Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried is announcing another round of hires for the administration, with new additions in her office’s external and legislative affairs departments. Stephanie McClung will serve as External Affairs Director, Shahra Anderson Lambert and Ricardo Alvarez as Regional Directors for Southwest and South Florida respectively, and Matthew Alford and Carlos Nathan as Deputy Legislative Affairs Directors.
“We’re building a Department that’s accessible, in touch with Florida’s communities, and pursuing the people’s priorities. Stephanie, Shahra, Ricardo, Matthew, and Carlos add a multitude of expertise and experience to our team, as we begin working to implement our bold agenda on behalf of Florida’s farmers and ranchers, consumers, and families,” stated Commissioner Nikki Fried.
Stephanie McClung, External Affairs Director
McClung is a fifth-generation Floridian and University of South Florida graduate who most recently worked as Senior Finance Advisor for Commissioner Fried’s campaign and Executive Director for her Inaugural Committee. Previously, she has served as Deputy Campaign Manager for Chris King’s gubernatorial campaign, Finance Director for Charlie Crist’s 2016 congressional race, Florida Finance Director for Ruth’s List, and as a Regional Finance Director for Charlie Crist’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.
Shahra Anderson Lambert, Regional Director — Southwest Florida
Lambert has been the Regional Director for United States Senator Bill Nelson for fourteen years covering Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando County in the Tampa Bay area Region. She began her career working for then United States Senator Bob Graham in his Tallahassee office as a Constituent Service representative. Then, Lambert transitioned to state government, working for Representative Bruce Antone of Orlando handling bill drafts, committee meetings, scheduling, outreach and in-district constituent services. She received her Bachelor’s Arts in Spanish from Mercer University in Georgia and her Master’s in Arts in Spanish and Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the Florida State University.
Ricardo Alvarez, Regional Director — South Florida
Alvarez brings more than a decade of experience in sustainable agriculture development to the administration. Most recently he has served as a consultant, working with minority agricultural producers and ranchers to implement stronger farm management and conservation practices, and farm-to-fork relations. He began his career as an agricultural project manager in the U.S. Peace Corps implementing sustainability projects. Alvarez has worked on agricultural issues across the world, from West Africa to various regions of the United States, helping to advance sustainable farming practices, increase self-sufficient food production, and tackling issues such as women’s empowerment, soil erosion and more.
Matthew Alford, Deputy Legislative Affairs Director
Alford’s family has roots in Florida reaching back to early statehood and he has been involved in state politics since 2011, when he successfully helmed two special election campaigns to end prohibition in rural parts of North Florida. Most recently, he served as a legislative assistant to Senator Linda Stewart of Orlando and has also worked for Senator Eleanor Sobel of Hollywood. Alford is a graduate of Wakulla High School with undergraduate and Masters degrees from the Florida State University, and has been involved with progressive organizations such as Florida Young Democrats and as a prior board member of the New Leaders Council.
Carlos Nathan, Deputy Legislative Affairs Director
Nathan joins the administration from the Florida Legislature where he served as a Legislative Analyst, for two years in the Senate Democratic Office and seven years for the House Democratic Office, advising on issues of transportation, economic development and general government. During the 2018 election cycle, he worked as the Canvasing Manager at For Our Future, an organization created to elect progressive candidates. In 2014, he joined New Leaders Council, a progressive leadership organization training and currently serving as the Finance Co-Chair. Nathan earned his Bachelor’s in Political Science from the Florida State University and his Master’s in Public Administration from Florida A&M University.
Source: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services