Kelly Cohen is a lobbyist, political strategist, and fundraiser whose work building partnerships between government and industry in Florida has made her a perennial figure on the region's "Most Powerful" lists. An expert communicator, and a lawyer by training, Kelly is Managing Partner at the Orlando office of Florida-based lobbying firm, Southern Strategy Group.
Since opening Southern Strategy Group's first regional office in 2005, Kelly has leveraged her expertise at building partnerships to drive public policy and growth throughout Central Florida. Kelly's ability to adeptly navigate the halls of government to create successful collaborations that combine government relations and community engagement has made her an asset to the region's businesses and a boon to its development.
An expert in working with local governments to build infrastructure and create economic development strategies, Kelly is widely recognized for her ability to get things done. Kelly has been a leading strategist on some of the region's largest development projects, including: BRIDG and NEOCITY, an industry-led smart sensor consortium focusing on manufacturing of smart sensors; Medical City, a job engine cluster around medical care, research, and education; Sunrail, a 68 mile commuter rail system; and securing funding for a new downtown Orlando campus for University of Central Florida. Kelly was also instrumental in shepherding WaWa, Uber, and Nopetro, a compressed natural gas company, into the regional market and has helped with the acquisition of an Orlando MLS Team and construction of the new Orlando City Soccer Stadium. Kelly is also a dedicated board member of the Orlando Economic Partnership, where she works with CEOs, Mayors, and community leaders to drive development and spurn economic growth.
Prior to joining Southern Strategy Group, Kelly practiced law in South Florida. Kelly's passion for public policy and her commitment to seeing her community thrive lead her to become a Democratic strategist and fundraiser in some of Florida's most visible campaigns. Kelly acted as the statewide Finance Director for then State Senator Buddy Dyer when he ran for Attorney General, and again in his successful races for Orlando Mayor. Kelly continues to serve as one of the mayor's top advisors. Kelly is currently Finance Chair for Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings campaign to become Orange County Mayor.
Kelly has been recognized repeatedly for her leadership, business acumen, and willingness to work behind the scenes to get things done. In 2016, the Orlando Business Journal awarded Kelly the title of CEO of the Year. That same year Kelly reached the 8th spot on Orlando Magazine's 50 Most Powerful People list, in which she has featured for seven consecutive years. Kelly has also been named one of the top 100 Most Influential People in Politics by Influence Magazine, been awarded the titles of Woman to Watch and Woman of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal, and been noted as a Must Know Contact in Central Florida by Florida Trend.
An active and dedicated member of her community, Kelly serves on the Board of Directors for Clean the World, Orlando Children's Trust, Orlando Tech Association, FireSpring Fund and Creative City Project, an annual arts and music festival. Kelly is Orlando proud (and also a proud cat person). Kelly lives with her husband Scott, and their cat, Kitty, in downtown Orlando.
407-650-5052
The Empire Building, 28 W. Central Blvd., Suite 260, Orlando, FL, 32801,
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1) AIRBNB, INC.
2) AMERICAN TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS, INC
3) APPLE INC
6) CBC HOLDINGS
7) CENTRAL FLORIDA EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY
8) CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
10) CITY OF SANFORD
13) FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS
16) GASPARILLA ISLAND CONSERVATION & IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, INC
17) INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CORPORATION
18) LAKE NONA PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC
21) NATIONAL RENTAL HOME COUNCIL
25) SEMINOLE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
26) SOUTHERN STRATEGY GROUP, INC
27) VESTCOR COMPANIES, INC., THE
Oscar Anderson, a native of Central Florida, has extensive background in government. Prior to joining Southern Strategy Group, Oscar served at the highest capacities in the Florida legislative and executive branches on the local, state, and federal levels. Oscar became a government expert that understands firsthand how to move bureaucracy to effect change. After more than a decade of government service, Oscar was dubbed "politically connected" by the St. Petersburg Times.
