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• John Mica, Former Congressman FL Congressional District 7 (R)

  • When
    December 18, 2019
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Hammock Dunes Club, 30 Ave Royale, Palm Coast, FL 32137

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  SPEAKER TOPIC

  Transportation & updates on projects & politics

  ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

  Congressman John L. Mica was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 to represent Florida’s 7th Congressional District. He served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. As Chair of the Government Operations Subcommittee on the U.S. House’s chief investigative panel, he worked on cutting wasteful and duplicative programs and protecting taxpayers’ hard-earned money.

  From 1999-2001, Mica served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources. As Chairman, he became a national principle leader in the development of our nation’s counter-narcotics policy. His work on Plan Colombia helped bring that ally back from the brink of Narco-terrorism disaster.

  As Chairman of the House Civil Service Subcommittee from 1995 to 1999, Mica authored landmark legislation dealing with veteran’s preferences, expanding healthcare access for military dependents and establishing one of the federal government’s largest employee stock ownership programs.

  A strong advocate for our country’s veterans and seniors, he has received nearly every national military service association award including national recognition from the Blinded American Veterans Foundation, the National Military Family Association, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Reserve Officers Association, the Retired Enlisted Association, Non-commissioned Officers Association, The Seniors Coalition, the United Seniors Association and 60 Plus Association.

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• John Sowinski, Communications Strategist - Referendum Process Bypassing the State Legislature to Make Law

  • When
    January 15, 2020
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Hammock Dunes Club, 30 Ave Royale, Palm Coast, FL 32137

  
  

  SPEAKER TOPIC

  Referendum Process - Bypassing the State Legislature to Make Law

  ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

  • John Sowinski is a founding partner of Consensus which is a firm comprised of leaders in the fields of Public Relations, Issues Management, Campaign Consulting, Lobbying, TV Production and more.
  • He has led nine successful statewide campaigns in Florida – more than any other consultant.
  • His notable victories include the 1992 “Eight is Enough” term limits campaign; the 1994 “Net Ban” campaign; the 1994 “No Casinos” campaign; the 1996 campaign against a proposed tax of Florida sugar; the 2000 campaign in support of high speed rail; and the 2002 Smoke Free Workplace initiative; the 2006 Youth Tobacco Education initiative, and the 2010 “Vote No on 4” campaign, which defeated the so-called “Hometown Democracy” Amendment in an unlikely landslide.
  • John was Student Body President at the University of Central Florida, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration.

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• Constance Berry Newman, Former Assistant Secretary African Affairs - The World as I See it

  • When
    February 19, 2020
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Hammock Dunes Club, 30 Ave Royale, Palm Coast, FL 32137

  
  

  SPEAKER TOPIC

  “The World as I see it.”
  Constance Newman will share her perspective of where the United States sits globally

  ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

  • Constance Berry Newman was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother was a social worker and nurse and her father was a physician. Wanting to play a more active role in the civil rights movement, her father relocated the family to Tuskegee, Alabama. Newman attended Tuskegee Institute High School, located on the campus of the Tuskegee University. She earned her law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School and then moved to France with her husband, who was a member of the United States Air Force. Returning to the United States, Newman moved to Washington, D.C., in 1962, and despite having a law degree, the only employment she was able to obtain was as a clerk typist with the United States Interior Department. She remained at the Interior Department until 1967, working her way through the ranks serving as a personnel assistant and eventually personnel manager.
  • From 1967 until 1969, Newman worked for the Office of Economic Development working with migrant farmers and then served as Special Assistant to Elliott Richardson, who headed what is now known as the Department of Health and Human Services. In 1971, she was appointed by former President Richard Nixon to serve as director of VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), the domestic Peace Corps. From 1973 until 1976 she served as the director of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  • Between 1976 and 1977, Newman oversaw the consumer unit focused on Indian and elderly affairs as the assistant director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  • In 1989, President George H.W. Bush appointed her director of the Office of Personnel Management, and in 1992, she served as Under Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute.

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• Scott Sobel, President and Founder of Media & Communications Strategies - The Media as Your Adversary, not Your Enemy

  • When
    March 18, 2020
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Hammock Dunes Club, 30 Ave Royale, Palm Coast, FL 32137

  

  SPEAKER TOPIC

  The Media as Your Adversary, not Your Enemy

  ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

  • Scott began his career at The Miami Herald, then working in broadcast markets in Jacksonville, Tampa, Denver, New York City and filing his last TV story in Boston.
  • He has advised an eclectic list of clients, including law firms and law schools, universities, charities, manufacturers of aviation and pet food products, associations, healthcare businesses, hospitals, financial businesses, and entertainers. Scott manages the most sensitive public relations and media relations challenges for clients, many of whom are involved in litigation or government investigations.
  • Prior to joining kglobal, Scott began his public relations career as a regional director for Tele-communications, Inc. and AT&T Broadband, where he handled public relations, media and government relations assignments, and led national media training teams.
  • Scott’s background features the management of his own Washington, DC-based, public relations agency, Media & Communications Strategies. He frequently represents clients seeking to build relationships with the U.S. Congress and other government agencies.
  • Scott sees his role as not only a PR strategist and counselor, using media psychology practices to persuade audiences, but also as an educator. He has enjoyed his time as an adjunct journalism professor and a frequent lecturer/author about both journalism and public relations topics.

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• Joe York, President of AT&T Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands - The Next Technology Disruption: 5G

  • When
    April 15, 2020
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Hammock Dunes Club, 30 Ave Royale, Palm Coast, FL 32137

  
  

  SPEAKER TOPIC

  The Next Technology Disruption: 5G

  ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

  • Mr. York has held various other positions within AT&T including most recently Vice President – Legislative & Regulatory Affairs with AT&T Florida. His leadership in 2007 resulted in the Florida Legislature reforming how the cable industry is regulated. This major change in state law has resulted in greater competition and new investments into the Florida economy.
  • Joe served as the Regional Director of Corporate and External Affairs for AT&T of Central Florida from July 2002 – August 2005. Before coming to AT&T, Joe was a Partner in Arnall & York, a firm specializing in Governmental Affairs located in Jacksonville, Florida. He represented several well-known corporations such as AT&T, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Florida Power & Light, PGA of America, City of Jacksonville, Sprint and Verizon. Prior to founding Arnall & York, Joe served as Chief Aide in the Florida Legislature for six years.
  • Joe currently serves as the Chairman of the Jacksonville Port Authority (JaxPort). He was appointed by the Governor in 2010 to serve on the Board of Directors to JaxPort. He also serves on the Associated Industries of Florida’s Board of Directors, as well as the Executive Committee.

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