Founded in 1935, by growers for growers, the Florida Department of Citrus has long supported the industry through the promotion, regulation, and protection of Florida Citrus.

Today, that mission is alive and well.

Over the next several weeks, join us for a mini-series featuring a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most unique government agencies in the country to learn more about who we are, what we do, and why.
Edition 4: Administration and Finance - Part 2

In this final installment of Inside the FDOC, we explore more functions within the Administration and Finance team and learn about the roles of both the Executive Director and the Florida Citrus Commission.

Miss a previous edition of the mini-series? Read them all here. 
What We Do

As shared in part 1 of Administration and Finance, this team serves in diverse roles across the FDOC that have widespread impact for the industry. We’ve already touched on building maintenance, IT, purchasing and accounting. Today’s edition looks at the legal, auditing, and human resource functions. 
How We Do It

Legal
Since the early days of the Florida Citrus Commission, designing and implementing regulations that protect the reputation of Florida Citrus and support the Florida grower have been key focuses of the FDOC. The Legal team works closely with industry associations and Commissioners to develop rules impacting a wide spectrum of activities, including inspection requirements for processors, licenses for citrus fruit dealers, and quality standards on the juice sold at stores – all with the best interest of the industry in mind.

Auditing
The auditing team ensures that growers, packers, and processors adhere to regulations that are designed to protect the bottom line for Florida growers and enable the Florida Citrus industry to thrive. This requires confirmation from the auditing team that the data collected is sufficient, reliable, and verifiable. Accurate and complete reporting of post-estimate price for fruit, for example, ensures a fair value is placed on the season’s fruit for growers. 

Human Resources
The most important asset? People. The HR team recruits, hires, and supports employees who are driven to work in service of an industry vital to Florida and the world. With an emphasis on building internal capacity in recent years, the HR team ensures the FDOC puts people in place with the experience and ability to not only perform the duties required but push the industry forward. 
Why We Do It

Everything comes back to the industry and the growers who work hard each day to produce the best-tasting citrus and juice in the world. We do what we can to support them.
Spotlight: Executive Director
Under the direction of Shannon Shepp, the FDOC has transformed its marketing program from awareness building to sales driving with the addition of eCommerce campaigns that support the Florida grower.

Appointed in 2015, she also secured financial support for marketing programs from the state on multiple occasions, including $17 million in general revenue funding in 2021-22. The first female executive director of the Department, Shannon has more than 27 years of experience in Florida agriculture.

Shannon is a graduate of St. Petersburg Junior College and the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications.
The Team:

Chuck serves in the high-priority role at the FDOC responsible for the auditing of contracts and prices paid during the season, which ensures growers are paid a fair price for their fruit, as well as the auditing of imports through the USDA. He earned a bachelor’s degree in financial management and economics and has more than 31 years of auditing experience.

Alice Wiggins, Administrative Assistant - Legal
With 25 years’ experience handling legal matters for the citrus industry, Alice is the FDOC’s go-to-source for information on contracts, licensing, and regulations. She also serves as the Department’s Contract Administrator, a required function.

Lana Shulnes, Administrative Assistant – Human Resources
As the longest serving FDOC employee (27 years!), Lana provides support in both human resources and revenue collections. She has also held positions in advertising and the executive director’s office. Lana has an associate degree in Liberal Arts and is certified in computer technology and human resources management.
Looking for Information?

Many of the reports developed by the Administration and Finance team are available online, including budgets. Visit FDOCGrower.com and click on the Finance tab to explore. 
What is Fund Balance?

We hear this question a lot and it’s no surprise. Keeping the different budget terms straight is no small task. Deputy Executive Director of Administration and Finance Christine Marion breaks it down:

Fund balance is the difference between assets and liabilities. It is calculated on an annual basis because costs are reported on a cash basis during the year thus total revenues and expenses are not known on a monthly basis. It is important to maintain adequate fund balance in order to cover expenses in the event of a natural disaster or emergency as well as ensure cash flow during the gap between seasons.

The Commission has established a fund balance policy which ensures a healthy reserve and reviews it on an annual basis.

Detailed information on the fund balance is available in the financial section of the Department’s annual report each year detailing the balance at the beginning of the year, all of the activity during the year, and the ending balance for each fruit variety.
What is the Florida Citrus Commission?
Formed in 1935, the Florida Citrus Commission is a nine-member board appointed by the governor to represent citrus growers, processors, and packers. The Commission is the governing body of the Florida Department of Citrus.
Division 2:
· Vacant
Division 3:
· Vacant
Mark Your Calendars
FCC: The Florida Citrus Commission will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 9 a.m. in Bartow. 
Have questions? Send them our way. Email srossetter@citrus.myflorida.com.