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PSC Customer Meeting for Lakeside Waterworks, Inc.

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The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) invites customers of Lakeside Waterworks, Inc. (Lakeside) to a customer meeting on Thursday, June 1, 2017, to discuss the utility’s petition for a rate change.  Customers can comment on Lakeside’s proposed rates and any quality of service issues at the meeting.
Lakeside’s last PSC rate case occurred in 2015. Lakeside provides water service to approximately 180 residential customers and wastewater service to approximately 170 residential customers in Lake County.
The meeting is scheduled for the following time and location:

Thursday, June 1, 2017
6:00 P.M.
Shangri-La by the Lake Clubhouse
100 Shangri-La Boulevard
Leesburg, FL 34788

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.

NASA Asteroid Mission Leader to Speak at UCF

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Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, will give a public talk at the University of Central Florida on June 1 about the mission that’s working to recover samples of a nearby asteroid.
Lauretta, a professor of planetary science and cosmochemistry at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, is working with UCF Physics Professor Humberto Campins on the mission.
OSIRIS-REx, which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer, is NASA’s first mission to return a sample of an asteroid to Earth. A successful mission will provide scientists with enough material from the asteroid’s surface to better understand how planets formed and how life began in the solar system. Data will also help scientists understand the nature of asteroids that could potentially hit Earth.
The free talk begins at 11 a.m. in room 161 of the Physical Sciences Building, located at 4111 Libra Drive on the main campus.
The mission launched aboard an Atlas V 411 rocket in September 2016 from the Kennedy Space Center and is expected to reach the asteroid Bennu in 2018.
That’s when Campins and fellow physics professor Yan Fernandez will really see their workload increase. They will work alongside a team of experts to assist Lauretta by analyzing the data and images taken of Bennu while OSIRIS-REx orbits the asteroid. They then will make a recommendation of the most “promising sample sites” for OSIRIS-REx to collect between two and 70 ounces of surface material with its robotic arm. It will then store the samples in a detachable capsule that is expected to return to Earth in 2023.
Lauretta said he was excited about the mission and the work the team would complete together.
“The team has built an amazing spacecraft, and we are well-equipped to investigate Bennu and return with our scientific treasure,” he said.
Campins has spent his entire career chasing asteroids, comets and other celestial bodies. He conducts research at observatories around the world, including Arizona, Hawaii, Chile, France, Spain and the Vatican. In 2010 he headed the team that discovered water ice and organic molecules on the asteroid 24 Themis and later on 65 Cybele. It’s that expertise that led Lauretta to invite Campins to the OSIRIS-REx team.
Campins earned degrees from the University of Kansas and the University of Arizona. As a graduate student he was named a representative to the Committee for Peaceful Uses of Outer Space of the General Assembly of the United Nations. His research has been funded by multiple agencies in the past 10 years, including NASA, the National Science Foundation, the European Space Agency, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Florida Space Grant Consortium.
“I’ve always been fascinated by asteroids and to be able to contribute to this mission is a milestone in the search for answers I’ve been looking for my entire career,” Campins said.
The University of Arizona leads the OSIRIS-REx mission, Goddard Space Flight Center will provide overall mission management, systems engineering, and safety and mission assurance. Lockheed Martin Space Systems built the spacecraft. A host of national and international experts from several universities in the U.S., Canada, France, Spain, the U.K. and Japan rounds out the team.

CFO Atwater: Insurance experts only one call away

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For free insurance assistance, Floridians can call 1-877-693-5236

