F E AT U R E
Davis Bean
As Davis Bean waved campaign signs for his uncle’s first legislative race in 2000, he recalled “not knowing or understanding the gravity of what he was doing.” But as Bean, now 26, grew up in Fernandina Beach in the shadow of current state Sen. Aaron Bean’s illustrious political career, it certainly helped him get to where he is today. “It was a catalyst for my interest in politics and The Process in general,” Bean said. Bean is currently the development and political coordinator at The Fiorentino Group (TFG) in Jacksonville, where he coordinates fundraising efforts and juggles a handful of clients come Session. A graduate of the University of Florida, Bean had been brought into the institution’s prestigious Florida Blue Key society and inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame after a decorated stint in student government. His first break into professional politics began with Sen. Kelli Stargel’s successful 2016 election. After that, he joined Rep. Cord Byrd’s office as a legislative aide, serving the community in which he grew up and still calls home. “It was my first year as a legislative aide, it was [Byrd’s] first year as a legislator,” Bean recalled. “We went through that process together and leaned on each other.” Transitioning to the private side of politics hasn’t altered the fast-paced work atmosphere he experienced in Tallahassee. “It’s something new every day and it keeps you on your toes,” Bean said. “Nothing’s redundant in this world on either side, but especially on the private side.” For those looking to break into politics, Bean said he imparts the same wisdom his uncle did for him. “You have to do a campaign,” Bean said. “You have to experience it on the ground, knocking on doors, going to the different hobnobs and handing out pamphlets to fully understand what it takes.” As well, Bean joked, it’s good practice to “make the bed” every morning. With a rich appreciation for Northeast Florida, Bean could be out on the water in his spare time or seen around the area with his golden retriever, Remington.
Anita Berry
It’s difficult for some to pinpoint the moment they decided to pursue their profession. But for Anita Berry, memory serves well. Berry, now 30, recalled how key federal health care reforms took center stage while she pursued an undergraduate degree at Susquehanna University, a small liberal arts school in Pennsylvania. The debate fascinated her and an ensuing internship is when her passion for public policy “clicked.” Now a lobbyist at Corcoran & Johnston Government Relations, Berry has come from curious student to adept policy wonk, with a decorated track record in the intersection of government and health care. She also has a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University. “I love the political process here,” Berry, a Maryland native, said. “It’s so multifaceted, it’s so dynamic; there’s so much going on that’s challenging but also really exciting.” Berry landed in the Sunshine State after working with Johns Hopkins Medicine. 70 | INFLUENCE SUMMER 2019
There, she played a key role in merging the entity with the St. Petersburg-based All Children’s Hospital in 2011. She then took her talents to the newly integrated Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Florida, a place that “already felt like home.” A collegiate swimmer, Berry credits much of her work ethic to her upbringing in the pool. Attending swim camps during summer as a child, she still lives by the camp’s motto: It’s a beautiful day and it’s great to be alive. “I’ve been saying that motto to myself since I was little,” Berry said. When she’s not working, Berry could be hiking somewhere with her husband, Ben. On personal and professional growth, Berry pointed to the nonfiction book “10% Happier” in which author Dan Harris details how he learned to manage his mental health after a panic attack he suffered on national television while delivering news. “I think a lot of us in this industry probably have anxiety and it’s something that I’ve struggled with,” Berry said. “But being able to find a way to be present in the moment and calm yourself down and put things into place has really been a big guidance for me.”