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2/1612017 Press Release-The Florida Senate For more than 30 years, former Senate President Gaetz dedicated his life to expanding Floridians' access to quality health care services as a hospital administrator and co-founder of a successful hospice care business. After tremendous success in the private sector, he devoted his talents and time to public service. As a school board member and later as superintendent,he led Okaloosa County to become the highest performing public school system in Florida, winning numerous national awards for academic excellence. President Gaetz has an undergraduate degree from Concordia College and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Troy State University. Known for a relentless commitment to reform, and the ability to collaborate across party lines, in 2012 he was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve a two-year term as President of the Florida Senate. President Gaetz used his time leading the Senate to champion expanding economic opportunities through education, increasing government accountability through major ethics reforms, and making Florida the most military and veteran-friendly state in the nation. Anna Marie Hernandez Gamez Ms. Hernandez Gamez focuses her Miami-based law practice on complex real estate and commercial litigation. The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Ms. Hernandez Gamez is the past president of the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA). Her work at CABA has focused on its core missions of increasing diversity in the judiciary and legal community, fostering respect for the law, and providing equal access to and adequate representation of all minorities before the courts. In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Hernandez Gamez has been an active supporter of several charitable organizations in the Miami area and served as a Take Stock in Children mentor. Ms. Hernandez Gamez earned her undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from Florida International University and a juris doctor with honors from University of Miami School of Law. Patricia Levesque As chief executive officer of the Foundation for Excellence in Education(ExcelinEd) and executive director of the Foundation for Florida's Future, Ms. Levesque has worked with federal and state leaders, teachers, parents, and students to advance education systems that maximize every student's potential for learning. Prior to her education non-profit work, Ms. Levesque served as deputy chief of staff to Governor Jeb Bush. In that capacity she oversaw state agencies responsible for education, general government services,business and professional regulation, elder affairs, veterans affairs, workforce, lottery, and juvenile justice. She also served as staff in the Florida Legislature for six years, working in the Office of the Speaker and as staff director over education policy. Ms. Levesque was a member of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission in 2007-08. Sherry Plymale Ms. Plymale has served as chair of the State Board of Community Colleges, as chief of staff to Commissioner Frank Brogan in the Florida of the Department of Education, as a trustee of Florida Atlantic University and St. Leo University, and as a board member of the Martin County School https://www.flsenate.gov/Media'PressReleases/Show/2642 24 P7