Jon JOHNSON AND Travis BLANTON {LOBBYISTS}
“I met Travis Blanton in 1995, and he was the most eager human I had ever encountered,” says David Johnson. “Travis would run through walls or over people to accomplish any mission in the Senate campaign operation, including the 3 p.m. run to Baskin-Robbins at the old Thomasville Road location. “He used the same fierce focus and enthusiasm after the 1998 elections when he went to work in the Jeb Bush administration and learned all he could about the health care system, later becoming a tremendous advocate for his clients.” And don’t call Johnson & Blanton a boutique operation, not with the numbers they throw up on the board. The former one-man shop started by Jon Johnson in 1995, still specializing in health care issues, is several bodies larger — yet still holds to the small-isbeautiful philosophy. “They remain fierce allies, fierce friends and fiercer family men. And Travis, though an ardent triathlete, can still consume more ice cream per capita than any human I have ever known,” says Steve Vancore.
Fred KARLINSKY PHOTO: Mark Wallheiser (Karlinsky); Mary Beth Tyson (Johnson & Blanton)
{LOBBYIST}
I’ve known Freddie K for over 25 years. We met when I owned an insurance agency and he worked for the state, long before I was a state elected official. He was aggressive and focused, and it was not a surprise to me that he became one of the nation’s top experts on insurance regulation and public policy. Fred may not always be the warmest and fuzziest guy in the room, but he will likely be the most hardworking. I guess you could say he is a bit of a risk taker too. When I first ran for the Florida House in 2004, there were only a handful of Tallahassee lobbyists that took a chance on me and he was one. I will always be grateful. When you consider what it takes to succeed, no one should doubt why Fred made the list of 100. There are those that influence by taking the stage and there are those, like Fred, that influence through strength and intellect. That’s the Fred I know. – Ellyn Bogdanoff, Former State Senator, Becker & Poliakoff 108 | INFLUENCE SUMMER 2018