MANATEE COUNTY, FL (May 17, 2024) – Manatee County Deputy County Administrator Courtney De Pol has been honored with the Next Gen Young Leaders Award from the Young Leaders Alliance (YLA) of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance (LWRBA).
The award—to recognize young professionals in the Lakewood Ranch region who strive toward the highest level of personal and professional accomplishment and who are making a difference and forging paths of leadership for others to follow—was presented for the first time in a ceremony last night at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club. The YLA is a group of young professionals under the age of 40 living or working within the Sarasota or Manatee area that operates as a subset of the LWRBA. Their mission is to increase professional competency, give back to the community and build authentic relationships by harnessing the Power of Connection.
“We were honored to recognize Courtney De Pol as our first-ever Next Gen Award recipient,” said Brittany Lamont, President & CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. “Her leadership within Manatee County continues to push the County forward and provide support to our many businesses who call Manatee County home. She is setting the stage for the many recipients who will follow in her footsteps.”
As a Deputy County Administrator, Courtney De Pol oversees Public Safety, Development Services and Human Resources. She started her career with Manatee County in January 2022, as the Director of Development Services, where she has helped reorganize, recruit talent, and relaunch a more-customer-focused approach. Prior to her time with Manatee County, De Pol worked with the Federal Government, Department of the Navy, local government and the private sector.
De Pol earned her Civil Engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and recently received her Master’s in Engineering Management from Pennsylvania State University. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in civil engineering.
“I am deeply honored to receive this inaugural award from the Alliance,” she said. ”I dedicate this recognition to the hardworking employees of Manatee County, whose dedication and commitment to meaningful work make a difference in our community every single day.”