St Johns Chamber Staff Profile-Bob Porter
Hello Chamber members! I’m Bob Porter, the Vice President of Public Policy at the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce. In this role, I represent the interests of the Chamber’s 1,000 businesses before the State Legislature, Governor’s Office, SJC government and the municipalities of St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach on issues ranging from taxation, affordable workforce housing, and economic development. Prior to joining the Chamber in 2015, I was a non-profit CEO; Vice President of a Washington DC consulting firm headed by a former Secretary of Defense; Director of Government Relations for a Washington DC law firm; and professional staff on the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
I have extensive experience representing domestic US defense/aerospace and specialty metals manufacturers, and multi-national corporations involved in international trade disputes before the US Congress and Executive Branch agencies. I have counseled clients on all aspects of US public policy, international trade policy, drafted speeches and talking point papers for clients and have testified before Congress and various state legislatures. I also proudly headed the team representing the City of Jacksonville during the most recent nationwide military base closing exercise. I’m a graduate of Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut, majoring in Government and Economics.
In addition to my public policy responsibilities at the Chamber, I also direct the Chamber’s Leadership St. Johns Program, a leadership training program for St. Johns County professionals, now entering its 20th year with over 400 alumni.
My wife Cynthia and I live in St. Augustine Beach. In my spare time, I enjoy daily early morning walks on the beach, road trips in my 21 year old BMW convertible and exploring “Old Florida” with Cynthia, a 3rd generation native of St. Augustine.