From 1998 to 2000, Oscar served as the chief lobbyist for Orange County Chairman Mel Martinez. In 2000, when President Bush asked Chairman Martinez to serve as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, Oscar moved to Washington, DC. As an integral part of Secretary Martinez's senior staff, Oscar managed the Congressional office and later was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff. Oscar specialized in the appropriations process and negotiated the passage of $75 million for the Administration's American Dream Downpayment Initiative. Returning to Florida was important to Oscar, and in 2003, he was offered a position as Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary at the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). During Oscar's tenure at DCA, he directed passage of the landmark Wekiva Parkway and Protection Act legislation and had a key role in the passage of the first overhaul to the state's growth management laws in 20 years.
For almost a decade, Oscar has represented hundreds of businesses at the local and state level of Florida government, specializing in government budgets/appropriations, procurement, and land use matters. Oscar is an active member of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Oscar lives in Orlando with his wife Carin and their three children.
1) Airbnb, Inc.
3) Altria Client Services LLC and its Affiliates
4) American Property Casualty Insurance Association
6) Apple Inc
7) Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services, LLC
8) Association of Florida Colleges, Inc
9) AtkinsRealis
11) Beep, Inc.
12) Breakthru Beverage Florida
14) Cengage
15) City of Orlando
17) Copart, Inc
19) CVS Health
20) Darden, Inc.
22) Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County
24) Episcopal Children's Services, Inc.
27) Fidelity National Financial, Inc
28) Flagler College
29) Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association
30) Florida Blue
31) Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
35) Florida Sheriffs Association
36) Florida State Alliance of YMCA
37) Florida Trucking Association
38) G.L. Homes of Florida Corporation
39) Gopher Resource
42) International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
43) Jack and Nancy Dwyer Workforce Development Center, Inc.
46) Lake Nona Property Holdings, LLC
48) Museum of Science & History
49) NASCAR, LLC
52) Pearl Holding Group (Ocean Harbor)
54) RedSpeed USA
56) Tall Timbers Research, Inc.
58) TECO Energy, Inc
59) Tenet Healthcare Corporation
60) Tesla, Inc.
63) University of Florida Foundation, Inc.
64) Vestcor Companies, Inc., The
65) Viking Holding Company, LLC
66) Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, U.S.
67) Wells Fargo
Chris joined the firm in November of 2000 after serving seven years in Florida government. During this time, Chris served as the Assistant to the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Prior to serving in Governor Bush's administration, Chris served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Legislative Director, and Special Assistant to former Florida Education Commissioner and former Florida Lt. Governor Frank T. Brogan. Chris also served as a legislative aide in the Florida House of Representatives. Throughout the years, Chris has worked on various state and local campaigns, including the 1998 and 2002 Bush/Brogan gubernatorial campaigns.
A devoted community activist, Chris was a finalist for Volunteer of the Year in 2007. Chris has served on the Board of Directors for the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, where he served for two years as Chairman, the Board of Directors for the United Way of the Big Bend, and the Board of Directors for the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. Chris is currently the Chairman of the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, a not-for-profit statewide association representing agencies which serve homeless, runaway, and troubled youth. Chris also serves on the local advisory board for Hancock Bank and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Maclay School. Chris was recently appointed by Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum to the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority, an entity created by the Florida Legislature to promote the business and hospitality interests of downtown Tallahassee.
A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Chris Dudley graduated from the University of South Florida in 1993 with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. Chris, his wife Susanne, and their two sons live in Tallahassee.
(850) 671-4401
Po Box 10570, Tallahassee, FL, 32302-2570,
1) American Resort Development Association
2) Apple Inc
8) Darden, Inc.
9) G.L. Homes of Florida Corporation
10) Gasparilla Island Conservation & Improvement Association, Inc
11) Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, Inc.
12) Junior Achievement of Central Florida
13) Metro Development Group, LLC
15) NASCAR, LLC
18) Osceola County
20) RedSpeed USA
22) Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
23) Seminole County Board of County Commissioners
24) Tall Timbers Research, Inc.
25) Tavistock Development Company, LLC
27) The YMCA of Central Florida
28) University of Florida Foundation, Inc.
29) Vestcor Companies, Inc., The
(407) 843-8880
301 E Pine Street, 1400, Orlando, FL, 32801,
1) Central Florida Regional Workforce Development Board, Inc.
