Florida Banking October 2023

Two issues have been forefront through most of my career: credit unions/public deposits and property insurance. I am sure there will be another public deposit bill in 2024. Property insurance bills appear often in regular and special sessions, when we hear that this bill will finally fix the insurance problem. I have had the opportunity to work with four Governors, 14 Speakers of the House, and 14 Senate Presidents, and countless men and women of both chambers in both political parties and their staffs. Many of these elected officials have gone on to Congress and other offices. I will not begin to name them at the risk of omitting some of them. However, one of my proudest moments was working with my eldest son Frank, an aide to Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, on our bill dealing with LIBOR. I have been blessed with great teammates in the government relations department. They have all gone on to have successful careers and lives after leaving the FBA. I have also been blessed to work with a great group of inhouse and hired bank lobbyists. We have all

worked well together to make sure that our industry is well represented in the halls of the Capitol. The FBA staff is second to none. It has been a pleasure to work with each and every one during my tenure here. Like a family, we sometimes bicker, but there is no group I would rather be in the trenches with while fighting for our industry. As we know, more change is coming. It always does. Alex will retire soon, and we will have a new CEO, Kathy Kraninger, with whom I am excited to begin a new FBA chapter. My family has also changed. I have lost my parents, grandparents, and a brother. My children have all graduated from college (and maybe off the family payroll?). My eldest son is engaged to be married and we are excited to welcome her into the family. And through it all, my wife has been there to raise the kids and put up with me over these 25 years. I could not have done it without her. It has been a great 25 years! Here’s to many more years at the FBA!

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM OCTOBER 2023 — 13