Connect Day at the Capitol
February 4-5, 2016
Roger Feicht
Roger Feicht is honored to serve as Chair of Connect Florida. Roger was a member of Class II of
Connect’s Leadership Institute Program and previously served on the Board of Governors as
Recruitment Director, Gulfstream Regional Chair, and most recently as Chair-Elect.
Roger works as a lawyer in Gunster’s West Palm Beach office. His practice focuses on advising
employers and employees on employment law issues, with a particular emphasis on defending
and prosecuting employment related lawsuits. Roger regularly assists businesses with
conducting internal investigations, hiring and firing of employees, and responding to claims of defamation,
discrimination and harassment. He has also drafted and enforced employment agreements, company policies and noncompetition agreements.
Additionally, Roger helps clients facing threatened or actual litigation in a variety of complex commercial litigation
contexts, including claims related to professional malpractice, breach of contract and construction defects. Roger has
gained significant courtroom experience in litigating cases in both State and Federal courts throughout Florida.
While originally from Chicago, Roger is a loyal fan of the University of Miami Hurricanes, having met his wife, Maureen,
at the Orange Bowl while an undergraduate.
Andrew Fay
Andrew was born and raised in South Tampa. He is a Finance and Law graduate of Florida State
University where he served as the law school student body president and the Editor-in-Chief of the
Florida State Business Law Review. Andrew currently serves as an Assistant Attorney General for the
Pam Bondi administration. As the youngest lawyer on Attorney General Bondi’s executive staff,
Andrew’s responsibilities include all issues relating to public policy, legislative affairs, and cabinet
affairs. A few things that people may not know about Andrew: he is a huge animal lover and even
had a pet ferret (Mrs. Ferret) in college; he was the first graduate student selected for FSU’s
Homecoming Court; and he guest-starred as a nerd in a popular rap video.
Krissy Kennedy
Krissy is the State Income Tax Manager at ADT. She has over 14 years of public accounting and
corporate tax experience providing state and local tax services to tax departments in virtually all
industries. Krissy began her career with ADT in August 2012, and prior to joining ADT, she
worked for Grant Thornton and Ernst & Young in South Florida. Krissy graduated from the
University of South Florida with a BA in Accounting and she holds a Masters in Taxation from
Florida International University. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of
Florida. Krissy and her husband, Scott, are also partners in Smoke BBQ restaurant with locations
in Fort Lauderdale, Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, and, opening in 2016, Coral Springs. Krissy has a strong
commitment to the community. She serves as Treasurer and Executive Board Member at Women in Distress of Broward
County. Krissy also serves as the Team Captain of ADT Always Cares, the corporate philanthropy and volunteerism arm
of ADT, engaging more than 1,000 employees in their South Florida headquarters market.
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Wendy Walker
Wendy is president of Leadership Florida, a position she has held for 26 of the organization’s
34 years. During that time, Leadership Florida has grown from producing an annual class
program to providing programs for the state’s top college students, young professionals,
locally elected officials from cities, counties and school boards, new executives in Florida,
graduates of community leadership programs, educators and members of the Florida
Legislature. Leadership Florida is also well known for producing televised debates between candidates running for
Governor, the U.S. Senate, and President of the United States, for its anti-discrimination campaign, the Faces of Florida, and
for creating and producing the Sunshine State Survey.
Walker has served as president of the Economic Club of Florida, and currently serves on the boards of the Florida College
System Foundation, the Tallahassee Village Square and Florida State University’s Opening Nights Performing Arts.
She graduated from Florida State University, where she was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Mortar Board, Garnet Key,
and Gold Key scholastic and leadership honoraries, and since then has been selected for membership in ODK. In 2001, she
completed the leadership development program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
She is most proud of her two daughters, Beth and Julia, son-in-law Jaime, and grandson Luke.
Senate President Andy Gardiner
Andy Gardiner represents Florida’s 13th State Senate District, which includes portions of Orange and
Brevard Counties.
First elected to public office in 2000, Senator Gardiner served four terms in the Florida House of
Representatives, including one term as House Majority (Republican) Leader under Speaker Allan
Bense.
Senator Gardiner was elected to the Florida Senate in 2008 and served as the Senate Majority (Republican) Leader under
President Mike Haridopolos from 2010-2012, joining an elite group of legislators who have served as the Republican
Leader in both Chambers to include former Senate President Jim King and former House Speaker, now Congressman,
Dan Webster.