2) Central Florida Zoo & Botantical Gardens
8) Florida Association for Media in Education
9) Florida Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
10) Florida Makes
11) Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Inc.
12) Florida Society of Health System Pharmacists, Inc
15) Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando and Osceola County
16) Habitat for Humanity of Florida, Inc
17) Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County
18) Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter
19) Heart of Florida United Way
20) Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
21) Hillsborough County Public Schools
23) Lift Orlando
24) Lumen
25) NUVIEW, Inc.
(850) 577-9090
301 S Bronough St, Ste 600, Tallahassee, FL, 32301,
1) Alliance for Safety and Justice
2) American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC Action)
3) Atlantic Housing Partners, LLLP
7) Centene Corporation on behalf of its affiliates and subsidiaries
8) Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America
9) Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association
10) Chief Executive Officers of Management Companies
14) City of Orlando
21) College of Central Florida Foundation, Inc
22) Coreview
23) DDER Holdings, LLC dba Birdsong Housing Partners
24) Florida Association of Counties
25) Florida Association of Insurance Agents
26) Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities
27) Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects
28) Florida Atlantic University Foundation, Inc.
29) Florida League of Cities, Inc.
30) Florida Library Association
31) Florida Municipal Electric Association
32) Florida Municipal Power Agency
33) Florida School Boards Association
34) Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc
35) FMSbonds, Inc.
36) Frito-Lay, Inc
37) Gatorade
39) Greater Tampa Bay Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
40) Gulf Coast Council, Boy Scouts of America
41) Gulf Stream Council, Boy Scouts of America
42) Hendry County Board of County Commissioners
43) Hendry County Economic Development Council
44) Islamorada Village of Islands
45) JEA
46) JPMorgan Chase Holdings LLC
47) Lumen
48) Management & Training Corporation
50) Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Inc.
51) Miami Downtown Development Authority
52) Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
53) North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America
54) Orlando Economic Partnership, Inc.
57) PepsiCo
60) SeatGeek, Inc.
61) Seavin, Inc
62) South Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America
63) Southwest Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America
64) Suwannee River Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
67) Uber Technologies, Inc. and Affiliates
68) University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc
69) Villages, The
(407) 843-8880
301 E Pine St, 301 E Pine St Ste 1400, Orlando, FL, 32801-2741,
1) Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, Inc.
2) Associated Builders & Contractors of Florida, Inc
5) CarMax
6) Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America
7) Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association
8) Central Florida Regional Workforce Development Board, Inc.
9) Central Florida Zoo & Botantical Gardens
10) ChildNet, Inc.
12) City of Clermont
14) City of Key West
15) City of Orlando
16) City of Oviedo
19) Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida
20) DDER Holdings, LLC dba Birdsong Housing Partners
24) Florida Association for Media in Education
25) Florida Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
26) Florida Library Association
27) Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Inc.
28) Goodwill Industries of North Florida
30) Greater Tampa Bay Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
31) Gulf Coast Council, Boy Scouts of America
32) Gulf Stream Council, Boy Scouts of America
33) Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter
34) Heart of Florida United Way
35) Here Tomorrow
36) Kirenaga Management Group, Inc.
37) Lake County
39) Lenovo, Inc.
41) Lift Orlando
42) Lumen
43) Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering
47) National Association of Industrial & Office Properties
48) Non-Profit Insurance Services, Inc
49) North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America
50) Orange County Clerk of Courts
51) Orange County Library District
53) Orlando Economic Partnership, Inc.
54) Orlando Magic
55) Partnership for Strong Families
56) School Board of Volusia County
57) Shalom Orlando
58) South Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America
59) Southwest Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America
60) STEPS, Inc.
61) Suwannee River Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
62) Tallahassee State College Foundation
63) Transition House, Inc, The
65) Uber Technologies, Inc. and Affiliates
66) University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc
67) University of Central Florida Student Government Association
(407) 843-8880
GrayRobinson PA, 301 S. Bronough Street, Suite 600, Tallahassee, FL, 32301,
1) Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, Inc.
2) Associated Builders & Contractors of Florida, Inc
3) Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC)
5) CarMax
6) Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association
7) Central Florida Regional Workforce Development Board, Inc.
