Rheb Harbison

Practice Experience

• Rheb Harbison is principally responsible for advocating on behalf of the Firm’s clients before the legislative and executive branches, asserting positions on a variety of state business issues.
• Mr. Harbison has 29 years of progressive senior level experience in lobbying, public affairs, communications, media relations, and marketing in both the public and private sectors. 
• Mr. Harbison counsels clients on political action strategy.  He is also responsible for fund-raising and the activities of the Firm’s political action committee, which supports the election of local and state candidates for public office.

Background

• Rheb Harbison was the senior vice president of government affairs and chief lobbyist at The Florida Chamber in Tallahassee prior to joining Carlton Fields.  There, he was principally responsible for advocating the organization’s public policy platform, which asserts positions on a variety of business-related state and federal issues.  As chief lobbyist, Rheb coordinated a team of 12 lobbyists.  He was also responsible for the activities of the Chamber’s political action committee, which supports the election of business-minded legislative candidates.
• Mr. Harbison has a broad range of experience in lobbying, public affairs, media relations, and marketing.  Prior to The Florida Chamber, he held executive positions at both the Florida Supreme Court – where he oversaw legislative and communication policy for the chief justice – and Hospital Corporation of America.

Professional Recognition

• National Distinguished Leadership Award, National Association for Community Leadership (1997)
• National Health Care Marketing Awards
• National Health Care Recruitment and Retention Awards
• Florida Golden Image Awards
• Pro Bono Publico Award, Carlton Fields, P.A.

Professional and Civic Activiites

• Leadership Florida, Graduate (2000)
• Leadership Tallahassee, Graduate (1987)
  Chairman (1990)
• Institutes for Organization Management: Chamber of Commerce of the United States (1982-1984)
• Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists
• Big Bend Hospice, Inc., Board of Directors (2009-present)

Education

• Florida State University (B.S., Communication, 1976)
• Tallahassee Community College (Accounting Course Work, 1989-1990)