20+ years

We are a lobbying firm providing one-stop services for our clients.

One critical achievement was the passage of legislation which amended the statute governing the Charter County Transportation Surtax, now called the Charter County and Regional Transportation System Surtax. The change allowed all charter counties in Florida to utilize this funding mechanism, via referendum. JEJ & Associates' strategy was to cultivate legislative sponsors in each of the chambers, while simultaneously working with other groups, such as Polk County, to develop a coalition of supporters. After securing sponsors, Lena worked with legislators to explain the priority and its importance for transit agencies. JEJ & Associates developed written materials, coordinated testimony before legislative committees and monitored opponents' activities for parliamentary maneuvers which could affect the outcome. This legislative change was approved and became law.

A Central Florida commercial airport was experiencing a problem with multitudes of birds which interfered with airline traffic due to the inherent dangers of bird strikes. Lena initiated discussions with local legislators, worked with committee staff to write the bill, found sponsors in both chambers, educated legislators on the issue, worked with committee chairs to ensure that the bill would be heard in the referenced committees, visited legislators prior to the bill reaching the chamber floors, and pushed for the governor to sign the bill into law once it was passed. As a result of this, the Airline Safety and Wildlife Protection Act became Florida law and has since served as model legislation for other states on how to deal with the issue.

Lena has been appointed to numerous state-wide boards by current and former Senate Presidents and House Speakers.

Lena Juarez is the founder of JEJ & Associates, a governmental consulting firm with offices in Tallahassee, FL and Orlando, FL. She is a graduate of Sophie Newcomb Memorial College of Tulane University and the Reubin O'D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University.

Lena has been active in politics since a very young age and has served on many local and statewide boards. She has been appointed to numerous statewide boards by current and former Senate Presidents and House Speakers.Lena is a graduate of Leadership Tallahassee and Leadership Florida, which are programs of the local and state Chamber of Commerce. Lena is a member of the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists.

Lena is a Central Florida native, competes in triathlons and is an avid traveler.

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.

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.

Paul Mitchell joins Southern Strategy Group after having served at the top in some of the most powerful executive branch agencies in Florida government. Paul began his career in Florida government in 1988 as an aide to, then Insurance Commissioner, Tom Gallagher. In 1994, Paul was appointed Chief Cabinet Aide to former Secretary of State Sandra Mortham and specialized in financial services, environmental, and education issues. In 1998, following Tom Gallagher's election as Education Commissioner, Paul was asked to serve as the Commissioner's Chief of Staff. Six years and two successful administrations later, Paul continued to serve as Chief of Staff to Tom Gallagher, Florida's first Chief Financial Officer at the Florida Department of Insurance and then at the Department of Financial Services.

An expert in policy and administration, Paul served on several boards and commissions including the E.R.P. (Enterprise Resource Planning) Integration Task Force, a statewide effort initiated by the legislature to improve financial management of taxpayer dollars and modernize state personnel systems. Paul also served with the Florida Commission on Economic Education and the "Just Read Florida" program. Paul currently is on the board for the Florida Juvenile Justice Foundation, which is the direct support organization for the Department of Juvenile Justice.

A native Floridian from Palm Beach County, Paul was a dedicated public servant for more than fifteen years. Prior to entering government, Paul graduated with honors from Florida State University in Political Communications.

15-20 years

Erin was selected as Florida's 30 under 30 to watch in Florida Government, she was also this past year selected as one of Florida's 40 under 40. She was also selected as a "Rising Star to Watch" by Florida Politics.

Erin Daly Ballas joined Public Affairs Consultants in 2008 as a legislative intern. Since then, Erin has worked her way up becoming first a legislative assistant and later Vice President.

Erin's list of responsibilities is extensive, ranging from coordinating client visits with members to managing the office and staff. Erin's experience in the legislative process has grown exponentially. She provides testimony in committee meetings and works with members to educate them on issues relating to clients.

Throughout the legislative session, Erin monitors and tracks legislation and amendments that may impact our clients; attends relevant legislative meetings, budgetary meetings, and workshops; coordinates meetings with legislators and legislative staff; prepares correspondence, issues briefs and legislative reports for our clients; and maintains the office's legislative calendar.

