Kim McDougal*

Kim McDougal, Ph.D. is a senior government affairs consultant in GrayRobinson’s Tallahassee office and one of the top education lobbyists and experts in Florida. Kim is known for her nearly three decades of experience serving in multiple leadership roles within the executive and legislative branches of Florida’s government. Kim knew early on her passion was to make a difference in the lives of students. Her passion and commitment to students is as strong today, as it was then.

In addition to Kim's thorough knowledge of the various K-20 education issues in Florida, she also focuses her lobby practice on areas such as nonprofits, local governments, major corporations, and business development with state and local governments and provides consulting services as well.

Most recently, Kim successfully advocated for funding for building a new elementary/middle school in a rural district, creating a panic alert system for K-12 students, and securing funding for individuals with disabilities, as well as legally blind Floridians. Additionally, Kim has successfully worked with several statewide associations, nonprofits, local governments, major corporations on the advancement of their legislative agendas, including both substantive legislation and appropriations.

Prior to joining GrayRobinson, Kim served as chief of staff to Florida Governor Rick Scott, where she was responsible for directly serving and advising the Governor on issues pertaining to 100,000+ executive branch employees and administering an $83 billion state budget. She also served as Governor Scott’s deputy chief of staff, legislative affairs director, education policy coordinator, and as policy advisor during his successful re-election campaign.

Kim has served as a senior advisor or in a leadership role for many of Florida’s Commissioners of Education, including Florida’s first appointed Commissioner Jim Horne. She also served in several roles under the Governor Jeb Bush Administration within the Executive Office of the Governor, including education policy coordinator in the Office of Policy and Budget.

Kim began her public service career with the State of Florida in 1989 as a program auditor with the Office of the Auditor General, which later became the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), where she went on to serve as a senior staff director.

Kim currently services on the board of directors for the Florida Sports Foundation and the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists. She previously served on Governor-elect Ron DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee for Education and Workforce Development. She is involved with several organizations, including the Florida Association of Intergovernmental Relations, Association of Florida Colleges, Florida Education Legislative Liaisons, and the Orlando Economic Development Council’s Political Leadership Institute.

Kim holds a Ph.D. and a M.S. from Florida State University in Education, and a bachelor’s degree in Education from Tulane University. She resides in Tallahassee, Fla., and enjoys spending time at the beach, golf carting, and watching college and professional football.

* Denotes non-attorney professional  

• Education
  • Louise S. McGehee High School
  • Tulane University, B.S.
  • Florida State University, M.S.
  • Florida State University, Ph.D.
• Professional Associations & Memberships
  • Florida Association of Intergovernmental Relations (FAIR), January 2019
  • Association of Florida Colleges (AFC), January 2019-present
  • Governor-Elect Ron DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee
    • Education and Workforce Development, December 2018-January 2019
  • Florida Sports Foundation, December 2018-present
  • Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists
    • Designated Professional Lobbyist
    • Board of Directors, 2021-2022
  • Florida Education Legislative Liaisons 
• Presentations & Seminars
  • Speaker, Florida School Boards Association Annual Day in the Legislature, March 5, 2021
  • Moderator, "Recapping One of the Most Historic Elections in the History of the United States," November 12, 2020
  • Presenter, "Who's in and Who's Out?" Post-Election Pop-Up Forum, August 19, 2020
  • "The Appointments Process," Central Florida Political Leadership Institute, Orlando Economic Partnership, August 13, 2020
  • Moderator, "Kitchen Table Talk on Reopening Florida Schools,” GrayRobinson COVID-19 Virtual Pop-up Forum, June 18, 2020
  • “2020 Legislative Session Wrap Up,” Florida School Boards Association, April 1, 2020
  • Florida Commission on the Status of Women, 2020 LEAD Summit Speaker, March 2020
  • "Advocacy 101," Florida Nurses’ Association Advocacy Days, January 22, 2020
  • "Election Laws for 2020 Legislative Session," Florida School Boards Association, December 4, 2019
  • Central Florida Political Leadership Institute, Orlando Economic Partnership, August 2019 
  • "Getting the Most from Your City’s Contract Lobbyist," FLCities 93rd Annual Conference, August 15-17, 2019
  • "2019 Florida Legislative Review," Jacksonville Session Wrap Up, May 13, 2019
  • "Questions for the Governor’s Office,” Florida State University class Florida Legislative Practice: From Bill Drafting to the Governor's Desk, April 10, 2019
  • "Advocacy 101," Florida Nurses’ Association Advocacy Days, March 13, 2019
  • "Current Education and Political Issues," Florida School Board Association Meeting, November 28, 2018
  • State and Federal Appropriations Presentation “Bringing Home the Bacon," Florida League of Cities, November 15, 2018
  • "Executive Branch Insight—Pulling Back the Curtain," Florida Agency of Professional Lobbyist (FAPL) Retreat, September 5-7, 2018
  • "Facility Security Projects and Emergency Preparedness," Florida School Board Association Summer Conference, 2018
  • "Building the Foundation for Successful Legislative Advocacy," Florida School Board Association Summer Conference, 2018
  • "2018 Florida Legislative Review," Miami Session Wrap Up, April 10, 2018
  • "In Focus: Session 2018," Pensacola Chamber Gopher Club Breakfast, April 6, 2018
  • "Constitution Revision Commission," The Florida Bar's Education Law Committee Meeting, January 19, 2018
  • "Constitution Revision Commission," Florida School Board Association Conference, November 29, 2017
• Civic
  • Florida Sports Foundation
    • Board of Directors, December 2018
  • Orlando Economic Development Council
    • Political Leadership Institute Class, November 2018
• E-Lerts & Newsletters
  • COVID-19 Task Force E-lert: Reopening Florida's Schools, June 16, 2020
  • GrayRobinson Government Relations & Lobbying E-lert: First Steps Taken in the DeSantis Education Plan, February 7, 2019
• Articles & Publications
  • "Legislative Session & Legislative Budget Request Process," Florida School Boards Association, September 2020