'Listen to Jack'.

• Author: Abadin, Ramon A.
• Position: Florida Bar executive directory John F. Harkness Jr. - President's page

The year was 1980. Ronald Reagan was Time's Man of the Year; the computer modern was invented; the Rubik's Cube was the must-have gift; CNN went on the air; everyone wondered "Who Shot J.R.?," and John Lennon tragically lost his life in New York.

In Tallahassee, a young man named Jack Harkness assumed the helm of The Florida Bar. At that time, its 27,713 members were overseen and supported by a staff of 122 and a budget of $7.1 million.

Fast forward to 2015: Still at the helm, Jack--or Mr. H, as he is affectionately called by those who work with him--is revered as the country's longest serving executive director of a state bar. He is a recognized visionary and a legend in areas critical to the profession's success. The Ethics Hotline, Attorney Consumer Assistance Program, and countless professionalism committees and programs are among the innovations he brought to The Florida Bar.

But that's just the start. Today, he oversees a staff of 356, and a budget of $44.2 million, serving a Florida Bar made up of 101,279 members. Jack has managed this phenomenal spurt with grace and wisdom. He has hired talented people, loyal to him, and he has earned the faith and confidence of every president of The Florida Bar. Jack has a well-earned reputation as a sounding board and advisor to his counterparts across the country.

Jack has a talent for understanding the diverse lawyers who make today's Bar membership. He has been the right man at the right place to make a difference in the way that all attorneys are valued, advanced, and respected in the profession and public eye.

It is a comfort to me and every member of...