WINTER 2016 INFLUENCE | 113 Jose Diaz Carrying on the legacy of Bob Levy Jose Diaz chuckles at the notion he is considered a “rising star.” At 51 years old, Diaz has been a part of the process for nearly three decades. He’s worked on campaigns, walked the halls of the Capitol and has seen the government affairs industry morph over the years. But despite decades of experience, Diaz also is keenly aware he is embarking on what could be the most important year of his career. Diaz took over operations of Robert Levy and Associates earlier this year, after the death of Bob Levy, the firm’s founder and Diaz’s mentor. He worked with Levy for 27 years, and is now tasked with carrying on the veteran lobbyist’s legacy. “I know this is a crucial year to prove myself,” he said. That might not be as difficult as he thinks. He has been lauded for carrying the firm through the transition, keeping the firm’s client list intact. Clients have told him “you were Bob and Bob was you,” expressing confidence he can carry on. “He’s quiet, but very strong and someone you want in your foxhole with you,” said Ana Maria Rodriguez, the vice president of government affairs at the Miami Association of Realtors. “He’s a great soul and has a great heart.” And yet Diaz understands the weight of his responsibility. The firm has long been known as a place where young, talented people go to learn the ropes before moving on. Rep. Holly Raschein was a protégé of Levy’s, as was former Sen. Dwight Bullard. Diaz got his start with Levy in 1988. He was working as a flight attendant with Eastern Airlines and knew the airline was facing hard times. He had a passion for public service and government, and was introduced to Levy, who gave him a shot working on campaigns. He worked with him for three years while he was still at Eastern Airlines. When he needed a job after the airline went under, Levy helped him get one with state Rep. John Cosgrove. But his path back to Robert Levy and Associates was far from a straight line. In 1993, he entered the seminary and spent the next five years studying to become a priest. “I’ve always been a religious person. I figured out that was where my vocation and calling was,” he said about his decision to enter the seminary. “It basically didn’t work out. But here’s how I look at it: I left the seminary a better person than I came in.” Diaz came back to the firm about a decade ago, after working in Washington D.C. for five years. Rodriguez said it was supposed to be temporary, that Levy asked him to come on board until he could find someone to fill the open position. But Diaz never left. Over that time, he continued to build relationships, hustled every day, and helped keep the trains running on time. And when Levy got sick, Rodriguez said Diaz was right there by his side. Diaz said while Levy never thought about retiring, the thought was always the two men would be “a team and business partners until the end,” and Diaz would carry on the firm. And while it came sooner than he hoped, Diaz is now finding himself in a position to leave his own mark on the nearly 40-year-old firm. Don’t expect too much to change. The firm has long prided itself on helping the little people and giving people a chance, and Diaz said he plans to carry on that tradition. He still wants it to be a place where the next generation of lawmakers and lobbyists come to learn the ropes. “It has never been about the money,” said Diaz. “For us, it’s about making a difference.” PHOTO: Mary Beth Tyson R I S I N G STARS
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