of Boca Raton.
What did you do before starting this job? I was fashion director for Jordan Marsh Department Stores in Fort Lauderdale. Long hours and rotten pay, but it was really a great opportunity. I joined Public Affairs Consultants in 1983. We moved up to Tallahassee in 1985.
What is the biggest success youve had in this job? I think the biggest success that I had was getting AIF as a client, about 15 years ago. That was a big deal. Public Affairs Consultants had a big group of clients, but that kind of catapulted me into the big leagues.
The biggest success this session was work done on a recycling bill that aims to get the state recycling 75 percent of its solid waste by 2020. [The bill originally required businesses to report their recycling rates but was scaled back.] That thing was dead there, and we breathed life back into it.
What was your biggest failure? Truthfully, I think my biggest failure was not completing my college degree, on a personal note. And I'm going to do it one of these days. Heaven knows, I may be 90 years old, but it is something I'm going to do.
What was the best advice youve ever received about how to do your job, and who gave it? I think that would probably be Jack, my husband. I think it was that you never give in, no matter what. You never give up. And he learned that phrase from Winston Churchill.
What was your most embarrassing moment in the capital? That actually happened to me this past session, when I gave the wrong number to a committee I was testifying before. I got my numbers backward when I was explaining about the recycling bill. Bill sponsor Sen. Lee Constantine, (R-Altamonte Springs) wanted to put all businesses that recycled up on the Web site, and I gave him the number for large businesses and I got it backwards. And didnt realize it until that night, when I realized, What numbers did I just give them?
What are your interests outside of work? I love football. I especially love college football. I was actually the first woman to chair a college football game. I love going to games.
Reach Alex Tiegen at atiegen@sunshinestatenews or (561) 329-5389.
