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Message from the President

Our 2024-25 program year is now underway, and we are looking forward to an exciting season with many long-anticipated events ahead. Unfortunately, most people haven’t even heard of a city manager, or if they have, they have a completely wrong perception of what a city manager does.  Early in my career, I responded to this question with the normal, boring answer that lists the everyday responsibilities and duties in our job descriptions.  More recently, I’ve changed my answer due to my interaction with peers in the city management industry.

The Palm Beach County City Management Association (PBCCMA) was founded on September 27, 1985, to provide “a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences concerning local government and enhance local government within Palm Beach County by use of research and factual study.” PBCCMA works to provide information, assistance, and training to its members, local government managers, assistants, and future managers.  PBCCMA sponsors monthly meetings at locations throughout the County, including an annual training session.  PBCCMA is affiliated with the Florida City/County Management Association (FCCMA) and the International City Management Association (ICMA). 

I have met some of the most outstanding and selfless people through the Palm Beach County City Management Association (PBCCMA).  Individuals who are service-minded and goal-driven.  Not the self-generated goals but the goals of others in the communities that they serve.  City managers and administrators in Palm Beach County show leadership and manage countless personalities and opinions from all they serve and the staff they work with.  They do it professionally and with an ethical mindset.  They commit to things, projects, and people when that commitment is not always reciprocated.

PBCCMA has been the steady ground for me during my young career in city management.  The numerous educational programs taught me valuable information that benefits me and the community I serve.  The resources that have been collected over the past years are astonishing and make me feel as if I can always find an answer to any question that comes before me and my City.  However, the main resource that I have used the most is the community of managers who are always willing to share their experiences.

In the communities across Palm Beach County, there is only one city manager or administrator in each city or town, which can be lonely at times.  But I’ve found that a quick text, email, or phone call to or from another manager simply makes me feel more confident that I’m not alone in what I’m doing.   I have colleagues that I now call friends, and it’s because of the Palm Beach County City Management Association.  I’d like to thank our members for being supportive of each other, and if you know anyone in the city management community who isn’t yet a PBCCMA member, I encourage you to invite them to join and take advantage of the valuable resources and networking opportunities we offer. Members include city, town, village, and county managers/administrators and their assistants, students, and other management professionals.

I am honored to serve as the President of PBCCMA for the 2024-2025 year.  I look forward to a year of listening to what our core membership needs and how PBCCMA can support the managers which it was created to serve.  Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of PBCCMA.

In Service,

Leondrae D. Camel,
PBCCMA President
City Manager, City of South Bay, Florida