Richard Stern
The Heritage Foundation
Richard Stern is Director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at The Heritage Foundation.
Prior to joining Heritage, Stern was a Congressional staffer for over seven years. During that time, he served as a policy staffer for the Republican Study Committee, where he was the staff lead for their Budget and Spending task force and spearheaded their work to create their FY 2020 and FY 2022 federal budgets.
He also served as Legislative Director for Representative Tom McClintock of California and was a Legislative Assistant for former Representative Steve King of Iowa.
Stern is a graduate of Emory University and holds a bachelor of arts in Economics.
Jaimie Francis
US Chamber of Commerce
Jaimie M. Francis is vice president of policy and programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Francis develops and oversees the Chamber Foundation's programs for workforce development. She manages its Talent Pipeline Management® (TPM) initiative and its 1,000+ member National Learning Network of TPM practitioners and partners. Francis is a faculty member for the TPM Academy®, a training for state and local chamber, business association, and economic development agency leaders, as well as employers, to learn the TPM approach to drive partnerships with their education and training providers based on industry need.
Earlier in her career, Francis worked for the Division of Student and Academic Support Services at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She began her career as an admissions counselor for her undergraduate alma mater, Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in sociology. She received her Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development.
Originally from Tallahassee, Florida, Francis lives in Maryland with her family.
Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations
Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster is an award-winning political reporter turned public affairs professional, who currently serves as the public affairs director at Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations. Prior to joining GSMA, she served as the director of government relations at the Greater Naples Chamber. There, she helped advance the chamber’s governmental and legislative priorities at the city, county and state levels. She also managed the successful One Collier campaign, which, in 2018, supported the passage of a one-cent infrastructure sales surtax in Collier County.
Jenna graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, with a degree in journalism. After college, she spent more than a decade covering local and state government and politics, for the Naples Daily News and then Florida Politics.
Jenna currently serves as the board secretary and a founding board member of the Collier County Community Land Trust and is a member of the Women’s Foundation of Collier County Board of Directors. In 2020, she was named a 40 Under 40 honoree by Gulfshore Business.
Luke Buzard
TECO Peoples Gas
Buzard first joined TECO in 2010 as manager of Audit Services, where he later became director. In 2016 he joined Peoples Gas where he served as Director of Pipeline Safety & Support Services. He currently is in the position of VP of Regulatory & External Affairs. Buzard has led the development and implementation of the safety management system, enhancement of technology solutions and process improvements, and the company’s most recent rate case filings. Buzard’s current role includes responsibility for the utilities regulated affairs with the Florida Public Service Commission including base rate cases, annual filing requirements and compliance. Furthermore, Buzard and his team are responsible for the interaction with local authorities across the state focused on stakeholder engagement and community investment.
Prior to TECO, Buzard held financial auditor positions at Cherry, Bekaert & Holland LLP in St. Petersburg and KPMG LLP in Tampa. He was involved in audits of various industries, including retail, manufacturing, government and real estate.
Buzard received both his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and his Master of Accountancy from the University of South Florida. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor.
Buzard served on the board of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County where he was in the position of Finance Chair. He currently serves as a member of the Advisory Council for the USF Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy. He previously served as chair of the University of South Florida Accounting Circle and was a member of Class IV of the Leadership Connect Institute.
Buzard is married to his wife of 18 years, Nicole, and has three children, Ava, Carter and Max. He enjoys golf and cheering his boys in hockey and Ava on the swim and basketball team.
Denise Vidal
Lee County Electric Cooperative
Denise Vidal is currently Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer for Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC). She has overall leadership responsibility for the LCEC operations, including customer service, network infrastructure, and rates, along with all support functions. As CEO, she has led the organization through various challenges including the global COVID pandemic and restoration after Hurricane Ian directly hit LCEC serving areas in 2022. LCEC has been serving Southwest Florida communities for over 80 years – since 1940 – and currently has more than 250,000 customers and over 9,000 miles of energized line. Denise and the LCEC employees work effectively and efficiently every day to ensure customers receive reliable and competitive electric services and a quality customer experience.
