25 Women for 2025: Robyn Blank brings social work ideals to lobbying
Originally published on Tallahassee Democrat
When Robyn Metcalf Blank learned that she had been named on 2025’s list of Tallahassee’s 25 Women You Need to Know, she was preparing for the start of the legislative session, where she represents organizations ranging from nonprofits to technology and education as a lobbyist for The Griffin Group, all through the unique lens of a social worker. “I wasn’t expecting this at all,” she said.
That’s probably because, as a staunch advocate for children and victims of human trafficking, Blank has spent most of her time giving a voice to the unheard.
Growing up in Sarasota, Blank thought she would attend Florida State University and become a teacher or a school counselor. “My dream, as young as 3 years old, was to move to Tallahassee and go to Florida State,” she said. “My dad was an alumni, my parents had season football tickets, we would come up here every fall for football games, and for me the dream came true.”
But instead of education, Blank was drawn to social work. She received both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Florida State University, where she was nominated by the College of Social Work for Florida State University's Humanitarian of the Year Award, and is driven by the values of that work.
Her professional career began with The Children's Campaign and its affiliate, Voices for Florida, serving more than 1,400 survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking throughout Florida. She then joined the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking as its Director of Special Projects, where she built statewide partnerships to raise awareness and secure funding for the work they do.
“Through this work I learned just how challenging the legislative process can be for nonprofit organizations including the budget process. When I made the shift from running a statewide nonprofit organization into full-time contract lobbying, my goal was to support organizations that are making a difference in our state through the legislative process,” she said.
She admits that making a complete career shift to leave the nonprofit world for the private sector was a risk, but seeing her vision of bringing a social work perspective to the work of a lobbyist is gratifying.
“If you asked me even 5 years ago if I saw myself being a contract lobbyist in the private sector, I never would have imagined it, after planning to be a teacher and then going into social work,” she said. “The coolest thing about making this big career shift and wondering if it would make sense is realizing that, fortunately, it has made more sense than I ever thought it would.”
Blank walks the talk, too. She has served as vice chair of the Florida Healthy Start MomCare Network, a National Director of the FSU Alumni Board, and a board member and secretary of the South City Foundation, ensuring that all of Tallahassee's neighborhoods are safe, thriving economically, and that the neighborhood children are given a first-class education, from cradle to career.
She has volunteered with 2-1-1 Big Bend, Guardian Ad Litem, Relay for Life North Leon, and Tree House. Further cementing her commitment to serving others, she earned a Victim Services Practitioner Designation and became qualified to serve as an MSW Field Placement Supervisor.
Robyn joyfully gives back to Florida State University, “As a proud three-time alumni of the University, I am grateful for the opportunity to engage with both alumni and current students. I also do a lot of work with the FSU College of Social Work, engaging with students and speaking to classes about the importance of social workers getting involved in statewide policy and the importance of their voice through advocacy.”
When she’s not representing her clients at the Capitol, Robyn enjoys spending time with her husband Michael and their dog, Fin. You may find her starting her weekends with a workout at The Society Wellness Studio, grabbing a coffee at Lucky Goat, and visiting the farmers market.
“I love taking long walks through Tallahassee,” she says. “Having lived here for 15 years, Tallahassee has truly become my home. Both personally and professionally, I feel like the people that make up this community are the reason why we are here.”