Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced the appointment of Ryan West as Chief of Staff, effective later this month.
CFO Patronis said, “Ryan has been a trusted member of my team since day one, and there is no one better suited to serve as my second in command. His instincts and experience have afforded him the tools to do the job, and I have full confidence that he will successfully lead our team for years to come.”
Before joining the CFO’s Office, West most recently served as Chief Advisor to then-Commissioner Patronis at the Public Service Commission (PSC). In that role, Ryan was charged with overseeing policy areas that included electric energy, water and wastewater systems, natural gas and telecommunications. Additionally, he monitored and advised the Commissioner on significant energy policy shifts in state, national and international arenas. He has also served as Chief Advisor to Commissioners Ronald A. Brisé and Ben “Steve” Stevens III.
Public Service Commission Chairman Julie Brown said, “As a member of the Public Service Commission team, Ryan was laser-focused on ensuring the prudent use of ratepayers’ money. His ability to secure solutions to the complex issues facing Florida makes him a fitting choice for Chief of Staff, and he will serve our state well.”
Prior to the PSC, West led the Florida House of Representative’s Economic Development and Tourism Subcommittee as Policy Chief.
Former House Speaker Will Weatherford said, “I’ve seen Ryan’s work first-hand, and I’ve watched him become one of Florida’s leading economic development experts. While serving in the House of Representatives, he helped members prepare priority legislation on topics like tourism and job creation, community redevelopment and affordable housing–all of which are critical to keeping Florida moving forward. I know he’ll make a great Chief of Staff.”
Ryan honed his economic development skill set early in his career, while serving as the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Economic Development and Education Policy. There he crafted portions of the Chamber’s legislative agenda and served as the Chamber’s lead lobbyist on legislation that included top-tier topics, such as teacher merit pay, digital learning and charter schools, and tax relief packages for Florida businesses.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Master’s of Science degree in Applied American Politics and Policy from Florida State University. He lives in Tallahassee with his wife, Kim, and young son, Parker.
CFO Jimmy Patronis
CFO Jimmy Patronis Announces Retirement of Chief of Staff Robert “Budd” Kneip
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced the retirement of his Chief of Staff, Robert “Budd” Kneip. Kneip will be retiring after nine years of public service and his last day with the Department will be August 31st. An announcement on the transition to a new Chief of Staff will be made in the coming days.
CFO Patronis said, “As Chief of Staff, Budd Kneip played an integral role in ushering in an era of some of the most advanced sunshine and public disclosure practices in the country. Under the leadership of former CFO Jeff Atwater, he helped install a system that creates a level playing field for business owners who want to bid for state business, as well as implementing management practices that not only improve efficiency and transparency, but deliver better value to the residents of Florida. Budd was vital to ensuring a smooth transition as I came on board as Chief Financial Officer by helping me get accustomed to the varied roles within the Department of Financial Services. I thank Budd for his exemplary service to the state and wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Kneip had a very successful business career, beginning in 1982 when he joined The Wackenhut Corporation. By 1988, he had assumed the position of Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning and Development, and was responsible for all strategic planning, marketing, business development, public and investor relations, and training for the parent Corporation and its worldwide subsidiaries. In late 1996, Kneip founded the Oasis Group, a business process outsourcing company, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent corporation. With subsequent acquisitions and aggressive organic growth, the Oasis Group had surpassed the $1 billion mark in revenues within its first five years. With the successful sale of The Wackenhut Corporation in 2002, Kneip assumed the position of Chairman of the Board of Oasis in 2003, and remained on the board until the sale of Oasis in early 2006. From 2008 – 2010, he served as Chief of Staff of the Florida Senate under President Atwater, and moved into the same position when Atwater was elected Chief Financial Officer in 2010.
Prior to joining the Senate President in Tallahassee, Kneip was very active in the greater Palm Beach County community, and served on a number of advisory boards and committees. He is the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his business and civic contributions, including the Excalibur Award as the Palm Beach County Business Leader of the year for 2004 by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in 2004 for civic contributions by the North Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, and the Legends of South Florida award in 2005 given by South Florida CEO. In 2007, Kneip was identified by South Florida CEO magazine as one of the region’s most influential leaders.
Kneip graduated with honors from the University of Iowa, and subsequently earned an M.A. and Ph.D. from Tulane University.
CFO Jimmy Patronis Appoints John McKay to Citizens Board of Governors
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced the appointment of John M. McKay to the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Board of Governors.
McKay, of Bradenton, is president of The Riverside Real Estate Company, and he brings more than 35 years of real estate and property management experience to the board of governors. McKay served in the Florida Senate from 1990-2002, also serving as Senate President from 2000-2002.
McKay earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, where he also completed post-graduate studies. He has remained involved in his community, serving as board chairman for the Manatee Rural Health Foundation and the McKay Academy. He is a former board chairman for the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and Ringling Museum of Art.
McKay succeeds former board member, Juan Cocuy, for a three-year term ending July 31, 2020.