In November 2014, Senator Gardiner was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as the 86th President of the
Florida Senate since statehood in 1845.
A lifelong resident of the Orlando-area district he represents, Senator Gardiner works as the Vice President of External
Affairs and Community Relations for Orlando Health. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Apopka Area
Chamber of Commerce.
Senator Gardiner and Camille, his wife of 17 years, are both graduates of Stetson University and the proud parents of
three children, Andrew Junior (11), Joanna Lynn (8), and Kathryn Lucille (5).
House Speaker pro tempore Matt Hudson
Matt Hudson was elected to the Florida State House of Representatives in District 101,
November 2007. His current district 80 encompasses a broad range of issues and it stretches
from North Naples to Immokalee and all of Hendry County.
Speaker pro tem Matt Hudson has had a background in the healthcare arena in several
capacities and for several years. His family has long been involved in the pharmacy industry and
he himself was a board certified pharmacy technician.
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Speaker pro tem Hudson serves as Chair of the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee in the Florida House. He also
is a member of the Appropriations Committee, Joint Administrative Procedures Committee, the Joint Legislative Budget
Commission, the Judiciary Committee, the Energy and Utilities Sub Committee and The Select Committee on Affordable
Healthcare Access. Speaker pro tem Hudson is appointed to the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Board. He
previously served as Chair for the Alzheimer Purple Ribbon Task Force.
Speaker pro tem Hudson serves nationally as Co-Chair of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL),
Innovations in State Health Systems Task Force. He has also serves on the Agriculture Task Force of NCSL and Health
Committee.
Speaker pro tem Hudson served as the Chair of the Collier County Legislative Delegation for several terms and is
currently Co-Chair of the Hendry County Legislative Delegation and is also Co-Chair of the Biotech caucus.
Prior to election to the Florida House, Speaker pro tem Hudson served from 2002 through 2007 as Golden Gate Fire
Commissioner in the Collier County. He is currently Vice-President of Operations and Broker of VIP Realty Group in
Naples.
Mike Sole
Mike Sole is Vice President for State Governmental Affairs with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL),
a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) and one of the largest investor owned electric utilities in the
nation. He was appointed to this position in 2010 and is responsible for ensuring constructive
government relations with state and federal officials on behalf of FPL.
Prior to his joining FPL, Mike served as Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, overseeing Florida’s environmental regulatory and law enforcement programs, the
acquisition, conservation and management of public lands, including Florida’s award-winning state parks, and the
development and regulation of Florida’s water resources through the State’s five water management districts.
Mike was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, serving our nation during the Gulf War. He received his Bachelors
of Science degree in Marine Biology from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Florida Power & Light Company is the largest rate-regulated electric utility in Florida and serves the third-largest number
of customers of any electric utility in the United States. FPL serves approximately 4.6 million customer accounts and is a
leading Florida employer with approximately 10,000 employees as of year-end 2012. During the five-year period ended
December 31, 2012, the company delivered the best service reliability among Florida investor owned utilities. As of yearend 2012, its typical residential customer bills are the lowest in Florida, and based on data available in July 2012, are
about 26 percent below the national average. A clean energy leader, FPL has one of the lowest emissions profiles and
one of the leading energy efficiency programs among utilities nationwide. FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit www.FPL.com.
Colin Tooze
Colin Tooze is Director of Public Affairs for Uber Technologies. In that capacity, he oversees Uber's
public policy and communications initiatives for over 50 markets in the Southeastern United States.
Before joining Uber's Public Policy team, Colin served as Director of Government & Corporate
Affairs for the online travel company Expedia, Inc.
Colin studied English Literature at the University of Richmond, and is a 2002 graduate of the Notre
Dame Law School.
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Peter Schorsch
Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s
most influential new media websites, including SaintPetersBlog.com, FloridaPolitics.com,
ContextFlorida.com, and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
SaintPetersBlog has for three years running been ranked by the Washington Post as the best
state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to
several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St.
Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.
Darrick McGhee
Darrick D. McGhee has over a decade-and-a-half experience in politics and over a decade in state
government, with most of those years in the legislative arena.
