Crist Announces Citizen Review Group Leaders

~ Groups to report on opportunities and challenges within state agencies ~

TALLAHASSEE — Governor-Elect Charlie Crist today announced the first four of nine Citizen Review Group leaders that will spearhead an agency-by-agency fact-finding mission aimed at identifying opportunities and challenges within each operation.

“I am a firm believer that government does not have all the answers,” said Crist. “I am grateful to these volunteers for their service and commitment to this fact-finding process that will, in the end, benefit all Floridians.”

Each Citizen Review Group will gather information on individual agencies for the purpose of reporting the findings to Crist and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Jeff Kottkamp. Among the information gathered will be: administrative policy, legislative priorities, budget and funding priorities, organizational issues and federal law and policies.

The Citizen Review Groups consist of individuals from both the private sector and public service and will represent Florida’s diversity. These individuals are volunteering their time to this transition period for the betterment of Florida. Crist will announce the additional leaders in the coming days.

Like the Crist Transition Team members announced since his election, Citizen Review Group members will sign the Transition Code of Ethical Conduct.

Citizen Review Group Leaders announced today include:

Government Affairs and Management: Robert Bernstein

Agencies Covered: Department of Management Services, Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Department of State and Department of Lottery.

Robert Bernstein was appointed to the North Broward Hospital District Board of Commissioners in 2005 by Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Commissioner Bernstein has more than 20 years experience as a business and healthcare executive. Commissioner Bernstein has also served on the State Lottery Commission, the Governor’s study group on Boards and Commissions and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Corporation. Commissioner Bernstein earned a bachelor’s degree in finance at Florida Atlantic University.

Criminal Justice and Public Safety: Tiffany Carr

Agencies Covered: Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Military Affairs and the Division of Emergency Management.

Tiffany Carr currently serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Ms. Carr has been with the coalition for 10 years. She spent most of her early tenure with the group organizing initiatives in Florida’s rural communities and training nationally on the barriers to providing services to rural victims of domestic violence and their children. Ms. Carr serves on the Board of Directors of Florida Legal Services, Inc. and is a board member of the Florida Supportive Housing Coalition. Ms. Carr was the recipient of the Department of Children and Families Governor’s Peace at Home Award in 2005.

Health Care: Dr. A.K. Desai

Agencies covered: Department of Health and Agency for Health Care Administration

Dr. A.K. Desai is commissioner and chairman of the White House Commission on Asian American, Pacific Islanders Health Committee advising the President on issues effecting Asian Americans. Dr. Desai was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Council for Education Policy, Research and Improvement and the Florida Board of Governors. Dr. Desai is a member of the American and Florida Medical Associations, the American College of Physician Executives and the Pinellas County Medical Society. Dr. Desai obtained his medical degree from Government Medical College in India and received a master’s degree in administrative medicine from George Washington University.

Office of Financial Regulation: Román Martínez

Román Martínez was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the State Board of Administration, serving as a member of the Investment Advisory Council. Mr. Martinez serves on the Board of Directors for Alliant Techsystems Inc., CIGNA Corporation and International Rescue Committee. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and both New York -Presbyterian Healthcare System, Inc. and New-York Presbyterian Hospital. Mr. Martinez earned a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received a Bachelor of Science from Boston College.

For more information about the Crist Transition, please visit www.CristTransition.com.