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Day 2 - B1: Integrating AAM Operations and Consumer Acceptance into Florida, Jessica Ottaviano
Jessica Ottaviano currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) – an agency where she has spent most of her career since graduating from the University of South Florida in 2011 with a degree in Advertising. As Chief of Staff, Jessica oversees FDOT’s policy and legislative efforts at the state and federal level, as well as the Department’s External Affairs and Communications offices.
Over the course of her 12-year-long career at FDOT, Jessica has garnered strong expertise in effective and strategic transportation-related communications through roles at both a regional and statewide level, including the Public Information Director for the Central Florida region and most recently as the Director of Communications for the entire state of Florida.
While in Central Florida, Jessica’s skills and knowledge proved essential when delivering major projects like the Wekiva Parkway, as well as one of the largest projects in FDOT’s history, the Interstate 4 (I-4) Ultimate Project. Jessica also played an important role in cementing the well-known legacy of Central Florida’s first commuter rail service, SunRail, as she worked closely with local communities and media organizations to successfully build trust throughout project delivery and operations. These efforts transitioned to a Department-wide level during her role as the statewide Director of Communications where she oversaw the internal communication strategies for an agency of over 6,000 employees, as well as the marketing and communications efforts for many major external initiatives such as Governor DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, Florida’s implementation of Advanced Air Mobility, and the Department’s crisis communications strategies over the course of various emergency response efforts, including multiple major hurricanes which impacted Florida.
With a deep-rooted passion for telling FDOT’s story with communities, as well as the Department’s legislative, industry, and international partners, Jessica has made lasting contributions on the Department’s positive public perception and the overall culture of the agency.
