(850) 671-4401
Po Box 10570, Tallahassee, FL, 32302-2570, 
Subjects: All Subjects
Links:Website
1) AJM Conservation and Cattle LLC
2) Association of Florida Colleges, Inc
3) Beer Industry of Florida, Inc
7) Citizens for Hillsborough County, LLC
11) City of Sarasota
13) Desoto County Board of Commissioners
14) Dex Imaging Inc.
15) DSM Technology Consultants
16) Employer Direct Healthcare
17) Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association
18) Florida Turfgrass Association
20) Gopher Resource
21) Harrell's, LLC
22) Hillsborough Community College Foundation, Inc.
24) Junior Achievement of Florida Foundation, Inc.
25) Kinder Morgan
26) Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP
27) Lakeland Regional Health Systems
31) Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
32) Polk County Clerk of Court
35) Sarasota County Government
36) South Central Florida Express, Inc
38) Southern Gardens Citrus Groves Corporation
39) Southern Gardens Citrus Holding Corporation
40) Southern Gardens Citrus Nursery Corporation
41) Tall Timbers Research, Inc.
42) Tax Collector's Office for Polk County
44) The Lunz Group
45) The Mahaffey Apartment Company
48) United States Sugar Corporation
Seth McKeel recently concluded a long and distinguished career in public service that began in 2000 with his election to the Lakeland City Commission at the age of 24. Seth was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2006 and re-elected subsequently until the conclusion of his eight year term limit in November of 2014. A Tampa Bay area native, Seth's among the fifth generation in his family to call Florida home.
Early in his legislative career, Seth tackled tough issues including higher education reform as well as energy, agriculture, and natural resources policy. A strong commitment to fiscal responsibility earned Seth the trust of House Speaker Will Weatherford. In 2012 the Speaker tapped Seth to be the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee where he led the Florida House's efforts to balance the $77 billion budget of the third largest state in the Union. Under his leadership Florida maintained AAA bond rating and set aside more than $3 billion in healthy reserves.
As a former City Commissioner, Seth understands regional issues and excels at achieving local consensus. Legislative colleagues trusted Seth to chair the Polk County Legislative Delegation, Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation for two years in a row, and larger 9-county Bay Area Legislative Delegation.
A graduate of the University of Florida (UF), Seth recently was awarded the Presidential Medallion, one of the university's highest awards, for his contributions and service to UF and higher education in our state. Seth is a Graduate of Leadership Florida, Leadership Lakeland, and a member of Florida Blue Key -- "Florida's oldest and most prestigious Leadership Honorary since 1923."
Seth credits the YMCA's Youth in Government program for sparking his interest in public service and his respect for civic engagement. Seth has a knack for solving problems and excels at building relationships.
Seth proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida and is a member of Leadership Florida's West Central Florida Regional Council.
Seth and his wife Kim, who's also a Tampa Bay native, live in Lakeland with their two children Seth, III and Caroline.
(850) 671-4401
Po Box 10570, Tallahassee, FL, 32302-2570, 
Subjects: All Subjects
Links:Website
1) Association of Florida Colleges, Inc
2) Beer Industry of Florida, Inc
4) Central Florida Development Council
10) Desoto County Board of Commissioners
11) DSM Technology Consultants
12) Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association
13) Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, Inc.
14) Florida Polytechnic University Foundation, Inc
15) Florida Turfgrass Association
16) Forty Carrots Family Center
17) GMF Construction, LLC dba GMF Steel Group
18) Gopher Resource
19) Harrell's, LLC
20) Hillsborough Community College Foundation, Inc.
22) Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc
25) Pasco County Tax Collector's Office
27) Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
28) Polk County Clerk of Court
29) Polk County Sheriff's Office
30) Sarasota County Government
33) Tall Timbers Research, Inc.
34) Tax Collector's Office for Polk County
35) The Lunz Group
David Shepp joins Southern Strategy Group after leading Florida Strategic Group, a full-service government affairs consulting firm, for 13 years. David provides services to state and local governments, businesses, educational institutions, economic development entities, national companies, and statewide trade associations. Activities include legislative and agency monitoring and advocacy, research and analysis, resource development and strategic communications. Throughout his years lobbying, David has secured tens of millions of dollars for clients in the Florida budget.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Florida State University, David started his practical experience in Florida politics in 1996. David learned the intricacies of the Florida Legislature while assisting the lobbying efforts for multiple clients of the Fowler White Law Firm. Later that year, David accepted a position as a field representative with the Republican Party acting as a liaison to Central Florida candidates, including then-candidate Adam Putnam.
After Rep. Putnam's 1996 campaign, David was retained in the position of Legislative Assistant where he enjoyed four years of relationship building both in Polk County and in Tallahassee before managing now-Commissioner of Agriculture Putnam's victorious Congressional campaign in 2000.
