BILL HERRLE

FLORIDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS, TALLAHASSEE

Last year, small business celebrated long sought-after reforms to some civil lawsuits that have been championed by Herrle for decades. “This is something small businesses have clamored for,” Herrle said of the Legislature’s tort-reform effort. “The cost of defending itself against just one nuisance lawsuit can break a small business, even if the case is eventually thrown out of court.” Herrle has been a lobbyist for almost 40 years. He served as NFIB/Florida’s state director from 1990 to 2001. After six years as vice president of governmental affairs and political action for the Florida Retail Federation, he rejoined NFIB in 2007. Herrle is a member of the board of trustees for Florida TaxWatch. Herrle has been at the forefront of the battle to repeal the commercial rent tax in Florida.

EDUCATION: Penn State University (BA)