As Tropical Storm Emily Drops Rain on Central Florida, Consumers Urged to Remain Alert
As waves of heavy rain stemming from Tropical Storm Emily cross the central corridor of Florida, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis reminds Floridians to remain prepared for severe weather. Flash flooding is likely, and Floridians are encouraged to keep copies of their homeowners’ and auto insurance policies handy, and to take note of the state of Florida’s insurance consumer helpline in case of insurance-related questions. The toll-free helpline can be reached by calling 1-877-693-5236.
“Heavy rain can quickly cause dangerous flooding situations, and I urge everyone in the area to keep their eyes and ears on the news for updated information about Tropical Storm Emily,” said CFO Patronis. “We’ll continue to monitor the storm’s activity, and we stand ready to support residents with any insurance needs that may arise.”
By calling the helpline, Floridians gain one-on-one access to insurance experts who can help consumers better understand their specific insurance policies and answer specific claim-related questions. Even if a consumer does not have a flood insurance policy, helpline experts can aid in the review of other insurance coverage to determine if any damaged items might be covered.
The helpline is available Monday–Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm EST. Additional insurance-related information can be found on the Department’s website here.
First 2017 Unclaimed Property Auction Earns $1.194 Million
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that the first of two 2017 unclaimed property auctions, held Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, earned $1.194 million. All of the auction’s nearly 48,000 individual items sold, and the highest grossing individual auction item was a 14k gold ring with a 4.02-carat European cut diamond that sold for $11,500.
Items included in the Department of Financial Services’ unclaimed property auctions come from abandoned safe deposit boxes. Despite at least five years of exhaustive efforts, no rightful owner or entitled heir stepped forward to claim the boxes or the items contained within them. However, the proceeds earned from the sale of auction items can be claimed at any time and at no cost should an owner ever come forward.
The second 2017 unclaimed property auction will be held August 25 and August 26 in Orlando at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center, located at 1500 Sand Lake Road. Items included in the auction will be available for public preview on Friday, August 25. The auction will take place the following day, Saturday, August 26. A catalog containing descriptions of the upcoming auction items will be available in the coming days.
Roughly 1-in-5 Floridians has an unclaimed property account in their name. To search for unclaimed property or to claim an account, please visit www.FLTreasureHunt.gov.
CFO Patronis: Florida Will Not Support Maduro’s Brutal Rule
Next week, following the election of a newly-formed National Constituent Assembly, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro may extend his brutal reach with the ability to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution, making it even more important for Florida leaders to stand up and speak out against his oppressive actions.
In response to Governor Rick Scott’s proposal to the Trustees of the Florida State Board of Administration (SBA) that will prohibit the State of Florida from doing business with any organization that supports the Maduro regime, SBA trustee and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued the following statement:
“The Maduro regime is known for inflicting gross human rights abuses against the people of Venezuela, and under no circumstances should Florida’s investment funds be tied to such tyranny.
‘I have confirmed that the Florida Treasury conducts no business with Venezuelan companies that have ties to Maduro’s regime, and I commit my vote as a trustee to reviewing all measures to remove every last investment penny from companies that provide support, in violation of federal law, to the Maduro regime. As we review the Governor’s proposal, I look forward to an open discussion during the upcoming August Cabinet meeting.”
CFO Patronis Invites Floridians to 2017 Unclaimed Property Auction in Fort Lauderdale
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis invites Floridians to participate in the 2017 Florida Unclaimed Property Auction. This public auction featuring the sale of nearly 50,000 individual items valued at more than $630,000 will be hosted Saturday, July 29, at the Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek in Fort Lauderdale. A public preview will be held Friday, July 28, at the Sheraton Suites hotel.
Featured items in this year’s auction include a 12-pound silver bar recovered from shipwreck Atocha, a vintage Wilt Chamberlain basketball card, 4.3-carat diamond earrings, and several high-end watches from brands such as Rolex, Chopard and Bulgari.
2017 Unclaimed Property Auction Preview
Date: Friday, July 28
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek
Address: 555 NW 62nd Street
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 32256
2017 Unclaimed Property Auction
Date: Saturday, July 29
Time: 10:00 a.m. (Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.)
Location: Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek
Address: 555 NW 62nd Street
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 32256
The unclaimed property auction features items from safe deposit boxes that have gone unclaimed for years despite exhaustive efforts to return them to their owners. Proceeds from the auction are deposited into the state’s education fund where they work to support Florida’s public school system. Should a property owner discover that he or she owned an item that was auctioned; however, the proceeds from the sale can be claimed any time at no cost.
For full details about this weekend’s auction, or to search for or claim unclaimed property, visit www.FLTreasureHunt.gov, or call 1-88-VALUABLE or 850-413-5555. A free catalog, which lists each item up for sale, is also available on the website.
Florida’s Insurance Consumer Helpline Recovers $16.6M During First Half of 2017
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that assistance provided by insurance experts working Florida’s Insurance Consumer Helpline led to the recovery of more than $16.6 million during the first half of 2017. Helpline experts answered more than 141,000 calls from Floridians and aided in the recovery of funds that included insurance claim payments and premium refunds that consumers sought the Department of Financial Services’ help collecting.
