Executive Council
The FGBA is governed by an Executive Council elected for a one-year term each June.
Below is the FGBA’s 2026-2027 Executive Council.
Ryan Orbe, 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.
Lee Damessous, Immediate Past 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.
Matt Jones, Vice President
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 administrative law to trademark and copyright 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.
Brooke Adams, Secretary
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.
Kelly Ann Kennedy, Treasurer
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.