David is skilled at developing, maintaining, and strengthening relationships essential to governmental representation before the Legislature and state agencies. David works very closely with the DeSoto, Charlotte, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota legislative delegations.
In addition to his comprehensive institutional knowledge of the Florida Legislature, David enjoys personal and professional relationships with legislative leaders and key Chairmen and Chairwomen at every level of the legislative committee structure. David also enjoys strong working relationships with many of the staff behind the scenes of public policymaking.
(850) 671-4401
Po Box 10570, Tallahassee, FL, 32302-2570, 
Subjects: All Subjects
Links:Website
2) Airbnb, Inc.
3) Altria Client Services LLC and its Affiliates
4) Aucilla Research Institute, Inc.
5) Bay County Board of County Commissioners
6) Beer Industry of Florida, Inc
9) Caesars Enterprise Services, LLC
10) Citizens for Hillsborough County, LLC
13) Clay County District Schools
16) Daytona State College Foundation, Inc
17) Desoto County Board of Commissioners
18) Dex Imaging Inc.
19) Dixie Board of Public Education/Dixie District School Board
21) Edmentum, Inc.
22) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
23) Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.
25) Florida Polytechnic University Foundation, Inc
26) Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Inc
27) Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation
29) Gopher Resource
30) H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
31) Harrell's, LLC
32) Hillsborough Community College Foundation, Inc.
33) I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, Inc
34) iEnable, Inc.
35) IMG Academy LLC
38) Indian River State College Foundation, Inc.
40) Junior Achievement of Florida Foundation, Inc.
41) Lakeland Regional Health Systems
42) Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
45) Museum of Science & History
48) Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners
49) Polk County Clerk of Court
50) Polk County Sheriff's Office
51) Putnam County
54) Rood Chartrand Partnership
55) Sarasota County Government
56) Second Harvest of the Big Bend
57) South Central Florida Express, Inc
59) Southern Gardens Citrus Groves Corporation
60) Southern Gardens Citrus Holding Corporation
61) Southern Gardens Citrus Nursery Corporation
63) TECO Energy, Inc
67) Town of Belleair
68) United States Sugar Corporation
69) University of Florida Foundation, Inc.
70) Volusia County
71) Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, U.S.
73) Workday, Inc.
Sydney Ridley brings years of legislative and political experience to Southern Strategy Group's Tampa Bay office. Sydney spent the past four years as the Chief Legislative Aide to House Majority Leader Dana Young, where she directed all priority policy and budget initiatives. Sydney's time as staff was at the highest level of the Florida House of Representatives, and she brings unmatched relationships with legislative staff, agency heads, and elected officials.
A political pro in Tampa Bay with extensive campaign management experience, Sydney guided Senator Dana Young to successive electoral victories in the Florida House and spearheaded her subsequent election to the Florida Senate. Sydney's political expertise, particularly in the Tampa Bay area, serves as a great strategic asset to our clients. In addition to her work with Senator Young, Sydney has served as both a political director and a field director on various Congressional and State Senate campaigns.
Born and raised in Tampa, Sydney is a third-generation Floridian, a graduate of the University of Virginia, a Florida Gator at heart, and a lover of history, golf, music, and football.
(850) 671-4401
Po Box 10570, Tallahassee, FL, 32302-2570, 
Subjects: All Subjects
Links:Website
1) Alliance for Adult Education Foundation
2) Association of Florida Colleges, Inc
4) Beer Industry of Florida, Inc
11) City of Palmetto
13) City of Sarasota
15) Desoto County Board of Commissioners
16) DSM Technology Consultants
17) Employer Direct Healthcare
18) Florida Polytechnic University Foundation, Inc
19) Gator Dredging
Laura Boehmer brings a wide range of experience in local, state, and federal policy to Southern Strategy Group's Tampa Bay office. Having worked in and around government for over 16 years, Laura has assisted elected officials, community organizations, governments, and businesses in achieving their goals.
Prior to joining Southern Strategy Group, Laura served as the chief lobbyist for the City of St. Petersburg (City). Laura was responsible for all policy and appropriation issues. In that role, Laura directed the federal appropriations process for the City and succeeded in securing millions of dollars in federal grants and earmarks. In addition to her federal work for the City, Laura was also responsible for developing, strategizing, and advocating for the City's State Legislative Program and was also instrumental in the creation and implementation of the City's Sustainability Program.
In her role at the City, Laura served as staff for former Mayor Rick Baker in his roles as the Chairman of the Century Commission of a Sustainable Florida, Vice Chair of the Governor's Action Team on Energy and Climate Change, and Group Leader of Governor Crist's Transition Team. This experience gave Laura extensive exposure to numerous policy issues and the opportunity to build statewide relationships with political and business leaders.
