On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would name Public Service Commissioner Julie Imanuel Brown as the secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
Brown will start her new duties on Monday. She replaces former Sec. Halsey Beshears who resigned from that post due to health reasons last month.
“I’m pleased to appoint Julie Imanuel Brown as secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation,” said DeSantis. “Julie brings a unique blend of experience in the private and public sectors, as well as the legal field, including over 10 years of service on the Florida Public Service Commission and various corporate positions. I’m confident she will do a great job in our continued fight to cut red tape and ease regulation on our businesses and hard-working Floridians.”
“I’m honored to be appointed by Governor DeSantis to this important position, which impacts millions of Floridians,” said Brown. “As secretary, I will work to build on the Governor’s foundation to implement meaningful occupational licensing reform, as well with business leaders and business owners during Florida’s economic recovery.”
A longtime attorney, Brown was named to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) by then Gov. Rick Scott in 2011 and served as it chairwoman from the start of 2016 until the start of 2018.
“During her two-year chairmanship on the PSC, the state of Florida experienced massive impacts for the first time in over a decade from multiple catastrophic hurricanes. In addition to serving as chief administrative officer and presiding over all technical hearings as chief judge, Chair Brown led the PSC’s review and recommendation for future action to bolster Florida’s electric utility storm hardening efforts for years to come. In addition, Chair Brown presided and led all agenda conferences, service hearings and other administrative proceedings, while also being responsible for oversight of a $25,000,000 budget and a technical staff of approximately 280 employees,” the governor’s office noted.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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