Commissioner Nikki Fried Highlights Diversity in New Promotions

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN NEWS) – Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced several new senior-level promotions and appointments positions at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Eric Brown will serve as Chief Information Officer, Shahra Lambert will serve as Director of Strategic Initiatives, and Erin Moffet will serve as Director of Federal Affairs.

Lambert moves into the Director of Strategic Initiatives role vacated by the passing of longtime FDACS leader Dr. Lisa Conti. Brown will take the Chief Information Officer role following the retirement of former CIO Craig Vollertsen. Moffet has been tapped as Director of Federal Affairs following Lambert’s promotion.

Commissioner Fried offered the following statement on the appointments:

“It gives me great pleasure to announce the promotion of three exceptional FDACS employees to new roles in our department…These appointments also affirm our commitment to a diverse, inclusive department that promotes talented people of color and women. I have full confidence in these phenomenal members of our FDACS family to deliver great results for Florida’s farmers, families, and consumers.”

Eric Brown, Chief Information Officer

Brown, CISM, PMP, CSM, previously served as Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer for FDACS and its Office of Agriculture Technology Services, and was promoted after a national CIO search. Brown previously served for nearly 12 years at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, culminating in the role of Bureau Chief of Service Operations. He also served in an information technology role at the Florida Department of Children and Families, and served as Chief Innovation Officer and Principal Consultant at PerformantCx, an information technology provider. Brown received his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the Florida A&M University, and his Master’s degree in Applied Social Science from the Florida A&M University.

Shahra Lambert, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Lambert previously served as Director of Federal Affairs for FDACS, and initially joined Commissioner Fried’s administration in January 2019 as Regional Director for Southwest Florida. She previously served as statewide African-American Outreach Director for U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, as well as Regional Director for Senator Nelson covering Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando Counties. She began her career working for U.S. Senator Bob Graham in his Tallahassee office as a constituent advocate. Lambert also served as statewide Political Director on the Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate campaign. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Mercer University in Georgia, and her Master’s degree in Spanish and Latin American and Caribbean Studies from The Florida State University.

Erin Moffet, Director of Federal Affairs

Moffet previously served as Deputy Director of Federal Affairs for FDACS since March 2019. She came to FDACS following nine years on Capitol Hill, most recently serving the office of U.S. Representative Charlie Crist, where she advised the Congressman on cannabis policy in her role as Communications Director and Policy Advisor. She previously served in communications and policy roles with U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings, U.S. Representative Lois Frankel, and former U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy. Moffet also worked on Crist’s and Murphy’s successful U.S. House campaigns in 2018, 2014, and 2012. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Elon University, and her Master’s degree in Government from Johns Hopkins University.