How long have you been a FCCMA member and why did you join?
I officially joined FCCMA in 2021, although I have been attending conferences and taking part in some of the professional development opportunities for a couple of years. I am a member of ICMA and Broward County City Manager’s Association (BCCMA). FCCMA was the missing link.
Are you an ICMA member, why did you join, and how long have you been a member?
I have been an ICMA member since 2018. My City Manager encouraged me to attend the 2018 ICMA conference, where I gained so much insight from the conference alone. In addition to the excellent conferences, I have taken advantage of several professional development opportunities that have proven themselves to be very beneficial to my professional growth.
Please describe your areas of formal/advanced education.
Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University
Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from Florida A & M University
Executive Leadership Institute Graduate from National Forum for Black Public Administrators Certified Parks and Recreational Professional from the National Recreation and Park Association Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate from Florida Benchmarking Consortium
Master Certificate for ICMA High Performance Leadership Academy
Why did you select a career in public service?
Serving the public comes natural to me; I’ve been serving the public starting at a young age; elementary school (girl scouts), high school (student government), and now of course, in my current capacity. I am driven to assist people with accessing resources, especially those that may not understand the route to receive those much needed resources. I came from humble beginnings and I feel like it is my obligation to give back to the community through my passion of service.
Have you always been in the public sector or have you had experience in the private sector?
I’ve served in the public sector through local government most of my professional career.
Please tell us about your current position and give a brief job description if you are not a City Administrator/Manager.
I am currently the Assistant City Manager and Director of the Department of Parks and Human Services for the City of Lauderdale Lakes where I have gathered almost two decades of Public Service experience. Through the City Manager, I oversee several city programs and projects to include special projects for the Mayor, Commissioners; as well as overseeing the Department of Parks and Human Services.
Please describe your typical day.
On a typical day, besides putting out fires…. I assist the City Manager with directing the Executive Team and handling high priority items for the Mayor and Commissioners, discussing financial priorities with the Finance Director, applying for grants, meeting with staff to plan special events, city programs and projects, meeting with community stakeholders, amongst various other tasks that come with the day-to-day operations.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is making the community smile! I love the holidays when we are able to provide gifts and food baskets to needy families. Interacting with the children during this time reminds me of why I am in public service. We are able to touch the lives of every age group in so many different ways. And to know that a difference has been made, especially when I see a smile on their faces, I understand that I have done my job.
What is your least favorite part of the job?
Nobody likes to deal with an unsatisfied resident; unfortunately it comes with the territory. At the end of the day, I take it as a learning experience and keep pushing forward.
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 have been a member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators South Florida Chapter since 2007 where I have served as the 2nd Vice President and currently as the Broward County Representative. Within this capacity, I assist voluntarily with many professional development events such as coordinating workshops, conferences, networking events, and mentoring students. I also mentor several young professionals and speak at annual career days at local schools. I have also recently launched my non-profit organization called Raising Little Me, Inc. to assist underprivileged youth with finding their path to their life goals. I view leadership as a quality and a gift. I feel I have an obligation to myself and to others to use this trait wisely.
What is your most memorable experience on the job?
One of the most memorable experiences on the job was in 2019 when Earvin “Magic” Johnson visited the City with the Simply Healthcare Team to distribute turkeys to the residents. It wasn’t only exciting for me to meet Magic but it was such a treat for our residents and staff to see such a “Super Star” in our small city! It was quite an undertaking to organize his visit, but it was all worth it in the end.
What are your hobbies/interests?
I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and singing.
If you could give one piece of advice to people interested in a career in public service, what would it be?
If I could give one piece of advice to people interested in a career in public service it would be to make sure you serve passionately and authentically. If you do so, happiness will find you and you will find it.
Who were your mentors and how have you passed this information down to other aspiring public administrators?
I have served under four City Manager’s while at the City of Lauderdale Lakes. I have viewed them each as a mentor and they all left me with valuable nuggets along the way. I also have several professional colleagues as my peer mentors. These are individuals that I trust to provide me with honest feedback. By gaining my attributes and valuable skills, I share with those that I mentor on a regular basis.
What career would you pick if you were to pick another?
f I were to pick another career it would be to educate young people aspiring to become leaders.
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?
While being a member of FCCMA, I was recently a presenter for an ARPA Case Studies Webinar. Through this experience, I was able to assist other cities throughout Florida, especially small cities, by providing helpful information about this “new world we call ARPA”. Following the webinar, I was contacted by a few City Administrators seeking guidance. It was an honor to share insight, and also gain insight through the FCCMA webinar experience.
