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

After a lengthy career as a policymaker in government and an administrative lawyer who litigated against government, Paul Bradshaw founded Southern Strategy Group in 1999. Paul's work often strayed from the arcana of policy to the less staid world of political campaigns. In the political realm, Paul worked on several successful statewide campaigns including Jeb Bush's first successful gubernatorial campaign. With a background in Florida government, Paul has dealt with a broad range of major public policy initiatives, including those directed at development, environmental protection, and public education.

Between 1986 and 1990, Paul served in the Martinez Administration as the chief cabinet aide to the Governor, the director of the state's growth management program, and as the director of the Office of Policy and Budget. In those roles Paul was instrumental in advancing Florida's environmental and growth management programs. In 1998, working with then-candidate Jeb Bush, Paul was instrumental in crafting the education plan that ultimately completely re-engineered the K-12 system in Florida. Paul frequently writes speeches for candidates and elected officials, and during the course of his career has authored inaugural addresses and State of the State speeches for three governors.

Paul's broad exposure to both the mechanics of government and bare-knuckled politics give him a rare ability to grasp the policy and political implications of lobbying issues.

David Browning is one of Florida's top political campaign operatives. David has worked with Florida's most powerful elected officials and brings a new dimension to Southern Strategy Group's team of lobbyists in Tallahassee. David was instrumental in raising millions of dollars for campaign war chests in the 2010 election cycle for Governor Rick Scott. David also worked for Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and set fundraising records for those campaigns. Fundraiser, strategist, and confidante, David is among a handful of insiders who help guide candidates to victory in Florida.

David has been equally busy helping the legislative branch. David served as the chief fundraiser for Speaker Dean Cannon. David's responsibilities included raising money for Speaker Cannon's personal campaign, as well as working with House leadership to raise money for the House Republican Caucus. Through these efforts, the Florida House returned 81 republican members giving them a supermajority.

In the Florida Senate David represented Senate President Mike Haridopolos and Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner. David worked with Senator John Thrasher who was elected in a highly contested special election. David brings his unique expertise to the Tallahassee team and offers our clients unprecedented insight into the workings of state government.

David is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Political Science.

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.