Election Recap with Marty Fiorentino, The Fiorentino Group

Cost $15 -- Breakfast provided by Fresh Fork

Wednesday, Dec. 4

8 a.m.- 9 a.m.

Riverplace Tower Skyline Room

Marty Fiorentino is President of The Fiorentino Group, one of the largest and most recognized government affairs and business development firms in the State of Florida. Leading The Fiorentino Group, Marty provides expertise to clients and associates on a wide variety of issues including transportation and infrastructure, transit, maritime, local government, telecommunications, appropriations matters, and health care. In addition to his government relations role, Marty is also very active in local, state, and national politics. He is one of the “Florida 500”, a group of the 500 most influential executives in the state, as recognized by Florida Trend Magazine.

Prior to forming The Fiorentino Group, Marty served Of Counsel to the law firm of Holland & Knight, and as Special Counsel to CSX Corporation. From 1995 to 1999, he served as Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for CSX Transportation (CSXT). There, he was responsible for managing and directing the company’s internal and external communications. This constituted public affairs, crisis communications, marketing communications, media relations, and community relations throughout a 22-state service territory. Prior to that, he was an attorney with the former Seaboard System Railroad.

In 1989, Marty served in the administration of President George H.W. Bush in Washington, D.C. There, he served as Chief of Staff of the Federal Railroad Administration, where he was a senior advisor to the Federal Railroad Administrator and managed the daily operations of the agency. In 1990, he became Counselor to Deputy Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. In that capacity, he served on the senior staff of the Secretary of Transportation, providing advice on a variety of significant legal, regulatory, policy, program, safety, and legislative issues.

In 1999, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Marty to a four-year term on the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), where he served as Chairman of the Board. JAXPORT managed Jacksonville’s three seaports and four airports, including the Jacksonville International Airport. In 2001, Marty led the successful effort to restructure the JPA into two separate authorities – the Jacksonville Seaport Authority and Jacksonville Airport Authority. Afterward, Governor Bush appointed Marty to the Jacksonville Seaport Authority, where he was elected its first chairman of the board.

From January to April 2017, Marty served in a consulting role as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.

Active in politics, Marty has consistently been one of the largest political fundraisers in the state of Florida. Marty is also active in the community, having served on the Board of Directors of Baptist Beaches Medical Center, Board of Visitors of Mercer Law School, Florida TaxWatch, the Florida Governor’s Mansion Foundation, Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, First Coast Metropolitan Planning Organization, Alliance for World Class Education, Board of Trustees of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida House in Washington, D.C. and the Jacksonville Mayor’s Film and Television Advisory Board.

In 1996, Marty served on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee for the University of North Florida. He was a recipient of the Annual Philanthropy Day Award from the local chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives for his work as Chairman of the Baptist Health System Foundation in 1997. In 1988, he was appointed by Governor Bob Martinez to the Fourth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. In 1998, Marty served on the Transition Team for then Governor-elect Jeb Bush, leading the team on Boards and Commissions. He currently serves on the Cogent Bank First Coast Advisory Board.

Marty received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Mercer University. He is an honorary member of Florida Blue Key and is a member of the Florida Bar. He is married to WJXT 4 News anchor Mary Baer. Together they have four children.

We meet at Riverplace Tower, also known as the Ameris Bank building. This is a walkable location along the Southbank Riverwalk and also convenient to the First Coast Flyer and the Skyway Riverplace Station.

There is limited free street parking, and paid parking is also available in a neighboring surface lot and garage.

Entering from the Riverwalk: take the stairs or elevator next to Village Bread Company up to the Skyline Room.

Entering from Riverplace Blvd: take the escalators and walk toward the back of the building, behind the Ameris Bank offices.

Entering from the garage: make a right at the first bank of elevators and another right into the hallway between the Ameris Bank offices.

Entering from the driveway between Riverplace Tower and the Doubletree: Walk down the hallway to the left, and make another left toward Village Bread Cafe. Take the elevator or stairs near Village Bread Cafe to the meeting space.

Cuppa Jax holds gatherings for neighborhood and community leaders that are open to everyone in Jacksonville. Join us on Wednesday mornings in the Skyline Room in the Riverplace Tower on the Southbank to discuss important issues facing our city.

Scheduled speakers will talk for 10-15 minutes. The rest of the time is spent with Q&A and discussion of relevant issues brought up by participants. We also encourage attendees to make community announcements at the beginning of the program.

No membership fee. Unlike many other discussion forums in Jacksonville, there is no membership fee to attend or participate in Cuppa Jax. We do ask attendees to cover the cost of coffee and breakfast provided by Village Bread Cafe. If you cannot attend due to the cost of the event, please email [email protected] and we will be glad to cover your ticket.

Topical and timely. We are seeking local thought leaders who can discuss and educate about important community issues to speak at future dates. We don’t accept offers to speak about or pitch organizations. Cuppa Jax is non-partisan, and does not endorse candidates or issues. An offer to speak does not constitute an endorsement. It is simply an opportunity for the community to have a meaningful discussion.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Skyline Room, Riverplace Tower, 1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Jacksonville, United States