Dennis A. Ross is a native of Lakeland, Florida, graduating from Auburn University in 1981. Dennis then attended the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and in 1987, graduated and became a Member of the Florida Bar.  Mr. Ross is also a Member of the Washington DC Bar Association.

Mr. Ross initially practiced law at Holland & Knight in Lakeland, Florida for two years.  Ross was then employed as an attorney at Walt Disney World before starting his own law firm, which grew to 27 employees.  

In 2000, Dennis was elected to the Florida House of Representatives where he served for eight years. In 2010, Dennis was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served Florida’s 15th Congressional District for eight years. 

After retiring from Congress in 2019, Dennis joined Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida as a Distinguished Professor and as the Director of the American Center for Public Leadership (ACPL).  The ACPL is dedicated to the mission of advocating for increased civic engagement through the development of researched based curriculum which teaches civil discourse and promotes citizen participation.   

He is married to Cindy Hartley Ross and they have two sons, Shane and Travis, and three grandchildren, Emmet, Charlotte and Delilah.