How long have you been an FCCMA member and why did you join?
I joined FCCMA after starting with the City of Clearwater in May 2025.
Are you an ICMA member? How long have you been a member?
I am an ICMA member. I have been a member since 2018.
Please describe your areas of formal/advanced education.
MPA, Certified Economic Development Finance Professional, Certified Housing Finance Development Professional, Graduate of Executive Leadership Institute – National Forum for Black Public Administrators
Why did you select a career in public service?
Working as a student intern in local government as a college student provided the opportunity to work in the public sector in economic development.
Have you always been in the public sector, or have you had experience in the private sector?
My first job was as a construction superintendent with the Pulte Home Corporation – Orlando Division. It was eye-opening and humbling, but I learned a great deal about development and construction that I still use in my work today.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Solving complex community problems through collaboration and teamwork, and witnessing the impact of the solution on the impacted community.
What is your least favorite part of the job?
The job can be demanding and take priority over other things in life, such as family and self-care.
What is your most memorable experience on the job?
I do not have a singular memorable experience, but in each community I’ve worked, there have been some projects that were more fun or impactful than others. I have worked on development projects that have included the renovation/revitalization of old vacant, underutilized buildings; historic preservation, infill housing, major streetscape enhancement, and affordable housing. Each type of project has a story about challenges to getting them done and lessons learned during implementation. All experiences are valuable to me, and the most memorable may not have happened yet.
Who were your mentors, and how have you passed this information down to other aspiring public administrators?
I’ve had several mentors, most of whom were not in public service, and I first engaged them as a young professional. I started my career with the City of Jacksonville, and executives with AT&T (Michael Stewart), St. Joe (Bob Rhodes), and CBRE (Jim Citrano) were all very accommodating to me whenever I needed advice, direction, or encouragement. Each of them mentored differently, and what I try to share with young professionals is that mentorship is different for each person. For me, I appreciated my mentors because they did three things for me: encouraged me to seek information for myself before engaging, be respectful with someone else’s time, and listen with discernment.
