Executive Council

The FGBA is governed by an Executive Council elected for a one-year term each June. 
Below is the FGBA’s 2024-2025 Executive Council.

 

Allan J. Charles, 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.

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Brittany B. Griffith, Immediate Past President

Brittany Griffith is the Assistant Director of Administration for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She is board-certified in State & Federal Government & Administrative Practice (SFGAP) through The Florida Bar and has held various legal and non-legal roles with State of Florida agencies since 2012. Her previous positions include serving as the lead rulemaking and legislative affairs attorney for the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Chief Legal Counsel for contracts and rulemaking for the Florida Department of Financial Services, Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel for the Florida Department of Management Services, and Assistant Deputy Secretary for Operations for the Florida Department of Health. Brittany is also involved with The Florida Bar, holding roles on the SFGAP Certification Committee and as Treasurer for the Administrative Law Section.

She earned her BS in Political Science and English Literature from Florida State University and her JD from the Florida State University College of Law.

Ryan Orbe, Treasurer

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.

Lee Damessous, Vice President

Lee Damessous is a Florida native who graduated with his BS in political science from the Florida International University and his JD from the University of Florida. He has worked at several Florida state agencies including the 11th Judicial Circuit, Department of Revenue, and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Currently, he serves as the managing attorney for the employee benefits retirement practice group at the Department of Management Services.

In his spare time, Lee enjoys the outdoors, playing the piano, carpentry, and all things related to business and entrepreneurship. Lee, his wife, three kids, and beagle-coonhound mix enjoy calling Tallahassee, FL, their home.

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Shirley Sharon Rosenstein, Chief Outreach Officer

Shirley Sharon Rosenstein is In-House Counsel for CDR Enterprises, a national corporation providing engineering, emergency management, and healthcare services. Prior to this she was a staff attorney in the Florida Senate where she analyzed and drafted legislation, while providing counsel to Florida’s 40 Senators in the areas of energy policy and utilities regulation. Shirley began her time in the Florida Senate as a legislative aide, where she gained invaluable insight into the political and legislative process.

Shirley’s legal career began in a South Florida boutique law firm where she assisted clients in litigation matters at both the trial and appellate levels. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Florida International University and a Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, from Nova Southeastern University. While in law school Shirley was an active member of the Law Review, Moot Court Society, and Mock Trial Association. Upon graduation Shirley was hand-selected by her professors for induction into the Order of the Barristers Honor Society in recognition of excellence in the art of advocacy.

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.