Kate Parmelee

Kate Parmelee has extensive experience in strategic planning, community development, and communications. Kate currently works as the Director of Strategic Initiatives & Innovation at the City of Port St. Lucie, where they lead interdepartmental teams and ensures alignment with the strategic goals of the City Council. Prior to this, they held the role of Strategic Initiatives Director at the same organization, where they promoted the development and implementation of the city's strategic plan.

Previously, Kate worked at the Martin County Board of County Commissioners in various roles, including Community Development Manager and Community & Strategic Partnerships Manager. In these positions, they advanced the county's strategic goals, built diverse partnerships, and coordinated legislative activities. Kate also worked as the Director of Communications & Marketing at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, overseeing marketing, communications, and public relations strategies.

Earlier in their career, Kate worked at the City of Gainesville as a Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist and as the Interim Manager and Project Coordinator at the City of Gainesville- Community Redevelopment Agency. Kate managed complex redevelopment projects, served as a liaison to the media and citizen advisory boards, and presented development agreements to community groups and elected officials.

Kate began their career at the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, where they held the roles of Special Projects Coordinator and Community Planner II. In these positions, they coordinated multi-departmental projects, served as a Public Information Officer during hurricanes, and led neighborhood visioning and community planning efforts.

Before transitioning into the public sector, Kate worked as an Information and Referral/Resource Specialist at the Heart of West Michigan United Way.

Overall, Kate Parmelee has a diverse background in strategic planning, community development, communications, and project management across various organizations.

Kate Parmelee has a solid education background. Kate attended Calvin University from 1996 to 1997, where they pursued a field of study in Social Work. Following this, from 1998 to 2000, Kate attended Grand Valley State University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration. Continuing their academic journey, from 2005 to 2008, Kate enrolled at the University of Florida, where they achieved a Master of Arts in Mass Communications, specializing in Public Relations.