Darren Gray, Clermont’s city manager, recently graduated from Leadership Orlando, the largest community leadership program in America. The eight-month program helps emerging and established leaders broaden their regional knowledge and experience.
Gray, a former Lake County manager who has led the City of Clermont on a number of ground-breaking initiatives, including the city’s rebranding as the Choice of Champions®, has spent 23 years in public administration. He was named Lake County’s Leader of the Year in 2015.
Gray said that he joined the program to gain a more regional perspective for Clermont, the largest city in Lake County.
“I gained far more than I imagined,” Gray said. “I made relationships with decision-makers across Central Florida and got a first-hand look at innovative programs, such as Creative Village Orlando.”
Leadership Orlando is known for graduating some of the area’s most respected leaders, including Adrian Jones, general manager of Legoland Florida; Phil Rawlins, founder and president of Orlando City Soccer Club and Scott Colloredo, director of planning and development for NASA – John F. Kennedy Space Center.
