About Seth

A fifth generation Polk County resident, Seth McKeel, who is a Lakeland native, was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in November of 2006. Rep. McKeel is the Chairman of the Committee on State Affairs, overseeing House policy in the areas of Energy and Utilities, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Federal Affairs and State Government Operations. He is the Chairman of the Bay Area Legislative Delegation, the Hillsborough Legislative Delegation and the Public Service Commission Nominating Council. He formerly served on the Lakeland City Commission from January of 2001 until December of 2005.

Seth is Vice President for Strategic Business Development for MAXIMIZE Social Media, and Vice President of Lakeland Properties & Management, Inc., his family’s real estate management company. He is formerly the Director of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, and his prior professional experience includes work with Heritage Equities Incorporated and Publix Super Markets, Inc. Seth is married to Kim who also works in the real estate business as a Realtor® with Keller Williams Realty. Seth and his wife Kim have one son, Seth, III and one daughter, Caroline.

An alumnus of Lakeland Senior High School, Seth is an honors graduate of the University of Florida, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, with a major in Political Science. While attending college, he traveled to London, England where he studied British Government at the Florida State University London Study Centre.

A graduate of both Leadership Florida and Leadership Lakeland, Seth spends a great deal of time in local volunteer service. A deep commitment to community betterment is a trait passed down through family. Seth is the son of Peggy and Doug McKeel (Peggy, a guidance counselor at Lakeland High School and community volunteer with numerous organizations), the grandson of Anne and T.R. Tucker, who are both active in community service and he is the grandson of the late Louise H. McKeel and former Polk County School Board Chairman and community servant Seth G. McKeel.

Seth is Past Chairman of the Board of McKeel Academy of Technology Conversion Charter School and McKeel Elementary Academy, where he remains active on both schools´ Board of Directors. He has worked closely with Lakeland Vision Inc. and The First Tee of Lakeland. He serves on the Board of VISTE (Volunteers in Service to the Elderly), and is President of the Imperial Symphony Orchestra. Seth is active with the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce and Florida Southern College. He is a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Lakeland, the Lakeland Economic Development Council, the National Association of Residential Property Managers and the Polk County Gator Club.