Jim Ely is a third generation Floridian who grew up in South Florida. One of his fondest memories as a child is the day his dad took him and his younger brother for a ride on the brand new Sunshine State Parkway (Florida's Turnpike) when it first opened in January, 1957. He marveled at a road that allowed him to travel from Miami to Ft. Pierce at 70 mph without any traffic lights. After spending three years in the U.S. Army, Mr. Ely joined the Florida Department of Transportation in 1974. He held several positions including the Director of Management Review and Inspector General. In 1989, he was appointed as Director of Florida's Turnpike, which has been part of the Florida Department of Transportation since 1969.

During his tenure, Florida's Turnpike has built or acquired 143 miles of new Turnpike segments around the State valued at $2.5 billion dollars while traffic has increased five fold. Today, Florida's Turnpike serves over two million people per day and is the fourth largest Turnpike System in the nation with 460 centerline miles and the second largest in revenue. The Turnpike is primarily self-financed through its toll and concession revenues and therefore, receives no Federal or State operating funds. Florida's Turnpike is also the highest bond-rated turnpike in the nation and does not rely on the State to back its bond issues.

Mr. Ely is passionate about the Governor's Initiative on Mentoring. Under his direction, the Turnpike has supported two needy elementary schools, one in Central Florida and one in South Florida. Turnpike staff members travel to the schools each week and participate in either one-on-one or group mentoring. This service helps improve the reading skills of many at-risk students. Mr. Ely believes that transportation is not only a link that connects people, goods and services, but it also serves as a vital part of serving communities. He supports innovative programs such as the Teddy Bears for Troopers program which has supplied nearly 7,000 stuffed animals since its inception in 1998 to children affected by incidents on the Turnpike.

Mr. Ely is a nationally recognized expert on user-financed transportation and is recognized for his vision, organizational development, deployment of technology, innovation and dedication to customer service. The latest annual customer satisfaction survey, conducted by an independent firm, reported that most customers of Florida's Turnpike feel they are receiving value in the form of safety, service and convenience for the toll they pay. In fact, 92% would recommend using the Turnpike System to family and friends. He also believes that tolling is simply a means to an end - providing better mobility for Florida's residents and visitors. As a transportation advocate he feels there are no "free" roads - just toll roads and non-toll roads (i.e., gas tax funded). In 2003 the Turnpike was awarded the IBTTA President's Awards for Innovation and Excellence for the design of the Suncoast Parkway and in 2005 and 2007 received the JD Powers and Associates Seal of Approval for Excellence in Call Center Operations for its electronic toll collection system called SunPass.

Operating a Business - Public Sector Mission with Private Sector Methods

In 2002, the Florida Legislature transformed Florida's Turnpike into an Enterprise. Still part of the FDOT, the Turnpike Enterprise's objective is to employ private sector methods in operating the Turnpike as a business for the State. A centerpiece of this strategy is to capitalize on the advantages of electronic toll collection. In 2004, Florida Trend Magazine listed Jim Ely as one of the 174 Most Influential Floridians describing him as the "un-bureaucrat, charged by Governor Bush with bringing private practice savvy to the government experiment that is Florida's Turnpike Enterprise."

Leader in the User-Financed Industry

Mr. Ely is the immediate Past President of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Past Chairman of the Board of the Transportation and Expressway Authority Members of Florida, and serves on the Executive Board of the Florida Department of Transportation. He holds a B.S. degree in Business, an M.B.A., and a master's degree in Education, and a Doctorate in Public Administration. He is also an alumnus of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Jim also received the 2007 Alumnus of the Year Award from his Alma Mater. He attributes the extraordinary success of Florida's Turnpike's mission of helping meet the State's transportation needs, serving its customers and protecting the bondholders to support from the Governor, the Florida Legislature, the Florida Transportation Commission, the Secretary of Transportation, and the 4,600 dedicated staff who serve the Turnpike's customers everyday.

Jim and his wife Betty Jo reside in Central Florida, a short distance from the Turnpike's headquarters in Orlando located at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza (Milepost 263).

P.S. Mr. Ely's business cards include the caption "We Drive Smiles." He hopes this is your experience when you choose Florida's Turnpike on your travels around the great State of Florida.