Raquel Rodriguez

Managing Member, McDonald Hopkins LLC

Julia Johnson is president of Net Communications, a national regulatory and public affairs firm comprised of highly specialized attorneys and regulatory analysts who focus primarily on governmental and regulatory practices combined with media and public relations. Florida Governor Lawton Chiles appointed Johnson to the Florida Public Service Commission for two consecutive terms from 1992-1999 where she served as Chairman from 1997-1999. She also served as the State Chair of the Federal/State Joint Board on Universal Service which dealt with bringing Internet access to schools and libraries across the country. In 1999, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Johnson as the Chairperson of Florida’s Internet Taskforce. In that capacity, she served as key advisor to the Governor and the Florida Legislature on issues related to free-market development and beneficial use of advanced communications networks and information technologies. In 2001, Governor Bush appointed Johnson to the Florida Board of Education. She served on the board from 2001 – 2006. In 2003, Johnson was appointed by FCC Chairman Michael Powell as the Chair of the Federal Communications Commission Federal Advisory Committee on Diversity for communication in the Digital Age. In 2004, Johnson was elected Chairperson for the Florida African American Education Alliance (FAAEA) Board of Directors. FAAEA promotes open and collaborative dialogue between parents, administrators, educators, students, lawmakers and the community to ensure quality education for all students in Florida. In 2007, Speaker of the House Marco Rubio appointed Johnson to the Florida Tax and Budget Reform Committee. Johnson serves as the Corporate Chairwoman for the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women. She also serves as the Chairwoman for Communications Policy Development and Outreach for the Florida State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Johnson serves as the Chairwoman of Emerging Issues Policy Forum, where she hosts energy, communications and information technology public policy forums at which industry CEOs and state and federal regulators discuss and debate emerging industry and regulatory issues. Johnson serves on the following boards: FirstEnergy (FE) a diversified energy company which includes the nation's largest investor-owned electric system serving six million customers and a diverse generating fleet; American Water (AWK), the largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility company in the United States which serves more than 15.6 million people in the US and in Canada; MasTec (MTZ), a $2 billion end-to-end voice, video, data, and energy infrastructure solution provider; and Northwestern Energy Company (NWE), one of the largest providers of electricity and natural gas in the northwest quadrant of the United States. Johnson holds a B.S. in business management and JD from the University of Florida College of Law.