Miami public affairs veterans Barreto and May join Capital City lobbying firm

One of Tallahassee’s largest lobbying firms is getting larger with the merger of a firm started by two veteran Miami political operatives, Rodney Barreto and Brian May.

Prodigy Public Affairs, formed in February by Barreto and May, will become Capital City Consulting Miami, and Barreto and May will become new partners in the firm’s Miami office, the partners announced Monday.

Barreto, chair of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, will serve as a business consultant and will not lobby, said Sarah Bascom, spokesperson for the group.

May is a former chief of staff to former Miami-Dade mayor Alex Penelas and former U.S. senator and former Florida treasurer Bill Nelson. Until February, May and Barreto comprised the Miami office of Floridian Partners, LLC, a Tallahassee-based public affairs agency owned by lobbyists Charles Dudley and Jorge Chamizo.

Capital City Consulting, co-founded by lobbyists Nick Iarossi and Ron LaFace, is considered to be among the top three largest lobbying firms in Tallahassee, according to lobbyist compensation disclosures. Only The Southern Group and Ballard Partners have previously reported more earnings.

Capital City Consulting self-reported representing 200 clients and earning more than $4 million during the first quarter of 2021.

The Miami office will also include Tim Gomez and Felipe Angulo as directors. Both previously served roles with the Miami-Dade County Commission and Miami-Dade mayor’s office.

“With this merger, we will add the biggest local market in the state to our portfolio; and with Brian, one of Florida’s top local government consultants, and Rodney’s reputation and experience as a business leader, there is no doubt they will take our service offering to a new level,’’ Iarossi said in a statement.

MARY ELLEN KLAS

This story was originally published July 11, 2022 at 7:30 PM.