Ahead of the June 1 start to the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater reminds Floridians to write down the State of Florida’s toll-free insurance helpline number (1-877-693-5236). Operated by the Department of Financial Services, the helpline connects Floridians directly to insurance experts who can help them file an insurance claim, better understand their policy, and settle setbacks that can arise during the claims-filing process.
“Getting back on your feet following a storm can be a stressful state of affairs, but I hope that having free and ready access to insurance expertise can help the recovery process run more efficiently for Florida families,” said CFO Atwater. “All Floridians should keep the helpline phone number on their emergency contact list and inside their family’s hurricane kit.”
Assistance provided by insurance experts working the helpline led to the recovery of $8 million during the first quarter of 2017. These recoveries included insurance claim payments that were previously denied or underpaid by a consumer’s insurance company and premium refunds that consumers sought the Department’s help collecting. Between January 1, 2017 and March 31, 2017, helpline experts answered 70,634 calls and opened nearly 5,000 assistance requests.
For a better chance of a complication-free claims process, Floridians should carefully review all insurance policies to ensure that proper coverage is in place for their home, car, and belongings. Common reasons for complications include a lack of adequate insurance coverage and insufficient documentation or proof of damage.
For added help preparing for the 2017 hurricane season, the Department’s Division of Consumer Services offers online disaster guides and emergency preparedness toolkits. Floridians can download and print free copies at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/Consumers/Storm/.
 

DEO Encourages Florida Businesses to Prepare for Hurricane Season

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The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) encourages business owners and managers to be prepared for the 2017 hurricane season that begins on June 1. Adequately preparing for a disaster is the best way to protect your business and ensure it gets up and running quickly after a storm.
DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “Businesses across Florida need to be prepared and have a plan in place for operations before, during and after severe weather and storms, especially during hurricane season. As we know in Florida, hurricanes and severe weather events pose a threat to much of the state. The best way to protect lives, property and our local economies is to prepare in advance. If you don’t already have a plan for your business, make one today at www.FLGetaPlan.com.”
DEO urges businesses to do the following right away:

  • Make preparations now – Hurricanes pose risks for flooding and wind damage. Make sure your business is prepared for a flooding event by moving important items off of the floor. Prepare for high winds by removing or fixing broken items on the exterior of your business.
  • Get a plan – Make sure your business’s emergency plan is updated. If you do not have one, go to www.FLGetaPlan.com to make one today for your business and family.
  • Check your disaster supply kit – Review the items in in your disaster supply kit to ensure all needed items are there and up-to-date. If you don’t have a disaster supply kit for your home or business, prepare one now.
  • Stay in touch – Keep cell phones charged and make sure all contact information for employees and other important contacts is current and correct. Alert employees to pay attention to news, phone and email, especially during the threat of a hurricane or severe weather.
  • Stay informed – Visit the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center at http://flvbeoc.org today to register your business to receive updates in the event of a severe storm or hurricane.

As a member of the State Emergency Response Team, DEO coordinates local, state and federal agency actions that provide immediate and short-term assistance for the needs of businesses after a disaster.
Visit www.FLGetaPlan.com to create your business emergency plan. More resources on business preparedness are available from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at www.FloridaDisaster.org, the Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.Ready.gov/business, and the Small Business Administration at www.sba.gov.

U.S. Forecast: Continued Expansion Hinges on President’s Proposed Economic Policies

