Environment, education and infrastructure have always been John Hart’s passions publicly, professionally, civically and personally. Civically, John’s proudest achievements centered on the five Boys and Girls Clubs that he helped establish in Broward County. Each organization consisted of 1200 mostly at risk youth per year for 30 years. John Hart was also a twelve year Board Member and Chair of the Broward College Foundation. Creating Dialogues in Democracy to reinsert civility, compromise and common sense for the common good remains his priority for this generation and for future leaders.

In the late 60’s and early 70’s John Hart held a Regional Operations Manager position on Wall Street. In 1971, Merrill Lynch transferred him to South Florida to convert acquired brokerage offices, first in Pompano Beach and then in Coral Gables. John added compliance and sales management to his portfolio with, NYSE, NASD Principal and Chicago Board of Trade/Commodities licenses. John’s 26-year tenure with Merrill Lynch was focused primarily on Investment Advisory, tangentially banking and underwriting.

In 1995, John became the Southern Regional Vice President for the Water, Wastewater & Hazardous Waste firm of Metcalf & Eddy. The businesses operated from the Carolinas through Texas with concentrations for revenue growth and profit in Florida, Georgia and Texas.

John Hart’s role was CEO and President of OTC traded Aquagenics Land and Water Technologies, a vegetation management company upside down which he guided into and out of reorganization. Later John became COO/EVP/Partner of Florida-based civil engineering firm Keith and Schnars who specialized in large scale environmental planning, transportation and utility systems. He also launched a private consulting practice in 2005 specializing in the government relations arena.

Concurrent with these professional positions, Mr. Hart held 20 years in elected and appointed offices. He served three terms as Councilman and Mayor for the City of North Lauderdale; two terms on the Broward County Commission during which he served as Chair and Vice Chair. John’s public trusts included Chair of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, President of the Florida Association of Counties, Gubernatorial appointee to the Broward County Expressway Authority of which he oversaw the design and construction of the Sawgrass Expressway, and Cabinet appointed to Florida Commission on Governmental Affairs.

John’s public service agenda focused on the environment, water resources, transportation, children’s advocacy and human services. Highlights included the Successful passage of South Florida’s first Environmentally Sensitive Land bond issue ($75 million), the sponsorship of the nation’s second Drug Court (precursor and model for 2200 courts nationwide) and the sponsor of the Public Service Intern Program, opening opportunities for qualified high school graduates and a pathway to careers in government.