INFLUENCE
100
Chris RUDDY {MEDIA}
By its selection of Chris Ruddy as one of Florida’s 100 most influential people, INFLUENCE Magazine confirms what those of us who know Chris personally or from afar already knew. Influence is earned in one of two ways — accomplishment and innately. Chris is one of the few people I know that has earned influence both ways. He, certainly, has accomplished much in his career as a journalist, entrepreneur and as founder and CEO of Newsmax. As a journalist, Chris worked at the New York Post and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. A Newsweek cover story named him as one of America’s Top 20 most-influential news media personalities. And, Newsmax.com ranks consistently as one of the country’s most trafficked news websites. Chris has become a force, a gentle one at that, who Floridians need to know. But people are drawn to Chris not only on the basis of need but also because they want his advice and counsel. Three things, the combination of which is unique or innate to Chris, separate him from other influential people. First, his judgment. Second, his steadiness. And, third, he is an active listener, which is the most underused communications skill. Chris has been, and still is, a friend and mentor to me and it has been my pleasure sharing my thoughts about him. – Steve Hantler, Author, former Republican lobbyist
Monica RUSSO {ADVOCATE}
Historically, Florida hasn’t been a labor-friendly state. It takes a special type of visionary and limitless fighter to demand and earn a seat for the working men and women of Florida at the proverbial table. Monica Russo is that fighter — someone who has been in the trenches of Florida’s labor movement for years and years. The current president of the Service Employees International Union Florida State Council, Monica comes from a long, storied background of defending the interests of working families against the powerful, and fiercely advocating to ensure that women of color have a voice in the workplace. 126 | INFLUENCE SUMMER 2018
In 2008, Monica was appointed as the first labor leader by thenCFO Alex Sink to be on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. Her array of experience is vast, leading SEIU in various executive roles for the past 25 years, advocating on major issues our state faces from immigration, to health care, to education. When our workforce is organized, we all do better — Florida is a much better state for all her efforts. And while Monica’s past work fighting for labor is legendary, mark my words — she is destined to have a lasting transformative influence on Florida’s future for years to come. – Philip Levine, Former Miami Beach Mayor, Democratic candidate for Governor