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The November presidential election pushed stock prices higher and boosted consumer and business confidence, but a good mood is not the same as a good economy, says University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith.
“Unless this mood translates into actual economic spending activity, the boost in confidence enjoyed thus far will prove to be fleeting,” says Snaith, the director for the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the UCF College of Business in his latest U.S. forecast. “Ultimately this will depend on the Trump administration’s ability to follow through on economic policies that will provide the impetus for spending to grow.”
Snaith says the administration must get its proposed tax reforms and infrastructure spending plans, which are critical to boosting economic growth, off the drawing board and into action. Snaith’s forecast predicts this will occur in late 2017 or early 2018.
The U.S. economic forecast, which is published semi-monthly by the Institute for Economic Competitiveness, projects the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates another 25 basis points in June, the first such increase since March. Stronger economic growth and higher inflation from Trump administration policies are expected to quicken the pace of increases over the next three years with the federal funds rate hitting 3 percent by the end of 2019, according to the forecast.
Real GDP growth, which slowed to 1.6 percent in 2016, is forecasted to reach 2.7 percent in 2017 and 3.5 percent in 2018 before slipping to 3.4 percent in 2019 and then 3 percent in 2020 as the Federal Reserve tightens interest rates. Consumer spending is the largest component of GDP. In 2015, real consumer spending growth was 3.2 percent, and in 2016, spending grew at 2.7 percent.
“The U.S. consumer has been playing the biggest role in supporting the economic expansion, tepid as it has been, over the past three years,” Snaith says. “Continued gains in employment, more rapidly rising wages and improving household balance sheets should continue to provide a solid foundation for consumer spending growth. Tax cuts and spending programs proposed by the Trump administration should also boost consumer spending growth.”
The proposed tax cuts include reducing the current seven tax brackets, which range from 10 percent to 39.6 percent, into three brackets of 10 percent, 20 percent and 25 percent, increasing the standard deduction to $25,000 for single filers and $50,000 for joint filers and reducing the corporate tax rate to 15 percent.
The housing market will continue to improve slowly through 2020 even with rising interest rates, and housing starts are expected to rise from 1.29 million in 2017 to 1.66 million in 2020.
The unemployment rate is expected to decline to 3.6 percent in late 2020, and job growth should be enough to keep up with labor force growth through the end of 2020. Underemployment, which has been a persistent problem in this recovery, stands at 8.6 percent as of April 2017 but also will continue to decline through 2020.
Inflation is expected to accelerate in 2017 pushing the Fed to move more quickly to raise interest rates. Core Consumer Price Index inflation will average 2.7 percent during 2017-2020.
For the full forecast, click here.
Snaith is a national expert in economics, forecasting, market sizing and economic analysis who authors quarterly reports about the state of the economy. Bloomberg News has named Snaith as one of the country’s most accurate forecasters for his predictions about the Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate, the Federal Funds rate.
The Institute for Economic Competitiveness strives to provide complete, accurate and timely national, state and regional forecasts and economic analyses. Through these analyses, the institute provides valuable resources to the public and private sectors for informed decision-making.

City of Jacksonville settles housing discrimination suits, agrees to zoning revisions and supportive housing options

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The City of Jacksonville has agreed to settle lawsuits alleging violations of federal housing and disability regulations stemming from its determination that a proposed housing redevelopment project in the city’s historic Springfield neighborhood amounted to a prohibited special use under relevant zoning laws. The project at the center of these lawsuits was the proposed renovation of a Jacksonville apartment complex to be funded under a grant obtained by Ability Housing of Northeast Florida for the purpose of providing permanent supportive housing to individuals with disabilities experiencing chronic homelessness. City officials initially nixed the project amidst public concern regarding the possible increase of social service housing projects within the one-square mile historic district.
Under terms of the city’s settlement with Ability Housing, Disability Rights Florida, and the U.S. Department of Justice – approved by the Jacksonville City Council at its May 23rd council meeting – the city has agreed to rescind its original determination relating to the project, and to revise relevant portions of its zoning code.
The revisions would require code interpretations consistent with the federal Fair Housing and Americans with Disabilities Acts, while also specifying that the permanent supportive housing at issue is properly characterized as a multiple-dwelling use that is therefore allowed wherever the city permits multiple-family dwellings. The city’s zoning code will be further amended to authorize residential treatment facilities and group homes for persons with disabilities as allowable exceptions. The amended zoning code will also include a specific procedure for individuals with disabilities to request reasonable accommodations or modifications on the basis of disability from the city’s code requirements as required by federal law.
The city has also agreed to establish and award a grant totaling $1.5 million to a qualified developer for development of permanent supportive housing units for persons with disabilities within city limits in the next year. As defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “permanent supportive housing” is intended to provide long-term, community-based housing incorporating supportive services for homeless individuals with disabilities to enable “special needs populations to live as independently as possible in a permanent setting.”
The dispute began in 2014, following the award of a $1.3 million grant to Ability Housing by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to redevelop a 12-unit apartment complex in the Springfield historic district as permanent supportive housing. Under the proposal submitted by the nonprofit, the renovated units were to be offered on a permanent basis for rent to individuals with disabilities and a history of experiencing chronic homelessness. No staff would reside on premises, and residents would coordinate with outside providers for all treatment services and needs.
Although city officials initially acknowledged the project’s proposed zoning, before permits had been obtained for the project mounting pressure from concerned residents in the community led to a ruling by the city’s Director of Planning and Development that the project violated provisions in Springfield’s zoning overlay by authorizing the residency of individuals receiving treatment and related services for mental illness. Such determination was upheld across a series of appeals and related attempts by Ability Housing to obtain a Certificate of Use, during which time the nonprofit lost the grant funding it had originally secured for the project.
Both Ability Housing and Disability Rights Florida filed suit against the city in November, 2015 alleging violations of the federal Fair Housing and Americans with Disabilities Acts. In its suit, Disability Rights Florida noted that the “effect of these actions by the City of Jacksonville is that persons with disabilities are unlawfully restricted from enjoying dwellings in the Springfield neighborhood and this unnecessarily deteriorates the possibility of these individuals from fully integrating into the community.”
As a part of the city’s approved settlement of the nonprofits’ lawsuits, Ability Housing and Disability Rights Florida will each receive the reasonable fees and costs of their actions against the city, and Ability Housing will be compensated for additional out-of-pocket expenses in pursuing review of the city’s determination. Ability Housing was represented by the law firm Akerman, LLP.
David Boyer, lead counsel for Disability Rights Florida, noted, “While this is obviously a big victory for Ability Housing, it is an even bigger victory for individuals with disabilities in the City of Jacksonville. This settlement will help to ensure that discrimination doesn’t affect our clients’ and constituents’ choice to live in the community.”
In a related enforcement action brought by the U.S. Department of Justice last year, the city has further agreed to designate a compliance officer to receive complaints of alleged housing and disability discrimination against the city, and to ensure the city’s compliance with the decree. Additionally, the city has agreed to provide training on the Fair Housing and Americans with Disabilities Acts to all city officers, elected and appointed officials, and employees who have duties related to the planning, zoning, permitting, construction, code enforcement, or occupancy of residential housing. Finally, the decree also directs the city to pay a $25,000 civil penalty to “vindicate the public interest” pursuant to federal law.
“We hope that this result will show other communities that discrimination against persons with disabilities will not be tolerated,” said Curtis Filaroski, staff attorney at Disability Rights Florida. “There are individuals and organizations that will stand firm against any action that erodes these important rights under federal law.”

