If there is anyone in Florida who is at the heart of civics education, it is Lynn Tipton, Director of FLC University at the Florida League of Cities. A timeline shows how civics education has threaded itself through her life.
1982-1991
Lynn Tipton worked for the Republican National Committee in the Political Director’s office. In 1983 she started working for Senator Chic Hecht (R-NV) as a Mail Clerk/Receptionist and moved up to Senator’s Administrative Aide.
In 1986, she completed her master of public administration studies at the University of Southern California’s Washington, D.C., School of Public Policy.
In 1987 she became a Management and Budget Analyst with the City of Tallahassee. By her second year, she was the lead analyst for annexations. Lynn also helped found Four Oaks Community Church.
1991-2001
Lynn was hired as an Intergovernmental Relations Assistant at the Florida League of Cities (FLC). She told future Executive Director Michael Sittig she’d stay for five years. “At the five-year point, I asked him if I could stay with the League,” she said. “He gave me a gold star to wear on my hand for making the right decision.” After six years at the League, she became Sittig’s Assistant.
Lynn attended the first Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO) in 1992 and taught beginning with the second class. She helped create the Federal Action Strike Team (FAST). She became Executive Director of the Florida City and County Management Association and served for 20 years.
In 1998, she began leading the Membership Development department. She helped develop workshops for conferences, worked with affiliate associations, helped write resolutions and assisted municipalities with incorporation.
2001-2012
Lynn created the League ambassador program and focused on international relations projects and travel. She averaged 18-20 days a month on the road, the most of her career.
Lynn began teaching for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and other organizations. She began serving on the NLC University Advisory Council at the National League of Cities (NLC) and the MPA Advisory Council at the University of Central Florida.
As computers and the Internet became more commonplace, Lynn worked with the FLC’s affiliated associations to set up websites. She helped the Florida Local Government Information Systems Association develop its certificate program.
2012-2024
Lynn moved to the FLC Orlando office, where she helped create FLC University. She focused on external and internal training and member assistance, including incorporations, charters and customized courses. She worked with the FLC’s affiliate organizations on bylaws, strategic planning and board retreats.
Mandatory ethics training for elected officials was implemented in 2015, and Lynn found instructors for the FLC course. Regional trainings included diversity and medical marijuana facilities.
During the pandemic, Lynn created the webinar series FLCitiesStrong. She also helped develop an online training class for newly elected officials.
In 2022, under Lynn’s leadership, FLC University launched a certificate program to be earned by the members of municipal councils and commissions. Points are awarded for virtual and in-person webinars, workshops, and conferences. In 2024, FLC University hosted its inaugural FLC Leadership class for graduates of IEMO I and II.
