Staff Reports
Another one bites the dust: Chad Poppell has resigned as Secretary of the Department of Management Services, the state’s real estate manager.
His resignation will be effective on March 31, Gov. Rick Scott announced on Thursday evening. Poppell has been head of DMS since 2014.
“Chad Poppell has done an outstanding job and I want to thank him for his hard work to improve efficiency and foster innovation in state government,” Scott said in a statement. “Under his leadership, Florida has remained a leader in government efficiency and provided the critical support to our state agencies to ensure Florida families and businesses receive the services and support they need.”
The announcement did not give a reason for his departure.
“Chad has been a valued member of my team since 2013 and I am proud of the great work he has done for Florida families. I wish Chad and his family the very best in their future endeavors.”
Before becoming DMS Secretary, Poppell was chief of staff at the Department of Economic Opportunity.
From 2011-2013, he worked as the Director of Employee Services at JEA, a municipally owned electric, water, and sewer provider in Jacksonville.
Poppell also was appointed by then-Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton as Human Resources Chief for the City of Jacksonville. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Valdosta State University.
Poppell now joins other Scott-appointed agency heads to have exited the administration recently.
Last month, Jason Allison left as head of the state’s Agency for State Technology for a job with the Foley & Lardner law firm.
Before that, the Foley firm stole another Scott appointee: Jon Steverson, the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.
And Jim Boxold resigned in January as Secretary of the Department of Transportation to join the governmental affairs firm Capital City Consulting.
