Agenda 12/08/2020 Item #11F (Confirm appointment of James French as Public Services Department Head)12/08/2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to confirm the appointment of Mr. James French to the position of Public
Services Department Head.
OBJECTIVE: To confirm the County Manager’s appointment of Mr. James French to serve as the
Public Services Department Head.
CONSIDERATIONS: Ordinance 2013-40 as amended requires that the Board of County
Commissioners confirm the County Manager’s appointment of Department Heads. The County’s Public
Services Department is comprised of eight divisions with an annual operating budget of over
$113,000,000 and a full-time workforce of 477 employees. Mr. French’s education, background,
managerial skills and proven track record of exemplary performance make him an ideal choice to fill this
position. Mr. French will earn an annual salary of $155,200.
FISCAL IMPACT: Sufficient funding exists in the Public Services Department budget to support this
recommendation.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: None.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney. Section Six (a)
11 of Ord. No. 2013-40 (the Collier County Administrator’s Ordinance) provides as follows: “The
County Administrator shall be responsible for the administration of all departments that are responsible to
the Board and for the proper administration of all affairs under the jurisdiction of the Board. To that end,
the County Administrator shall by way of enumeration and not by way of limitation, have the following
specific powers and duties to: …Select, employ and supervise all personnel and fill all vacancies,
positions or employment under the jurisdiction of the Board except the County Attorney. However, the
employment of an Assistant County Administrator, and all Department Heads shall require
confirmation by the Board.” (emphasis added). Accordingly, this item is approved as to form and
legality, and requires majority vote for confirmation.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners confirm the
appointment of Mr. James French as the Public Services Department Head.
Prepared By: Leo E. Ochs, Jr., County Manager
December 8, 2020
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. James French - Resume (PDF)
11.F
Packet Pg. 1007
12/08/2020
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 11.F
Doc ID: 14353
Item Summary: Recommendation to confirm the appointment of Mr. James French to the position
of Public Services Department Head. (Leo E. Ochs, Jr., County Manager)
Meeting Date: 12/08/2020
Prepared by:
Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: MaryJo Brock
12/02/2020 4:39 PM
Submitted by:
Title: County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: Leo E. Ochs
12/02/2020 4:39 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Office of Management and Budget MaryJo Brock Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Skipped 12/02/2020 11:59 AM
County Attorney's Office MaryJo Brock Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Skipped 12/02/2020 11:59 AM
County Manager's Office Leo E. Ochs Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 12/02/2020 4:53 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 12/08/2020 9:00 AM
11.F
Packet Pg. 1008
James C. French
Naples, Florida
SENIOR-LEVEL GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
-------------------------------------------- PROFESSIONAL PROFILE --------------------------------------------
▪ High-performing, results-driven executive with expertise in optimizing client
service opportunities, community engagement, outside of the box project
approaches, and productivity that maximizes measurable results
▪ Thirty years of leadership experience, currently overseeing $64 million in operating
and revenue budgets with approximately 380 full time and contract employees
▪ Skilled strategist with high benchmarks in operations, finance, economic
development, and land development and construction regulation, in addition to
private sector corporate management planning and initiatives
▪ Certified Floodplain Manager and Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow and Green Belt
with an extensive scope of responsibility, proven success, and a record of delivering
maximum throughput with limited input in high-growth and redevelopment
environments through initiatives that exceed expectations and yield immeasurable
outcomes
▪ Certified Public Manager who optimizes staff performance, earning numerous
recognitions and National achievement awards
▪ Innovative approach to managing unique topographies that require high amounts of
consideration to floodplain, hydrology, and disaster mitigation that have yielded
greater than $1.5 million in annual insurance savings for property owners without
any general fund contributions.
