R I S I N G STARS 108 | INFLUENCE WINTER 2016 Emily Duda Buckley, 25 Government relations manager at Jones Walker For Emily Duda Buckley, agriculture and politics go hand-in-hand. A member of the powerful Duda agriculture family, the 25-year-old always knew she had a passion for politics and the political process. So when she got an internship with David Rancourt in 2010, she made the most of it, hustling every day, even though they both knew an offshore oil drilling bill wasn’t going anywhere. From there she did everything she could to learn the ropes: internships at the James Madison Institute and the governor’s office; a summer as a legal assistant at her family business; and a stint in the Florida House of Representatives, before joining The Moya Group. Now she’s the government relations manager at Jones Walker, where she specializes in agriculture and energy. One of the clients in her portfolio: A Duda and Sons, her family business. “I’m very fortunate. A lot of family businesses don’t make it past the third generation, I’m the fifth generation,” she said. While agriculture is a big part of her life, she also dabbles in education. And this year, she took charge of the firm’s entire political program, handling everything from candidate interviews to contribution recommendations. “Few people have achieved the reputation and relationships which Emily enjoys throughout the legislative and executive branches,” said Christopher Moya, director of the firm’s government relations practice group. Carol Bowen, 39 Deputy chief lobbyist at Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida Like many young transplants to Florida, Carol Bowen thought she would be in the Sunshine State for a year. That was more than a decade ago. Today, Bowen is poised to take over as the chief lobbyist at Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida. While the Palm Beach resident has big shoes to fill, insiders expect Bowen will continue to elevate the statewide association in the years to come. “She is not only very talented and skilled and a tireless advocate, but she’s got great relationships,” said Robert Stuart, the senior director of government affairs at GrayRobinson. Those relationships will be key when she takes over the reins from Rick Watson, who announced he was retiring after the 2017 legislative session. As the vice president of government affairs for ABC of Florida’s East Coast chapter, Bowen’s region spans from the Keys to Melbourne. One-third of the Florida Legislature represents her region, and Bowen has built relationships with most of them. “It is not about how I feel politically or legislatively. It is not about my opinion of the world. It is my job to represent the clients and their needs,” said Bowen. “Any victory I have as Carol Bowen is not my victory, it’s a victory for ABC.”
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