8) Central Florida Zoo & Botantical Gardens
9) Champions for Children, Inc.
11) ChildNet, Inc.
13) City of Clermont
15) City of Orlando
16) City of Oviedo
18) Clay County Utility Authority
21) District School Board of Pasco County
22) Escambia County
23) Florida Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
24) Florida Library Association
25) Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Inc.
26) Florida Society of Health System Pharmacists, Inc
27) FloridaMakes
28) Foundation for a Healthier West Orange
29) FRSA Self Insurers Fund, Inc.
31) Gulf County
33) Habitat for Humanity of Florida, Inc
34) Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County
35) Hendry County Board of County Commissioners
36) Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
37) Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller
38) Lake County
41) Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering
42) National Association of Industrial & Office Properties
43) Non-Profit Insurance Services, Inc
44) NUVIEW, Inc.
45) Orange County Clerk of Courts
46) Orange County Library District
48) Orlando Economic Partnership, Inc.
49) Orlando Magic
50) Partnership for Strong Families
51) Pensacola Habitat for Humanity
52) Ronald McDonald House Charities Tampa Bay, Inc.
54) SeatGeek, Inc.
55) Shalom Orlando
56) St. Lucie County
57) STEPS, Inc.
58) Tallahassee State College Foundation
59) Transition House, Inc, The
61) University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc
62) University of Central Florida Student Government Association
(850) 577-9090
301 S Bronough St, Suite 500, Tallahassee, FL, 32301,
1) Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, Inc.
11) City of Newberry
12) City of Orlando
14) City of Tampa
18) Florida Association of Counties
19) Florida Keys Educational Foundation, Inc.
20) Florida League of Cities, Inc
21) Florida Sheriffs Association
23) Habitat for Humanity of Florida, Inc
24) Islamorada Village of Islands
25) Marion County Board of County Commissioners
27) Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Inc.
28) Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
29) The Housing Authority of the City of Key West, Florida
30) The Trust for Public Land Action Fund
(850) 577-9090
301 S. Bronough Street, Suite 500, Tallahassee, FL, 32301,
1) Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, Inc.
4) Broward County Clerk of Courts
10) City of Maitland
12) City of Newberry
13) City of Orlando
16) City of Tampa
20) Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
21) Florida Association of Counties
22) Florida Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
25) Florida Municipal Broadband Alliance
26) Florida Municipal Electric Association
27) Florida Municipal Insurance Trust
28) Florida Municipal Natural Gas Association
29) Florida Municipal Power Agency
30) Florida Redevelopment Association
31) Florida Sheriffs Association
33) Goldstein Brownfield's Group, LLC
35) Islamorada Village of Islands
36) JEA
37) Marion County Board of County Commissioners
39) Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
40) Orlando Utilities Commission
41) PepsiCo
42) Philip T. Feldsine Revocable Trust
44) The Trust for Public Land Action Fund
46) Villages, The
47) WSP USA INC.
(850) 577-9090
301 S Bronough St, Ste 600, Tallahassee, FL, 32301,
1) Alliance for Safety and Justice
2) Borden Institute of Higher Learning
6) Cavnue, LLC
7) Centene Corporation on behalf of its affiliates and subsidiaries
9) Chief Executive Officers of Management Companies
10) City of Orlando
14) College of Central Florida Foundation, Inc
15) Coreview
16) Florida Association of Insurance Agents
17) Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities
18) Florida Guardian ad Litem Association
19) Florida League of Cities, Inc.
20) Florida Municipal Electric Association
21) Florida Municipal Power Agency
22) FloridaMakes
23) Frito-Lay, Inc
24) Gatorade
26) Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc.
27) Hendry County Board of County Commissioners
28) Hendry County Economic Development Council
29) Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
30) JEA
31) Management & Training Corporation
32) Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Inc.
35) PepsiCo
39) SeatGeek, Inc.
