City Manager Reese Goad Announces Retirement Date, Service to Tallahassee Spans 26 Years

April 28, 2026

Today, City Manager Reese Goad announced his resignation after more than 31 years of public service, including a 26-year tenure with the City of Tallahassee. Goad joined the City of Tallahassee in 2000 and worked in a variety of roles prior to stepping in as City Manager in 2017.

“It has been my honor to serve as Tallahassee’s City Manager for the last nine years. Throughout my career with the City, it has been a privilege to work alongside exceptional colleagues to strengthen our organization, which is defined by a culture of excellence, deep commitment to teamwork, and an unwavering spirit of resourcefulness,” City Manager Goad said. “Together, we navigated challenges, embraced opportunities, and consistently strived to provide the best level of service to the residents of Tallahassee, and I’m proud to say we delivered.”

Over the past decade, the City of Tallahassee has established itself as high-performing and well-managed, earning national recognition for its governance, infrastructure, and quality of life. Notable achievements include Tallahassee’s designation as a Top-20 U.S. City and the top-ranked Florida city in WalletHub’s Best-Run Cities based on exceptional financial stewardship, service delivery, and operational efficiency. Additionally, Tallahassee was recognized with a 2025 All-America City Award and many other national rankings that highlight this community as one of the most livable and attractive cities in the country.

Under Goad’s strong and consistent leadership, specifically in the areas of high-performance, innovation, and fiscal discipline, the City has strengthened its electric utility (one of the largest in Florida), ensuring it is a cornerstone of reliability, affordability, and long-term financial stability. Early in his career, Goad spearheaded the City’s early adoption and rollout of advanced electric, gas, and water smart grid technology, the first in the nation, which is a testament to his commitment to modernization, improving efficiency, transparency, and service responsiveness for residents. Efforts did not go unnoticed as Tallahassee has been recognized as the No.1 Public Utility in America, the No. 1 Fleet in the Nation, a Utility of the Future, Today; achieved the prestigious Governor's Sterling Award and Sustained Excellence Award; made Livability.com's list of Top 100 Best Places to Live and Southern Living Magazine’s list of the South's Best Cities.

More recently, he oversaw the City’s launch of the first public-owned EV fast-charging station on April 22, with more coming online soon.

Goad was key to cementing Tallahassee’s future as the regional hub for healthcare and innovation, with the launch of FSU Health in partnership with Florida State University. His dedication successfully positions Tallahassee at the forefront of healthcare access and medical research in North Florida.

From the Southside Action Plan to construction projects like the new Tallahassee Police Department headquarters, the second Senior Center, and the Southside Transit Center, Goad has been a driving force behind renewed public investment. Through operational excellence and forward-looking investment, Tallahassee’s quality of life will continue to elevate as projects that started under his leadership come to fruition in the future. These are just a few of the many accomplishments that reflect Goad’s strategic vision and effective implementation and have helped shape Tallahassee’s trajectory and landscape.

“I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished as a team. The professionalism, innovation, and dedication demonstrated by City staff have set the standard that will continue to guide the organization well into the future. It has been inspiring to witness the collaboration and shared purpose that define the City workforce,” City Manager Goad added.

Goad will leave a legacy that will continue to guide the multifaceted operations of the largest single provider of municipal services in the region including police, fire, public transportation, utilities, parks, and more. His implementation of the organization’s first overarching Strategic Plan, which was renewed in 2025, ensures the City will continue to achieve great success within the plan’s priority areas.

A native of Florida, Goad moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University. He joined the City in 2000 and worked in a variety of roles including serving as Deputy City Manager under City Manager Ricardo Fernandez. He was appointed Interim City Manager in 2017 and then officially named City Manager by the Tallahassee City Commission on September 17, 2018.

Prior to joining the City, Goad held positions with the Florida Public Service Commission in the Bureau of Electric Regulation and Bureau of Conservation and System Planning. He has served on a variety of local and state boards, including the Florida Municipal Electric Association, and is currently a member of the International City/County Management Association.

The timeframe and details for hiring a new city manager will be determined by the City Commission. Goad’s retirement will be effective September 30, 2026, or when a new City Manager is selected. The City Manager reports directly to the City Commission and is responsible for an annual budget of approximately $1.2 billion, which includes both the operating and capital budgets, and maintaining the management functions of city government administering day-to-day operations.