Florida Realtors® Announces New Vice President of Public Policy

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