F E AT U R E
Madeline Holzmann
Madeline Holzmann has been able to rely on numbers, rather than words, to communicate in politics. Holzmann, 22, recently graduated from Florida State University with a degree in statistics and math. Currently the communications director for Florida Internet & Television, she helps the advocacy arm of cable and internet businesses in the state by blending her passion for digits and politics. “I’ve been able to use my programming and statistics background to kind of develop strategy on our most pressing issues and being able to develop how we’re going to move bills through the Legislature with our lobbying team and just what messaging points work the best,” she said, noting that successful advocacy and outreach
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depends on a results-oriented, data-driven process. Before starting her current gig, Holzmann worked on the scheduling and logistics team for Attorney General Ashley Moody’s successful 2018 bid. It was a bit of a homecoming for Holzmann, who at 10 years old discovered politics when she volunteered to wave signs for one of Moody’s earlier judicial campaigns. When she got the call from Moody’s campaign in college, Holzmann said she transitioned to online classes to balance the statewide political effort with her studies. “It was the best decision,” she said. “Big risk, big reward.” While in school, Holzmann dedicated her spare time to various student government activities and founded the Women’s Caucus at
FSU’s student governmental body. She also set up what she described as an “amateur statistics and consulting polling firm,” through which she polled the student body on issues they would like to see on the university’s legislative agenda. Along with Team Moody, Holzmann credited a number of mentors who’ve helped her along the way, like campaign consultant Anthony Pedicini, who said Holzmann’s “has a tremendous work ethic and her can-do attitude changes a team.” An aspiring pollster, Holzmann suggested there’s room for improvement in the science. Five years from now, she could be making a name for herself doing just that. “I would love to be a pollster who is able to develop models to accurately predict elections,” she said.