J. Ben Watkins, III

Mr. Watkins serves as the Director of the State of Florida Division of Bond Finance since 1994. Mr. Watkins advises on legislative and financial issues involving various new financing programs such as the securitization of the tobacco settlement payments, leveraging the State revolving loan fund for wastewater facilities, financing the underground storage tank clean-up, Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, and privatizing the Special Disabilities Trust Fund. Prior to joining the Division, Mr. Watkins practiced law with Asbill & Brennan in Atlanta, Georgia. His practice area was concentrated in public finance and he has extensive experience as bond counsel, bank counsel and underwriter’s counsel on taxable and tax-exempt financings. Mr. Watkins received his undergraduate degree in accounting from Auburn University in 1979 and worked as a Certified Public Accountant with Peat Marwick. He went on to attend the University of Florida’s College of Law in 1984 and has been a member of the State Bar of both Florida and Georgia since 1987.