Ana Cruz is a civil servant and lobbyist at Ballard Partners Tampa, Florida.[1] She was the first Hispanic person to serve as executive director of the Florida Democratic Party and served as spokesperson for Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaigns in 2008 and 2016.[2] Ana Cruz is known as “Tampa’s First Lady”, partner of Tampa Mayor, Jane Castor.[3]
Ana Cruz | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupation | Lobbyist |
Lobbying career
editAna Cruz is a managing partner at Ballard Partners, Florida’s largest bipartisan lobbying firm.[4] As a lobbyist, she has built coalitions between government and businesses, professional sports teams, hospitals and technology companies.[5] Cruz worked to attract technology startups to Tampa.[6] She lobbied for Verizon’s integration of their FTTP technology in Tampa and Hillsborough County in 2006[7] and for Uber ride-sharing to be permitted in the Tampa area and securing federal funding for 'Connected Vehicles' in Tampa.[8] Ana Cruz is assigned by her firm to direct government affairs in Washington D.C. where she is working with the Biden administration on implementing progressive policies.[9]
Political career
editAna Cruz managed her first campaign and worked various staff positions for Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Senator Bill Nelson.[10] Ana Cruz served for two years as the executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, making her the youngest person and first hispanic person to serve in the role. Ana Cruz was a Hillary Clinton Campaign spokesperson in 2008 and 2016 and Joe Biden Campaign advisor in 2020, serving on the DNC’s Convention Platform Committee as a representative for Joe Biden.[11]
Committees and awards
editAna Cruz serves on the Board of The Greater Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Board, the Athena Society, the 51st Super Bowl Committee. Ana Cruz was selected to be in Florida’s Top 100 Most Influential by Florida Politics Magazine in 2020 and 2021.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Jane Castor might be Tampa's next mayor. Her partner, Ana Cruz, is a lobbyist. Does it matter?". www.tampabay.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Hillary Clinton's Florida Foundation". www.projects.tampabay.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ Warner, David (2019). "See You At The Riverwalk" (PDF). Visit Tampa Gay. Tampa, Florida: James Howard.
- ^ "Here are the Top 5 money-making lobbying firms in Florida". www.tampabay.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "When a community looks for help in a pandemic, and knows where to find it". www.floridapolitics.com. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Why Startups Are Leaving Silicon Valley For Tampa: An Interview With Tampa's First Lady Ana Cruz". www.forbes.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Verizon Is Granted Authority to Offer FiOS TV to 735,000 Residents of Hillsborough County, Fla., and Launches the Service in Manatee County, Fla". www.verizon.com. February 2006. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Tampa Expressway Authority awarded first phase of funding for connected vehicle pilot program". www.floridapolitics.com. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Tampa's First Lady Reacts To New Presidential Administration And Her Expanding Role In National Policy". www.tampa.cbslocal.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ O'Brien, Bobby (24 August 2008). "Anna Cruz: Representing A Target Demographic". www.npr.org. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Anna Cruz, Managing Partner, Ballard Partners, Tampa". www.floridatrend500.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Ana Cruz". www.ballardpartners.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.