David L. Batt is a native of Houston, Texas, but attended public schools in Shreveport, Louisiana and received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Louisiana Tech University in 1956. At Tech, he served as president of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, was Adjutant of the Air Force ROTC, Vice President of the Student Union and among Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
From January 1979 to September 1984, Mr. Batt was Chief of Staff to United States Senator J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana. Prior to that he was on the staff of United States Representative Joe D. Waggonner, also of Louisiana, for nearly seventeen years, serving in numerous capacities including Chief of Staff for eight years.
Mr. Batt went to Washington from Shreveport, where he was Manager of the Commercial and Membership Departments of the local Chamber of Commerce from 1959 until 1962. His previous three years of service in the United States Air Force led to duties as a navigator and administrative officer, and attainment of the rank of Captain. In 1963 he married Joyce Dickson of Shreveport and they have two grown sons, three grandsons and one granddaughter.
From October of 1984 to November of 1999, Mr. Batt served as President (CEO) of the Florida Phosphate Council, a trade association representing the Country’s leading phosphate fertilizer manufacturing companies, and served on the Board of Directors of The Fertilizer Institute in Washington, D.C. He has served in numerous capacities with the Florida Chamber of Commerce including Chairman of the Task Force on Mining and Heavy Industry, Chairman of the National Issues Committee, Chairman of the Big Bend Regional Council, a member of the International Business Issues Committee, a member of the Crossroad Commission (tax reform study) and a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
Mr. Batt also served as Chairman of the Florida-China Trade Coalition and President/Chairman of the Board of the Economic Club of Florida. He recently served on the Board of Directors of the Governor’s Club and served that social club as its Vice President for Facilities and Operations. He has served as a member of the Advisory Councils at the University of Florida for the College of Engineering, the Department of Geology and the Center for Natural Resources. He was a member of the Florida Society of Association Executives, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Advisory Council and the Florida TaxWatch. Mr. Batt has also served as a member of the Advisory Committee on the Future established by the Florida House of Representatives, a member of the State Agricultural Advisory Committee.
He served three years as President of the Education Foundation for the State of Florida. Governor Martinez appointed him to the Board of Directors of the Environmental Education Foundation of Florida (now Council for Sustainable Florida), and the Board elected him to serve as Vice President and subsequently, President. In that capacity he also served on the Florida Advisory Council on Environmental Education. Mr. Batt has been recognized on numerous occasions for his work in education, including the Dr. P. Phillips Foundation award for “Exceptional Service to Florida’s Education Foundations”, the Florida Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Partner Award for “Dedicated Involvement in Building Quality Statewide Business-Education Partnerships” and the Florida Education Commissioner’s Award of Excellence.
Now semi-retired, Mr. Batt is currently a consultant to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, managing their international trade policy program and committee. He also serves as Director and consultant for Consumer Energy Alliance of Florida.