Bob Martinez
Senior Policy Advisor
Overview
Bob Martinez, former Governor of Florida, is a senior policy advisor with Holland & Knight's Public Policy & Regulation Practice Group and is co-chair of the firm’s Florida Government Advocacy Team. Mr. Martinez is one of Florida's most respected leaders, and his distinguished career in public service spans more than 40 years. Career highlights include serving in the following positions: Cabinet-level office as the nation's second Drug Czar under President George H.W. Bush from 1991-1993, Governor of Florida from 1987-1991, Mayor of the City of Tampa from 1979-1986 and Vice Chairman of the Southwest Water Management District from 1975-1979.
Mr. Martinez is known for his creation of effective environmental protection programs such as Preservation 2000, the largest conservation land-purchasing initiative in the nation of its time. He is also recognized for his focus on drug control and his commitment to public education. Further, his participation in numerous presidential missions to Latin America provides him with extensive knowledge of that region. In fact, Mr. Martinez was the first of Hispanic descent and the second Republican since Reconstruction to be elected as Florida's governor.
In addition to representing clients at Holland & Knight, Mr. Martinez continues his life-long commitment to the community. Mr. Martinez is a native of Tampa and maintains offices in Tampa, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.
Credentials
- The University of Tampa, B.S., Education
- University of Illinois, M.A., Labor and Industrial Relations
- University of Tampa, Trustee Emeritus
- Hillsborough Education Foundation, Director
- Tampa-Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Director
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, National Director
- Florida TaxWatch, Director, Executive Committee Member and Chair of the Center on Florida Citizenship
- Florida Council of 100, Honorary Member
- Florida Council on Economic Education, Honorary Director
- Lowry Park Zoological Society, Director
- Harmony Institute, Director
- The Collins Center, Director Emeritus
- Rotary Club of Tampa, Honorary Member
- University Club of Tampa, Director and Past President
- Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Director
- Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Board of Advisors
- The Governor Bob and Mary Jane Martinez Citizenship Institute
- Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award, Hillsborough County Government, 2020
- Florida 500, Florida Trend, 2018, 2019
- Hillsborough County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award, 2018
- University of Tampa Bob Martinez Athletic Center
- Bob Martinez Middle School
- Bob Martinez Florida Department of Environmental Protection Center
- Seven Honorary Doctorate Degrees
- National Park and Conservation Association Conservationist of the Year Award
- Florida Icon Award, Florida Trend magazine
- Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame
- Great Floridians, 2009
- Spanish
