Justin Thames joined the FICPA in June 2011 as the Governmental Affairs Manager and was promoted to Director of Governmental Affairs in July 2015. In this role, Justin is responsible for leading the Governmental Affairs Department in regulatory and lobbying activities including developing creative strategies to accomplish the legislative and regulatory objectives, meeting with state legislators and advocating on behalf of the profession in public hearings. Justin also administers the activities and issues of the Florida CPA Political Action Committee, Inc. program, and is responsible for PAC fundraising, interviewing candidates running for the state legislature, and making recommendations to PAC Trustees on which candidates to support.

Prior to joining the FICPA, Justin was employed by the League of Southeastern Credit Unions as the Grassroots and Political Action Coordinator. While at League of Southeastern Credit Unions, Justin developed much of the grassroots advocacy and fundraising experience that serves the FICPA n He is a member of the Florida Association of Professional Lobbyist.

After briefly attending the University of Mississippi, Justin returned to Florida where he graduated from Florida State University in 2006.