TEAM / Anna DeCerchio
Before joining The Southern Group, Anna spent nearly a decade in state government, serving in various roles in both the executive and legislative branches and advising leadership in the highest levels of government.
Anna has served in key leadership roles throughout Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration. She began her tenure in the Executive Office of the Governor as Deputy Policy Director, where she worked closely with the Office of Policy and Budget, executive agencies and stakeholders to research and develop policy initiatives, executive orders, and budget priorities.
She was later promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff where she served as a senior policy advisor to Governor Ron DeSantis, managing and providing policy direction to numerous state and governmental agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection and the state’s five water management districts, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Management Services, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Department of Citrus and the Public Service Commission. While serving in this role, Anna worked extensively with agency leadership and advised on agency priorities, budget and policy initiatives, legislative strategy and executive appointments.
Most recently, Anna served as the Chief of Staff at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, where she managed day-to-day operations and worked to implement the Governor’s policy and budget priorities, including historic investments in preserving and protecting Florida’s unique natural resources. In this role, Anna oversaw and managed an agency staff of over 4,000 employees and a budget of over $3 billion, the largest in agency history.
Anna began her career in government in the Florida Legislature, where she worked as a Legislative Aide to Speaker Paul Renner. During her time in this role, she worked closely with legislative members, staff, stakeholders and constituents to guide Speaker Renner’s policy and budget priorities through the legislative process.
Originally from Tallahassee, Anna has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from the University of Florida. In 2024, Anna was recognized as one of the University of Florida’s 40 Gators Under 40 Outstanding Young Alumni. She has a Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law, where she graduated in the top ten percent of her class. Anna is a current member of the Florida Bar.
Anna resides in Tallahassee with her husband, Ben.