Prior to serving as EVP & CEO, Denise was the Director of Finance and Accounting / CFO at LCEC for over 10 years, including the years of the Great Recession. As CFO she had responsibility for all areas of the LCEC financial operations, along with inventory, procurement, warehouse, program management, risk management, internal audit, compliance, and key account functions. In addition, Denise lead the strategic and business planning activities of the organization. Denise started with LCEC in April of 2003 and has had a variety of other responsibilities during her tenure including marketing, call center, customer service, office support services, fleet, and facilities management.
Prior to joining LCEC, Denise worked for Sprint Central Telephone (formerly Centel and United Telephone) in Overland Park, KS and Las Vegas, NV, also in various increasingly responsible positions, including accounting, payroll, key accounts, network interconnection, product management and product development.
Denise holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, both from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She is the chairperson of the Association of Large Distribution Cooperatives (ALDC) which has a vision to be THE forum for advancing the interests of the nation’s largest retail electric cooperatives. Denise serves on the board for the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, is a Member at Large of the Horizon Council, serves on the General Advisory Board for the Florida Southwestern School of Business and Technology, and regularly mentors FGCU business school students. She is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) through the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) in which she’s been a member since 1993 and served on the Board of the IMA Southwest Florida Chapter. Denise holds various Toastmasters International designations and is a member of the Electric Toasters Club at LCEC.
Mike Giallombardo
Florida House of Representatives
Mike Giallombardo is a husband, father, combat veteran, and businessman who is passionate about serving his community. Mike grew up in Cape Coral where he attended elementary, middle and high school. Growing up, he developed a love for playing football, leading to college scholarships. Mike earned his Associate’s degree from Georgia Military College, Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University and his Master’s Degree in International Relations with a Concentration in Conflict Resolution from American Military University. After college, Mike enlisted in the United States Army and was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served with the 4th Infantry Division and also supported special operation missions. Mike played a significant role as a liaison to the Iraqi military and other coalition forces supporting the counter insurgency effort in Iraq. Mike is highly decorated from the operations he took part in and has been awarded numerous accommodations and medals such as Army Commendation Medals and Achievement Medals that were awarded for operations in Iraq that lead to capturing various targets. Mike currently serves as a Warrant Officer in the Florida National Guard as a State Emergency Response Team liaison for the State of Florida. He has been activated for multiple hurricanes working with multiple counties in ensuring that the citizens have support from the Florida National Guard. He was also deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic to operate mobile testing sites. When not on active duty, Mike owns and operates businesses that specializes in cybersecurity, technology development, commercialization of new technology, and education. Mike specializes in working with law enforcement, veteran-owned companies and helping veterans transition to civilian life. Mike and his wife Wendi have a son Luca, daughter Presley, and help raise their niece Ivey
Michael Puchalla
Housing Alliance Inc.
Michael Puchalla serves as the CEO/Executive Director of The Housing Alliance, Inc., which is affiliated with the Housing Development Corporation of SW Florida, Inc., d/b/a HELP and the Collier County Community Land Trust, Inc (CCCLT). These 3 affiliated entities create a holistic approach to solving housing affordability challenges in our community. In his role, Mr. Puchalla continues to serve as the Executive Director of both HELP and the CCCLT. Mr. Puchalla joined HELP, which is a HUD-approved, non-profit counseling agency, in January 2009. He assumed the role of Executive Director in July of 2013. In 2020, HELP launched the CCCLT. Prior to joining HELP, Mr. Puchalla held Florida licenses in Real Estate, Property and Casualty Insurance, and Life, Health, and Variable Annuities insurance. He obtained his Florida Mortgage Broker’s license in 2002, and maintains an active Florida Mortgage Loan Originator’s License. Mr. Puchalla worked in mortgage lending from 2002 until 2009, with an emphasis on working with first-time buyers. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, with an undergraduate degree in Management – Entrepreneurship. Mr. Puchalla has served on many local boards and committees, including the Collier County Continuum of Care and Emmanuel Communities, Inc.
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