Florida consumer sentiment continues downward slide

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Consumer sentiment among Floridians dropped in May for the second month in a row, falling 2.4 points to 93.3 from a revised April reading of 95.7.
Among the five components that make up the index, one increased and four decreased.
“Most of the pessimism in May stems from perceptions about the current economic conditions,” said Hector H. Sandoval, director of the Economic Analysis Program at UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
Perceptions of one’s personal financial situation now compared with a year ago showed the biggest drop, falling 5.9 points from 91 to 85.1. May’s less-positive outlook was shared by all Floridians across age, gender and income groups.

Opinions as to whether now is a good time to buy a major household item such as an appliance declined two points, from 101.7 to 99.7. However, there were increases among those 60 and older and those with income under $50,000.
Expectations of personal finances a year from now dropped 5.2 points from 105.1 to 99.9. Expectations for the U.S. economy were mixed: Anticipated conditions over the next year decreased one-tenth of a point, from 92.8 to 92.7 while expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next five years increased nine-tenths of a point, from 88.1 to 89.
These three components represent expectations about what lies ahead economically speaking.
“Readings about future economic conditions have shown important signs of deterioration for the past two months. However, in contrast to April, this month’s unfavorable expectations are accompanied by a significant decline in perceptions of present conditions. It seems unlikely that consumers are delaying the purchase of big household items, as they hold unfavorable future expectations as well,” Sandoval said.
According to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Florida’s gross domestic product growth rate ranked fifth of all states in 2016, with an annual growth rate of 3 percent. The sector contributing the most to the Florida economy in 2016 was the professional, scientific and technical services sector, followed by the construction and information sectors.
Florida’s unemployment rate declined again in April by three-tenths of a percentage point to 4.5 percent. Compared with April of last year, the number of jobs added statewide was 215,400, a 2.6 percent increase. The industries gaining the most jobs were professional and business services, followed by trade, transportation and utilities.
“Florida’s economy keeps growing, and the labor market conditions continue to be favorable in general, with more jobs added every month for the past six years. However, consumer sentiment seems to be slowly decreasing after surging in March to its highest level in the last 15 years. If this pessimism persists in the following months, this might indicate a significant change in the trend of consumer sentiment,” Sandoval said.
Conducted May 1-24, the UF study reflects the responses of 415 individuals who were reached on cellphones, representing a demographic cross section of Florida.
The index used by UF researchers is benchmarked to 1966, which means a value of 100 represents the same level of confidence for that year. The lowest index possible is a 2, the highest is 150.
Details of this month’s survey can be found at http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/csi-data.
Writer: Colleen Porter, [email protected]

