The Economic Club of Florida presents the Honorable Scott McPherson

Bird Flu: The Fox in the Hen House

Please join The Economic Club of Florida for our monthly distinguished speaker luncheon featuring the Honorable Scott McPherson. A former Florida House of Representatives member in 1980, Rep. McPherson has been a technology and communications consultant for the past thirty-five years. 

In 1999, Governor Jeb Bush asked Scott to design and helm Team Florida 2000, Florida’s statewide Y2K preparedness effort. The largest IT project in Florida’s history, Team Florida 2000 became a national model and garnered several state and national best practice awards. TF2K’s statewide critical infrastructure survey and disaster recovery awareness programs were a precursor to Florida’s best-practice homeland security efforts following 9/11.

With his unique background in government, business, emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, Scott is now recognized internationally as an expert in preparedness for an eventual influenza pandemic. Scott has lectured extensively across the country on the topic, and is frequently consulted for quotes and comments from the national and trade press on the subject. His presentations are referenced by the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the State University System of Florida, the University of Illinois, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the National Institute of Corrections. Scott appeared on Fox News Channel as part of its ongoing swine flu coverage. 

At the personal invitation of Dr. Michael Osterholm, a well-known, deeply respected and frequently-quoted expert on public health issues, Scott lectured at the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) September, 2009 conference titled "Keeping the World Working During an Influenza Pandemic." It was the final opportunity to inform business, government and industry prior to the full onset of 2009's H1N1v pandemic.  Scott lectured the Fortune 100 on telework in a pandemic.

As a result of his pandemic efforts and overall body of work, Government Technology Magazine recognized Scott as one of the Top 25 public technology movers and shakers in the United States for 2008, along with FEMA Director Craig Fugate and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2017, for his overall portfolio of accomplishments, Scott received the inaugural Florida CIO Hall of Fame award from Public CIO magazine.

In 2022, Scott retired from State government and joined the Center for Digital Government as a Senior Fellow. 

Register HERE

If you cannot attend in person, please register to attend virtually here.