Briefings from the Rotunda
RFB
Cleary joins Gunster as government affairs pro
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evin Cleary, formerly the Department of Environmental Protection’s Legislative Affairs Director, is now a Governmental Affairs consultant for the Gunster firm in Tallahassee. In addition to his governmental affairs experience, he previously served as an adviser “to major political and issue advocacy campaigns within every level of Florida’s government and offers a keen understanding of Florida’s dynamic political climate,” a recent press release on his hiring said. “Kevin’s unique experience in issue advocacy and strategic communication
allows him to help clients focus on what matters most to their business,” it added. “With a strong belief in the power of partnerships, Kevin is committed to building long-lasting relationships for his clients with crucial stakeholders and leaders in government and across the private sector.” The Tallahassee native and 2008 Florida State University graduate was named one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars in Florida politics in 2014 by SaintPetersblog. He has worked for the Republican Party of Florida and was campaign director and legislative assistant for state Rep. Ben Albritton. Cleary also has been a lobbyist at P5 Group.
Office of Early Learning snags Heflin
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llyce Heflin is back where it all began. Heflin, who most recently served as a partner at The Southern Group, joined the Office of Early Learning as its Budget Director on Sept. 16. “Ultimately my heart is in public service,” she said. “I think it’s about having an impact. I want my work to be meaningful. I want to provide that oversight and fiscal control to the state. The way to do that is to be on the inside and make sure that the principle of fiscal conservativism is applied.” Heflin joined Southern in 2016, which Rachel Cone, the firm’s Tallahassee Managing Partner, called “a crucial time for our education practice and did an excellent job at jumping in and filling the role left vacant by the passing of Stacey Webb.” “She ably guided clients through the education budget process, and quickly became a valued member of the Southern family,” said Cone. “We will forever be in her debt and wish her all the best as she returns to her true passion in the education budget space.” Heflin’s decision to join the Office of Early Learning couldn’t come at a more important time for the organization. Gov. Ron DeSantis called on Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to prioritize voluntary prekindergarten programs, and advocates are calling for increased funding for the programs. Heflin said the agency will request an increase in voluntary prekindergarten allocations this year. If approved, it would mark the first time in about six years that
voluntary prekindergarten funding has seen an increase. “Education is always a priority. Every Legislature has to put it first, yet there are always competing priorities both in the budgetary and policy world,” she said. “I’m walking into a legislative session where it’s going to be a topic of discussion. I’m not going to be in a place that’s behind the scenes.” The job at the Office of Early Learning is a homecoming of sorts for Heflin, who started her career in the Budget Office of the Florida Department of Education. She was with the Florida Department of Education for several years, before becoming a legislative analyst for the Florida House of Representatives. Her budget prowess served her well over the years. She quickly became budget chief for the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee, specializing in K-12 education funding. During her tenure as budget chief, she was responsible for the calculations for the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), the primary funding formula for K-12 public schools. Heflin said she’s passionate about working in education because “it’s where all starts.” “Whether it’s a private care center ... as an infant because their parents have to go back to work, in a VPK room and they’re learning to make symmetric sounds, or in kindergarten and they’re learning to read, those things are critical to whether they graduate high school in 10 years,” she said. “That’s meaningful. It all drives what
they’re going to be when they grow up. And it drives how I think about numbers and projections because it all feeds into what Johnny and Susie and Billy are going to be in 10 to 15 years.” A Pensacola native, Heflin got her undergraduate degree from the University of West Florida and her master’s degree from Florida State University. She is the mother of three children and serves on the Board of Directors for the Tallahassee Community Chorus and the Advocacy Committee for the American Heart Association. WINTER 2020 INFLUENCE | 35