Leadership Academy 2025 Spring

6/12/2025                                                                                          Contact: Shelly Edmonson
                                                                                                            Operations Manager/FCLGLA                                                                                                                                      Coordinator                                                                                                                                                                    Flagler County Tax Collector Office

                                                                                                            O: (386) 313-4165                                                                                                                                                          sedmonson@flaglertax.gov

                     Flagler County Local Government Leadership Academy Holds Graduation

BUNNELL, FL — Twelve local government executives, managers, and professionals were honored at a special graduation ceremony held Thursday, February 6 at 4:30 p.m. at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center. The graduates completed the Flagler County Local Government Leadership Academy, an intensive executive education program designed to prepare future leaders in public service.

Class of 2025 Graduates

• Michael Hanson, City of Palm Coast
• Benny Cope, City of Palm Coast
• Jean Ferrer, Office of the Flagler County Tax Collector
• Stephanie Field, Office of the Flagler County Tax Collector
• Bryanna Ivey, Office of the Flagler County Tax Collector
• Megan Scheide, Office of the Flagler County Tax Collector
• Jonathan Welker, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
• Amanda Raslowsky, Flagler County Board of County Commissioners
• Kelly Bowman, Flagler County Board of County Commissioners
• Toussaint Roberson, Flagler County School Board
• Bill Freeman, City of Flagler Beach
• Sarah Spector, Flagler County Board of County Commissioners

The Leadership Academy is a collaborative effort among Daytona State College, the Flagler County Tax Collector’s Office, and several local government agencies. Michael Scheck, Director for the Center for Business & Industry at Daytona State College, attended the ceremony and awarded each graduate a certificate of completion.

The four-month program meets weekly and is hosted at the Tax Collector’s Office. It provides advanced instruction on essential topics including leadership, human resources, budgeting, risk management, customer service, teamwork, program evaluation, and organizational culture. Students also study two nationally recognized leadership books and complete rigorous real-world assignments, all aimed at strengthening their skills in research, analysis, communication, decision-making, project management, and planning.

Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, who helped recognize the graduates, encouraged them with this message:

“My challenges to our graduates going forward are straightforward and simple: be the leaders we all would want to follow and grow more leaders. Lead every day like the success of your team and the community depends on it—because it does. Always lead with integrity, professionalism, and purpose.”

Dr. Joe Saviak, who designed and taught the academy, added:

“We are looking forward to seeing your continued accomplishments for many years to come using everything you’ve learned. We congratulate you on this highly impressive personal, professional, and academic achievement. We celebrate your commitment to being the leaders who exemplify the very best in public service.”

Flagler County Tax Collector Shelly Edmonson, who hosted and coordinated the program, emphasized the spirit of collaboration:

“We all strongly believe in investing in the success of our teams. While we may have different specific functions, we are all one team with the same shared mission of providing effective, efficient, and responsive local government to the citizens we serve. That’s why we partnered together to offer this leadership academy.”

With several dozen graduates now serving across Flagler County in executive and professional roles, the Leadership Academy continues to strengthen the capacity and quality of local government services for the community.