Lakewood executive director resigns

LAKEWOOD RANCH — The man responsible for overseeing operations of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall and the day-to-day business of the Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority board has resigned.

Lakewood Ranch Executive Director Bob Fernandez submitted his formal letter of resignation during the Inter-District Authority board’s agenda review meeting Jan. 18.

“It has been my privilege to serve the residents of the Lakewood Ranch community as district manager, community manager, and finally, executive director,” Fernandez wrote in his resignation letter. “I will provide any assistance required by the IDA to ensure a smooth transition to my successor.”

The IDA hired Fernandez in May 2007 as Lakewood’s first community manger once residents took control of the Community Development District boards.

“I’m sorry to see him leave,” IDA Chairman Tom Green said, noting Fernandez has tackled tremendous community growth and other challenges during his tenure. “It’s amazing the amount of improvement we’ve seen over the last four years. We wish you good fortune in your next job — I know it’s closer to home.”

Supervisors on the IDA said they were surprised by the news, and the community was losing a valuable asset.

“It’s not going to be easy to find someone with his knowledge — he’s an encyclopedia,” Supervisor Jean Stewart said. “He thinks outside the box. He’s come up with a lot of new ways to do things — better ways.”
Supervisor Nancy Johnson agreed: “I think it’s a terrible loss for the community.”

Fernandez told supervisors he would be available to help his successor during the transition and found his time with the IDA, despite the challenges of the job.

“I appreciate the support I’ve had from the IDA while I’ve been here,” Fernandez said. “I have worked with a lot of boards over my career, and the IDA (has been one of the best).”

Fernandez said he has taken a position elsewhere but declined any further comments.

Stewart said Fernandez lived north of Tampa, which added a lengthy commute onto his already 10-hour workday.

Stewart said IDA supervisors likely would continue their Jan. 20 meeting to another date to discuss how to handle Fernandez’s departure and prepare for hiring a replacement.

Before coming to Lakewood Ranch, Fernandez worked for two years as regional manager of the Tampa office of Severn Trent Environmental Services and operated his own consulting firm in 2004. From 1997 to 2003, Fernandez served as the executive vice president for strategic planning for Manatee County Rural Health Services as well as county manager and county administrator for the board of county commissioners of Osceola and Collier counties, respectively.

Fernandez received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida in 1971 and immediately began work in local government.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

RESIGNATION LETTER
Dear Chairman and Directors of the IDA Board of Directors:

Please accept this letter as my resignation from the position of executive director, Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority, effective Feb. 18 2011.

It has been my privilege to serve the residents of the Lakewood Ranch community as district manager, community manager, and finally, executive director. I will provide any assistance required by the IDA to ensure a smooth transition to my successor.

Sincerely,
Bob Fernandez