In this episode, Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) President and CEO Frank Rudd discusses how FSAE is continuing to support its members during COVID-19. With more than 25 years of experience in the association industry, it’s no surprise Rudd was selected to lead FSAE. Since 2014, Rudd has helped teach other associations how to better serve their members by facilitating collaboration among association management professionals through networking and educational events, online communities, and best practice resources.

Ed Moore spent 16 years shaping higher education in Florida as president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). Moore recently retired from the position with a lasting impact. In his conversation with SalterMitchell PR Founder + CEO April Salter, Moore details the changes ICUF made early on to expand online courses for college students. This transition is more relevant than ever as students across the country finish their school year taking classes remotely.

As Florida House Executive Director, Diana Beckmann and her team have worked tirelessly to help the nation’s only state embassy reach its fullest potential. By elevating the space and collaborating with partners on visitor and staff experience, Beckmann is bringing a true sense of rejuvenation to this historic building on Capitol Hill while staying true to its objective of connecting, celebrating and championing Florida to the world. In her conversation with SalterMitchell PR CEO + Founder April Salter, Beckmann discusses how she became familiar with Florida House, the passion she has for working in the nation’s capital, and the camaraderie she has forged with her Florida House colleagues.

Dr. Jeffrey Sharkey is a serial entrepreneur, visionary, and director of a wide variety of organizations and associations. He’s now a leader in Florida’s growing medical cannabis industry and guiding the expansion of legislative policy as the founder of the Medical Marijuana Business Association. He has worked to position himself and this association at the forefront of this new frontier in the nation’s third most populous state. His interview with SalterMitchell PR CEO April Salter was recorded in front of a live audience during the Leadership FPRA conference this month. Listen to Dr. Sharkey as he details his entrepreneurial journey from Pennsylvania to Tallahassee, which also included mission-driven work in underdeveloped countries.

Holly Bell, Florida’s first director of cannabis, is focused on leading the state’s new medical marijuana and hemp programs. More than two dozen people applied for the position, however, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Nikki Fried said Bell was the person “to get it right” on implementing a state hemp program. For the past year, the former banker has been developing the program from the ground up, from growing to processing and manufacturing.

Fines and Fees Justice Center Florida State Director Ashley Thomas is a trailblazer for change with a passion for policy reform. She’s working hard to advance state and local campaigns to reform the imposition and collection of fines and fees in Florida, specifically dealing with driver’s license suspensions due to unpaid court debt. Tune in to hear how fines and fees are addressed in the justice system, and learn how driver’s license suspension impacts Floridians and Florida’s economy.