Meet Our Commissioners
Commissioner Chad Mizelle, Chair
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Chair Mizelle was appointed to the Commission in 2023. He is the Chief Legal Officer of Affinity Partners. He currently serves as a Commissioner on the Thirteenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. Mizelle earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his juris doctor from Cornell University.
Commissioner Joni Alexis Poitier, Vice Chair
Term Expires: December 31, 2019
Commissioner Poitier was appointed to the Commission in 2016. She is an associate with the Jacksonville law firm of Mosley Prichard Parrish Knight & Jones, where she defends the firm’s clients in civil actions ranging from automobile negligence actions to complex class action litigation. Ms. Poitier currently serves on the board of directors for Family Foundations of Northeast Florida, Inc., and she is active in her church and many local civic and charitable organizations. She earned her law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Spelman College. Ms. Poitier is a native Floridian who grew up in Miami.
Commissioner Kymberlee Curry Smith
Term Expires: December 31, 2024
Commissioner Smith joined the Commission in 2016 and was reappointed in 2017 and 2023. She is a proud graduate of Boston College Law School and Florida State University. Ms. Smith began her career as an associate with Adorno & Yoss LLP, focusing on real estate and land use/zoning matters. She then became an assistant city attorney with the City of Miami, where she focused on land use/zoning, environmental, code enforcement, community development and general transactional matters and served on the following boards: Code Enforcement; Plat and Street; Bayfront Park Management Trust; and Arts and Entertainment. She is a past president of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association. Ms. Smith serves as the association’s representative to the Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., as a board member. She is also a proud member of The Florida Bar’s Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy, as well as a member of the Law Related Education Committee.
Commissioner J. Martin Hayes
Term Expires: December 31, 2024
Commissioner Hayes joined the Commission in 2018 and was reappointed in 2023. He is a Partner with Akerman, LLP, and a highly regarded litigator, who focuses his litigation practice in the areas of general civil and administrative litigation. Martin works with motor vehicle dealers in all aspects of the motor vehicle dealer-manufacturer relationship. He represents national and public dealer groups and individual and multi-line dealers. Martin’s clients rely on his counsel with respect to the modification of dealer manufacturer franchise agreements, and navigating the ever-changing state laws affecting the dealer-manufacturer relationship. Martin represents auto dealers in litigation, mediations, and informal settlement conferences on issues as diverse as acquiring additional dealerships, warranty audit issues, facility upgrades, terminations, and buy-sell turndowns. Martin also represents employers in matters such as employment discrimination, wrongful terminations, and whistleblower cases. He advises a variety of manufacturers and businesses in breach of contract cases, assists consumer lenders in preparation and review of contracts, lease agreements, and assorted contracts.
Commissioner Carlos Lopez-Cantera
Term Expires: December 31, 2023
From February, 2014 through January 2019, Carlos Lopez-Cantera served as the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Florida. His career in elected office began in 2004 when he was elected and served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives. Over the course of his 8-year term in the Legislature, Carlos served as the Majority Leader and Majority Whip and chairman of the Business Regulation and the Government Affairs Committees. In 2012, Carlos was elected the Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County.
Since 2017, Carlos has served as the Statewide Chairman of the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission, a position he was appointed to by United States Senator Marco Rubio. The commission has recommended over 20 candidates for nomination as Federal District Court Judge, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal.
Since leaving public office in 2019 Carlos has returned to real estate development and served on the Board of Governors of Citizens Property Insurance, Florida’s insurer of last resort. Carlos’ real estate career spans over 20 years with has extensive experience in construction, planning and zoning of mostly commercial and industrial projects. Carlos lives in Miami with his wife Renee and their two daughters.
