Getting bored is Kemp’s greatest fear. Ever striving to reach the ideal of a well-rounded renaissance man, Kemp has played bass guitar and double bass for over 50 productions at Theater Winter Haven and has even appeared on-stage on occasion. Besides being an accomplished musician and infrequent actor, he dabbles in computer programming and filmmaking. He created Just Laugh, a short documentary about community theater which was named as an official selection at film festivals far and wide. A few years ago, he decided to learn Spanish “just for fun” and ended up achieving conversational fluency, enough to get by without difficulty if he ever finds himself stranded in Buenos Aires. To test the theory, he went to Buenos Aires to see how it went. (Spoiler alert: He made it back!) But his most interesting hobby is the ancient art of English change ringing, a pursuit that lives at the intersection of music and mathematics. Kemp hails from Washington, North Carolina, and he loves mechanical pencils, long pensive walks, and good Indian food.

EDUCATION

• The George Washington University Law School, Juris Doctor, 2004
• NC State University, Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, magna cum lade, 2001
• Leadership Polk, Class V, Graduate, 2012
• Leadership Winter Haven, Class XXVII, Graduate, 2007

ADMISSIONS

• U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
• United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
• United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
• Florida

COMMUNITY

• Central Florida Health Care, Board of Directors, 2017-present (Chair, 2024-present)
• Polk County Arts and Cultural Alliance, Board of Directors, 2023-present
• Theatre Winter Haven, Board of Trustees, 2007-2020 (Chair 2007-2016)
• City of Winter Haven, Citizen’s Efficiency Committee, Co-chair 2013-2104
• Main Street Winter Haven, Board of Directors, 2006-2011 (Vice-President, 2009-2011)
• 10th Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program, Volunteer (2004-present)

HONORS

• Polk Emerging Leaders Award, Recipient, 2012
• Florida Bar Pro Bono Service Award, 10th Circuit, 2012
• 10th Guardian ad Litem of the Year, 2011
• Park Scholar, NC State University, 1997-2021