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Florida Governor-elect Byron Donalds and running mate Bryan Avila are preparing for Donalds’ move to the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. Donalds and Avila have selected their transition leaders.
Donalds, who announced the members of his transition team on Monday, didn’t provide details about whether additional team members will steer his transition period until he is sworn in on Jan. 5, 2027, according to the Florida Phoenix.
These individuals will shape Donalds’ and Avila’s policy agenda once both are officially sworn in as governor and lieutenant governor in January.
The state’s first Black governor hasn’t yet named an African-American person to his transition team. It’s unknown if he will.
“Bryan and I campaigned and won on a clear agenda: make Florida more affordable, invest in Florida’s young people, and ensure that Florida continues to lead the nation with common-sense governance and economic opportunity,” Governor-elect Donalds said in a statement.
Donalds added, “We are proud to announce this incredible team of leaders from across our great state, who are already working diligently to ensure that our administration arrives in Tallahassee fully primed to execute on our mission for the people of Florida.”
Manuel “Manny” Kadre Named Transition Chair
Manny Kadre is the chairman of the University of Miami Board of Trustees and CEO of a luxury car dealership chain, The Kollective. He previously served as CEO for various beverage, automotive, healthcare and real estate companies and four public company boards: Republic, NeueHealth, The Home Depot, and Mednax.
Kadre previously gave $25,000 to Donald' s campaign, according to the Miami Herald. As the transition chair, Kadre will be responsible for organizing the governor-elect’s administration staff, establish legislative priorities ahead of the inauguration and make cabinet recommendations.
Ryan Smith Named Executive Chair
As the executive chair, Ryan Smith will work alongside Kadre. Smith is Donalds’ campaign chief strategist and managed voter contact programs as an adviser to President Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc.
As a Republican strategist, he worked as a House liaison for the Republican Party of Florida and deputy director of RPOF’s House campaigns. Smith is from Cocoa, Florida, and attended Florida State University.
Tarren Bragdon Named Policy Chair
Tarren Bragdon will oversee policy in Donalds’ administration. Bragdon is the president and CEO of Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA).
His responsibilities will be to help the governor-elect prepare policies and fiscal reforms and deliver on priorities Donalds made during his campaign.
“Floridians sent a clear message in November: they want lower property taxes, increased opportunity and higher paychecks, and a lower cost of living,” Bragdon said in a statement released about his appointment.
“Governor-elect Byron Donalds has committed to advancing big ideas, cutting through red tape and bureaucratic delays, spending tax dollars wisely, and bringing reforms and results quickly. He has the mandate, the vision, and the drive to deliver. I’m honored to help him and his team make it happen from Day One.”
Additionally, Bragdon posted on his X account, “Florida voters asked for lower property taxes, higher paychecks, and a lower cost of living. Governor-elect @ByronDonalds has the mandate and the drive to deliver it. I’m honored to join his transition team as Policy Chair and help build that agenda.
Bragdon was elected to the Maine House of Representatives when he was 20 and served two terms, making him the youngest legislator in state history.
Teresa Ressel Named Senior Adviser
Teresa Ressel will serve as senior adviser on Donalds’ transition. She is a member of the Businesswomen for Byron coalition. Ressel has served as independent director for the Federal Home Loan Banks Office of Finance.
Ressel previously served in the U.S. Treasury in the Bush Administration from 2001-2004 and worked on several corporate boards, including the Wall Street and Invesco Mutual Funds. Ressel was on the senior management team of Olayan America from 2012 to 2016. Before that, she held senior roles at UBS, including as chief operating officer, the Americas, for UBS Investment Bank and then as chief executive officer of UBS Securities LLC.
From 2001 to 2004, she served in the U.S. Treasury as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget and later, following confirmation by the U.S. Senate, as assistant secretary for management and designated chief financial officer.
“We are proud to announce this incredible team of leaders from across our great state, who are already working diligently to ensure that our administration arrives in Tallahassee fully primed to execute on our mission for the people of Florida,” Donalds wrote in a statement about the new team.
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