City of Fort Lauderdale Names Stanley Hawthorne and Susanne Torriente as Assistant City Managers

Chaz Adams, Sr. Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4748 or chazadams@fortlauderdale.gov

Fort Lauderdale - Fort Lauderdale City Manager Lee Feldman has filled two positions on his executive management team. Stanley Hawthorne and Susanne Torriente will serve as Fort Lauderdale’s Assistant City Managers. In their new positions, Hawthorne and Torriente will oversee the City’s day-to-day departmental operations and assist the City Manager with the provision and implementation of municipal services, programs and activities.

Prior to accepting his new position with the City of Fort Lauderdale, Stanley Hawthorne served six years as the Assistant City Manager of Lakeland, Florida, where he oversaw the departments of Human Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management/Purchasing, Internal Audit and The Lakeland Center. Hawthorne led the city’s Performance Excellence Division, where he focused on enhancing operations through performance efficiencies and process improvements. In addition, he directed Lakeland’s strategic operating plan, $600 million operating budget, and capital improvement program.

Hawthorne has more than 25 years experience in government. He previously served as City Manager of Lauderdale Lakes, Assistant City Manager and Director of Finance for Tamarac, and Director of Management and Budget for the City of Hollywood, Florida. He began his career in municipal government in 1985 in the City of Saginaw, Michigan, where he worked for seven years advancing to the position of Assistant to the City Manager.

Hawthorne holds an undergraduate degree from Troy State University in Alabama and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Virginia.

Susanne Torriente comes to the City of Fort Lauderdale from Miami-Dade County, Florida, where she most recently served as Director of the Office of Sustainability. In this position, Torriente was responsible for overseeing major departments critical to achieving the County’s sustainability goals, including Solid Waste Management, Environmental Resources Management, Water and Sewer, and Community Image. Torriente directed Miami-Dade County’s policy formulation, grants, energy management and reduction strategies, alternative energy options, sustainable capital development processes, water conservation, and other sustainability-related programs and initiatives. Under her leadership, the County developed and implemented its first sustainability plan, which also includes the County’s first climate action plan.

Prior to being appointed as Director of the Office of Sustainability, Torriente served as Chief of Staff and Chief Assistant County Manager. Her 20-year career with Miami-Dade County also includes overseeing Police, Fire-Rescue, Corrections, and Emergency Management.

Torriente previously served as the Assistant City Manager of Coral Gables, Florida, where she oversaw the departments of Finance, Purchasing, Information Technology, Parks and Recreation, Automotive, Parking and Cable TV.

Torriente holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Miami.

In addition to naming two Assistant City Managers, Lee Feldman has also announced that Julie Richards will remain as the Assistant to the City Manager and will also be spearheading Fort Lauderdale’s newly created Neighbor Support initiative.

It is expected that the remaining Assistant to the City Manager position, which will lead Fort Lauderdale’s Performance Measurement and Process Improvement effort, will be filled in the coming weeks.