About Us
Dick Batchelor Management Group Inc. is a renowned consulting firm specializing in business development consulting, strategic governmental affairs and public policy issues management.
About Dick Batchelor
Founder and President Dick J. Batchelor, who is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives, is uniquely qualified with five decades of political experience. His intimate knowledge of the political landscape on all levels makes him one of the most savvy analysts and coveted strategists in the state of Florida. From his offices in Orlando, Mr. Batchelor is dedicated to helping clients near and far achieve their goals and prepare for what’s next.
Dick is first and foremost a savvy businessman who prides himself on delivering results for his clients. He has been named one of “The 50 Most Powerful People” by Orlando Magazine (2004 to 2011), the 2002 “Central Floridian of the Year” (The Orlando Sentinel), the 2002 “Businessman of the Year” (Orlando Business Journal, November 2002) and the 2008 and 2009 “Best Corporate Citizen” (Orlando Magazine).
He is one of the youngest individuals ever to serve in the Florida House of representatives (1974-1982), where he served as chairman of the Auditing Committee, the Health and Rehabilitative Services Committee and the House Energy Committee. He was also chairman of four subcommittees and is the recipient of more than 50 awards for his legislative service. Dick Batchelor is a longtime Orlando resident and received degrees from the University of Central Florida and Valencia Community College.
A concerned and caring neighbor, Batchelor continued his commitment to his community when he left the Florida Legislature in 1982. He currently serves on several boards, including the Florida Children's Hospital Board (Chair), Florida Hospital Foundation Board (Chair), the First Amendment Foundation, the Central Florida Urban League Board of Directors, Florida's Children First and the Florida Tuskegee Airmen Board. Since 1981, he has served as honorary chairman of the "Dick Batchelor Run for the Children," an annual 5K race that raises funds (over $1 million to date) to treat abused children. In 2010, Dick was awarded The Chiles Advocacy Award presented by United Way of Florida for his “Integrity, Dedication, and Commitment to Improving the Lives of Florida's Children and Families.”
His knowledge of international affairs also has garnered recognition by the White House, including presidential appointments as a delegate to observe elections in South Africa and as a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
Dick Batchelor currently appears weekly as an on-air political analyst for Central Florida News 13. He has served as a regular on-air political analyst for FOX WOFL-TV, WMFE (NPR) radio and WDBO radio (Cox Broadcasting) for a number of years. He has also served as an on-air political analyst for WFTV-TV (ABC Affiliate), WESH-TV (NBC affiliate) as well as WNDB Radio (Daytona Beach) and is frequently interviewed for political analysis and expertise by other television, radio and print journalists.
He and his wife, Orlando news media veteran Andrea Coudriet, have three sons.
Qualifications
CAREER
Dick Batchelor Management Group (1986-present)
Florida Environmental Regulation Commission, Chairman (1991-1997)
Florida House of Representatives (1974-1982), Auditing Committee- Chairman, Health and Rehabilitative Services Committee- Chairman, House Energy Committee- Chairman
United States Marine Corps, Vietnam (1967-1968)
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS
Citizen Diplomat of the Year (International Council of Central Florida – ICCF) (2010)
U.S. Delegate at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland (2000)
Delegate to United Nations Special Session on Children (UNICEF) (2002)
Served as a U.S. representative at the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) General Conference in Paris (1997)
Appointed Delegate to the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism (1995)
Presidential Delegation to Observe the Elections in South Africa — (1994), Meeting with President-Elect Nelson Mandela
United States Department of State (USIA) (ACYPL), U.S. Representative (Poland & Romania) (1975), U.S. Representative (El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala) (1980), U.S. Representative (Vietnam) (2001)
SERVICE & PHILANTHROPY
Florida Children’s Hospital Board, Chairman
Florida Hospital Foundation Board, Chairman
Florida’s Children First!
Dick Batchelor Run for the Children, Honorary Chairman (1981-present)
First Amendment Foundation (2009-present)
Children’s Environmental Health Network, Vice Chairman (CEHN) (2001-present)
Change 4 Kids, Chairman (2002)
Blue Ribbon Panel on Education (2004-2005)
Orange County Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Commission, Co-Chairman (2004-2013)
Lawton Chiles Child Advocacy Award (United Way of Florida) (2010)
Florida’s Blood Centers, Board Member (2010-present)
United Nations Association (2010-present)
CourtWatch, Board Member
Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Youth, Member and Committee Chair
Harbor House Advisory Board
Federation of Congregations United to Serve (FOCUS), Advisory Committee Member
Junior League of Greater Orlando, Advisory Board Member
KB Home, Community Advisory Board Member
Orlando Family Stage, Board Member
ABCs at The Homeless Coalition
Seeds of Peace, Board Member
United Negro College Fund (since 2003), Board Member
Florida TaxWatch
Advisory Council, Sexual Abuse Treatment Program, Arnold Palmer Hospital
1000 Friends of Florida
Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida
Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, Board Member (1996-2002)
National Conference for Community & Justice, Board Member (1997-2004)
Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce, Board Member (1996-1997)
The Family Source, Board Member
Association for Retarded Citizens, Advisory Council
Investment Trust Company, Board Member
Presidential Search Advisory Committee (State University System of Florida) (1991)
Speaker of the House's Advisory Committee on the Future (1987-1988)
Southeast Regional Low Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission, Alternate Commissioner
American Council of Young Political Leaders, Delegate (1975, 1988)
Sales Tax Exemption Study Commission (1986-1987)
H.R.S. Prevention Task Force, Chairman (1985-1988)
Governor's Constituency for Children, Vice Chairman (1983-1987)
Mayor's Task Force on Youth Employment, City of Orlando (1984)
Gift of Music Foundation, Honorary Board Member
United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida, Board Member
March of Dimes Telethon, Chairman (1986)
CHARLEE Program, Founder and Board Member (1985-1986)
Council of Arts and Sciences (1983-1984)
League of Conservation Voters, State Board Member (1983-1984)
Christian Service Center (1983-1984)
Orlando Crime Prevention Commission, Child Abuse Task Force, Chairman (1982-1983)
University of Central Florida Alumni Council (1982-1983)
Florida Public Relations Association
Counselors' Network of the Florida Public Relations Association
Central Florida Press Club, Inc.
Multiple Sclerosis Society
Tuskegee Airmen, Chappy James Chapter
United Nations Association of Greater Orlando
Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government, Board Member
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
American Committees on Foreign Relations
United Nations Association
Orlando Area Foreign Relations Chapter
American Council of Young Political Leaders (State Department)
Tuskegee Airmen, Honorary Member
Orange County Children's Leadership Alliance 2013