Currently, Darrick is the Vice President of Government Relations for Johnson & Blanton LLC. (Team
JB). Prior to joining Team JB, his experience is as follows:
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• Director of Legislative Affairs - Executive Office of Governor Rick Scott (January 8, 2013 - July 31,
2014);
• Acting Executive Director - Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (December 14, 2012 –
January 7, 2013);
Chief of Staff - Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (June 11, 2012- January 7, 2013);
Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs - Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (August 22, 2011January 7, 2013);
Director of Governmental Relations - Florida Department of Education (January 24, 2011 – August 12, 2011);
Director of Legislative Affairs - Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (October 17, 2008January 3, 2011);
Director of Legislative Affairs - Florida Department of Elder Affairs (February 26, 2007 – October 16, 2008);
Legislation Specialist - Florida Department of Elder Affairs (June 2, 2003 – February 23, 2007); and
Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff/ Director of the Governor's Internship Program - Executive Office of
Governor Jeb Bush (June 22, 2001 – May 23, 2003).
Darrick received his formal education at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). Here he earned his
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Religion (2000).
Linda Shelley
Linda Loomis Shelley is a shareholder in the Tallahassee office of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
PC with over 30 years of experience representing public and private clients in environmental,
land use, and administrative litigation disputes. She served as General Counsel for Governor Bob
Graham, General Counsel and Secretary of the Department of Community Affairs, and Chief of
Staff for Governor Lawton Chiles and Insurance Commissioner and Treasurer Bill Nelson. She is
AV peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in
American, Chambers USA, Florida Super Lawyers, The Legal 500, and is in Florida Trend’s Legal
Elite Hall of Fame. Ms. Shelley received her B.A. and J. D. from the University of Florida.
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Mac Stipanovich
Mac Stipanovich practices administrative law representing entities before state government
agencies, the Governor and Cabinet and the legislature.
He has extensive experience in the political arena and public sector. Mac was Florida Executive
Director for Reagan-Bush 1984, Campaign Director for Bob Martinez for Governor in 1986 and
1990, Chief of Staff to Governor Martinez and Senior Advisor to Jeb Bush for Governor in 1994.
His representative clients include AT&T, Banyan Health Systems, Pinch a Penny, Inc., Scientific Games International,
United States Sugar Corporation, Universal City Development Partners, LTD d/b/a Universal Orlando, Trademark Metals
Recycling, University Medical Service Association, Inc., State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance, Inc., Florida League of
Cities, ISRI - New Southern Chapter, Chromalloy, Florida Recyclers Association, Lee Memorial Hospital, City of Fort Myers
Collier County Board of County Commissioners, Collier Health Services of Immokalee, Florida Developmental Disabilities
Council, Inc., Hemophilia of Florida Pharmacy, LLC, Hodges University, Hope Health Care Services, Lee County
Administration, Lee County Mosquito Control District, Lee County Trauma, Park Royal Hospital and the Town of Fort
Myers Beach.
The Best Lawyers in America list has consecutively listed Mac since 2007.
Rep. Shevrin Jones
Representative Shevrin D. Jones, Florida House District 101, better known as “Shev” was elected to
the Florida House of Representative, unopposed in 2012, and subsequently in 2014. He is the Founder
of LEAD Nation, one of South Florida’s top youth organizations for leadership development training. In
its 10 years of youth empowerment, LEAD Nation still maintains a 100% high school graduation rate
among its participants. Through his passion to be a catalyst for education and social change,
Representative Jones and the LEAD Nation team instills in every youth that they have a responsibility
to serve their communities with honesty, integrity and passion. Jones is also the Founder of the South
Florida Youth Summit, the largest gathering of young people in South Florida, bringing in more than 2,000 youth over
the course of 3-day weekend summit.
Representative Jones, received his early education in the Miami-Dade public school system. Upon graduation from
American Senior High School, he attended Florida A&M University where he received his Bachelors of Science degree in
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology. Currently, he is attending Florida Atlantic University where he is pursuing his doctoral
degree in Educational Leadership – Higher Ed.
Prior to becoming a legislator, Representative Jones served as an AP Chemistry teacher in the Broward County School
system from 2006-2008, and then went on to teach at Florida Atlantic University High School from 2008-2012. At FAU
High, Jones led his school to be #1 in the state for having a 100% pass rate on the Science End of Course (EOC) Exam.
Jones believed that teaching was his calling, and whenever he entered a classroom, it was always with the mindset that
“Every child CAN learn.”
