2026 FALL ROUND-UP SPEAKERS
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David Altmaier
The Southern Group,
Thursday, October 29
David Altmaier joined The Southern Group in 2023 after 14 years with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, including six years as Florida's Insurance Commissioner (2016–2022). In that role, he oversaw one of the largest insurance markets in the world, and under his leadership Florida passed a sweeping reform bill aimed at stabilizing the market. Nationally, he served as President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in 2021 and as Vice Chair of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) Executive Committee. He also serves as a non-executive director on the board of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited.
Emily Clayton
Economist with the American Trucking Associations (ATA)
Thursday, October 29
Emily Clayton is an Economist with the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the leading national trade association representing the trucking industry. She reports directly to ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello and contributes to the analysis of macroeconomic conditions and industry-specific trends affecting freight markets and motor carriers. Since joining ATA in 2022, Emily has played a central role in the research, analysis, and production of ATA’s flagship economic publications and recurring reports, supporting data-driven insights for industry stakeholders and policymakers. Prior to joining ATA, she earned a master’s degree in applied economics from American University.
Steve Dowling
Chief Safety Officer, FMCSA
Thursday, October 29
Steve Dowling serves as Chief Safety Officer for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), where he leads the agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Dowling brings more than 35 years of combined law enforcement and transportation industry experience focused on commercial vehicle safety, operational leadership, and crash risk reduction. Before joining FMCSA, he served as Senior Director of Safety at Covenant Logistics, where he led safety initiatives that contributed to three consecutive years of record reductions in the company's crash rates.
Prior to his private-sector career, Dowling served with the California Highway Patrol, retiring as Chief of the Valley Division. In that role, he commanded an 850-person force serving the greater Sacramento region and oversaw operations across 20 commands, a commercial vehicle enforcement facility, and three communications centers that encompassed ten counties. He also served as Incident Commander of the Emergency Operations Center during multiple major emergencies, including the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California.
An active leader in the commercial motor vehicle safety community, Dowling served as Chair of the American Trucking Associations' Law Enforcement Advisory Board and previously served as President of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and as an adjunct professor in William Jessup University's criminal justice program.
Dowling holds a master's degree in organizational management and a bachelor's degree in general studies. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy Executive Leadership Program and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association program.
Chris Dudley
The Southern Group, Tallahassee
Thursday, October 29
Chris Dudley joined The Southern Group's Tallahassee office in 2000 after serving seven years at the highest levels of Florida government. He has since developed extensive policy expertise spanning appropriations, education, economic and business development, energy, transportation, land use, technology, utilities, and regulated industries.
Chris began his career as a legislative aide in the Florida House of Representatives before joining the Florida Department of Education, where he served as special assistant, deputy legislative director, and deputy chief of staff to Education Commissioner Frank Brogan. In 1998, he joined the Bush-Brogan gubernatorial campaign and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Jeb Bush. Chris is a founding member of the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists, was named Lobbyist of the Year by Influence Magazine, and has been recognized by Florida Trend as one of the 500 Most Influential Floridians for the past eight years. In 2019, he was recognized as a Pioneer Advocate for the Florida trucking industry. A native of Fort Myers, Chris holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of South Florida, a Master of Legal Studies from Vanderbilt University College of Law, and completed the Applied Business Analytics executive program at MIT Sloan.
Robert R. Kynoch
Deputy Executive Director, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Thursday, October 29
Mr. Kynoch is a native Floridian and a graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in
finance. He began his state government career over 30 years ago with the Office of Financial Regulation
where he held various positions from analyst to the Chief of the Bureau of Financial Investigations
responsible for conducting investigations of financial crimes.
In August of 2015, Mr. Kynoch joined the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and
was appointed the Director of Motorist Services. In February 2023, he was promoted to Deputy
Executive Director. In this position, Mr. Kynoch is responsible for the operations of the Division of
Motorist Services and the Division of Information Systems Administration. These divisions are
responsible for all information technology operations and promoting safety on the highways by
credentialing qualified drivers, monitoring, and improving problem drivers, ensuring motor vehicles,
vessels and mobile homes are properly titled and registered, and regulating motor vehicle dealers and
manufacturers.
Jason Mahon
Deputy Secretary of Economic Development and Chief Manufacturing Officer, FloridaCommerce
Thursday, October 29
Jason Mahon serves as Deputy Secretary of Economic Development and Chief Manufacturing Officer at FloridaCommerce. Since 2015, Jason has served the State of Florida in several leadership roles, including Communications Director to Governor Ron DeSantis.
In 2024, Jason was appointed Chief Manufacturing Officer for the state of Florida, one of only two Chief Manufacturing Officers in the country, underscoring Florida’s efforts to support and strengthen the state’s manufacturing sector.
A proud and native Floridian from Charlotte County, Jason graduated from Florida State University and resides in Tallahassee with his wife Ashley and their children Jonah and Macy.
Rudy Powell
Chief Engineer of Operations, Florida Department of Transportation
Thursday, October 29
Rudy Powell is currently the Chief Engineer of Operations for the Florida Department of Transportation. Rudy has more than 34 years of engineering experience with 31 years in the transportation industry in both the private and public sectors, including over 20 years with the Department where he has held the positions of Director, Traffic Engineering and Operations, Interim Director, State Materials Office; Director, Office of Maintenance; State Construction Engineer; State Specifications Engineer; and Structures Area Engineer.
Rudy earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida and South Carolina.
Rudy enjoys reading, going for long walks, learning new things, and just being outdoors.