Transcript for Hustle & Heat Episode 26
00:00:04
What’s up guys, and welcome back to another episode of Hustle & Heat Podcast. My name is George, your host, and today is Episode 26.
For Episode 26, we have a very special guest. This guest has previously worked in county administration in Montgomery County, Maryland, has a background in accounting and public administration, and has become known as a growth-focused administrator emphasizing economic development, infrastructure, investment, and commercial expansion.
Without further ado, I’d like to welcome North Port City Manager Jerome Fletcher.
Jerome, welcome to the podcast. I really appreciate you coming on and taking time out of your busy day.
Hey, thanks for having me.
So Jerome, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Oh wow. Based on what you said, you take me back. I’ve been in government now for nearly 30 years…
00:00:31
I started in North Carolina when I got out of school and then went up to the DC area after that. I worked for the City of Alexandria, worked for the federal government, then worked for the District of Columbia itself and then Montgomery County as you mentioned.
So, lifelong government official. Happily married for 23 years, two beautiful children, one in college and one starting 10th grade next year.
Just a happy person, happy life.
That’s awesome. What is it about government work that really drives you?
When you look at it, at the end of the day you’re talking about helping lives, changing lives, and improving the quality of people’s lives.
We do a lot. Government has a lot of disciplines and reaches people in many different ways. Being satisfied knowing you’re helping someone else’s life—that’s what justifies why I do what I do.
00:01:26
Growing up, did you always know you wanted to work in government?
No. I wanted to be Michael Jordan like everybody else.
And then in the 10th grade one of my mentors said, “You know you’re not going to get any taller, right?”
I thought I was going to be 6’6″. I stopped growing around 5’10” or 5’11”, so I had to switch strategies.
I never really thought I’d get into government. I kind of fell into it. My first role was with the Greensboro Coliseum. We had concerts, basketball, shows—it was exciting.
But eventually I hit a ceiling and realized if I wanted to continue growing, I needed to broaden my experience.
00:02:39
I didn’t want to hit a glass ceiling at 35 years old.
I started learning more about city operations, budgets, elected officials, economic development, and the broader impact local government has on everyday life.
When I realized all the ways a city impacts its residents, that really excited me and ultimately pushed me toward becoming a city manager.
How long did that journey take?
About 11 years.
00:03:04
The journey was scenic.
I always tell people I took the scenic route to get to the chair.
As I moved through different departments and organizations, I kept getting closer to leadership. Economic development became a huge passion of mine while working in Alexandria.
The people I worked with there were some of the smartest people I’ve ever met.
00:03:56
Did working around all those high-level people push you to work harder?
Absolutely.
The first thing they told me was that I needed a master’s degree.
I didn’t want to go back to school, but they paid for it and encouraged me to do it.
It felt like everyone around me was running while I was crawling and they weren’t slowing down for me. I had to catch up.
That environment pushed me professionally and personally.
00:04:41
How difficult was that for your wife and kids?
It was tough.
My wife left family, friends, church, and everything familiar to start a new life.
I told her we needed to take a leap of faith because the dream wasn’t going to come to us—we had to go after it.
We knew what we wanted and we were willing to sacrifice for it.
00:05:59
So how did you find North Port?
The pandemic changed everything.
Working in government during COVID was probably the hardest period of my career.
After navigating through that, I felt ready to lead.
My daughter had just finished her freshman year virtually and I told her, “When you finish high school, we’re moving to Florida.”
Out of all 50 states, we narrowed it down to Florida and North Carolina.
When my wife got off the plane in North Port she immediately said, “This is it.”
00:07:34
When you took the job, what flaws and opportunities did you see?
I knew what I was walking into.
The previous city manager left under difficult circumstances and there was damage to the city’s reputation.
Part of my job was helping restore trust in the city and the role itself.
I also saw tremendous growth potential.
North Port had not developed as quickly as neighboring communities, and I saw an opportunity to strengthen economic development, infrastructure, and organizational culture.
00:09:24
My first day on the job was during the Gabby Petito case.
North Port was suddenly in international headlines.
Then a year later Hurricane Ian happened.
The plan I originally had changed quickly.
But leadership is about adapting and moving forward.
00:10:16
Hurricane Ian was my first hurricane. What was that experience like for you?
Eye-opening.
Thankfully we had experienced staff and great partnerships, especially with Sarasota County.
The experience made us stronger and helped us identify areas where we could improve our emergency preparedness.
Today we’re building a new Emergency Operations Center to make sure we’re ready for whatever comes next.
00:11:58
What do you think North Port looks like in 10 years?
More people. More infrastructure. More amenities.
More jobs.
I don’t like people having to leave North Port to work.
The hospital is coming. Healthcare opportunities are expanding.
People are going to continue moving here because the quality of life is exceptional.
I think North Port’s brand and reputation will continue growing.
00:12:51
Jerome discusses the city’s budget challenges, the need for a new police headquarters, and North Port’s unique charter restrictions that limit borrowing.
He explains the city’s effort to seek judicial clarification on whether borrowing can occur without increasing taxes and why infrastructure investment remains essential to supporting future growth.
00:16:48
The conversation shifts toward public attitudes regarding growth.
Jerome emphasizes that responsible growth and environmental stewardship can coexist.
He discusses the importance of community education, open dialogue, emotional intelligence, and helping residents understand how economic development benefits the city’s future.
00:21:03
Jerome explains how the city partners with organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce and SCORE to provide resources for entrepreneurs.
He also acknowledges that the city must continue improving its own permitting and internal processes to better serve small business owners.
00:23:53
Jerome highlights several transformational projects, including:
He emphasizes that these projects help North Port become more self-sustaining and reduce residents’ need to leave the city for essential services.
00:27:36
George and Jerome discuss the importance of creating jobs within North Port.
With many residents commuting outside the city each day, both agree that bringing more employers into North Port would:
Jerome stresses that economic development creates ripple effects throughout the entire community.
00:31:58
Jerome discusses potential walkable downtown concepts, including future development near Price Boulevard and Toledo Blade as well as major opportunities in eastern North Port.
He explains how the city is working to create more destinations, shopping, dining, and entertainment options while maintaining North Port’s character.
00:34:53
Jerome introduces plans for a future “You Are Not Alone” initiative focused on protecting children and addressing issues such as:
The city plans to partner with schools, nonprofits, law enforcement, fire rescue, and local businesses to raise awareness and provide support.
George offers Dubz BBQ’s support for the initiative.
00:40:17
Jerome shares what he believes is one of the biggest misconceptions about his leadership style.
He explains that decisions are made based on facts, data, and available information—not emotions or personalities.
He emphasizes accountability, transparency, and maintaining focus on long-term goals.
00:41:53
Jerome describes Wellen Park as one of North Port’s most important partners.
He credits Wellen Park with bringing:
He also clarifies that previous de-annexation efforts were driven by residents and not by Wellen Park leadership itself.
00:50:00
Jerome discusses the tremendous potential for future development in eastern North Port.
He explains that the area could ultimately rival the scale of Wellen Park and discusses:
He notes that major announcements could begin emerging within the coming months as development plans continue progressing.
00:56:12
North Port is a beautiful city.
It’s not perfect, but I truly believe we’re moving in the right direction.
This is one of the most exciting times in our city’s history.
Our potential has never been higher.
Let’s enjoy the journey, stay positive, solve problems together, and continue building a community we’re proud of.
I agree with you, man.
This is my first time talking with you and you’ve got my support.
I appreciate your vision for North Port and I’m excited to see what’s ahead.
Thank you for coming on.
Absolutely.
And thank you to everyone who listened to this episode. Please like, comment, and subscribe. We’ll see you next time.
