Executive Council

The FGBA is governed by an Executive Council elected for a one-year term each June. 
Below is the FGBA’s 2025-2026 Executive Council.

Lee Damessous, President

Lee Damessous is an attorney with the Florida Department of Management Services, Office of  General Counsel, where he serves as the managing attorney over the Employee Benefits  Retirement Practice Group. A proud Florida native, Lee earned his Bachelor of Science in  Political Science from Florida International University and his Juris Doctor from the University  of Florida. Since 2013, Lee has served in key legal roles across several state agencies—including  the 11th Judicial Circuit, Department of Revenue, and Department of Agriculture and Consumer  Services—bringing extensive expertise in administrative, regulatory, and governmental law. 

Allan J. Charles, Immediate Past President

Allan is an attorney with the law firm of Lewis, Longman, & Walker, P.A. He holds a B.S. in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida, a Juris Doctor with a concentration in business law from the University of Mississippi, an LL.M. in Environmental Law & Policy from Florida State University, and is pursuing a Master in Science in Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida. He previously served as Senior Attorney with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Allan serves on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library, is a member of the Florida Bar Government Advocacy Committee, and is a Governor for the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar.

Kathryn Jones, Treasurer

Kathryn Jones is a managing attorney specializing in contracts and procurements and is currently supporting the Division of Telecommunications at the Department of Management Services. Her entire career has been focused on governmental contracts and procurements. Additional areas of practice include Sunshine law and public records, policymaking, and serving as a hearing officer for the Department for administrative informal hearings. Further, Kathryn received her Project Management Professional designation in 2020.

Kathryn was introduced to the state procurement process at the Department of Financial Services, where she began her governmental career in 2008. Since then, she has served in various roles including Chief of Contract Administration with the Department of Children and Families. Assisting clients, problem-solving and strategizing, collaboration and teamwork as well as working to resolve conflicts are some of the things she loves most about working for the State.

When not at work, Kathryn enjoys spending time with her two daughters, cruising, and she is an avid reader. 

Ryan Orbe, Vice President

Originally from New Jersey, Mr. Orbe, moved to Florida as a teenager to Saint Augustine, Florida. Mr. Orbe attended Florida State University earning a Bachelor of Science in political science and history. He subsequently obtained his Juris Doctorate from West Virginia University. Mr. Orbe spent his first 4 years of practice litigating dependency cases at the Department of Children and Families before moving on to the Department of Corrections as a senior attorney. Currently, he serves as Executive Senior Attorney in the Contracts Unit of the Office of the General Counsel for the Department of Corrections. Mr. Orbe enjoys his spare time at the gym, traveling, and spending Saturdays in the fall pulling for the Florida State Seminoles. Mr. Orbe is also president of the Tallahassee Bar Association Young Lawyers Section.

Brooke Adams, Chief Outreach Officer

Brooke Adams is Chief Appellate Counsel at the Department of Business & Professional Regulations. Before this, she clerked for two judges at the First District Court of Appeals. Brooke is a big Seminoles fan, as she earned her Juris Doctorate and Bachelor’s Degree in Information, Communication, and Technology, from the Florida State University.In her free time, you can find her outside with her husband and their three boys. They enjoy boating, swimming, fishing, and going to the beach.

Cheryl Tomlinson, Secretary

Cheryl Tomlinson is a South Georgia native who graduated summa cum laude with her BA in political science from Valdosta State University and her JD from Florida State College of Law.  She is licensed to practice in Florida & Georgia.  Cheryl has experience in the public and private sector, having served as the Labor Relations Director at DOE, practiced Insurance Defense in Georgia and served as an Attorney at OFR and DOE.  Currently, she is a Senior Attorney at the Florida Department of Agriculture.

Kelly Ann Kennedy, Chief of Programing

Kelly Ann Kennedy is a senior attorney at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She provides counsel to the Florida Forest Service, advising them in the administration of state forests, open burning, tree planting programs, and wildfire prevention and response. She was born and raised in Tallahassee, earned a bachelor of science in Forest Conservation from the University of Florida School of Forestry, and achieved a Certificate in Environmental, Energy, and Land Use Law from Florida State University when she achieved her JD. On the weekends she enjoys riding her horse, Ella, or doing house projects with her husband Zach. 

Matt Jones, Chief of Technology

Matt Jones, a native of Orlando, Florida, now proudly calls Tallahassee home. He is a proud Double Nole as he received his Bachelor of Science in political science with a minor in international affairs from Florida State University and went on to get his Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law.

Matt began his legal career at the Florida Public Service Commission in the Regulatory Analysis section. After nearly two years there, he joined the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a Rulemaking Coordinator, Head Public Records Attorney, and Attorney for the Office of Energy. After almost a year with Department of Agriculture, Matt transitioned to the private sector, joining the esteemed law firm of Ausley McMullen. As an associate attorney at Ausley McMullen, he handles a diverse range of matters from general litigation to administrative law.

Outside of his professional life, Matt enjoys cooking, exploring local trails with his wife, and cheering on his Florida State and Cleveland sports teams.