Municipal leaders from across Florida gathered in Orlando on May 14-15 for the 2026 FLC Leadership class, an advanced training experience focused on strengthening leadership skills, fostering meaningful dialogue, and exploring the challenges and opportunities facing local government today. Hosted at the League’s Orlando office, the annual program is reserved for graduates of the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO) programs and is designed to offer a fresh experience each year through keynote presentations, panels, workshops, and interactive discussions.

This year’s theme, “Leading Where You Stand: Courage, Civility, and Community Impact,” centered on the unique role local elected officials play as the most visible and accessible level of government. Throughout the session, participants explored the importance of making difficult decisions with confidence, governing with integrity and respect, and staying grounded in the communities they serve.

The class opened with a networking reception on Thursday evening, giving attendees an opportunity to connect with municipal leaders from across the state before a full day of programming on Friday. Sessions included keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and collaborative exercises designed to encourage peer-to-peer learning and practical leadership development.

FLC Leadership builds upon the foundation established through the League’s IEMO program, a comprehensive educational initiative that equips municipal elected officials with the tools and knowledge needed to govern effectively. While IEMO I and II focus on topics such as municipal finance, parliamentary procedure, communication, land use, and labor issues, the Leadership class provides graduates with a more advanced and interactive opportunity to reflect on leadership styles, communication strategies, and community engagement.

A key benefit of FLC Leadership is the chance for local leaders to learn directly from one another. Attendees shared experiences from their own cities, discussed common challenges, and explored strategies for leading through complex issues while maintaining strong relationships within their communities. The collaborative environment encouraged thoughtful conversations about the realities of public service and the importance of leading with both professionalism and empathy.

As Florida’s cities continue to navigate growth, infrastructure demands, and evolving community expectations, programs like FLC Leadership help equip elected officials with the skills and perspective needed to lead effectively.

Congratulations to the following city officials who completed the latest FLC Leadership Class!

NanDrycka King Albert, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Midway
Diana Adams, Councilmember, City of West Melbourne
Jen Ahearn-Koch, Commissioner, City of Sarasota
Gary Ball, Commissioner, City of Bartow
Sarah Baker, Commissioner, City of Winter Springs
Pat Bentley, Councilmember, City of West Melbourne
Raymond Beliveau, Councilor, City of Seminole
Victoria Bruce, Commissioner, City of Winter Springs
Tonja R. Brown, Councilmember, Town of White Springs
Amy Jo Carroll, Councilmember, City of Groveland
Tim Caddell, Councilmember, City of Pinellas Park
Anthony N. Caggiano, Vice Mayor, City of Margate
Jeremy Clark, Vice Mayor, City of Davenport
Sanguetta Cowan-Williams, Vice Mayor, City of Pahokee
Barbara Edmonds, Commissioner, City of Clewiston
Kevin Engelke, Councilmember, City of Venice
Joe Elliott, Commissioner, City of Wildwood
Timothy Everline, Mayor Pro Tem, Town of Howey-in-the-Hills
Sam Fite, Mayor, City of Bowling Green
Marcos Flores, Commissioner, City of Wildwood
Mac Fuller, Mayor, City of Lake Alfred
Erik Gleason, Councilman, City of Westlake
Sandy Golding, Councilmember, City of Jacksonville Beach
Penelope Gold, Vice Mayor, Town of Longboat Key
Charles Goodman, Mayor, City of Williston
Brian Grainger, Commissioner, City of Panama City
Austin Gravley, Councilmember, City of Frostproof
Adam W. Greenway, Councilmember, City of Frostproof
Mimi Hanley, Councilmember, City of Melbourne
Tammy Harris, Councilmember, City of Lake City
Shannon D. Hayes, Councilmember, City of Crestview
Jordan Helms, Vice Mayor, City of Auburndale
Darfeness Hinds, Council President, City of Williston
Donald Horton, Mayor, Village of Islamorada, Village of Islands
Tim Horvath, Councilor, City of Neptune Beach
Chad Howell, Commissioner, City of High Springs
Mike Jaffe, Deputy Mayor, City of Palm Bay
Dan Janson, Vice Mayor, City of Jacksonville Beach
Curtis Johnson, Jr., Commissioner, City of Fort Pierce
John S. Jones, Jr., Mayor, City of Monticello
Gregory Julian, Councilmember, City of Punta Gorda
Bridget Keating, Councilmember, Town of Lake Clarke Shores
Joseph L. Kelley, Vice Mayor, City of Opa-Locka
Barbara King, Commissioner, City of South Bay
Lorraine Koss, Councilmember, City of Cocoa

Greg Langowski, Vice Mayor, City of Westlake
Emily A. Lee, Mayor, City of Eustis
Jason Leslie, Mayor, City of Ormond Beach
Karlene Maxwell-Williams, Commissioner, City of Lauderdale Lakes
Kevin McCann, Mayor, City of Winter Springs
Eddie McGeehen, Commissioner, City of Madeira Beach
Everett D. McPherson, Sr., Commissioner, City of Pahokee
Ty Miller, Councilmember, City of Palm Coast
Mary Richardson, Commissioner, Town of Dundee
Morris L. West, Mayor, City of Haines City
Thomas Plaut, Commissioner, City of Deerfield Beach
Richard C. Paiva, Commissioner, City of DeLand
William Petersen, Councilmember, City of Clermont
Trish Pfeifer, Commissioner, City of Bartow
Jacqueline Ratica, Vice Mayor, City of LaBelle
Anquarnette Richardson, Councilmember, City of Chattahoochee
David Roberts, Vice Mayor, City of Belleair Bluffs
Treva Roberts, Mayor Pro Tem, Town of Lady Lake
Chris Robertson, Mayor, City of St. Cloud
Cal Rolfson, Councilmember, City of Mount Dora
Ronnie Robinson, Jr., Commissioner, City of Lake Alfred
Bryan Rubio, Councilmember, Town of Montverde
Scott Safford, Vice Mayor, Town of Fort Myers Beach
Arlene R. Schwartz, Commissioner, City of Margate
Chris Stein, Mayor, City of Mary Esther
Sarah Stoeckel, Councilmember, City of Titusville
Fabiola Stuyvesant, Commissioner, City of Sunny Isles Beach
April Sutton, Councilmember, City of Mary Esther
Monique Taylor, Councilmember, City of Waldo
Claudia Thomas, Commissioner, City of Sanford
Diane Velazquez, Commissioner, City of Apopka
Dee Washington, Councilmember, City of Arcadia
Kathy Washington, Mayor, Town of Welaka
Phyllis Waters-Brown, Councilmember, Village of Indiantown
Graham Wells, Mayor, Town of Howey-in-the-Hills
Annette Wilson, Commissioner, Town of Dundee
Don Willis, Councilmember, City of Cape Canaveral
Steven Williams, Commissioner, City of Eagle Lake
Debra Williams, Mayor, Town of Longboat Key
Dianne Williams-Cox, Commissioner, City of Tallahassee
Julie C. Wilkins, Mayor, City of LaBelle
Chevella Young, Vice Mayor, City of Lake City