WINTER 2016 INFLUENCE | 121 Jo Morris wanted to be be a legislative affairs director before she was 30. She beat that goal by two years. Morris was named to her current position in 2013, at the age of 28. It was the culmination of years of working within Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, serving at both the Department of Health and Office of Financial Regulation, before landing at Elder Affairs. “I think this department is one of the hidden gems of the state government,” said Morris, who said her job allows her to help lawmakers and influencers better understand the issues facing Florida’s aging population. “Everyone here does great work for the elders in the state.” Darrick McGhee, Sr., the vice president of government relations at Johnson & Blanton, said Morris has thrived in the industry because she is a hardworking person who is “able to smile through anything and befriend everyone.” And he should know: As Scott’s director of legislative affairs, McGhee hired and assigned Morris to both the Office of Financial Regulation and Elder Affairs. “She has been a great asset wherever she has gone,” said McGhee, before calling Morris “one of the best-kept secrets in the legislative world.” While Morris has spent much of her career working in the public sector, she’s doesn’t consider herself a lifer. She’s loyal to the administration, and said she wants to stay on for the remainder of Scott’s term before moving on to something new. “This is where I got my start in the industry,” she said. “It’s just been really gratifying to build myself in these roles.” R I S I N G STARS Jo Morris, 31 Legislative affairs director for Florida Department of Elder Affairs
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