Kate Parmelee’s career has focused on helping local governments turn ambitious ideas into meaningful results for the people and communities they serve. She brings more than 25 years of local government and nonprofit experience, with a particular focus on innovation, organizational transformation, resident engagement, data-informed decision-making, and building the capacity of public-sector teams to tackle complex challenges.

Kate most recently served as Deputy City Manager and Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, where she helped lead one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities through a period of significant growth and transformation. During her nine years with the City, she led efforts spanning innovation, strategic planning, community engagement, grants and advocacy, sustainability, and organizational improvement. She co-created the award-winning #IAMPSL Citizen Summit, engaging thousands of residents and developing a model of resident-centered strategic planning that is being replicated by other cities across the nation. Her work helped secure more than $160 million in federal and state funding and contributed to Port St. Lucie being recognized as an All-America City for the first time in its history and becoming the second city in Florida to achieve What Works Cities Silver Certification.

Earlier in her career, Kate served in leadership roles in community and urban redevelopment, communications, and legislative advocacy, with a particular focus on environmental issues and the restoration of America’s Everglades. Her experience includes work with the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, the City of Gainesville, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and Heart of West Michigan United Way.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Florida. She is a graduate of Class 7 of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative.