Insurance firm picks former state senator for board

SARASOTA — Former state Sen. Lisa Carlton was elected to the board of directors for Sarasota-based FCCI Insurance Group effective July 1.

Carlton served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1994 to 1998 and in the Florida Senate from 1998 to 2008. She is the co-owner and manager of Mabry Carlton Ranch Inc., a Sarasota County agricultural business with a cow-calf operation and citrus groves.

“I'm honored to join the FCCI board,” Carlton says in a press release. “Working alongside respected leaders who share my commitment to be a positive partner in our community is a great opportunity for public service.”

According to a statement, Carlton was selected for the position based on her knowledge and understanding of the agriculture industry, her experience with the legislative process in Florida and her commitment to public service. Carlton is also a gubernatorial appointee to Florida's Constitution Revision Commission, a founding member of the Florida Historic Capital Foundation and a Gulf Coast Community Foundation board member.

“Considering FCCI's commercial agribusiness coverage division wrote nearly $100 million of FCCI's total $787 million direct written premiums in 2016, we are confident Lisa will be an asset to the FCCI Board of Directors and are pleased to welcome her to the FCCI family,” says Chairman of the Board, President and CEO Craig Johnson in a statement.

FCCI provides commercial property and casualty insurance to more than 18,500 policyholders and commercial and contract surety to more than 19,000 bonded principals through independent agents in 18 states, according to a press release.