At its December meeting in St. Augustine, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) elected Robert A. Spottswood, of Key West, to serve as chairman and Michael W. Sole, of Tequesta, to serve as vice chairman. Spottswood replaces Chairman Bo Rivard, of Panama City.

Background

• Spottswood has served on the Commission since September 2015, most recently as vice chairman. He is the chief executive officer of Spottswood Companies Inc. He currently serves as a member of the Third District Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission and formerly served on the Governor’s Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding.
• Spottswood received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law.
• Spottswood is a sixth-generation Floridian from the Keys, and cares deeply about the beautiful state of Florida and preserving it as the Fishing Capital of the World.
• Sole has served on the commission since May 2017.
• Sole is vice president of Environmental Services at NextEra Energy Inc., a leading clean energy company.
• Sole previously served as vice president, State Governmental Affairs with Florida Power and Light and as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. He was also a Captain in the United States Marine Corps.
• Sole received his Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology from the Florida Institute of Technology.