The Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) is proud to announce that Chief External Affairs Officer Justin Thames, DPL, will be joining Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas (TECO) as Director of State Government Relations. His will begin in his new role on Feb. 10.
“Justin was specifically recruited and selected for this role based on the work he’s done and the reputation he’s developed in his 12 years serving the FICPA,” FICPA President & CEO Shelly Weir said. “As sad as we are to see him go, it is a testament to the strength and esteem of the FICPA brand – in Tallahassee and throughout the state of Florida – that one of our own would be sought for such an opportunity.”
During his time with the FICPA, Thames has overseen the strategic leadership of all aspects of the FICPA’s public policy, advocacy, governmental affairs and regulatory efforts. He has been responsible for all advocacy-related external communications and public-awareness campaigns aimed at increasing the understanding of and appreciation for the value of the CPA license.
“More than half of my 25 years representing the FICPA has included working side by side with Justin Thames,” Liberty Partners of Tallahassee President Jennifer Green said. “I am proud of his accomplishments and confident his experience with the technical nature of the CPA profession, and the complex issues CPAs face in the marketplace, has fully prepared him to succeed in his new role.”
Thames has worked in a number of policy areas on behalf of the CPA profession. He has represented the FICPA before the Florida Board of Accountancy, the regulatory board responsible for the licensure and oversight of more than 30,000 licensed CPAs, and has served as Deputy Treasurer of the FICPA’s four Florida CPA Political Action Committees.
Thames is a graduate of the Leadership Florida Connect Program and the Florida TaxWatch Citizenship Institute. He is a Designated Professional Lobbyist (DPL) and serves a Board member of the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists. He represents the FICPA as a member of the Florida Chamber Foundation Board of Directors, the Florida TaxWatch Tax Council, and the Associated Industries of Florida Tax Council.
Before joining the FICPA, Thames served as Grassroots and Political Action Coordinator for the League of Southeastern Credit Unions. He is as Board member of the American Red Cross – Capital Area Chapter and a graduate of Florida State University.
