Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A.

Bozzuto, a partner at Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed, focuses on the hospitality industry. She handles everything from real estate acquisitions as related to restaurants and hotels to employment and legislative issues.

So now, at a time when the economy impacts the industry, she looks at the hospitality industry with a protective eye.

"I want restaurant owners and hotel owners and general managers to be aware that they need to fight back against the possibility of increased taxing," Bozzuto said. "Given the state of the economy and given the fact that municipalities are running out of money, the legislature is looking for ways to tax everything."

Bozzuto was recently elected vice president of governmental affairs for the Central Florida chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and was also elected to the State Board as chairman of the governmental relations committee. The FRLA lobbies legislators in Tallahassee for the benefit of the restaurant and lodging businesses.

Her passion is evident in everything she does. She even answers her own phone.

"I answer my own phone because I want my clients to know that I'm available to them," she said. "I want to know what their concerns are. I need to know."

Bozzuto said the FRLA is a valuable tool to help the people in the hotel and restaurant business.

"When we met at state level for the State Board meeting, the government affairs committee reviewed with staff every pending and upcoming bill that would affect the restaurant industry and directed staff on what position to take and how to lobby," Bozzuto said. "Our committee members are comprised of people who used to work in alcohol and beverage regulations and similar positions so they are there to help if you have health and inspection issues, or you want to open a hotel. We have people on staff who know inspectors and who will personally help out."

When Florida borrowed money from the federal government to pay Florida's 1 million unemployed workers, the state had no concrete plan to pay back the money. Bozzuto warns that the hospitality industry needs to stand tough to make sure it is not going to get taxed to pay back the Feds.

"These are the types of issues the FRLA educates the people about," Bozzuto said. "The unemployment tax is an issue, offshore drilling is an issue with equal amounts of people on both sides, and the states trying to tax the room agregators like Orbitz. I mean, the legislators may even look at bringing back an alcohol beverage surtax which we worked so hard to have repealed years ago. We have to be aware."

Bozzuto said that among the most pressing issues is that hospitality people need to band together to stand strong against any attempt to tax the hotels and restaurants to pay off the unemployment. Her most important words of advice are: Get involved.

"It's the most fabulous industry to work in," Bozzuto said. "Hospitality workers are people oriented, but they get caught up in operational life. If I had a word of advice to give, it would be that even if you've never been politically active before, pay attention to what is going on. If you can't do it yourself, contribute to your political action committee, local or state, to make sure you're protected. When you get an email to call your local representative do it. You're going to see people coming for bites at the apple and we need to be ready."