How long have you been a FCCMA member and why did you join?
I have been an FCCMA member since February 2022, and I joined because I became a first-time administrator in Florida in October 2021. My last job was in Montgomery County, Maryland, so joining FCCMA to strengthen relationships throughout the state was an important step in beginning my new journey in Florida.
Are you an ICMA member, why did you join, and how long have you been a member?
I have been an ICMA member for nearly five years, and I am also a graduate of the Leadership ICMA class of 2014. I had a gap in my membership due to my public service at the federal government as well as the District of Columbia. I joined ICMA to be surrounded with like-minded people who shared the same desire to lead and learn in the public sector. ICMA is the leader for serious individuals about public administration, and I have enjoyed being a member immensely!
Please describe your areas of formal/advanced education.
I received my undergraduate degree from North Carolina A&T State University, the #1 HBCU (Historically Black College/University) in the country! I also hold a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Phoenix, which I received before the pandemic showed the world how to still get value and productivity from online learning.
Why did you select a career in public service?
I selected public service because I thought it would be exciting. I was young and it was my first job out of college. I was a Business Analyst located at an entertainment venue run by the city, which had an arena, auditorium, special events center, and was host to many musical acts, Broadway plays, and ACC college basketball. These might not be your typical government operations, but it taught me about the inner financial complexity and facility operations of an important economic engine within the city.
Have you always been in the public sector or have you had experience in the private sector?
All my experience is public sector, just different levels: Local government (city and county), federal government, and the District of Columbia (which is a combination of city/county/state).
Please tell us about your current position and give a brief job description if you are not a City Administrator/Manager.
My current role is City Manager of North Port, Florida.
Please describe your typical day.
My typical day is a balance between satisfying the needs of my elected officials, the public and our talented team. There are a lot of meetings. I start by making sure I am current on emails and communications so those who rely on me can have what they need to be successful. I also make sure my elected officials have the right information so they can make important decisions for the city. And I also make sure I remove the barriers for my team to perform at its best. Did I mention there are a lot of meetings? A typical day is, however, very rewarding. It’s fast paced, but the impact on the lives of the citizens and employees lets me know that we as public servants are doing very important work that may not always be appreciated, but makes it very rewarding none the less.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of my job is seeing the joy from residents when government gets it right. Too many times we are in the spotlight for our mistakes and errors. When we can solve a problem and bring joy to residents through our actions, such as repairs, program delivery, community engagement or economic development growth, it makes them happy, which makes me happy.
What is your least favorite part of the job?
My least favorite part is dealing with the politics. I’ve always worked on problem-solving and making government better because it is the right thing to do. When politics has a stronger presence than it should in the day-to-day government operations it hurts the effectiveness of good governance. Politically driven action is not comparable to quality public administration.
If you are involved in any volunteer or leadership activities in your community, please share with us a bit about what you do and why it is important to you.
I support many of our nonprofits here in North Port. I enjoy serving our community to show a visible and vocal presence of government leadership. It’s important for our community to see me engaged where I live. We recently recreated a program that discussed teen suicide, I volunteered at a back-to-school drive, and my daughter and I support our clothing closet that provides clothes to less fortunate children in our community.
What is your most memorable experience on the job?
My most memorable experience was Governor DeSantis coming to North Port and presenting us with a grant for job growth last fall. Our city is growing: we have approximately 80,000 residents, but 90% of our workforce commutes out to other areas of Sarasota County. We need jobs, we need economic development, we need to keep more of our revenue in our borders and create opportunities for our residents to live, work, and play in North Port. I was very proud of our team to secure the grant, honored the governor would visit our city, and highly encouraged that many important stakeholders all understand the value and challenges of job growth in our city.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife and two amazing children (ages 16 & 11). We have enjoyed being in Florida and exploring the west coast for the past year. Southwest Florida is a gorgeous part of the state and has wonderful weather that allows me to play a lot of golf, which is my passion and punishment all at the same time!
If you could give one piece of advice to people interested in a career in public service, what would it be?
Find a good mentor! Your mentor should be someone who doesn’t have a direct connection to your success (not your supervisor or peer). They should have an independent interest in your growth and enough experience to be able to share advice on how to navigate your challenges. A good mentor will shorten your learning curve, and this will shave years off of your career trajectory. I can’t say how important a good mentor can shape your entire life!
Who were your mentors and how have you passed this information down to other aspiring public administrators?
My mentor is Rashad Young, who has over 20 years of city management experience including (Alexandria, VA; Greensboro, NC; and Washington, D.C.). He opened my eyes to the depth of public service and the value of improving our communities. I have passed on the values he has instilled in me by not only mentoring others but creating and maintaining a culture and environment of excellence in my city. So while I may have a handful of mentees that I speak to and help, I am modeling the correct leadership skills and traits for a workforce of 800+. Good leaders create more leaders, that is the domino effect of a good mentor and quality leadership.
What career would you pick if you were to pick another?
I would be a professional golfer, except I am not that good and my wife and kids would quickly go hungry. But I think there is a value in providing consulting to public sectors or local governments in need. I think there are a lot of transferable skills I have learned that I could share to help others improve faster. This would allow me to have a wider impact on more communities, a win-win.
Do you have a story you can share about how being a member of FCCMA has helped you or impacted you in a positive way?
Not yet as a new member, but I am positive it will happen soon!