Representative Jones is also very involved locally, state-wide, and nationally. He is a member of Leadership Florida
Connect - Class 32, Leadership Broward Class 27, the South Florida Youth Summit’s Executive Planning Team, and the
Council of State Governments TOLLS fellowship program, to name a few. He has been recognized with numerous awards
and accolades including a feature in Gold Coast Magazine’s “Top 40 under 40”, Legacy Magazine’s “Top 40 under 40
Leaders of Today and Tomorrow”, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Ft. Lauderdale’s Finest, a Congressional Political
Institute Honoree, ICABA’s 100 Most Accomplished Caribbean Americans, Florida Young Democrat of the Year, and
Broward Parent Teachers Association’s Legislator of the Year. September of 2015, he was appointed to sit on President
Obama’s College Promise Taskforce. November of 2015, he was also elected as the State Director for the National Young
Elected Officials Network.
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Representative Jones is committed to working with others, reaching across the aisle, to do the work of the people in his
district, and for the State of Florida. He has been able to put politics aside and pass meaningful legislation even while
being a member of the minority party. Some of Jones’ bi-partisan legislation includes: safety and oversight for Athletic
Coaches for Youth Athletic Teams, Police Body Cameras, and advocating and procuring funding for youth mentoring.
Representative Jones is the son of Rev. Eric and Mrs. Bloneva Jones, the current mayor of the City of West Park. Jones is
passionate about youth, education, equality, diversity and economic development. He desires to leave a legacy that will
emulate dedication and commitment for the lives of future generations. Shev loves people, and he is grateful to God for
giving him the life of helping others. His number one quote is “I will not die the man that could have been, but never
was.”
Representative Edwin Narain
Edwin “Ed” Narain is a dedicated member of the Tampa Bay community who has served in
various civic leadership roles more than two decades. The oldest of three sons born to
Aubron and Yvonne Narain (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Ed moved to Tampa in 1994 to attend the
University of South Florida. There he was elected President of the Student Body (1997-98)
and was voted USF’s First Fall Homecoming King. While at South Florida, he partnered with
the United Way to develop the first Student driven United Way campaign and received the
Department of Student Affairs first Student Leadership Award. In 2015, he received the USF
President’s African American Advisory Committee’s Ike Tribble Kente Alumni Award.
Ed works has worked with several organizations that are committed to helping children and the working poor. He is a
member of the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, and served for several years on the Hillsborough County Head
Start Policy Council and the Hillsborough County Community Action Board.
A Life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in 2008 he was honored as the Tampa Alumni Chapter’s Man of the
Year. In 2010, he earned the alumni chapter’s Leadership Award for guiding the chapter to its first Southern Province
Chapter of the Year Award as President.
Professionally, Ed is a Regional Director with AT&T and is a three-time Florida Top Performance Manager of the Year
(2009, 2010 & 2013). He has also earned two AT&T Summit Awards given to performers within the top two percent of
the company (2005, 2013).
A member of Leadership Florida’s College Leadership Florida (Class I) and Connect Florida (Class IV) statewide leadership
programs, Ed earned a BA degree in Psychology and a Masters in Business Administration from Saint Leo University. In
2013, he completed a Leadership Certificate and earned a Jurist Doctorate degree from Stetson University College of
Law where he also received the Dean’s Award for outstanding service to the law school.
In November 2014, Ed was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as the State Representative for District 61. As
a freshman legislator, Ed was elected Chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, earned the Florida Counties
Association County Champion Award and received a coveted Distinguished Advocate Award from the Florida Chamber of
Commerce.
He is married to Monica, a public school teacher and together they have two young daughters. In his spare time he
enjoys watching movies with his family, reading and singing on the praise team at church.
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Matthew Kampfe
Matthew serves as the President and CEO for Kampfe Management Services (KMS). For over
thirty years KMS has specialized in rehabilitation and community reintegration services for
survivors of brain injury. Kampfe has expanded this small business across the Pacific Northwest
and they continue to expand into other parts of the country. Kampfe has developed relationships
with national workers compensation insurance companies, managed care organizations key
physician partners, and guardians / conservators to ensure coordination and outcomes (costs and
quality) are appropriately managed for all invested parties. Throughout his career Kampfe has
been recognized for his professional accomplishments however he has always taken time to give back to his community
& state through his involvement with regional and statewide organizations. Matthew and his wife Whitney are blessed
with three healthy and happy children.
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