Drew Wilson
The Florida Municipal Power Agency has named Jody Lamar Finklea as its next general counsel and chief legal officer. The announcement came Friday.
Finklea, an graduate of the Florida State University College of Law who also holds a master’s degree in public administration, will take over for retiring General Counsel Fred Bryant. He has been with FMPA since 2001 and was Bryant’s deputy general counsel before the FMPA board of directors voted on the promotion.
“FMPA is fortunate to have someone with Jody’s knowledge and expertise,” said Bill Conrad, who chairs the FMPA board of directors. “Jody has a deep understanding of Florida law and its application to utilities and cities. He knows FMPA’s business in depth, making this transition seamless.”
Finklea, a board-certified expert in city, county and local government law, is also active in the American Public Power Association, the national trade group for public utilities. It recognized him as a “Rising Star in Public Power” in 2011.
In his new role, Finklea will also represent the Florida Municipal Electric Association, which has a membership largely mirroring the consortium of utilities that own FMPA.
FMPA is a wholesale power agency founded in 1978 and is jointly owned by 31 municipal power companies, including the Orlando Utilities Commission, Gainesville Regional Utilities and Ocala Electric Utility.
The group says its membership provides power to 2 million Floridians – about 10 percent of the state.
