CHAIR 2024-2026
Jessica Gow was born and raised in Ocala, Florida, and attended the University of West Florida, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and as an Honors Scholar before attending the Florida State University College of Law. While in law school, Mrs. Gow served as the President of the Environmental Law Society, Associate Editor of the Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law, and Notes and Comments Editor for the Florida State University Law Review. Mrs. Gow also volunteered as a Peer Mentor for the law school, and acted as a student ambassador throughout her time there.
Throughout her law school career, Mrs. Gow worked with various environmental nonprofits, including Save the Manatee Club, Surfrider Foundation, the Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition, and Earthjustice, the nonprofit law firm. Mrs. Gow also worked in real property and land use matters at Gunster Law Firm, located in Tallahassee, Florida, and worked alongside University professors as a research assistant in the areas of Torts, Tax law, Environmental law, and Administrative law. Mrs. Gow graduated Magna Cum Laude, with a certificate in Environmental and Land Use law.
Mrs. Gow focuses her practice in the fields of land use and environmental law, assisting in all aspects of the regulatory and permitting review process for development projects and in the redevelopment of real property through the Florida Brownfield Program.
Mrs. Gow achieved board certification in City County and Local Government Law in 2024 through the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys playing board games, enjoying Florida’s natural environment, and going hiking with her husband, Jeramie, and their two dogs.
Along with serving as the Chair of VCARD, Jessica is very active with VCARD’s Technical Review Committee. She is also a past recipient of VCARD Member of the Year award.