40) South Central Florida Express, Inc
41) Southern Gardens Citrus Groves Corporation
42) Southern Gardens Citrus Holding Corporation
43) Southern Gardens Citrus Nursery Corporation
44) Tallahassee State College Foundation
45) Uber Technologies, Inc. and Affiliates
46) United States Sugar Corporation
47) Villages, The
(850) 216-1002
1028 E Park Ave, Wilhelmina Square, Tallahassee, FL, 32301,
2) AT&T
3) Bond Community Health Center
10) Crockett Foundation, Inc. (The)
11) Elite Business Strategies, LLC
12) Florida Crystals
13) Florida Health Care Association
14) Florida Power & Light Company
(850) 577-9090
301 S Bronough St, Suite 600, Tallahassee, FL, 32301,
1) A-S Medication Solutions, LLC
2) Alliance for Safety and Justice
3) American Beverage Association
4) American Business Immigration Coalition Action (ABIC Action)
5) Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC)
6) Atlantic Housing Partners, LLLP
10) Chief Executive Officers of Management Companies
13) City of Key West
15) City of Leesburg
16) City of Orlando
21) Florida Association of Counties
22) Florida Association of Insurance Agents
23) Florida Atlantic University Foundation, Inc.
24) Florida League of Cities, Inc.
27) Florida Outdoor Advertising Association
28) Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc
29) Frito-Lay, Inc
31) Habitat for Humanity of Florida, Inc
32) Islamorada Village of Islands
33) JEA
34) JPMorgan Chase Holdings LLC
35) La Salle Educational Center, Homestead, Inc.
36) Lenovo, Inc.
38) Miami Bridge Youth and Family Services, Inc.
39) Miami Downtown Development Authority
40) North Brevard County Hospital District d/b/a Parrish Medical Center
41) Seavin, Inc
42) South Broward Hospital District d/b/a Memorial Healthcare System
43) St. Lucie County
45) The Housing Authority of the City of Key West, Florida
46) Twin Creeks Development Associates, LLC, a Florida limited liability company
47) Uber Technologies, Inc. and Affiliates
49) Villages, The
750 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC, 20001,
(407) 579-5952
400 S. Orange Ave., 3rd Floor, Orlando, FL, 32801,
(850) 671-4401
P.O. Box 10570, Tallahassee, FL, 32302,
1) American Resort Development Association
2) Beep, Inc.
6) Darden, Inc.
7) Episcopal Children's Services, Inc.
8) G.L. Homes of Florida Corporation
9) Goodwill Industries of Central Florida, Inc.
750 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC, 20001,
(850) 577-9090
GrayRobinson PA, 301 S Bronough St Ste 600, Tallahassee, FL, 32301,
2) Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, Inc.
3) Associated Builders & Contractors of Florida, Inc
8) CarMax
9) Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association
10) Central Florida Regional Workforce Development Board, Inc.
11) Central Florida Zoo & Botantical Gardens
12) ChildNet, Inc.
14) City of Clermont
18) City of Key West
19) City of Orlando
20) City of Oviedo
21) DDER Holdings, LLC dba Birdsong Housing Partners
25) Florida Association for Media in Education
26) Florida Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
27) Florida League of Cities, Inc.
28) Florida Library Association
29) Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association, Inc.
32) Habitat for Humanity Greater Orlando and Osceola County
33) Habitat for Humanity of Florida, Inc
34) Heart of Florida United Way
35) Here Tomorrow
37) Hillsborough County Public Schools
38) JPMorgan Chase Holdings LLC
39) Lake County
42) Lift Orlando
43) Lumen
44) Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering
47) National Association of Industrial & Office Properties
48) Non-Profit Insurance Services, Inc
49) North Brevard County Hospital District d/b/a Parrish Medical Center
50) NUVIEW, Inc.
51) On Street Media Florida, Inc
52) Orange County Clerk of Courts
53) Orange County Library District
55) Orlando Economic Partnership, Inc.
56) Orlando Magic
57) Project Opioid Initiative, Inc.
58) Promising People
59) School Board of Volusia County
60) School District of St. Lucie County
61) Seavin, Inc
62) St. Lucie County
63) STEPS, Inc.
64) The School Board of Lee County
65) Transition House, Inc, The
67) Uber Technologies, Inc. and Affiliates
68) University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc
69) University of Central Florida Student Government Association
2023936222
750 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC, 20001,