Lee Feldman honored with the ICMA Distinguished Services Award

 

Lee Feldman’s career spans more than 35 years of direct service in Florida. His journey is a testament to unwavering dedication, innovative leadership, and a profound commitment to mentorship and professional development.

Feldman was city manager in Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Palm Bay, and North Miami, Florida; deputy city manager in North Miami, Florida; assistant city manager, assistant to the city manager; and intern in North Miami Beach, Florida. He has served as a supply corps officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1987 to 2002, and is now a principal with The Euclid Group and a senior advisor for local government strategy with Zencity.

As a manager, his tenure was marked by a series of transformative initiatives that significantly improved public safety, infrastructure, and the overall quality of life for residents. Feldman’s ability to see challenges as opportunities led to thriving communities under his guidance, earning him a reputation as a visionary leader.

One of the hallmarks of Feldman’s career is his commitment to mentorship. Recognizing the importance of nurturing the next generation of public administrators, he established the ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship program in Fort Lauderdale, as well as organizational internships in the communities he led. This program has been instrumental in preparing future leaders for the complexities of local government, ensuring that Feldman’s legacy of excellence continues to inspire and guide.

He has participated in community information exchanges through ICMA’s international program CityLinks, traveling to Nagapattinam, India. He also hosted a reciprocal visit with their officials to discuss and share solutions for infrastructure challenges common to both coastal communities. Despite the distance, he maintains those relationships to benefit both communities. Additionally, Feldman has encouraged his staff to engage in similar programs, sending them to India, Germany, and the Middle East.

Feldman’s influence extends beyond the cities he managed. As president of both ICMA (2016-17) and the Florida City/County Management Association, he played a pivotal role in shaping the policies and practices that govern local administration. His leadership in these organizations underscored his dedication to the profession and his ability to unite and inspire his peers.

Innovation has been a constant theme throughout Feldman’s career. He has been at the forefront of integrating technology into public safety and emergency management, leveraging his expertise in FEMA knowledge gained from serving on the FEMA National Advisory Council to enhance community resilience. His forward-thinking approach has led to the implementation of cutting-edge programs that have set new standards in local government management.

Feldman’s contributions to thought leadership are equally noteworthy. As a sought-after speaker, lecturer, and author, he is frequently called on to speak to professional groups around the world on various municipal issues. Feldman taught local government at the Chinese University of Politics and Law and to newly elected municipal officials the principles of finance and taxation in Florida.

His ability to articulate complex concepts in an accessible and engaging manner has made Feldman a respected voice in the field of public administration. For example, Feldman provided his expertise for the collaborative publication Visions of Government in 2040: Perspective on the Future—Leading the Cities of the Future, which explores the role of city managers in an interconnected community of technology and data.

Feldman once spoke about the challenges faced by professional managers and emphasized “legacy,” challenging others in the profession to seek passion, challenge, and legacy. “In our legacy to our children and their children, we must be more than the bricks and mortar of buildings, the quality of roads and pipes, and the shades of trees,” said Feldman. “We must leave a personal legacy in our community of positive civil discourse, inclusion of diverse neighbors, and a level of tolerance that is unprecedented in the history of our country…We are the ones we have been waiting for…”

In nominating him for the Distinguished Service Award, Feldman is praised by his colleagues and peers, and his family, for not only his professional achievements but also his qualities as a mentor, leader, and human being. Feldman’s legacy is one of excellence, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of improvement.