Commissioner-Elect Adam Putnam Announces New Administration

Putnam unveils staff appointments to Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Commissioner-Elect Putnam announced staff appointments for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Mike Joyner joins Putnam’s team as Assistant Commissioner and Chief of Staff with Marion Aller, Shannon Shepp and Jay Levenstein as Deputy Commissioners.

“Five weeks ago, Commissioner-Elect Putnam asked us to put the best team on the field to serve the people of Florida,” said Transition Team Executive Director, Trey McCarley. “Through the tireless work of the Transition Team I am confident that these individuals provide the necessary proactive, progressive and innovative leadership needed to make the Department second to none.”

“I would like to thank the transition team for the countless hours that have gone into assisting in the selection of the following individuals to join the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,” said Putnam. “We are fortunate to be handed a strong department by Commissioner Bronson and I want to thank him and his staff for the seamless transition.”

The announced appointments include the following:

Mike Joyner, Assistant Commissioner/Chief of Staff: Joyner has more than 25 years experience building partnerships between the private and public sectors to advance common-sense business, natural resource and environmental policies. He joins the Department from the private sector after having previously served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Environmental Protection and stints at the Florida Farm Bureau and Florida Forestry Association.

Marion Aller, Acting Deputy Commissioner: Aller joined the Department in 1986. She has previously served as Director of Food Safety and held several technical positions in the Bureau of Pesticides, rising to Chief in 1992.

Jay Levenstein, Deputy Commissioner: Levenstein joined the Department in November 1993. Prior to his role as Deputy Commissioner under Commissioner Bronson, he served as the Department’s State-Federal Relations Director, Legislative Affairs Director, Chief of the Bureau of Animal Disease Control and Senior Attorney.

Shannon Shepp, Acting Deputy Commissioner: Shepp joined the Department in 2001 as assistant division director and has served as the Fruit and Vegetables Division Director since 2004. Prior to the Department, her career included public affairs management in the citrus and home building industries and service as a legislative assistant in the Florida Legislature.

Jim Boxold, Director of Cabinet Affairs: Boxold joined the Department in 2003 and served as Commissioner Bronson’s Chief Cabinet Aide. Prior to joining the Department, he served as a Cabinet Aide to Governor Jeb Bush and worked as Legislative Director for Congressman Porter Goss.

Cheryl Flood, Director of External Affairs: Flood joins the Department after having served as the Chief of Staff for Congressman Adam Putnam. She previously worked in the Department as Deputy Legislative Affairs Director under Commissioner Bronson.

Matt Joyner, Director of Federal Affairs: Joyner comes to the Department from the private sector in the financial services arena after having previously served as Chief of Staff and District Director to Congressman Adam Putnam.

Grace Lovett, Director of Legislative Affairs: Lovett comes to the Department from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, where she served as Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs. She has also previously worked for the Florida Public Service Commission, The Rubin Group and Florida Credit Unions.

Lorena Holley, General Counsel: Holley joins the Department after having served as the Senior Attorney in the Office of the General Counsel Division of Economic Regulation and Division of Appeals, Rules and Mediation at the Florida Public Service Commission since January. Prior to this role, she served the PSC as Chief Advisor to the Commissioner.

Ronald Russo, Inspector General: Russo has more than 20 years of law enforcement leadership experience. He most recently served as the Florida Department of Transportation’s Inspector General, where he supervised all statewide internal personnel misconduct cases, as well as criminal investigations and internal and external audits.

Sherman Wilhelm, Director of Policy and Budget: Wilhelm joined the Department in 1986 as Staff Counsel to the Commissioner, a position he held for 13 years. In 1999, he was promoted to Director of the Division of Aquaculture and has been serving the Department in this capacity since.

Sterling Ivey, Press Secretary: Ivey joins the Department after having served as the Governor’s Press Secretary since 2008. His previous experience includes Communications Director for the Department of State, Assistant Superintendent of Communications for the Pinellas County School Board, Public Affairs Director for the Department of Corrections and the Polk County Sheriff’s office.

Mike Gresham, Director, Division of Administration: Gresham joined the Department as Director of Administration in January. Prior to working for DACS, he served as Director of Administration at the Department of Insurance and Support Services for the Department of Revenue.

Andy Rackley, Director, Division of Agriculture Environmental Services: Rackley was appointed Director of the Division of Agriculture Environmental Services in 2008 after more than 30 years in private business.

Jerry Bryan, Director, Division of Agriculture Law Enforcement: Bryan joined the Department in 1994 and served in three other capacities within the Office of Agriculture Law Enforcement before being promoted to Director.

Rich Budell, Director, Division of Agriculture Water Policy: Budell joined the Department in 1985 and served as Assistant Director of the Office of Water Policy, Assistant Director of the Division of Agricultural Environmental Services and Chief of the Bureau of Pesticides before being promoted to his current position.

Dr. Thomas Holt, Director, Division of Animal Industry: Holt joined the Department as the State Veterinarian and Director of the Division of Animal Industry in 2004 after retiring from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Leslie Palmer-Boxold, Director, Division of Aquaculture: Palmer-Boxold has served the Department since 2002 as the Director of Federal and State Relations, having previously served at the Department of Environmental Protection.

Tom Steckler, Acting Director, Division of Consumer Services: Steckler joined the Department in 1997 and most recently served as Assistant Director of Standards and Assistant Director of Consumer Services.

John Miller, Director, Division of Dairy Industry: Miller has been with the Department since 1990, previously serving as Chief of Dairy Laboratories, certified as a Milk Laboratory Evaluation Officer, and Chief of Dairy Inspection within the Division.