Prior to working for the City, Laura served as legislative staff in the Florida House of Representatives. Laura also worked for a private lobbying firm representing clients on a wide variety of issues. Laura has staffed and volunteered on various campaigns and worked with a national corporation on nation-wide grass roots efforts to pass legislation. Having analyzed patterns of Congress and maintained PAC communications between a corporate government relations department and PAC members, Laura is well versed in the political efforts of both private and public sectors.
(850) 671-4401
Po Box 10570, Tallahassee, FL, 32302-2570, 
Subjects: All Subjects
Links:Website
1) Airbnb, Inc.
2) Altria Client Services LLC and its Affiliates
3) Apple Inc
4) Beach Mosquito Control District
5) Beep, Inc.
6) Beer Industry of Florida, Inc
8) Caesars Enterprise Services, LLC
11) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
15) Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Inc
16) Florida Sheriffs Association
19) Gopher Resource
23) Lemon Grove Mitigation Bank
25) Management 10
26) Metro Development Group, LLC
27) National Emergency Management and Response
29) OnSolve, LLC.
32) ReCap, LLC
34) Second Harvest of the Big Bend
38) TECO Energy, Inc
39) Tesla, Inc.
41) Timberline Real Estate Partners
42) University of North Florida
43) Urban SDK
Brian Bautista advocates on behalf of his clients before the legislative and executive branches of Florida government and has experience acting as statewide spokesman and point of contact for clients. Brian has resided in Florida's capital city for over a decade, and his work spans the gambit from local initiatives to a statewide Senate campaign.
Brian received both a bachelor's degree in political science and a law degree from Florida State University. Brian uses his legal expertise and political acumen to successfully represent clients on some of the highest profile issues in Florida, in the technology, education, healthcare, and energy industries.
Brian has been named one of Florida's 30 Under 30 by Florida Politics and a NextGeneration Rising Star by Influence Magazine
1) Advantage Behavioral Health Services
3) Altria Client Services LLC and its Affiliates
5) American Property Casualty Insurance Association
7) Apple Inc
8) Aramark Correctional Services, LLC
10) Beer Industry of Florida, Inc
12) Clay County Board of County Commissioners
13) Copart, Inc
15) Fidelity National Financial, Inc
16) Florida Blue
17) Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
18) Florida Pulp & Paper Association
19) Florida Sheriffs Association
21) Friends of Florida Iron & Steel
23) Gulfstream Natural Gas System, LLC
27) Key West International Airport
28) Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC and Affiliates
29) LEO Technologies
31) Metro Development Group, LLC
34) Putnam County
35) Raydient LLC
36) Rayonier, Inc
37) Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC
38) SCI Funeral Services of Florida, Inc
39) SMG Drones, LLC dba DARIUS
40) South Central Florida Express, Inc
42) The Arc of Putnam County, Inc.
45) Two Roads Development, LLC
46) United States Sugar Corporation
47) University of North Florida
A leader within Florida's government relations arena, Mercer Fearington, Jr. has been representing clients before the executive and legislative branches of Florida government since the mid-1990's. Mercer is the past Chairman of the Florida Agricultural Coalition and is a graduate of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture -- an affiliate of the Institute of Food and Agriculture and Sciences at the University of Florida. Mercer is a graduate of Mercer University.
Mercer lives in Tallahassee with his wife, Lindsey, and their three daughters.
305-490-3414
9155 S. Dadeland Blvd, Suite 1604, Miami, FL, 33156, 
Subjects: All Subjects, Alcohol, Animals/Agriculture, Appropriations/Budgets, Ballot Measures/Campaign Finance/Elections, Business/Commerce, Cannabis/Drug Legalization, Children/Family/Women, City/County Government, Consumer Protection, Education, Energy/Utilities, Environment/Recycling, Finance/Banking, Food/Restaurants, Gaming, Housing/Real Estate/Development/Construction, Pharmaceuticals, Planning/Land Use/Zoning, Privacy/Internet, Professional/Vocational Licensing, Public Safety, Public Sector, Retail, RFP/Procurement, Taxes, Tobacco, Tourism/Hospitality, Transportation/Vehicles
Links:Website
What distinguishes The Southern Group from others is where we draw our lobbyists from. Our lobbyists are almost all exclusively former government regulators, legislators or high-level government staff. We know what moves the wheels of government because, at one point in our careers, we moved those wheels ourselves.
2) Altria Client Services LLC and its Affiliates
3) Apple Inc
4) Beer Industry of Florida, Inc
7) Caesars Enterprise Services, LLC
11) Florida Blue
12) Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers
13) Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, Inc.
14) Florida Sheriffs Association
16) Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower FL Keys, Inc.
17) Habitat for Humanity of the Middle Keys, Inc.
23) Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts
24) Monroe County Sheriff's Office
25) NASCAR, LLC
26) Ocean Reef Club
27) Pearl Holding Group (Ocean Harbor)
28) Sunshine Gasoline Distributors, Inc
33) University of Florida Foundation, Inc.
