Tony Carvalho
Tony Carvalho, a principal partner with Capitol Hill Group, is widely regarded throughout state government and the private sector as one of Florida’s foremost experts in the structures and processes of state government budgeting. With over 25 years of experience in Florida state government and the legislature, Tony is in constant demand as an expert witness on health care tax and budget issues.
As a recognized authority in the processes of state government Mr. Carvalho has been called to serve on a variety of state government task forces and committees. Of special note was Governor Bush’s appointment of Tony to serve as his transition budget director. This appointment required Tony to oversee the development of the Governor-elect’s initial state revenue and budget recommendations to the Legislature.
In addition to his governmental relations management experience Mr. Carvalho has served in a variety of policy-making positions with the Florida Legislature. As Staff Director of the House Appropriations Committee, he was responsible for crafting the House of Representatives’ financial plans for the revenues and appropriations.
Tony currently serves as the President of the Florida Statutory Teaching Hospital Council and directs the state government affairs program for the Florida Safety Net Hospital Council, an association of the primary providers of health care to Florida’s most vulnerable residents.
Tony is a graduate of Florida State University with a Masters degree in Business Administration.
Frank Meiners
Frank Meiners is an experienced government relations consultant with over 25 years of experience in all aspects of government in Florida. Mr. Meiners, a former executive with BellSouth, has represented interests before the Florida Legislature as well as the Public Service Commission specializing in tax and telecommunications issues.
While lobbying for BellSouth, Mr. Meiners was active in the Florida Chamber serving on the Board of Governors, the Tax Committee and the Legislative Policy Council. He is a graduate of Leadership Florida, a program sponsored by the Florida Chamber to help build a network of leaders throughout the state and was the Florida Private Sector Chair for the American Legislative Exchange Council, a national organization of state legislators that develop model legislation on key policy issues for the states.
For the past 10 years Mr. Meiners was a Board Member of the Florida Telecommunications Industry Association, serving as the President in 1999. He also served as the Chair of the Legislative Committee and the Tax Committee as well.
He is a graduate of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Management’s Executive Program and has his Mathematics degree from University of South Florida. Prior to working for BellSouth, Frank was a professor of Mathematics at the University of South Florida.
Sheila Griffin
Sheila Griffin has over 16 years of local and state government experience. She specializes in advocacy on issues at the forefront of state policy and budget agendas on an array of issues covering the majority of Florida’s state agencies.
Ms. Griffin worked as a senior legislative assistant to Senator Jim Scott, President of Florida Senate 1994-96. She was a senior manager for the Florida Lottery as the Director of Communications overseeing the Lottery’s external and internal communications. Ms. Griffin also was the Public Information Officer for the Department of State for former Secretary and Congresswoman Katherine Harris.
Ms. Griffin perfected local and county government advocacy working for the Palm Beach Board of County Commissioners. She developed strong environmental policy expertise, including ocean and land based growth management public policy.
Ms. Griffin is experienced in the state budgeting process and the state procurement process. Her network of relationships and contacts within the state and local government community is immense making her a skilled practitioner in the art of advocacy, tracking and monitoring issues through the labyrinth of state and local governments.
Ms. Griffin is a graduate of Loyola University with Masters Degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University.
Jerry Maygarden
Jerry Maygarden, a principal partner with Capitol Hill Group, is a veteran Legislator having retired from public service in November of 2002. Jerry is a former chief administrator of one of Florida’s largest health care providers – Baptist HealthCare of Pensacola, and an expert in the field of health care delivery and financing. As a former Majority Leader in the Florida House of Representatives and local government official, Jerry is likewise an expert in Florida government. As Chair of the House of Representatives Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee, Jerry served at the front lines of the state’s tumultuous health care budgeting process. These experiences have left Jerry uniquely qualified to understand and manage the complexities of the regulation and financing of Florida’s health care industry.
Jerry’s experience of having been asked to serve as Majority Leader by two different Speakers has garnered him the role of serving as a trusted counselor and advisor to those in the current and future political leadership of Florida. Jerry’s political leadership has also provided him a network of contacts and relationships within Florida’s executive branch which extend to the highest levels of management.
Prior to his election to the Florida Legislature, Mr. Maygarden had a distinguished career as a local government official in Pensacola, first as the Mayor of Pensacola for 3 years and subsequently as a City Councilman for 7 years. He has remained close to the local governments of the West Florida area.
Mr. Maygarden earned both Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in the field of communication from the University of West Florida. He also completed professional development programs in finance, community design, and public policy at the University of Georgia, the University of Central Florida and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Casey Reed
Casey Reed is the newest addition to our team. Prior to joining us, Mr. Reed served four years as the Senior Legislative Assistant to State Representative Dave Murzin, the current chairman of the Florida House Utilities and Telecommunications Committee.
The relationships and expertise Mr. Reed has gained through his employment in the Florida House provide him with the first-hand knowledge and access needed to anticipate and react appropriately to procedural and political challenges that could impact our client’s interests. Mr. Reed has also recently passed the Florida Bar exam and is anticipating his admittance to the Florida Bar sometime in early 2007.
Mr. Reed is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and History and the Florida State University College of Law with a Juris Doctorate.