Senator, Florida State Senate, District 28, 2008-2016

Majority Whip, Florida State Senate, 2008-2010

Representative, Florida State House of Representatives, 1998-2006

Candidate, United States House of Representatives, Florida, District 13, 2006

Member, Sarasota County School Board, 1988-1992

Former Member, Administrative Procedures Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Banking and Insurance Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Commerce and Tourism Committee, Florida State Senate

Former Member, Education Pre-K-12 Committee, Florida State Senate

Member, Department of Education: Commission on Leadership for High Needs Districts, 2009

Ex-Officio Member, Florida Commission on Tourism, 2009

Owner, Primary Creative Solutions, present

Founder/President, Osprey Mortgage Company, 1983-2007

Board Member, Financial Services, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), present

Vice President, National Conference of State Legislatures Women’s Legislative Network, present

Board Member, Enterprise Florida, 2009

Member, Education Committee, Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, 1998

Legislative Chair, Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers, 1998

Vice President, Venice-Nokomis Federated Women's Club, 1998

President, Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers, Suncoast Chapter, 1996

President, Republican Women's Club, Sarasota, 1996

Awards:

Florida PTA's Legislator of the Year, 2013;
Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section Champion of Justice Independence Award, 2011;
Sarasota County Bar Association Distinguished Service Award, 2010-2011;
Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc., FL Gulf Coast Chapter, ABC "Free Enterprise" Award, 2010;
Florida Music Educators' Association, Friend of Music Education Award, 2010;
Florida Art Education Association, Friend of Art Education Award, 2009;
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Friend of Free Enterprise, 2009;
Florida School Boards Association, Inc., Legislator of the Year, 2009, 2002, 1999;
Florida Association of Conventions and Visitors Bureaus, Legislator of the Year, 2004;
Florida Economic Development Council, Inc., Legislator of the Year Award, 2004;
Florida Housing Coalition, Legislator of the Year, 2004, 2003;
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Florida Chapter, "Florida Heroes Awards", 2004;
Sarasota Office of Housing and Community Development Award, 2004;
Florida Association of Museums, Museum Service Award, 2003;
Florida Bankers Association, Leadership Award, 2003;
Florida Boys and Girls Club, Recognition of Service, 2002;
Florida Funeral Directors, Legislator of the Year, 2002;
Funeral and Cemetery Alliance of Florida, Outstanding Legislator of the Year, 2002;
Florida Association of Mortgage Brokers, Legislator of the Year, 2001;
Florida Association of Technical Educators, Legislator of the Year, 2001;
Ranked by The Miami Herald as one of the Top 25 State Legislators for her "sound policy objectives and behind the scenes work";
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Legislator of the Year, 2000;
Florida Association of School Administrators, Legislator of the Year, 2000;
Girls, Inc., "She Knows Where She's Going" Award, 2000;
Gulf Coast Marine Institute, Legislator of the Year, 2000;
Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association, Legislator of the Year, 2000;
Florida Association of School Social Workers, Legislator of the Year, 1999;
Women of Distinction, Award for Finance, 1998;
Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, Small Business of the Year Award, 1993;