On January 9, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Julie Brown as Chair of the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC). Brown has an extensive history with the FGCC, which began with her initial appointment as inaugural Chair on December 21, 2021, and continued with her reappointment as a Commissioner on May 6. 2022. Throughout her time with the FGCC, Brown has demonstrated exceptional regulatory and legal expertise, drawing on her experience in various high-level roles across both the public and private sectors.

Prior to her appointment, Brown was the Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation where she led the state’s regulation of more than 1.4 million licenses across more than 30 fields of industry. Brown led the Department in securing unanimous approval from the Florida Legislature in getting the Department’s agency bill passed, which streamlined various licensing measures, and secured funding for the creation of a new licensing system. From 2011 to 2021, Brown served three terms as a Commissioner on the Florida Public Service Commission. Brown was elected as Commission Chair from 2016 to 2018, and led the Commission’s recommendations of electric utility storm-hardening actions following a period when Florida experienced major hurricane impacts for the first time in more than a decade, and she established initiatives to build and strengthen links between the Commission and its stakeholders with improvements in technology, communication, and quality of service. Before serving on the Commission, Brown was Associate Legal Counsel of First American Corporation where she handled a variety of regulatory compliance and legal issues in the Eastern, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Regions. She also represented corporate clients with a specialized focus on matters involving mergers, acquisitions and securities, served as the Director of Franchise Sales and Development for Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., and was an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Tampa.

Brown has been involved with various professional and civic affiliations. She was appointed to serve as one of 11 Commissioners on the Florida Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, chaired the Florida Legislature’s 19-member Study Committee on Investor-Owned Water and Wastewater Utility Systems, was appointed to the Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) Blue Ribbon Task Force, and has served as a director on several utility boards, including the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, Gas Technology Institute’s Advisory Board and the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition.

Brown graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida, where she was the recipient of the Outstanding Female Leader award, President of Florida Blue Key, inducted into the Hall of Fame, and received the Dean’s Cup for the College of Journalism and Communications. She earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law, is a member of the Florida Bar, a Florida Real Estate Broker and a member of Leadership Florida, Class XXXIII. Brown and her husband have two children and live in Tampa, Florida.

Tina Repp retired as a Special Agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with more than 23 years of investigating complex financial crimes, government program fraud, elder fraud and transnational organized crime. Prior to joining the FBI, she practiced law. Currently, Ms. Repp is an active volunteer at Polk County Schools and other non-for-profit entities in Florida.

John D’Aquila has over thirty-five years of experience as a CPA, CFO, CEO, entrepreneur and consultant for entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies in diversified industries.

He holds an active New York and Florida CPA license.

John started his career with the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial Services Group in New York. He subsequently served as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Comstock Images overseeing expansion into five countries over 9 years. He has founded a successful multi state retail business and has founded and managed a successful accounting services and tax preparation firm. He served 8 years on the Board of Directors of the Binghamton University National Alumni Association during its first campaign. He had also served 6 years on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Florida Society of Financial Professionals. John served Sawgrass Country Club for many years as Vice Chairmen of the Finance Committee.

He is a member of the New York State Society of CPA’s, the American Institute of CPAs, and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant in addition to a CPA. He has been recognized by the French American Chamber of Commerce with a Corporate Achievement Award in connection with his role associated with building a successful USA business in France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. John is a Voice of Democracy Scholarship Suffolk County winner and a recipient of the American Legion Citizenship award.

John earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting at Binghamton University and became a Certified Public Accountant subsequently in both New York and Florida.

Spicola is an Attorney at Komisar Spicola, P.A. Active in his community, he is a member of the Second Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission and is a member of the Florida Bar Judicial Nominating Procedures Committee. Spicola earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science and his juris doctor from the University of Florida.

Cuderman is the Founding Partner of Fidelis Fund, a Florida-based private equity firm investing in Main Street businesses. Previously, he served as Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Governor of Florida. Earlier in his career, Cuderman served as a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. He earned his juris doctor and master’s degree in business administration and is currently a Master in Public Administration candidate at Harvard University.

Alana Zimmer is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in government relations, legislative advocacy, and public sector leadership across healthcare, gaming, and nonprofit industries. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation for bridging complex goals with community impact, strategic innovation, and operational excellence.

Most recently, Zimmer served as Executive Director of the Kansas City Automotive Museum, where she launched a $30 million capital campaign and aligned local and state priorities to advance workforce development, education, and tourism initiatives. Her advocacy led to legislative recognition for student achievement, expanded civic engagement, and multiple national awards.

Previously, Zimmer served as a lobbyist with Capitol Strategies, representing clients in healthcare and education in the Kansas Legislature. She also co-founded a business communications firm that secured federal grants to expand opportunities for underrepresented business owners and led communications and engagement efforts for a federal congressional campaign.

Appointed by the Governor as Commissioner of the Kansas Lottery, Zimmer oversaw a $374 million public agency, working closely with officials to modernize operations and enhance transparency. Earlier in her career, she worked in regulatory affairs within the medical device industry and held senior roles in major healthcare systems, including Houston Methodist and Memorial Hermann, where she led marketing initiatives and operational excellence projects recognized for performance innovation. Zimmer holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Florida State University. She is Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified through GE Healthcare and has completed advanced fundraising and leadership training.

Her leadership extends beyond her professional roles through community service as a board member for the Eisenhower Series: Women in Public Service, the Greater Kansas City Chinese School, and the Kansas Department of Rehabilitation.