------------------------------ AREAS OF ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE ------------------------------
▪ Budget & Forecasting
▪ Building Plans Review
& Inspections
▪ Capital Project
Budgeting
▪ Change Management
▪ Code Enforcement
▪ Community
Engagement
▪ Community Disaster
Response & Build-
back
▪ Comprehensive
Planning
▪ Contractor Licensing
▪ Client Satisfaction
▪ Economic
Development
▪ Emergency
Management
▪ Facilities Management
▪ Floodplain
Management
▪ Land Development
Review & Inspections
▪ Leadership
▪ Long Range Planning
▪ Process Improvement
▪ Process Design and
Analysis
▪ Project Planning and
Implementation
▪ Public Speaking
▪ Quality Assurance
▪ Regulatory
Management
▪ Strategic Planning
▪ Succession Modeling,
Organizational Design
& Development
▪ Utility Regulation
▪ Zoning
11.F.1
Packet Pg. 1009 Attachment: James French - Resume (14353 : Confirmation of appointment Mr. James French PSDH)
------------------------------------------ PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE ------------------------------------------
Collier County Government 2003 - present
Deputy Department Head, Growth Management Department
▪ Provides high-level direction to five subordinate division directors and
approximately 380 department staff and contract employees regarding daily
operations, budgeting and financial oversight, land use petitions, building permits
and inspections, environmental and engineering permitting and inspections, long
range planning, utility regulation, and all other special projects assigned to the
Development Services Element of the Collier County Growth Management
Department
▪ Contributes by formulating and establishing policies, long range plans, work plans,
budget goals, and objectives to the department and county management
▪ Ensures all department programs, community outreach, operations, and services
comply with applicable county, state, and federal regulations, statutes, ordinances,
and policies, and that the department is meeting the needs of the community
▪ Serves as the Department Head in their absence
Massey Services 2001 – 2003
General Manager, Preventech (Food, Health, and Safety Services)
▪ Responsible for expanding organization and commercial/government client
relationships within the Southwest Florida market
▪ Increased effectiveness by developing and improving self-correcting processes,
recruiting, training, and leading staff
▪ Maintained quality service through a balanced scorecard approach, total quality
management, and measurable results monitoring
▪ Created quality relationships and partnerships with clients and community
members that focused on prevention and public health
General Motors 2000 – 2001
Commercial Service, Sales, and Quality Assurance, Champion & University Chevrolet
Sears Roebuck and Company 1985 – 1999
Store Manager / District Business Development / Human Resources
--------------------------------------------------- EDUCATION ----------------------------------------------------
Master of Business Administration, Commerce and Information Technology
Hodges University, Naples, FL
▪ Magna Cum Laude
Bachelors of Science, Business Management
Hodges University, Naples, FL
▪ Information Technology and Executive Leadership concentrations
11.F.1
Packet Pg. 1010 Attachment: James French - Resume (14353 : Confirmation of appointment Mr. James French PSDH)
Associates in Arts
Edison Community College/University of South Florida, Fort Myers, FL
▪ Engineering concentration
------------------------ CIVIC AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS ------------------------
▪ American Planning Association (APA) Member
▪ Associate of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Certified Floodplain Manager
▪ Certified Public Manager (CPM), Florida State University
▪ Certified Supervisory Manager (CSM), Florida State University
▪ Certified Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Incident Command
Systems (ICS) Instructor
▪ Certified Floodplain Manager (CPM), Association of State Floodplain Managers
▪ Distinguished Alumni Award 2015, Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce
▪ Excellence in Public Service Award 2014, Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce
▪ Farm City Barbeque (2012-2019)
▪ Gene Doyle Memorial Foundation Fishing Tournament (Chairman 2014 - 2017 and
Board Member 2011 - 2019)
▪ George DeMarco Foundation (Board Member 2013 - 2019)
▪ Golden Gate Estates Area Civic Association
▪ Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce GAIN Class of 2009
▪ Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce Leadership Collier Class of 2012
▪ Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce Leadership Collier Class of 2018, First Vice
Chairman
▪ Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce Leadership Collier Class of 2019, Chairman
▪ Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce Leadership Collier, Education and Advocacy
Committee Chairman 2012 – 2018
▪ Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce Leadership Collier Foundation, Board of
Directors
▪ Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Nova Southeastern University
▪ Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Nova Southeastern University
▪ Learn to Lead, University of Florida
▪ National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) National
Regulatory Studies and Rate Setting Methodologies, Michigan State University
▪ Naples North Rotary
▪ Public Technology Institute (PTI), Technology Solutions Award 2007, Damage and
Habitability Assessment Program
▪ Special Olympics, Collier County (Volunteer 2013 - 2018)
▪ Urban Land Institute (ULI) Member
11.F.1
Packet Pg. 1011 Attachment: James French - Resume (14353 : Confirmation of appointment Mr. James French PSDH)