ICYMI: Post-Session Reflection on Tourism Marketing

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By Gil Langley, Chairman, Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations

Last week, Governor Scott announced record-breaking tourism numbers in the Sunshine State. It may be the last time for a while. Ignoring extensive research, case studies and pleas from travel industry constituents across the state, the Florida Legislature slashed funding for Visit Florida by a crippling 67 percent – recklessly jeopardizing the tourism industry’s leading role as a generator of jobs and government revenues.
A $25 million budget to market Florida, one of the world’s top travel destinations, is not conducive to success on any front – job creation, revenue increases or lower taxes for Florida residents. By cutting off funds for advertising, marketing and promotion, Florida will essentially surrender the gains made over the past several years while global competitors steal market share.
Contrary to assertions made by some elected officials, vacation destinations do not sell themselves. Every great product needs to make potential customers aware of the benefits their product offers – and why it is a better choice than the alternative. That is why California spends more than $100 million every year to market their state, even with well-known major attractions such as Disneyland, Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge and great beaches.
Tourism is an incredibly competitive industry. Not only are we competing against 49 other states (some with eight-figure marketing budgets), we are battling destinations across the globe to get the attention of potential visitors. Mexico, the Bahamas and Cuba are thrilled Florida’s travel marketing budget has been reduced, allowing them to gain market share while Visit Florida goes silent in the marketplace.
These cuts were approved despite warnings from experts in government and the private sector. Detailed case studies about states like Colorado and Washington (who cut tourism marketing, only to lose jobs, revenues and market share) provided a cautionary tale ignored. Prestigious organizations such as Florida TaxWatch conducted economic studies demonstrating Visit Florida’s return on investment, proving investing in tourism is good public policy.
Our elected officials have demonstrated they know the importance of consistent messaging. Legislators raised $73 million for election campaigns in 2016 – even though 57 seats were uncontested. They spent money to keep the voters informed of the job they do, and explained why they should continue to serve. Reminding vacationers of why Florida is a great choice for their family follows the same principle.
The decision to slash tourism marketing funding and create barriers to Visit Florida’s success negatively impacts every single Floridian. Less marketing means fewer visitors and fewer visitors means less tax revenue to fund necessary public projects such as schools, beaches, parks, roads and other infrastructure.
Even if the entire $61 million cut were dedicated to other programs, the impact would be minimal. For example, according to FDOT, $61 million would construct only four miles of urban interstate – in a state with nearly 1,500 miles of interstate. On a larger scale, the $61 million cut from Visit Florida’s budget would fund state government operations for just five hours out of the year. Invested in marketing the state, however, those same funds would generate over $160 million in new state and local tax revenue that could support transportation, education and senior services. It is also important to note Visit Florida represents a miniscule portion of the state’s budget, yet any decrease in funding will result in significant ramifications. Even if Visit Florida was funded at Governor Scott’s recommendation of $100 million, 98.7 percent of the state’s budget would be left for other priorities.
I live and work in the small coastal community of Amelia Island, a community that is twice as dependent on tourism as the average Florida county. We are especially concerned about the budget cuts’ impact to rural communities. To a degree, large urban destinations, mega resorts and world-famous theme parks can rely on global brand recognition, but many of Florida’s hidden gems will be left without the resources to market themselves. For Nassau County, the potential impacts are frightening.
Tourist spending generates 37 percent of the sales taxes generated here. Over 25 percent of the work force have jobs in the hospitality business. Tourist spending provides a net gain of $40 million to County government, saving every household in the County $2,748 in state and local taxes. If tourism declines, it means fewer jobs, fewer services and potentially increased taxes on residents.
Just as in Nassau County, other hardworking Floridian families will suffer, too. A TaxWatch study analyzed the economic impact of the new tourism promotion budget, and found that reducing funding to $25 million means a loss of at least five million tourists. With a five percent tourism downturn, every household in Florida would have to be taxed an additional $1,535 a year to replace the lost state and local taxes generated from visitor activity. Perhaps even more disheartening are the 70,000 jobs that will be lost due to fewer visitors.
Our hope is that before tourism losses mount in 2018, legislators will reverse course and fully fund a marketing effort that maintains our status as the Earth’s most popular family destination. If not, jobs will be lost, small businesses will be harmed and tax revenue will be diminished. Objectively evaluating the return on investment clearly proves tourism works for Florida – and supporting it financially is a wise move for all our citizens.
Gil Langley is chairman of the Florida Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, the statewide association representing county tourism promotion agencies.