In addition, Erin also helps in the coordination and execution of all grassroots efforts. She helps in the development of an individualized One Hour Legislative Grassroots program for each client. Erin facilitates the execution of the grassroots programs by coordinating and attending legislative visits with clients throughout the state. These grassroots efforts include organizing members of an association or organization, helping to strategize and effectively communicate a solid message, and advocate on behalf of the organization to the Florida Legislature. Through these meetings Erin ensures that clients build lasting relationships with their local legislators.

Erin currently serves as the incoming chair of Keep Florida Beautiful and is on the Board of the Florida Society of Association Executives and the Leon County Library Advisory Board. She also serves on the Hotel and Restaurant Advisory Council for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Erin has a Master of Science in Applied American Politics and Policy as well as a Bachelor of Science and Arts in Political Science from Florida State University. Erin previously served as an Adjunct Professor at Tallahassee Community College teaching American Democracy and Politics and was named one of Florida Politics "30 under 30" and News Service of Florida's "40 under 40".

6-10 years

Named a "30 Under 30 Rising Stars in Florida Politics" by Florida Politics in 2014

Strong relationships in the Florida Department of Education, as well as the chairs and staff of education policy and appropriations committees in both legislative chambers, and many other agencies and policy areas, including the Department of Children and Families, Department of Corrections, and more.

Sara has more than a decade of experience in education policy and government affairs, starting as a K-12 public school teacher. She thrives on helping clients achieve complex and challenging goals and has become a respected and trusted voice for education policy issues in Tallahassee.

Sara joined McGuireWoods Consulting in 2018 after six years of leading government affairs for nonprofits in Florida. Prior to MWC, Sara led external and legislative affairs for Step Up For Students, the largest K-12 scholarship funding organization in the nation. Before that, she was the Florida Legislative Affairs Director for the Foundation for Excellence in Education. In addition to education, Sara has experience in the areas of child welfare, criminal justice, juvenile justice, healthcare, insurance, and more.

In 2011, while still in the classroom, Sara was nominated for Orange County Public Schools Teacher of the Year award. By 2014, Sara was named one of "30 Under 30 Rising Stars" by Florida Politics, the state's predominant political news site.

Sara received her bachelor's degree in English Education from the University of North Florida in 2007 and her master's degree in Education Policy and Evaluation from Florida State University in 2014.

Sara is a member of Leadership Florida, the American Enterprise Institute's State Leadership Network, and co-founder of Lean In Tallahassee. In her spare time, she volunteers as a guardian ad litem in Florida's Second Judicial Circuit and fosters dogs through a local animal rescue organization. Sara lives in Tallahassee with her husband, daughter, and rescue dog.

Monte Stevens joins Southern Strategy Group after serving more than a decade in Florida government. After serving in the Legislative Affairs office of the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Financial Services, Monte joined the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) in 2008 where he led OIR's legislative and executive lobbying effort as Deputy Chief of Staff.

While at OIR, Monte was instrumental in the passage of legislation relating to all sectors of the insurance industry including landmark reforms to personal injury protection and homeowner's insurance. Most recently, Monte oversaw the passage and implementation of the NAIC model holding company act and principle based reserving for life insurers. Knowledgeable in all lines of insurance, Monte was frequently called upon to testify and present to legislative committees on a variety of subjects.

In addition to lobbying the Legislature, Monte also served as OIR's representative to the Governor and Cabinet in the rule making process. In this capacity, Monte led the effort to implement the country's first ever regulatory initiative on collateral requirements for reinsurers.

Monte also served as Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the Florida Medical Association where he was involved in the passage of significant medical malpractice reform. A native of Niceville, Florida, Monte was a member of two national champion debate teams at the University of Missouri-Kansas City before graduating with a degree in political science. Prior to returning to Florida, Monte attended graduate school, taught public speaking, and coached the debate teams at Kansas State University and Harvard University.

Monte and his wife Jodi live in Tallahassee.