Two of Florida’s most influential companies, Alico and Publix, have retained contract lobbyists in advance of the 2014 legislative session.
Alico is one of the largest private landowners in the state of Florida, holding 130,800 acres spread over five counties. This land includes 11,000 acres of prime citrus-producing properties, as well as sugar cane fields, cattle ranch land and resource conservation areas.
Last month, former state Senator J.D. Alexander resigned as CEO of Alico and Clay Wilson was named as his replacement. Not sure if the departure or arrival are indicative of a new direction or a legislative agenda but one thing is for sure, this is new ground for the agribusiness giant.
Alico’s new lobbying team will be led by Rhett O’Doski and Derek Whitis and include Pat Maloy, Mike Bascom, Chris Coker, Bob Hawken, Ryder Rudd and Sean Stafford. Alico has also hired Floridian Partners, whose team includes Charlie Dudley, Teye Reeves, Ana Cruz, and Scott Ross.
Sarah Bascom of Bascom Communications, who has handled corporate communications for some time, prior to the creation of the first-ever lobby team, will continue to lead corporate comms.
In addition to repping Alico, Floridian Partners has also signed supermarket chain Publix,according to the state’s lobbyist registration directory.
Since 2010, Publix’ governmental relationships have been led by Michael Mitchell, who replaced the well-liked Randy Roberts after Roberts’ untimely death from heart failure in 2009.
Publix is privately owned and operated by its 164,500 employees and had 2012 sales of $27.5 billion. It owns approximately 759 stores in Florida.
Not sure what Publix’s issues are which led them to landing Dudley and Reeves (or did Dudley and Reeves land them?)
Either way, it’s a banner week for Floridian’s Dudley, Ross, Reeves and Maloy.
