Before becoming the first African-American nominee for governor in Florida, before becoming mayor of Florida’s capital city, and before becoming the youngest City Commissioner in Tallahassee’s history, Andrew Gillum was the son of school bus driver and a construction worker. The values instilled by his hardworking parents led Andrew to become a devoted civil servant, the first of his brothers and sister to graduate high school and college.

Though Sally Bradshaw is most known for serving as Jeb Bush’s senior advisor during the 2016 presidential race, her accomplishments far exceed politics. The George Washington University graduate is the epitome of success having worked alongside political giants such as former president George H.W. Bush, completed consulting work for award-winning firms such as CoreMessage, and served as a member of the Florida State Board of Education. Additionally, Bradshaw is a sought-after public speaker and most recently, a successful bookstore owner.

Adam Smith, Political Editor for the Tampa Bay Times, has quickly become one of 2018’s leading reporters. Focusing on state and national politics, Smith has successfully weathered the changing nature of political media coverage, having worked in the field for nearly three decades. Smith has been named one of the country’s Top 10 political reporters by the Columbia Journalism Review, previously served as the co-host of Bay News 9’s television show Political Connections, and is the creator of award-winning Florida politics blog, The Buzz.

Audubon Florida Executive Director Eric Draper, a professional conservationist, has dedicated his career to protecting the Sunshine State’s unique environment and wildlife. Having grown up during Florida’s environmental discovery period, Draper’s early life consisted of innocently wandering the state’s forests, as well as adventurously canoeing through the Hillsborough River near Tampa. His career aspirations developed during his participation in a political campaign aided by environmental groups. Today, Draper works diligently to protect and preserve Florida’s natural landscape.