Dear Friends,

I am honored to serve as Florida's Chief Financial Officer and excited about leading the team of dedicated public servants who work at the Department of Financial Services. I want to assure you that I recognize a major part of this Department's focus is the more than 500,000 licensees it has that provide a valuable service to the citizens of Florida.

In preparing to take office, I have been energized by the positive feedback I have received about the reputation of the insurance professionals this department regulates. Florida's people and businesses depend on the work you do. In the coming months, it is my goal to proactively address the issues that affect Florida's insurance industry, especially those impacting our agents and adjusters.

I would also like you to know a little about my background. I am a fifth-generation Floridian with more than 25 years of experience in community banking. Inspired by my family's time-honored tradition of serving the community, I began my career in public service in 1993 as Vice Mayor of North Palm Beach. In 2000, I was elected to legislative service as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, and subsequently to the Florida Senate in 2002. I had the great honor of leading the Senate as Senate President from 2008 through 2010. My greatest accomplishment, however, is being married to my wife Carole and a father to our four children.

In my new role as CFO, my priorities and expectations are straight forward - ensuring Floridians' hard-earned money stays in their pockets where it belongs, an unrelenting pursuit of financial fraud and abuse, and a commitment to the growth and expansion of Florida's economy.

With this in mind, I am confident that we will work together in making Florida a better place to live, work and prosper.

Thank you,
Jeff Atwater

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