Sachs Media Group Positions Key Leadership for Future

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Founder/CEO Sachs names Michelle Ubben president

(L to R) Sachs Media Group President Michelle Ubben, CEO Ron Sachs,
Executive Vice President Ryan Cohn, Chief Operating Officer Lisa Garcia

Preparing for future growth following a record year in 2016, industry-leading strategic communications firm Sachs Media Group today announced major new roles for key company leaders, Michelle Ubben, Ryan Cohn, and Lisa Garcia.
“The real strength of our firm is the depth of our excellent team of stellar professionals – the best in our field,” said Ron Sachs, founder and CEO. “We are going to maximize the advantage that our diverse talent can provide for every client and project as the essential strategic communications partner for organizations looking to leverage a major opportunity, overcome a significant threat, consistently excel and win.”
Sachs named Michelle Ubben the firm’s President, following her longtime service as senior partner and Chief Operating Officer, managing a diverse staff and client roster. Sachs, as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, will focus on top-level strategy, targeted client priorities, business development, and crisis management.
“Michelle’s super power is her ability to listen to any client’s challenge or problem, to synthesize a flood of seemingly disconnected information, and distill it all into a compelling narrative that solves the problem or breaks through any barriers,” Sachs said. “She sets the bar for laser-effective messaging, combining it with brilliant strategies to connect with the audiences our clients need to reach. She inspires our clients, staff, and collaborators.”
Ubben is a 20-year veteran of the firm, who previously had a successful 14-year career in state government, with stints as Communication Director for the Florida Senate, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Insurance.
Under her leadership, Sachs Media Group earned national Bulldog Awards for Small Agency of the Year, Best PR Agency for Non-Profit Communications, and was honored as one of Florida Trend’s Best Companies to Work For. The work she directed to rebrand the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs earned the All-Florida Grand Golden Image Award for the top public relations campaign of the year in 2012. Her work has also earned multiple Emmy Awards and a national Gracie Award.
Ryan Cohn, the firm’s Vice President of Digital, was named Executive Vice President and is part of the core leadership team setting a course for the firm’s future direction and growth. Sachs Media Group acquired Cohn’s firm, What’s Next Marketing, in 2012. Since then, he has grown the firm’s social media and digital practice and has played a pivotal role in forecasting and navigating the changing communications landscape for the firm and its clients.
“Ryan’s ascent into top leadership ensures our firm’s continued growth and success now and down the road,” Sachs said. “Ryan has shown an outstanding ability to forecast where our fast-changing industry is going and to leverage those trends to actively benefit our clients.”
Lisa Garcia was named Chief Operating Officer, taking on responsibility for the firm’s working processes and daily operations. Garcia also will head up the firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts.
“Lisa is a veteran public relations strategist with excellent management capabilities,” said Sachs. “She is a terrific mentor to the staff and she ensures client priorities are met and exceeded.”
Other key members of the leadership team include Vicki Johnson, Senior Vice President of Central Florida Operations; Herbie Thiele, Vice President and Director of Public Affairs; Drew Piers, Deputy Director of Public Affairs; Jon Peck, Vice President of Public Relations; Karen Cyphers, Vice President of Research; and Mark Pankowski, Vice President, Director of Washington Operations.