Lee Cornman, Acting Director, Division of Food Safety: Cornman joined the Department in 2005 and has almost 40 years of experience in food safety and operations.

Jim Karels, Director, Division of Forestry: Karels has been the Director for the Division of Forestry since 2008. In this position, he oversees all wildland fire and management.

Ellen Prince, Acting Director, Division of Fruits and Vegetables: Prince joined the Department in 2003 after having worked for the Processed Products Branch of USDA for 35 years.

Connie Crawford, Director, Division of Licensing: Crawford joined the Division of Licensing in 1985 and was appointed Director in 2008.

Nelson Mongiovi, Director, Division of Marketing and Development: Mongiovi joined the Department in 1987 from Gannett Broadcasting. Throughout his career he has garnered three Emmy Awards, a National Gabriel, and more than two dozen Associated Press and United Press International awards.

Dr. Wayne Dixon, Acting Director, Division of Plant Industry: Dixon joined the Department in 1980 and has served as Assistant Director and Bureau Chief of Entomology, Nematology and Plan Pathology for the Division of Plant Industry before his current position.

Izzy Rommes, Director, Division of Standards: Rommes joined the Department in 1993 and has previously served as the Chief of the Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection and Assistant Director of Standards.

Commissioner of Agriculture-Elect Adam Putnam Announces Transition Leaders

Putnam unveils Transition website; appoints Co-Chairs and Executive Director

BARTOW, Fla. – Today, Commissioner-Elect Adam Putnam announced his Transition Team Co-chairs. Former CIA Director and Congressman Porter Goss, Ambassador John Rood, Former House Speaker Allan Bense and Tracy Duda Chapman will lead the effort with additional transition personnel announcements expected next week. Putnam also named Trey McCarley to staff the Transition as Executive Director. The website, www.freshfromflorida.com, has also been launched to receive ideas and input for the Department and communicate information to the public.

“With the election behind us, it is now time to focus on the transition as we prepare to form a new administration. I am pleased to have Director Goss, Ambassador Rood, Speaker Bense and Tracy Duda Chapman assist in this effort,” said Commissioner-Elect Adam Putnam. “I am also appointing Trey McCarley to serve as the Executive Director of my Transition Team. He will work closely with Commissioner Bronson’s staff as we move toward a seamless transition on January 4, 2011.”

“I am honored to work with the Commissioner-Elect in forming his administration. Adam will be a great leader on Florida’s Cabinet,” said Porter Goss, Co-Chair of the Putnam Transition Team.

“Adam’s passion for Florida’s future will be exciting to watch over the next four years, and I look forward to helping him implement his vision of creating jobs and conserving our resources,” said Ambassador John Rood, Co-Chair of the Putnam Transition Team.

“Florida is in good hands with Adam Putnam as Commissioner of Agriculture,” said Allan Bense, Co-Chair of the Putnam Transition Team.

“I am very pleased to assist Adam’s team as he forms his new administration to lead the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,” said Tracy Duda Chapman, Co-Chair of the Putnam Transition Team.

“Working with the Commissioner-Elect over the last two years has been an honor, and I am pleased to serve in this capacity,” said Trey McCarley, Executive Director of the Putnam Transition. “We are looking to put the best team on the field to serve the people of Florida. Please visit www.freshfromflorida.com to submit ideas for innovation in the Department.”

Porter Goss, Co-Chair Former CIA Director and U.S. Congressman. He served as the 19th and last Director of Central Intelligence from September 24, 2004 until April 21, 2005.

Previously, he served as the Congressman from Southwest Florida for almost 16 years. He was Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 1997 until his nomination as DCI in August 2004. During the 107th Congress, Mr. Goss co-chaired the joint congressional inquiry into the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

In addition to Intelligence, Mr. Goss’ Congressional career focused on the environment, House ethics, seniors issues, health care reform and the Rules Committee. He was a leader on Everglades restoration legislation as well.

Ambassador John D. Rood, Co-Chair Chairman of The Vestcor Companies and JDR Companies, Inc. headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. John served as United States Ambassador to the Bahamas from 2004 to 2007. In January 2010, Ambassador Rood was appointed to serve on the Board of Governors of the State University System and previously served as Chairman and Commissioner of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from 2002 to 2004.

Mr. Rood is a former board member of the James Madison Institute. Mr. Rood has also served as a member of the University of North Florida Business Advisory Council and has served as a visiting professor at the University. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez appointed Mr. Rood to the Advisory Council on Community Renewal to help local communities take advantage of tax incentives to stimulate job growth and economic development.

Allan Bense, Co-Chair Partner of GAC Contractors headquartered in Panama City, Florida. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1998 and unanimously elected as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives on November 16, 2004.

Allan serves as Chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Council of 100 and Enterprise Florida. In addition, he serves as Chair of Florida’s Taxation and Budget Reform and Florida Chamber’s Political Council Commission.

Tracy Duda Chapman, Co-Chair Senior Vice President of A. Duda & Sons headquartered in Oviedo, Florida. She is a member of the American Bar Association and the Orange County Bar Association.

Tracy previously served as a member of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s Environmental and Pest Management Committee and a member of the Executive Board of the National Council of Agricultural Employers. She was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to two four-year terms as a Commissioner on Florida’s Environmental Regulation Commission. She is on the Board of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute and is the Past President of its Alumni Association. Tracy also served as the Finance Chairman for the Adam Putnam Campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture.
Trey McCarley, Executive Director Campaign Manager for the 2010 Adam Putnam Campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture. Trey previously served as Campaign Manager to Commissioner Charles Bronson’s re-election campaign in 2006.