Sarasota County, Florida, to Host a 2009 ICMA Management Fellow

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Sarasota County offers innovation as well as sun

Situated on the southwest coast of Florida, Sarasota County offers 35 miles of coastal beaches along with an almost year-round tropical climate that attracts snowbirds and tourists alike.

As the third-largest employer in the county, Sarasota County Government under the leadership of County Administrator Jim Ley is known throughout the state and nationally for its innovative and cutting-edge approach to governing initiatives. Before it was even popular to think “green,” Sarasota County had adopted LEED standards and promoted green building codes. It was the first county in the nation to adopt the 2030 carbon-neutral challenge. For three successive years, the county’s financial planning team has won top awards for the budget-planning process. And in tough economic times, the county’s bond rating remains at AA-strength, allowing Sarasota County to move forward with an aggressive $300 million local economic stimulus program, which was conceived before the full extent of the economic meltdown became know.
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When ICMA developed the Local Government Management Fellowship program in 2004, Sarasota County was quick to hop aboard the new pilot effort, bringing Mary Sassi Furtado in as its first Fellow.

“I knew Sarasota County had high expectations and that lined up with my own career goals,” says Mary. After moving through a variety of departments, Mary was offered a position with the county’s fledgling affordable housing effort at the conclusion of her fellowship. Today, she remains with Sarasota County as the Executive Director of Strategic Operations.

Since Mary’s pioneering effort, eight other Fellows have sojourned in Sarasota County for a year, with two still employed by the county, Andrea Kenzig and Audrey Chestnut. During their tenure, the Fellows have worked on affordable housing initiatives, a county email system upgrade, and new urban design projects. Sarasota County remains one of the most active participants in the Local Government Management Fellowship program and will again participate in 2009.