ORLANDO, Fla., Jan.
27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Carrie O'Rourke, the associate
vice chancellor for government relations at the State University
System of Florida's Board of
Governors, is joining Florida Realtors® as its new vice
president of public policy, beginning Feb.
9, 2015.
"Carrie O'Rourke has worked in
the public policy arena in Florida
for over a decade," said 2015 Florida Realtors President
Andrew Barbar, a broker with Keller
Williams Realty Services in Boca
Raton. "Her knowledge and expertise will be invaluable to
our public policy office in Tallahassee. In six weeks, state lawmakers
will begin the 2015 legislative session. We look forward to working
with her on issues and concerns vital to all Floridians."
O'Rourke will be based at Florida Realtors' Public Policy office
in Tallahassee, Fla. Prior to her
position as associate vice chancellor with the state university
system, she was the director of external affairs for Gov.
Rick Scott's office. In that
capacity, she was responsible for overseeing events at the
Governor's mansion, along with gubernatorial appointments,
scheduling, proclamations and other duties. O'Rourke also managed
and coordinated statewide coalition building, intergovernmental
affairs and community outreach activities for the governor's
office.
O'Rourke is looking forward to beginning her new job. "I had
been working with Florida Realtors through the governor's office
and I felt like the organization combined many of my interests and
strengths," she said. "Economic development is a passion of mine,
and Realtors and real estate are on the cutting edge of economic
development in Florida.
Florida's Realtors also are
committed to advocacy and community service – it's the full
circle."
Her resume includes serving as a deputy country director for the
Mercy Corps in Bishkek,
Kyrgyzstan, (a former Soviet Union Republic in Central Asia); as the program director for a
USAID-funding Democracy and Civil Society initiative for social
action and renewal in the western Kazakhstan and Caspian Sea region; and as a
sustainable economic development volunteer with the U.S. Peace
Corps in Kyrgyz Republic.
O'Rourke earned a master's degree in public administration, with
a focus in international development policy and administration,
from Rutgers University in Camden, New
Jersey. She has a bachelor's degree in economics and
political science, with a minor in international relations, from
St. Joseph's University in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She
knows several languages, including Kyrgyz, French, Russian and
Uzbek.
Becoming familiar with public policy, legislative and regulatory
issues of concern to Realtors and residents alike will be her
immediate focus, O'Rourke said, particularly with the 2015 Florida
Legislature convening in early March.
"I'm excited about working with the members of Florida
Realtors," she said. "Passing legislation isn't just about the
process in Tallahassee – it's
about focusing on our members – and advocating for their needs and
their concerns, which are issues that matter to all
Floridians."
Sidebar:
Carrie
O'Rourke, vice president of public policy
Florida Realtors®
Hobbies: Gardening
Favorite color: Purple
Favorite food: Italian – who doesn't like lasagna?
Favorite music: Country
Favorite cartoon character: Smurfette
Favorite movie: The Goonies
Favorite vacation destination: Florida beaches!
Cat or dog person: Dog, for sure!
What are you reading now? The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Florida Realtors®, formerly known as the Florida
Association of Realtors®, serves as the voice for real
estate in Florida. It provides
programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative
representation to its 140,000 members in 58 boards/associations.
Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available
at http://media.floridarealtors.org.
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SOURCE Florida Realtors