ROBERT MCCLURE III

PRESIDENT & CEO, THE JAMES MADISON INSTITUTE, TALLAHASSEE

The James Madison Institute is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy research institute that champions free-market principles and conducts research on such issues as criminal justice, health care, taxes and regulatory environments. McClure has been the president and CEO since 2004.

EDUCATION: Furman University (BA), Florida State University (MS), University of Florida (Ph.D.)

FIRST JOB: Bagging groceries at Albertson’s Grocery Store.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: I would love to work in the farming and cattle industry.

MENTEE IMPACT: I mentored an intern who had no prior experience or academic background in politics or public policy. He was eager to learn and enthusiastic about the opportunity to work in the think tank world. We would meet on a regular basis to discuss current policy issues and his research assignments. At the conclusion of his internship, he was accepted into the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows Program and ultimately won the Jeb Bush Award.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: I used to be a “wedding singer” in a former life. I sang at weddings, baptisms, fraternity parties (lots of R.E.M.!)

INDUSTRY TREND: We are losing the art of disagreeing but still finding solutions. “The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and an ally, not a 20% traitor.” — Ronald Reagan