34) Vestcor Companies, Inc., The
35) Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
15-20 years
National Children's Alliance, Bud Cramer Award
Florida Bar, Family Law Section, Legislative Achievement
Kristi House Service, Former President Service Award
SSG has won numerous fundraising awards and recognitions
Managing Partner, Miami office, The Southern Group
Chairman, Republican Party of Miami-Dade County
Executive Board, Republican Party of Florida
Nelson D. Diaz concentrates his practice on government and community relations. Nelson has successfully represented local governments, businesses, trade associations and other corporate clients before the Florida legislative and executive branches of government. Nelson has become one of Florida's young rising stars since serving as Chief Legislative Aide to the Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, and now United States Senator, Marco Rubio.
In addition, Nelson has successfully represented corporate entities before the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, numerous Miami-Dade County agencies and departments, the City of Miami, the City of Hialeah, and several other municipal governments and authorities in Miami-Dade County. In addition to government relations, Nelson has successfully guided many corporate clients entering the South Florida market, providing community relations services. By advising new entrants to the market on who the key players are, which organizations to join, and how to navigate the local political waters, Nelson has assisted many clients successfully enter the South Florida and Miami markets.
Nelson began his political career as a volunteer in the 1996 Presidential campaign in Florida where he and many other young leaders, including now U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, State Senator Anitere Flores, Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, and many other now-elected officials, worked hard to build a strong Republican Party base in South Florida. Since then, Nelson has worked on countless political campaigns in Florida from federal races for Presidential and U.S. Senate, to state races for Governor, Cabinet offices, Florida House of Representatives, and Florida Senate, as well as many local government campaigns for county commission, city councils, and mayor's races. Nelson has also been active in various business and civic organizations locally, and counts many legislators, party officials, and legislative leaders among his personal friends. As a result of Nelson's service with U.S. Senator Rubio and his involvement in many campaigns, Nelson has established an extensive network of key contacts in Miami-Dade County and within the Florida Legislature. In fact, Nelson currently serves as the Chairman of the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County and serves on the executive board of the Republican Party of Florida.
Active in the local community, Nelson served on the City of Miami's Historical and Environmental Preservation Board, protecting the city's historical and environmental treasures, as well as the Miami-Dade County Community Council of West Kendall, a local land use and zoning board. Additionally, Nelson serves as the Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors for Kristi House, Miami-Dade County's child advocacy center for child victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking as well as the Board of Directors of the Good Government Initiative, a bi-partisan organization dedicated to cultivating leaders of excellence in South Florida. Recently, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Nelson to the statewide Children and Youth Cabinet for his service and advocacy on behalf of Florida's children.
Nelson attended Florida International University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in International Relations, with a Certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, as well as minors in Political Science and Geography. Nelson graduated from the University of Florida, College of Law, cum laude, and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2004.
(321) 223-8862
5125 Mallard Lakes Ct, Merritt Is, FL, 32953-7701, 
(850) 671-4401
Po Box 10570, Tallahassee, FL, 32302-2570, 
(850) 671-4401
Po Box 10570, Tallahassee, FL, 32302-2570, 
1) Advantage Behavioral Health Services
2) Airbnb, Inc.
3) Altria Client Services LLC and its Affiliates
5) American Property Casualty Insurance Association
7) Apple Inc
8) Aramark Correctional Services, LLC
9) Artificial Intelligence for Manufacturing, Inc. (AIM)
11) Baldwin Risk Partners, LLC
12) Bay County Board of County Commissioners
13) Beach Mosquito Control District
15) Beer Industry of Florida, Inc
18) Caesars Enterprise Services, LLC
20) CGL Companies
22) City of Marathon
24) Copart, Inc
26) Fidelity National Financial, Inc
27) Florida Blue
28) Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Inc
29) Florida Pulp & Paper Association
30) Florida Senior Living Association
31) Florida Sheriffs Association
33) Friends of Florida Iron & Steel
34) Gopher Resource
36) Gulfstream Natural Gas System, LLC
41) Koch Companies Public Sector, LLC and Affiliates
42) LEO Technologies
44) Metro Development Group, LLC
45) Monroe County Sheriff's Office
47) NASCAR, LLC
48) National Emergency Management and Response
49) Next Insurance
51) Nutanix, Inc.
52) On Track School c/o TSG Education Advisors
54) Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care, Inc
56) Putnam County
57) Rayonier, Inc
58) ReCap, LLC
60) Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC
62) SCI Funeral Services of Florida, Inc
65) SMG Drones, LLC dba DARIUS
66) Southern Gardens Citrus Holding Corporation
68) Talitrix LLC.
70) TECO Energy, Inc
71) The Arc of Putnam County, Inc.
73) United States Sugar Corporation
74) Universal Protection Service, LLC