Peter SchorschAs lawmakers mobilize for the forthcoming Tallahassee session, the state’s influence industry is under new leadership today as the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists (FAPL) unveils its officers for 2015-2016.
Elected by members as FAPL chair was Florida Petroleum Institute Executive Director David Mica; vice chair is Mike Hightower, senior policy adviser with the law firm of Holland & Knight.
Lori Killinger will take the new role as FAPL secretary-treasurer. Killinger is a shareholder for Lewis, Longman & Walker; she chairs the firm’s Legislative, Lobbying & Governmental Affairs Practice Group.
First order of business for Mica was selection of the FAPL Executive Committee, made with the consensus of the board: Jose Gonzalez, state affairs director with Anheuser-Busch, and Michael Carlson, executive director of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida.
Continuing to serve as FAPL directors:
- Mike Brawer, executive director of the Association of Florida Colleges
- Eric Eikenberg, executive director of the Everglades Foundation
- Candice Ericks, partner with Adams Street Advocates
- Former state Rep. Susan Goldstein, founder of Susan Goldstein Consulting
- Jennifer Green, president and founder of Liberty Partners of Tallahassee
- Fred Leonhardt, shareholder with Gray Robinson of Orlando
- Andrea Reilly with Smith, Bryan & Myers;
- John Wayne Smith, partner with Peebles-Smith Consulting
- Doug Wheeler president of the Florida Ports Council
FAPL is the state’s premier association for government affairs professionals regulated and registered with the state.
In its mission to establish and uphold high expectations for those in the lobbying profession, FAPL focuses on both ethical conduct and continuing education. The cornerstone of the association is the code of ethics — explicit standards of conduct in dealing with public officials, with clients — supported by a regulatory and dispute processes based on mediation and reconciliation to maintain the highest professionalism.
Among FAPL principles is the requirement of members to complete a course in lobbying regulation and ethics, as well as to participate in regular requalification.
