We told you there was something afoot this summer. Here's the press release today from the Core Message PR shop announcing Barney Bishop will resign effective Dec. 31, just before the next legislative session:

Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) today announced President and CEO Barney T. Bishop III submitted his resignation to the AIF Board of Directors effective December 31, 2011. Until that date, he will remain President and CEO.

“Once the legislative session ended, I started thinking about what my goals were both at AIF and in my personal life. I realized I had achieved my goals of rebuilding AIF and the organization was in a very good place. Working at AIF has been the highlight of my career and a challenge I feel proud to have met head on,” said Bishop. “There are other things in life – other passions – that I wanted to pursue. Now is that time. I have always been a serial entrepreneur having previously started two companies. I may start a third company or join another. Public speaking and political commentary have also been other passions of mine. People appreciate my willingness to shoot straight and tell it like it is. I look forward to pursuing these opportunities in the future and I am keeping my options open. Right now, my focus remains on AIF and I have announced this decision now to ensure a smooth and seamless transition to the organization’s next president and CEO.”

Bishop will continue his relationship with AIF in 2012 with a consulting agreement that will begin on January 1, 2012.

“Barney has accomplished great things at AIF by rebuilding our membership and enhancing our effectiveness in the halls of the Florida Capitol,” said Erika Alba, Chair of the AIF Board of Directors. “His passion and his unequaled round the clock effort to rebuild AIF will be missed.  Anyone that knows Barney knows that he worked diligently, going wherever he needed to, in order to promote AIF to all sectors of Florida.”

Alba also pointed to his success with record dues and membership levels, as well as the Policy Councils Bishop implemented at AIF, which provided many important Florida industry sectors with a venue to discuss their issues. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Barney for his efforts on behalf of AIF and its members and wish nothing but the very best for him in his future endeavors.   We will certainly give him a good send off at our annual conference next week,” added Alba.

“Advocating for all of our members at both the state and federal levels was a privilege and an honor. I wish AIF, its staff and Board of Directors all the best as they continue to fight the good fight on behalf of employers across Florida. I will continue to work alongside AIF to help advance free market principles as it is my passion,” said Bishop.