J. LUIS RODRIGUEZ

J. Luis Rodriguez, an international agricultural adviser and advocate for Florida farmers who worked tirelessly on their behalf, died Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at Gold Coast Hospice in Fort Lauderdale after a three-month battle with brain cancer. He was 62.

Rodriguez was Chairman and CEO of Trans Tech Ag Corp. (TTAG), a consulting and research firm based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Mr. Rodriguez was a governmental relations consultant with over 30 years experience in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. His Rocking JL2 Ranch, with pure bred Angus, continues in Monticello, Florida, with wife Daina and son Joshua.
 
He held senior executive positions in the administration of President George Bush from January 1990 to October 1992 with the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D. C.
 
In the private sector, he managed his family's commercial vegetable operations in South Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America from 1967 until 1989. He is a past president (1985-1987) of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. He is presently serving on the Florida Angus Association and was named by Governor Charlie Crist to the Board of Governors of the Northwest Florida water Management District and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corp.
 
In 1985 he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the Board for Radio Broadcasting to Cuba.
 
He has served on the board of directors of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County, WXEL (PBS) Television, and the Broward-Palm Beach Farmers Committee for Legislative Action, Inc. and served as a member of the Governor's Commission for the Everglades from 2000-2001.
 
He has served as a member of the Board of Commissioners and Chairman of the North Broward Hospital District, the Florida State Fair Authority and served on the Policy Transition Team for Governor Jeb Bush.
 
Mr. Rodriguez has extensive experience in the area of international trade, and is a skilled negotiator. He is known to be an expert on Eggplant production, packaging and marketing. He is the principal trade advisor to the Florida Farmers Inc. (FFI). In 1996 he was instrumental in the floor price agreement between Mexican tomato growers and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
 
In November 1998 he negotiated a 13% pay raise for Florida's farmworkers at the request of then Governor-elect Jeb Bush.
 
Politically, he has been involved in many Republican causes over the last 20 years including the National Republican Senatorial Trust, the Congressional Republican Leadership Council, George Bush for President 79/80, Reagan/Bush Campaign 1980, Reagan/Bush Campaign 1984, Foundation for Americas Future 85/88, Rural America for Bush 1988, Jeb Bush for Governor 1994 Finance Committee, and Jeb Bush for Governor 1998 Finance Committee. Farmers & Ranchers for George W. Bush 2000, Bush-Brogan 2002 and Charlie Crist for Governor Farm Coalition.