by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Although the road to this point in her career has been a long one, through hard work and dedication, Shannon Boyette Hewett has traveled it quickly.
“I’ve been very fortunate,” said Hewett, a government consultant at Fiorentino and Associates. “Sometimes I think I was just in the right place at the right time.”
Hewett’s political and government involvement began less than a decade ago when the Lake City native received a call from the Republican Party seeking monetary donations. Though she was still a student at the University of North Florida, the political science major offered to volunteer instead. Interestingly enough, Hewett comes from a long line of Democrats.
“Initially,” she said, “I would come in on Fridays from nine until noon. I would do everything from answering the phones to filing papers.”
Within a few months, she was offered a part-time paying job. A year later, after she had graduated, Hewett was a full-time employee, working on John Delaney’s successful mayoral campaign.
“It was a really exciting time,” she said.
By 1997, Hewett was looking for other job opportunities when she received a call from City Council member Jim Overton, who was beginning his run as Council president and wanted Hewett’s help.
“I thought about it for a while,” she said. “Finally, I just realized that working on the Council would give me a better insight into local government. Before, I had been working primarily in politics.”
Hewett served as Overton’s legislative aide for one year to the day.
“Before I even started, we agreed upon that,” she said.
It wasn’t long before Hewett’s phone was ringing again. This time it was U.S. Sen. Connie Mack’s office.
“Originally, I wasn’t interested in working for Connie,” she said. “But by chance, I met some people from his office at a party and I reconsidered.”
Hewett became the Northeast Florida regional director for Mack’s office.
“That’s where I got my first taste of lobbying,” she said. “I was overseeing seven counties so there was a lot of interfacing with different government offices and entities and also many business leaders.”
At that time, Hewett also had an active role in legislative committees, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Cancer Institute and the MS Society.
“It was great working with Connie,” she said. “From the first time I met him, he made me feel very comfortable.”
Hewett worked for Mack for two-and-a-half years until he retired in December 2000. When U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was elected that year, an all new staff was brought on board, leaving Hewett to look for her next opportunity.
That opportunity came in the form of an invitation from political consultant Marty Fiorentino. He wanted Hewett to work for Holland & Knight’s Jacksonville offices as a legislative coordinator and she accepted. While working for the firm, several organizations, including CSX, the University of Florida and the City of Jacksonville dotted her client list.
“Working as a team with Marty over at Holland & Knight was great experience,” she said.
After one year, Fiorentino left Holland & Knight to start his own firm. Hewett followed.
Today, she spends much of her time in Tallahassee lobbying for her clients — many of whom followed her from Holland & Knight — in attempts to pass legislation and help secure funds in the state budget.
“One of the things I love the most about my job,” said Hewett, “is that I’m able to work with a client to help achieve their goals and see them be successful.”
While citing high stress levels and and busy schedules as downsides to her career, Hewett isn’t jumping ship any time soon.
“In the future, I’m looking forward to staying at Fiorentino and Associates and watching it grow. I’ve been given some tremendous opportunities that have been professionally fulfilling,” she said.
As for a political career, Hewett said she doesn’t plan on running any time soon. For now, she enjoys staying behind the scenes.