Senior Advisor, Financial Services Policy Leader
Tallahassee
850.521.1732
Overview
With extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, insurance law, and regulatory matters, Sha’Ron James practices at the intersection of government affairs and advocacy and policy development and execution. She represents domestic and international insurance companies and insurance-related entities throughout Florida, before the Florida Legislature, Office of Insurance Regulation, and other state agencies.
Sha’Ron operates at the forefront of today’s most important insurance industry issues, particularly those related to solvency, insurance rate and form filings, licensing, market conduct, and advances in technology and innovation impacting the insurance industry. She is a recognized speaker, educator, author, and leading voice on topics related to insurance law, regulation, and public policy. In these roles, she strives to be the catalyst for bridging the gap between government and companies engaged in the business of insurance.
Throughout her career, Sha’Ron has served three State of Florida CFOs, including Alex Sink, Jeff Atwater, and Jimmy Patronis. As Insurance Consumer Advocate, she represented the general public and insurance consumers before the Florida Legislature, the Department of Financial Services, the Office of Insurance Regulation, and the Agency for Healthcare Administration in numerous insurance regulatory and public policy matters. As a policyholder advocate, she championed key healthcare legislation that led to reforms in unfair consumer billing practices, intervened in triple-digit long-term care insurance rate filings, and the proposed merger and acquisition of two of the largest health insurance carriers in the country.
Sha’Ron has extensive experience as a lobbyist and legislative advocate, having championed key legislation and public policy reforms that have been modeled in states around the country. As a result of her legislative advocacy, she has been cited in national publications such as the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Brookings Institution, and Consumers Union. She has also been invited to present to the National Governors’ Association, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
Dedicated to community service statewide and locally, Sha’Ron lends her leadership skills to a wide range of organizations working on economic development, diversity and inclusion, and public service. She currently serves as the Chair of the Community & Prosperity Committee for the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Board of Trustees for HCA Florida Capital Hospital. She is an Immediate Past President of the Florida Chapter of the National African American Insurance Association and a member of Leadership Florida Class 37. Sha’Ron served as a member of the Florida Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology Commission, the Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Board of Directors, the Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association Board of Directors, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) Appeals Board, and the Citizens Property Insurance Company Consumer Services Committee.
Sha’Ron’s experience as both a strategic advisor, advocate, and problem-solver are reflected in her drive to understand each client’s specific legal and business objectives. She is committed to clear and concise communication with industry leaders, in analyzing and discussing complex laws, regulation, and policy, as well as in designing and executing compelling arguments and client positions before government. Her dedication is manifest in her drive to find regulatory and public policy solutions that make sense for the clients she serves.
Education
Stanford University, Advanced Project Management Certificate, 2015
University of Florida College of Law, J.D., 2001
Syracuse University, M.P.A., Summa Cum Laude, 1998
Florida A&M University, B.S., Cum Laude, 1996
Admissions
Florida Bar, 2002
Honors
- Tallahassee Woman Magazine, Women Who Mean Business Innovator Award, 2021
- Insurance Business America, Leading the Change, 2020
- Tallahassee Barristers Association Hall of Fame, 2019
- Tallahassee Community College, Women’s History Month Trailblazer, 2018
- Girl Scouts of the Florida Panhandle, Woman of Distinction, 2018
- Tallahassee Democrat, 25 Women You Need to Know, 2015
- Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Leadership Pacesetter Award, 2011
- Florida A&M University’s 40 Alumni Under 40 Award, 2010
Involvement
Professional Associations & Memberships
- National African American Insurance Association of Florida, president, 2018-present
- Leadership Florida, Class 37
- Tallahassee Women Lawyers, past president
- National Bar Association, Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter, past president
Civic & Community Service
- Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce, board of directors, 2021
- Leadership Tallahassee
- Board of governors, chair, 2020-present
- Class 21, 2003-04
- Justice Day Program chair, 2004, 2006, 2017
- Board of governors, 2007-2011, 2018-19, 2019-20
- Curriculum chair, Class 26, 2008-09
- Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
- Chair-Elect, 2023-present
- Executive Committee, 2019-present
- Community & Prosperity Committee, chair, 2020-present
- Board of governors, 2019-present
- Tallahassee-Leon County Commission on the Status of Women & Girls, 2014; chairwoman, 2016
- PACE Center for Girls-Leon
- Vice-Chairperson, 2014
- Chairperson, 2016, 2017
- Refuge House Board of Directors
- First Vice President, 2005-2007
- Executive Committee, 2005-2007
- Executive Director Search Committee, 2004-05
- Oasis Center for Women and Girls, Founding Member
- National Kidney Foundation of Florida – Executive Committee
- Patient & Public Education, Chair; Minority
- Outreach Chair; Big Bend Chapter, Founder, 2002-2006
- National Kidney Foundation
- National Operations Committee, Member, 2006-07
- Steele-Collins Charter School/ Bethel Empowerment Foundation
- Vice-Chair, 2004-05
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.- Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter, Member
- Social Action Chair, 2005-2007
- Co-Chair, Delta Days at the Capitol, 2006, 2009
- Carrie P. Meek Servant Leadership Award Chair, 2007-2013