Movers and Shakers

Ballard Partners Former Miami Representative Jose “Pepi” Felix Diaz has joined Ballard Partners as executive vice president. Diaz had been at Akerman LLP since 2005.First elected in 2010, Diaz resigned from the Florida House in September, 2017.

Floridians for Better Transportation Selected chair was former FDOT secretary Jose Abreu, Miami, and now senior vice president of Gannett Fleming.

Florida Commission on the Status of Women Elected chair was Lady Dhyana Ziegler, Tallahassee, interim dean of the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication at Florida A&M University.

Lake Shore Hospital Authority Appointed were Dr. Mark Thompson, Lake City, radiation oncologist with Cancer Care of North Florida; and Jay Swisher, Lake City, director of the public safety training center at Florida Gateway College.

Office of Insurance Regulation Appointed deputy chief of staff was Erin VanSickle. She recently was the external affairs coordinator at Volunteer Florida, vice president of communications at Florida Medical Association, and worked at the Republican Party of Florida.

Orlando, Inc. John F. Davis is the new Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce president. Davis most recently served as president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida and was a former Republican Party of Florida executive.

Republican Party of Florida Selected as the national committee woman to the Republican National Committee was Kathleen King, Manatee County. King formerly served as the Party’s secretary. She replaces Sharon Day, who was appointed U.S. ambassador to Costa Rica by President Donald Trump.