The FCCMA Podcast

Yolanda Aguilar, City Manager for the City of West Miami, has been a public servant for nearly four decades. She discusses her advancement in the City of West Miami after being hired as an office clerk for the water department, to becoming City Clerk, to becoming City Manager for the last 27 years.

Port St. Lucie City Manager Russ Blackburn has been in city government for 44 years and with Port St. Lucie for five. He discusses the process his city went through regarding tax abatement and how he created a core team of strategic planners who worked closely with stakeholders and allies to accomplish the goal.

Casey Lucius, City of Marco Island Assistant City Manager, took an unusual path to city government. Part of her Ph. D. research was studying political decision-making, and she gives valuable insight into the two key ways humans make decisions.

Sarah Spurlock is used to people being confused and intrigued by her title: Nighttime Economy Manager for the City of Ft. Lauderdale. The city is one of the first to label itself an 18-hour city , focusing on advocacy and education. Sarah believes that the focus local government puts on city planning should be just as prevalent at night as it is during the day.

Loxahatchee has been an incorporated town since 2006 and, in government years, is a “toddler of towns.” It was not until 2018 that the independent water control district and town government merged into one. Town Manager Jamie Titcomb explains exactly what an “unmanager” is and how the principle has guided his public service career.

Umatilla City Manager Scott Blankenship left the Air Force in 1981 and worked for the USPS for ten years. He was in the private sector for several years before returning to public service. Scott discusses how the public understands and appreciates when their tax dollars are being invested wisely and how to establish trust with the community you serve.

Deputy City Manager of Sarasota Patrick Robinson was a law enforcement officer for 21 years. He explains the importance of people feeling safe in their communities in order for the surrounding economy to grow and thrive.

Key Biscayne City Manager Steve Williamson served his country in the military before working in the private sector. He felt something was missing – serving something for a bigger purpose – and began his career in city government working for the City of Miami.

Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, has more than 30 years of experience in public safety and emergency management. In this episode, Kevin covers emergency management preparedness for local governments in tangible, practical and actionable terms.

Flagler Beach City Manager Will Whitson has been in city leadership for seven hurricane seasons. He advises preparing for hurricane season by thinking through possible issues, gathering your team, preparing and reviewing checklists and determining how to coordinate with the private sector to manage resources best.

Pensacola City Administrator Kerrith Fiddler covers ongoing repairs from hurricanes, working with FEMA to improve city infrastructure and how to support employees by giving them room to grow.

City Manager of Wauchula Terry Atchley spent 32 years in the private sector before becoming a county commissioner and, eventually, city manager. He discusses using the tools he has as a business owner to inspire, encourage, and support his staff.

Podcast guest Desiree Casanova was born and raised in Broward County by a single mother, unsure of whether she would be able to go to college. She talks about putting herself through two degrees through scholarships and working full-time, and the work she is currently doing for Sarasota County on a 1% surtax and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Ken Parker became a senior advisor after retiring from serving the City of Port Orange. The program is a joint effort through FCCMA and the International City Management Association. Senior advisors serve as volunteers with a primary focus on members in transition.

Lake Helen has a population of about 3,000. Its City Administrator Lee Evett has worked in city administration for 51 years. During that tenure, he took a private sector sabbatical to advise cities on evaluating their finances and evaluating how they derive revenues.

Fort Walton Beach City Manager Michael Beedie began his career as a civic engineer in the private sector. He discusses how having a true understanding of how the city operates on both a logistical and personnel level has helped him serve his community.

Former interior designer Sarah Campbell took an interesting and usual path into being the town manager of Orange Park. She covers the challenges of creating a town square with no way to expand and talks about a difficult moment in her career that left her with a new perspective.

Town of Dundee Town Manager Tandra Davis strives to inspire a culture of personal growth. She talks about the importance of focusing on turnover reduction and how providing continuing education to staff members has been a positive and rewarding experience.

Deputy City Manager of Sarasota Patrick Robinson was a law enforcement officer for 21 years. He explains the importance of people feeling safe in their communities in order for the surrounding economy to grow and thrive.

During Hurricane Michael, 92% of buildings in Panama City were destroyed. City Manager Mark McQueen discusses his 36 years of service in the army, how his experience has helped him serve in city government and the revisioning and revitalizing of a city fresh from disaster.

The Town of Malabar has a population of just over 3,000. Its town manager, Lisa Morrell, arrived after working for Palm Bay – a transition from 800 to a staff of 20. In this episode, Morrell talks about her background in IT and how it has helped her be a better town manager.

Assistant City Manager of Pinellas Park Lisa Hendrickson began her career in city government at 30 years old. When she first started as an HR specialist, she found that work silos in the department contributed to public frustration and internal inefficiencies. In this episode, Hendrickson discusses breaking department silos and approaching union negotiations.

Satellite Beach City Manager Courtney Barker was in the private sector for seven years before working in city government. With a background in urban planning, Courtney shifted her focus to climate change, environmental planning and public engagement. In this episode, Barker discusses preservation, town halls and navigating social media.

Pete Antonacci, Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Division of Administrative Hearings, discusses the dispute resolution mechanisms that DOAH can handle for city managers and county administrators.

Indian Harbor Beach City Manager Mark Ryan has been a strong advocate of legislative activism since he began serving as chair of the FCCMA Legislative Committee. Mark and Steve discuss economic development, sustainability and the steps the Indian Harbor Beach took during the pandemic to help local businesses stay afloat.