Lowdermilk to retire in June
Evelio “Dan” Rodriguez has been selected as the new director of Sarasota County’s General Services Department, the county has announced.
Rodriguez will move into the position on April 8 “and will work closely with the retiring director, Jeff Lowdermilk, to ensure a seamless transition,” a news release explains.
Lowdermilk will retire in June, the release adds.
In his LinkedIn account, Lowdermilk notes that he began service with the county in June 2015, working as manager of the Facility Operations Division. He was named manager of the Facilities & Fleet Division in December 2015. Then, after former County Administrator Tom Harmer decided to establish the General Services Department at the start of the 2017 fiscal year — Oct. 1, 2016 — Lowdermilk was named director of that department.
Rodriguez began his employment with the county in 2021, serving as a senior manager in the General Services Department, the news release points out. His LinkedIn account says that he was responsible “for the leadership, management, and oversight of the daily operations and spending of the Facilities & Fleet Services Divisions.” As part of that work, he represented the divisions in budget discussions and strategic planning, his account notes.
Additionally, Rodriguez was responsible “for exceptional customer service and work order/project status communications.”
Prior to joining the county staff, the release continues, Rodriguez was a Department of Defense contractor. He served in the U.S. Army for 26 years, during which time “he developed a strong foundation in logistics and operations management,” the release says.
“Rodriguez is a Legion of Merit and multi–Bronze Star recipient for exemplary service and actions taken,” the release adds.
His LinkedIn account notes that he holds a Bachelor of Science from American Military University, having majored in information technology. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from that university, which is located in Charles Town, W.Va., his LinkedIn account points out.
“Dan is an exceptional public servant and has demonstrated remarkable leadership and expertise in logistics and maintenance operations during his time with the county,” said County Administrator Jonathan Lewis in the release. “Dan is the perfect person to continue our strategic mission of increasing cost savings, efficiency and sustainability at county facilities and through county services,” Lewis added in the release.
As shown in a county document providing details about the 2023 fiscal year budget, General Services encompasses the following divisions: Fleet Services, Facilities Management, Material Management, Facilities Planning, and Mail and Print. The document points out that the mission of General Services is to “[p]rovide operational support to optimize County facilities, assets, and supply chain to enable the success of the organization and community.”
Among the projects staff of that department are overseeing this fiscal year are the replacement of the East Jail Recreation Yard and roof within the Detention Center in downtown Sarasota; the replacement of the roof at Selby Public Library in downtown Sarasota; renovations of the elevators and dumbwaiters at the Historic Sarasota County Courthouse on Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota; and the planning for the renovation of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system (HVAC) of the Judicial Center in downtown Sarasota.
The department’s adopted FY 2023 budget totaled $60,024,028. The number of full-time employees is close to 122, that 2023 fiscal year budget document says.