The Collins Center for Public Policy is pleased to announce that Kathy Baughman McLeod has joined its Board of Trustees. Ms. Baughman McLeod is the head of the Public Policy Group at the Bryant Miller Olive law firm in Tallahassee where she leads the consultancy helps clients build effective business strategies and make the successful transition to the new, high tech, low-carbon economy.

"I am so very pleased to join the Collins Center,” stated Ms. Baughman McLeod. "I was first introduced to the organization and their work over ten years ago and have always been impressed with their high-caliber people. They have shown the ability to respond to a problem quickly and bring innovative ideas and well-executed solutions. The foreclosure mediation program is a perfect example of those solutions.”

Prior to joining Bryant Miller Olive, Ms. Baughman McLeod served as the Deputy Chief of Staff to Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink where her responsibilities included public policy development, legislative and cabinet affairs and communications. Ms. Baughman McLeod also handled policy development and execution related to the Florida Treasury, State Board of Administration, and the financial aspects of climate change, Florida’s Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, the My Safe Florida Home mitigation program and the Healthy Kids Corporation.

"I’ve seen the Collins Center in action through their work with the community in Overtown as well as their successful hurricane mediation program”, stated Baughman McLeod. As a new board member, I am also interested in their work on educating Floridians on proposed constitutional amendments in addition to the work of Sustainable Florida, a program of the Collins Center. My hope is to collaborate with other members of the board and staff to help the Collins Center take the next step toward continued success and sustainability.”

Ms. Baughman McLeod holds a BS in International Affairs and an MS in Geography, both from Florida State University. She is an appointee of the Governor to the Florida Energy and Climate Commission, a former appointee to the Governor’s Energy & Climate Action Team, a board member of Leadership Florida and a member of Class XXV, and a national board member of the Clean Energy States Alliance.