Local Government Leadership Academy Holds Graduation

Thirteen executives, managers and professionals graduated from the Flagler County Local Government Leadership Academy at a special ceremony at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center earlier this month, according to a media release.

The graduates are: Mike Baldwin, City of Palm Coast; Karen Callahan, Flagler County BOCC; Althea Civil, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office; Robert Dalton, City of Palm Coast; Jonathan Dopp, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office; Doreen Gleason, Flagler Schools; Roxana Godfrey, Office of the Flagler County Tax Collector; Jordan Martin, Office of the Flagler County Tax Collector; Daniel Nicholas, Flagler County BOCC; Crystal Nobre, City of Flagler Beach; Darlene Seaman, Office of the Flagler County Tax Collector; Brandon Seminara, Flagler Schools; Crystal Wray, Office of the Flagler County Tax Collector.

Daytona State College partnered with the Flagler County Tax Collector’s Office and local governments to provide the leadership academy, which now has several dozen graduates in executive, managerial and professional roles serving the citizens of Flagler County, the release states.

The program is an intensive four-month executive education program that meets weekly for two-hour classes at the Tax Collector’s Office. The graduates enhance their knowledge of critical topics like leadership, human resources, budgeting, risk management, customer service, program evaluation, teamwork and organizational culture, according to the release. Students read two nationally recognized books on leadership and completed a series of challenging real-world assignments.

“As leaders, we have to be thinking about today, tomorrow and 10 and50 years from today,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, in the release. “This academy helps our current leaders be their best and it prepares emerging leaders for future roles. We congratulate all of our graduates on this accomplishment. We look forward to seeing your continued success as you and those you lead create a very bright future for Flagler County for many years to come.”

Joe Saviak taught the leadership academy, said the program offers graduates leadership skills they bring to the community.

 “The knowledge you have gained and the skills you have sharpened are being utilized now to best serve residents and develop more leaders,” he said in the release. “We are especially proud of our graduates. We are grateful for your devotion to public service.”

Flagler County Tax Collector Shelly Edmonson coordinated the program and hosted classes at her main office.

“This leadership academy is one of the most valuable things we can do for our employees and residents. It sustains strong partnerships across local governments,” she said in the release. “We teach best practices in successful leadership to help ensure that local government always operates effectively and efficiently for our citizens.”