The Chamber joins with the community to welcome Dale Smith to his role as City Manager.
During its regular meeting Monday, Jan. 25, 2010, City Commissioners voted to name Dale L. Smith as City Manager for the City of Winter Haven.
Dale is no stranger to City Hall having begun his career with the City in 1978. City Manager Smith released the following statement.
“I’m pleased the City Commission is confident in my abilities by naming me the next City Manager for the City of Winter Haven. Over the span of 31 years, I have dedicated my career to the City. I have served as City engineer, Public Works Director, previous interim City Manager, Special Projects Manager and most recently as Assistant City Manager. I have grown professionally in the past six years as Assistant City Manager and am now ready to step into the position of City Manager.
I have the background and training to serve the City well. I grew up in Winter Haven and have the City’s best interests at heart. As a result, I am excited to continue to make Winter Haven the preferred place to live, work, play and raise a family.
With the numerous projects currently in the works, and new initiatives recently brought forth, it will be my role to communicate the City Commission’s policies, goals and objectives to staff. Some of these exciting projects include development of the CSX intermodal facility, welcoming Legoland to our City, and development of the Lake Conine Nature Park.
The City’s more than 450 employees are a dedicated group of hardworking individuals who will continue to work at their optimum level. As City Manager, I look forward to the challenges and opportunities we will encounter as we move forward together to meet our goals.”
The Chamber looks forward to continuing our partnership with the City of Winter Haven as we address the great opportunities in store for Winter Haven’s future.
Congratulations Dale, you do know the city well and I think the next 3-5 years will be very exciting. Best of luck to you.
Great choice for the city of Winter Haven! Best of luck Dale.
I have had nothing but good experiences with Dale Smith. I’m glad to see someone with the experience and intimate knowledge of our great city taking over what really is the CEO of Winter Haven. These are exciting times and Dale certainly is qualified.
Additionally, I offer a big thank you to David Greene. Winter Haven is much better off than it was 10 years ago.
Congratulations, Dale! The City Commission could have spent many hours and mucho bucks in a search for City Manager, and would not have found anyone better qualified, more dedicated, and more knowledgeable than you!
Way to go, Dale! I know you will do a great job, and continue the tremendous progress we have made over the past several years.
It’s nice to know that the City of Winter Haven is in great hands and will not skip a beat in progress. Congratulations Dale, you are the MAN. Congratulation also to the Commission for the quick and great choice.
Congratulations, Dale. You have always been a great asset to the City of Winter Haven and I am excited about the future under your leadership.
Congratulations Dale. We are extremely fortunate to have you as our new city manager. I wish you all the success in the world.
Congratulations Dale! You have so much great experience with all the workings of the city, I know you will do an excellent job! Blessings and all the best!
Our premier City is in the hands of a very capable leader. I wish you the best!
Nice going Dale. Just read all the comments about you and they are all true. Proud to know you. Good luck
Sal Moraco
Dale- I have watched you grow into this position and am so glad that our commissioners decided to name you first off. You have earned this and we are pulling for you 1000%. Good luck to you and all of the residents as we all work toward as better tomorrow. Ellie/Jim
I know that you are very capable and are a willing and tireless worker. The Commission did the right thing at the right time. Best of luck to you.
Frank
Dale, I was so hoping that you would be named the interim mayor, thinking that there would be a search committee formed and the long arduous task of seekng a qualified candidate would be ahead. I am so pleased that those in leadership saw and recognized the talent and ability that you possess coupled with a great team already in place to take our fine city to the next level and the committee search was not needed. Please know that you have our support!
We are thrilled for you Dale! You were a great help to us in building our new Marina here in Winter Haven. The City is lucky to have you in charge. We look forward to great things happening under your management.
Dale, have worked with you off and on since your engineering days, and know first hand – your “hands on” dedication to everything you do, and know this will continue in your present position – for the good of the “people”.
Congratulations!!
Elonka
Congatulations Dale,
The city commisioners could not have made a better choice. Keep up the good work representing Winter Haven.
The comments that precede mine make it clear that Mayor Potter’s motion to promote Dale Smith to the city manager’s position was a well researched and publicly desirable decision. I have no doubt that had we embarked on a long, expensive, search for city manager candidates, Dale’s name would have been very high on the list of our final candidates. Dale will do a great job for the city he has grown up in and made a central part of his life, I’m sure. We’re lucky to have him.
Dale smith is a geat choice for citymanager.Congratulations Dale – I look forward to working with you on upcoming intergovernmental projects and issues.
Congratulations Dale! We all want the progress we have seen over the last several years to continue. It is good to know that someone with your experience will be at the helm. Plus, we know how deeply you care about our community. I wish you great success.
This is the best solution at this particular time and I congratulate Dale Smith as our new city manager.
Dale, Congratulations! The city is in good hands with someone that cares about this town and has all the experience under his belt! Winter Haven could not be represented better and we are proud and know you will have much success in the future!
Dale, it has been a long time since we had a local person in charge of running the city. I am very proud for you and your family as I know the dedication and love you have for Winter Haven. Best wishes in all your endeavors and again congratulations. Tom
Dale Smith. Do I remember you from Adams Packing Company? Probably not? Anyway, wishing you the best success.
Congratulations to you Dale and to the City for recognizing your ability and love for our great city! We look forward to continued great things for our city under your leadership.
Congratulations, Dale !! This sounds like a win-win. Super news.
Dale is an asset to the city. His experience and will be important to the community’s immediate and long term future.