Meet Meridy Semones, Assistant City Manager, Largo

How long have you been an FCCMA member, and why did you join?

1. I became an FCCMA student member in 2007 when I relocated to Florida in grad school. When I started at the City of Largo in 2008 as a Management Analyst, I became a regular member.
2. I joined initially for networking and learning opportunities since I was relocating from Wisconsin to Florida.

Are you an ICMA member? Why did you join, and how long have you been a member?

1. I have been an ICMA member since 2018 after transitioning to a director role at the City of Largo. I joined ICMA for the rich learning and development opportunities, networking and participation in Leadership ICMA.

Please describe your areas of formal/advanced education.

1. Master of Public Administration (MPA) – University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
2. Prsoci – Certified Change Management Practitioner
3. GFOA Certified Public Finance Officer
4. Certified ToP Facilitation Methods Facilitator
5. Executive certificates in design thinking and diversity, equity and inclusion from the University of South Florida

Why did you select a career in public service?

1. Inherently I wanted to help people and make my community better.
2. Growing up, my grandmother was a reporter covering City Hall and major community issues for the major newspaper in Milwaukee. It gave me a different lens into community development, local politics and what makes a community a home to its residents and businesses.
3. My initial plan after finishing my bachelor’s degree was to go to law school until a professor in the MPA program convinced me to go that route.
4. It has been challenging and rewarding, and I have never looked back.

Have you always been in the public sector, or have you had experience in the private sector?

1. Professionally, I have only worked in the public sector.

Please tell us about your current position and give a brief job description if you are not a City Administrator/Manager. 

1. I am currently the Assistant City Manager at the City of Largo.
2. My leadership portfolio as the Chief Strategy Officer includes internal services, community development and major strategic initiatives (e.g. strategic planning and budget and performance management, homelessness)

Please describe your typical day.

1. Since starting the Assistant City Manager role in May of 2024, there really has not been a typical day!
2. Each day is filled with a variety of topics that impact the long-term outcomes of the organization and community. I have the opportunity now to be more engaged in the field with team members and at community events, which has been a great change.
3. We are in the final stages of FY 2025 budget development, starting the update to the City’s strategic plan and working on internal changes to boost recruitment and retention, in addition to planning (financially and operationally) for our move to our new mixed-use City Hall – Horizon West Bay.

What is your favorite part of the job?

1. It’s hard to pick one thing, but there are two things that come to mind:
   1. Serving in a role that facilitates long-term strategy and decision-making, I find it extremely rewarding to see big ideas come to life. I vividly remember facilitating the City Commission retreat where Horizon West Bay was developed. It is inspiring to see the construction progress and the impact it is already having on redevelopment in our downtown.
   2. Serving our community through caring for our team members is the other part of my job that I love. I rarely have the opportunity to directly serve our community, so ensuring that our team members have the tools, equipment, training, mental health care and other resources they need to effectively serve is an essential part of my leadership role.

What is your least favorite part of the job? 

1. I don’t have any part of my role that I dislike, but it is unfortunate to see the way public discourse is devolving. It makes the role of local government management even more important to ensure our communities are well served.

What is your most memorable experience on the job?

1. I have had the privilege to lead teams through major change initiatives on behalf of the organization. These are always challenging, fun and full of learning experiences. In 2020, just before the pandemic hit, we launched a major software conversion (Workday ERP) that would impact every team member and modernize over 4,000 business processes. Mid-project we had to go to a fully remote implementation and work environment. Team Largo handled it so well. As the sponsor and change management lead, it was rewarding to see all of the change and the quiet go-live with hardly any issues.

What are your hobbies/interests?

1. I love spending time with my 10-year-old son traveling, playing at the beach or pool and doing all the active things he loves. I also am an avid weightlifter and love getting any type of outdoor recreational exercise. I also love to bake and read. Balance!

If you could give one piece of advice to people interested in a career in public service, what would it be? 

1. Go for it! And always remember that the struggle IS the reward.

Who were your mentors and how have you passed this information down to other aspiring public administrators? 

1. I have had several mentors along the way, whether that is former supervisors or city managers, or cohorts in leadership programs – they have all provided support and guidance to keep me dedicated to learning and growing as a professional.
2. I am passionate about learning and personal growth and am regularly planning and facilitating leadership development opportunities with all of my teams.

What career would you pick if you were to pick another?

1. I would choose a change management consultant. Change is so hard for individuals and organizations. Having a structured, people-centered approach is key.

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?

1. Being an FCCMA member has been a great learning and networking opportunity. Serving on several committees over the year has also afforded me the opportunity to give back to the organization. It was also an honor to receive an award in 2022 at the annual conference for those contributions.