Craig Fugate, Ed Moore hired for business associations’ reopening task force

A coalition of Florida business associations has hired Craig Fugate and Ed Moore to play leading roles on its task force on revitalizing the economy after the pandemic.

Moore will serve as the task force’s executive director and Fugate will be a senior adviser, the coalition announced Thursday. The Restore Economic Strength through Employment and Tourism (RESET) Task Force’s next step is to plan and research policy recommendations and initiatives to help the state economically rebound from the COVID-19 lockdown or similar future crises.

The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), the Florida Retail Federation (FRF), the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) established RESET last month.

“Ed and Craig bring a wealth of experience and background and we are so grateful they have agreed to help this effort,” said Brewster Bevis, AIF’s senior vice president of state and federal affairs.

Moore stepped down last year as president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. Before that, he served in Florida’s legislative and executive branches and worked in the private sector for 21 years in commercial development and utilities, public safety, mental health, corrections and education.

Fugate led the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from 2009 to 2017 after heading the Florida Division of Emergency Management between 2001 and 2009. He now runs his own consulting firm and is a senior adviser to several organizations.

“On behalf of the other co-chairs and all of the members of this growing task force, we thank both of these professionals for sharing their expertise with the group,” said NFIB executive director Bill Herrle. “With Ed and Craig at the helm and with our growing membership, we are excited about the work that lies ahead and the depth of knowledge this group will bring to the table.”

Herrle, Bevis, FRF President and CEO Scott Shalley and FRLA President and CEO Carol Dover co-chair the panel. The coalition, since launching mid-April, has grown to include 50 organizations.

A full list of task force members:

— Airlines for America

— American Property & Casualty Insurance Association

— American Resort Developers Association

— Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida

— Associated Builders & Contractors of Florida

— Associated Industries of Florida

— Consumer Energy Alliance

— Film Florida

— Florida Association of Broadcasters

— Florida Association of Counties

— Florida Association of Health Plans

— Florida Attractions Association

— Florida Bankers Association

— Florida Beverage Association

— Florida Carpenters Regional Council

— Florida Council of 100

— Florida Credit Union Association

— Florida Farm Bureau

— Florida Health Care Association

— Florida Home Builders Association

— Florida Hospital Association

— Florida Independent Automobile Dealers Association

— Florida Insurance Council

— Florida Internet & Television

— Florida Institute of CPAs

— Florida Justice Reform Institute

— Florida League of Cities

— FloridaMakes

— Florida Natural Gas Association

— Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association

— Florida Nonprofit Alliance

— Florida Petroleum Council

— Florida Ports Council

— Florida Propane Association

— Florida Public Transportation Association

— Florida Realtors

— Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association

— Florida Retail Federation

— Florida Senior Living Association

— Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

— Florida TaxWatch

— Florida United Businesses Association (FUBA)

— Florida Transportation Builders Association

— Florida Trucking Association

— GrowFL

— Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida

— International Council of Shopping Centers

— Manufacturers Association of Florida

— National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

— Pensacola Chamber of Commerce