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61 <br />City of Sunny Isles Beach <br />RFP #26-01-01 Professional Lobbying Services <br />February 18, 2026 <br />Ryan E. Matthews <br />Government Affairs and Lobbying Deputy Section Chair <br />Shareholder <br />ryan.matthews@gray-robinson.com <br />850.577.9090 <br />Focus <br />Government Affairs and Lobbying <br />Environmental and Sustainability Law <br />Government <br />Utilities <br />Solution-oriented government lawyer known for deep agency expertise in environmental, utilities, and <br />water supply issues. Former Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. <br />Ryan Matthews helps clients address the distinct pain points of Florida’s regulatory and legislative <br />landscape with a focus on environmental, land use, and local government issues. A trusted advocate with <br />an insider’s point of view, he is a recognized authority in environmental policy related to natural resources, <br />with broadly developed expertise in water future and scarcity concerns. He represents some of the largest <br />electric, water, and wastewater utility companies in Florida, dozens of individual local governments, <br />statewide associations, and top private sector corporations navigating the environmental resource <br />permitting process. <br />Ryan embraces client challenges with a unique understanding of how local governmental frameworks <br />intersect with regulated interests and the business community. Some of the most notable public and <br />private players in the state turn to him again and again for his influential decision-making and ability to <br />bridge communication gaps, break down barriers, and shepherd them through thorny legal, <br />administrative, and regulatory challenges. He is a current state lobbyist for the Florida Association of <br />Counties, Florida League of Cities, and Florida Municipal Electric Association, among others. <br />Before joining GrayRobinson, Ryan served as the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental <br />Protection (DEP) under the Rick Scott Administration, as well as in the general counsel and legislative <br />affairs offices of the Florida League of Cities. He often teams with GrayRobinson colleagues in the <br />corporate, land use, and real estate practices to provide the full complement of advisory services and <br />solutions for clients. <br />Notable Work <br />Served as Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under the Rick Scott <br />Administration. <br />Oversaw 3,000 employees and a $1.6 billion budget to protect Florida’s natural resources. <br />Led early efforts to delegate the Clean Water Act Section 404 program to the State of Florida, only the third <br />state in the nation to achieve such delegation.