Experience

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  The Klement Group

  • President and CEO

    • May 2019 - Present

    Having failed retirement twice before, I have finally adjusted to it, proof of which is publication of my first book, "Conscience of the Community: Memoir of a Small-Town Editor 1977-2007", available at Amazon.com. I am also available for writing or consulting projects on a fee-for-service or contract basis.

  • President and CEO

    • May 2019 - Present

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  St. Petersburg College

  • Seminole, FL

  • Executive Director, Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions

    • Apr 2011 - May 2019
    • Seminole, FL

    I created forums on topical issues of local, state and national concern; provided acacemic enrichment opportunities for students; promoted economic development in Tampa Bay region.

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  Manatee County Government

  • Organizational Development Manager

    • Sep 2010 - Feb 2011

    Wrote growth plan for Manatee County for next 25 years; managed efficiency team to streamline government services; served as trouble-shooter for County Administrator

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  Florida Public Service Commission

  • Commissioner

    • Oct 2009 - Jun 2010

    Sat on state regulatory board hearing rate and territory dispute cases for investor-owned utilities in Florida. Presided over largest utility rate increase case in Florida history: $1.3 billion by Florida Power & Light Co.

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  The Bradenton (Fla.) Herald

  • Bradenton, FL

  • Editorial Page Editor

    • Sep 1975 - Sep 2007
    • Bradenton, FL

    I directed the editorial policy of this daily newspaper for 30 years after serving as Business Editor and City Editor for the first two. In the latter capacity I wrote editorials, selected the opinion columns, cartoons and letters to the editor, laid out the pages and proof-read the copy for seve...

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  Detroit Free Press

  • Detroit, Michigan

  • Assistant Business Editor, Night City Editor, Copy Editor

    • Jul 1966 - Aug 1975
    • Detroit, Michigan

    I rose through the ranks on this metro daily of 900,000 circulation, in the process sharing a Pulitzer Prize with the newsroom team that covered the 1967 Detroit riots, the biggest story of my career. City Editor was the most challenging, with responsibility for compiling the local news report, l...

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  The Daily Oklahoman

  • Oklahoma City, Okla.

  • Reporter, Assistant City Editor

    • Nov 1962 - Jun 1966
    • Oklahoma City, Okla.

    I broke into journalism at the Oklahoman, first writing obits,, then moving to the police beat and general assignments before joining the City Desk team as assistant city editor, where I directed the paper's night coverage and edited the local news report. It proved to be excellent training f...