AMY ZUBALY

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, TALLAHASSEE

FMEA is the statewide trade association representing Florida’s 33 public power communities, serving more than 3 million Floridians. FMEA provides state and federal advocacy, mutual aid and emergency response coordination, communications, and professional development opportunities for its members. Zubaly has been executive director since 2017 and has been with FMEA for 25 years. Part of her role at FMEA is to serve as the primary mutual aid coordinator for its member utilities. As part of that program, she’s coordinated thousands of lineworkers coming to the assistance of utilities in need both within and outside the state following a hurricane or times of disaster over the last seven years.

EDUCATION: Florida State University (BS, MPA)

MENTOR: Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith, professor emeritus with the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University. Dr. deHaven-Smith introduced me to study public policy in Florida and provided me with lasting experience and knowledge in working with state and local governments and elected officials.

READING: Nonfiction — Florida Made: The 25 Most Important Figures Who Shaped the State, by George LeMieux and Laura Mize, and Forerunners Courageous, by Leroy Collins; Fiction — A Land Remembered, by Patrick D. Smith, and One Second After, by William Forstchen.

MOTIVATIONAL MANTRA: Learn to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. Be the only female in the room. Be the youngest person at a meeting. Be the oldest person at a social event. Don’t say no to an opportunity just because you’ve never done it before.