TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis recommended appointments to fill two soon-to-be vacant agency head positions in agencies critical to supporting Florida’s growing workforce.
CareerSource Florida
Governor DeSantis recommends Adrienne Johnston to be the President and CEO of CareerSource Florida – the state agency charged with helping to connect Floridians with available career opportunities in their community.
Adrienne comes from the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), where she has served as the Deputy Secretary overseeing Workforce Services since November 2020. In her current role, she has worked closely with CareerSource Florida and has been a key part of efforts to modernize Florida’s reemployment assistance program.
Adrienne has also often served as DEO’s designee on the CareerSource Board. Prior to serving as Deputy Secretary, Mrs. Johnston served as Florida’s chief economist and proved to be a crucial part of the team at DEO as it navigated a volatile economic climate and out-of-control inflation from 2020 to the present.
In her new role at CareerSource Florida, she will be responsible for ongoing efforts to align Florida’s workforce systems, including the 2021 REACH Act, Florida’s Credentials Review Committee, expanding apprenticeships in Florida – and the alignment of Florida’s Local Workforce Development Boards.
Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC)
Governor DeSantis recommends Mike DiNapoli for the next executive director of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) – which plays an essential role in helping working-class Floridians find and finance available housing in their communities. Mike currently serves as the Director of the Office of Small and Minority Business Capital at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).
In his current role, he has overseen Florida’s nation-leading Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF) program. DiNapoli has been instrumental in ensuring businesses received emergency bridge loans and other available assistance in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Prior to joining DEO, Mike had an extensive background in finance and has leveraged that experience in his service as the DEO Secretary’s designated Chair of the Florida Development Finance Corporation.
As executive director of FHFC, DiNapoli will oversee the priorities of Governor DeSantis, including continuing to make informed investments in workforce housing and overseeing the implementation of the Hometown Heroes program, which provides downpayment and closing cost assistance to community heroes, including law enforcement officers, veterans, first responders, nurses and teachers that are seeking to buy their first home.
These recommendations will be considered and voted on by the boards of each agency.