The Insurance Consumer Helpline is a free service offered to all Floridians that assists callers with financial and insurance-related matters including disaster preparation and insurance fraud, as well as questions and complaints regarding auto, home, health, life, and small business insurance.
“The claims-filing process can be a stressful affair, especially during times of serious illness or after a disastrous event,” said CFO Jimmy Patronis. “I applaud the efforts of our experts who work tirelessly to provide Floridians with the tools and resources they need to easily navigate through their insurance-related issues.”
Recent examples of how consumers were helped by helpline experts include:
- A Leon County consumer contacted the Helpline after insurance claims related to her son’s month-long stay in intensive care were denied. The company denied the claims on the basis of a pre-existing condition, yet the consumer felt the policy did cover her son’s pre-existing illness. Helpline experts contacted the company on her behalf and learned that the insurance agent who sold the policy may have misrepresented what the policy would cover. Helpline staff questioned the pre-existing condition determination, the claims were reprocessed, and a maximum benefit payout of $100,000 was made to the consumer.
- After filing a homeowner’s claim and receiving payment following Hurricane Matthew, a Pinellas County consumer contacted the Helpline when her insurance company denied coverage for additional damage that had been discovered. Even after sending in additional documentation, she was unable to resolve the issue. Upon calling the company, Helpline experts were told that a simple processing error was to blame, not a denial. The company promptly processed the claim, paying out an additional $4,700 to the consumer.
- A Brevard County consumer contacted the Helpline when medical claims payments related to treatment for her son never arrived. The company explained to Helpline experts that the payments had been processed but the company could not explain why they had not been received. A widespread system error was discovered and the company realized that payment checks for 53 consumers had never been mailed. In total, more than $24,000 in unmailed payments went out to the 53 consumers, including the original caller.
Floridians can contact the Insurance Consumer Helpline toll-free by calling 1-877-693-5236.
CFO Patronis Launches Firefighter Grant Program with Check Delivery to Monticello Volunteer Fire Department
On Tuesday evening, Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis launched Florida’s Firefighter Grant Assistance Program with a check delivered to the Monticello Volunteer Fire Department. The first of its kind, the grant program will benefit volunteer fire departments across Florida by making funding available to purchase costly fire safety equipment. During its initial year, nine fire departments will receive a total of $150,000. Recognizing its life-saving importance, the Florida Legislature increased second-year funding to $1 million.
CFO Patronis said, “Florida’s firefighters lay their lives on the line every day to protect our friends and family, and I’m proud to lead a program that will help them purchase better protective gear. As this new program grows, we’ll keep working until every fire department across Florida has the resources they need to keep themselves and our citizens safe.”
An estimated 12 million Floridians depend on the services and protection provided by volunteer firefighters, yet a wide variety of fire departments lack the financial resources needed to supply firefighters with current safety equipment and training.
Monticello Volunteer Fire Chief Lester Lawrence said, “Volunteer fire departments are often underfunded, and this program answers a call for help from the fire service community. The Florida Fire Chiefs Association (FFCA) values a close working relationship with the State Fire Marshal, and we appreciate the efforts made by CFO Patronis and the entire State Fire Marshal team to address this issue.”
Representative Halsey Beshears, who co-sponsored the 2016 legislation (HB 651) that created the program, joined CFO Patronis to deliver the check.
Representative Halsey Beshears said, “I’ve seen the needs of volunteer fire departments first hand, and I know this program will save lives by offering better protection to the first responders who run straight into dangerous situations. I thank Chief Patronis for offering me the opportunity to join him in delivering the very first grant funds.”
The application process for 2017-2018 grant funding is open now. All fire departments open for more than five years can apply. To qualify, all applicants must complete a needs assessment survey to outline their need and intended use of grant funds. A committee of fire service leaders review and approve all applications. The application is available here.
Unclaimed Property Program Returns $313M in 12 Months
One in five Floridians has an unclaimed account remaining
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that the Florida Division of Unclaimed Property returned an astonishing $313 million during the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the highest annual return figure in the program’s 56-year history. More than 513,000 individual claims were paid throughout the 2016-2017 fiscal year, a double-digit increase over the previous fiscal year. One in five Floridians has an unclaimed account in their name, and all are encouraged to regularly search for accounts on the Division’s website.
“I am impressed with the incredible accomplishments of the unclaimed property program, and I look forward to its continued success in the future,” said CFO Patronis. “It’s easier than it might seem to lose track of an account, and I want all Floridians to know that we’re working to return their hard-earned funds back to them.”
Nearly five million claims have been paid since the program’s inception in 1961, and the Division receives additional accounts from reporting companies every day. By law, most businesses are required to turn over dormant or abandoned accounts to the Division after a specified time period of no communication with the account holder.
The most common types of unclaimed property are: dormant accounts from financial institutions, insurance and utility companies, securities and trust holdings. In addition to money and securities, unclaimed property includes tangible property such as watches, jewelry, coins, currency, stamps, historical items and other miscellaneous articles from abandoned safe deposit boxes.
To search for unclaimed property or to claim an account, call 1-88-VALUABLE (888) 258-2253 or go online to www.FLTreasureHunt.org.
