City Manager Announces Organizational Changes
New Departments Will Help Fulfill the City’s Strategic Plan Initiatives
October 25, 2019
Today, Tallahassee City Manager Reese Goad announced the creation of two new departments – the Department of Community Services and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. These new departments are being established to address and streamline efforts for key elements of the proposed five-year strategic plan.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will ensure the further development and implementation of the City’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives to ensure the City’s workforce is reflective of the community’s demographics. This includes developing a strategic focus on recruiting, retaining and promoting the best and most diverse talent available.
Angela Hendrieth will lead this new department as the Chief Diversity Officer. She is a graduate of Florida A&M University and has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of diversity, equal opportunity employment, training and development. She has worked for the City since 2004, most recently serving as the Manager of Talent Development in the Human Resources and Workforce Development department. In her new position, she will report directly to the City Manager.
“Under the leadership of the City Commission, we are poised to advance the common good through the implementation of the City’s five-year strategic plan,” City Manager Reese Goad said. “This internal adjustment underscores my commitment to addressing our community’s greatest needs and achieving the goals set forth by the Commission as we focus on being the national leader in the delivery of public service.”
The City’s national award winning programs TEMPO and the Tallahassee Future Leaders Academy (TFLA) will be housed within the new Department of Community Services. These programs directly combat the impacts of poverty by connecting local youth to education and employment opportunities. These City programs have achieved great success thus far. TFLA provided summer employment to more than 600 local youths from 2015-2018. TEMPO has reached more than 680 disconnected youths since 2017, achieving a zero percent recidivism rate for program participants. The Department of Community Services will also serve in a lead capacity on issues related to homelessness.
Dr. Kimball Thomas will lead the department. Dr. Thomas has over 30 years of experience in the fields of public education and public service. During his career, he has served as a pastor, high school principal, education consultant and adjunct education professor. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Florida A&M University, his Master of Science in Administration and Supervision from Nova Southeastern University and his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Florida A&M University. In his new position, he will report to Deputy City Manager Cynthia Barber.
At the City Manager’s direction, the new departments are being created within the existing Fiscal Year 2020 budget.
View the City's org chart here.
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