by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Shannon Hewett may never run for public office, but as a partner with Fiorentino and Hewett she is right in the middle of as many legislative issues as most elected officials.
The four-person government relations and business development firm recently moved from the Bank of America Tower to second-floor space in The Carling. There’s a reception area, break room, work room and conference room. Everyone has their own office and everyone is still unpacking — to some extent. In fact, painters are still milling around finishing touch up work.
Hewett is 1995 graduate of the University of North Florida. She got into politics the old fashioned way: she volunteered to work for the local Republican Club.
“The true grassroots way,” said Hewett.
In 1999, Hewett went to work for U.S. Sen. Connie Mack as the Northeast Florida regional director. From the office in Mandarin, Hewett served as a liaison between Mack’s Washington, D.C. office and the seven counties that comprise the Northeast Florida district. About six months later Mack announced he did not intend to seek re-election.
“I closed the office down,” said Hewett, adding the General Services Administration came in to inventory everything and help sort out the files.
Shortly thereafter, Hewett went to work for Fiorentino, helping form a lobbying firm that has quietly become one the best-known in the area with high-profile clients such as CSX, Fidelity Financial, the University of Florida and the City of Jacksonville. Hewett said the personalities within the firm may lean towards the Grand Old Party, but professionally Fiorentino and Hewett shows no favoritism.
“There is no party affiliation although most know we align more with Republicans,” said Hewett. “We reach across the party lines and have friends on both sides. Politics is not a factor in our business plan.”
A year ago, Fiorentino approached Hewett about becoming a partner in the firm. Since then, they have added one staffer and moved the office. Hewett said she and Fiorentino communicate regularly — during the Legislative session, they constantly talk about progress and issues — but the summer months do tend to be a little slower. That’s OK, though. They make up for the 18-plus-hour days that characterize the life of a lobbyist during the session.
Hewett said the firm has about a 95 percent retention rate and gets many of its new clients from referrals. However, she and Fiorentino are part salesmen. Hewett said the company’s success is thanks to its desire to maintain a high level of professionalism and ethics.
“We pride ourselves on being above board,” she said. “We play by the rules.”