Support Services Director Carolyn Brown to retire from town in July

Carolyn Brown’s role within the town of Longboat Key can’t be described in one sentence. From human resources to strategic planning and outdoor venue preparations, she’s been a part of many functions of the town. 

But she has decided to move on from her role as support services director for the town of Longboat Key. Her last day will be July 8. 

She worked with the town for almost six years, and although Town Manager Howard Tipton only knew her for a year, he said Brown played a big role in the town’s administration. 

“I really have grown to appreciate the many things she has on her plate,” Tipton said. “For us, what I think we’ll miss the most, is that she’s a team player.”

Now, Brown is ready to retire from Longboat Key and move on to one more thing, but she isn’t sure yet what that will look like exactly. 

“I feel that there's just one more thing that I can do,” Brown said. “But I’m not sure what that is.”

She started working with Longboat Key after she retired from Sarasota County after 30 years of working there. For the last eight years of her time with Sarasota County, she was the director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources. 

Former Town Manager Tom Harmer started at Longboat Key shortly before Brown. Brown said she knew Harmer from his time at Sarasota County, and she decided to join him in Longboat Key. 

Photo by Nat Kaemmerer

Brown’s wide-ranging skill set allowed her to fill any position, according to Tipton.  

Her primary functions as support services director were within the realms of procurement, human resources and the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center. Over the years, her position evolved and she became more involved with strategic planning, library services and organizing the outdoor venue and the Town Center. 

The people, she said, have been the most impactful part of her time with Longboat Key. 

Being involved with strategic meetings and coordinating with the town’s departments, Brown said she has been impressed with the caliber of the town’s employees. The town is “blessed” with its leadership, she said. 

Additionally, she noted that she enjoyed her time working with the “Green Team,” made up of community members and representatives of local environmental organizations concerned about the environment. 

Another part of her job was to be a liaison with the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce to work on events like concerts, art shows and the annual tree lighting. 

“That was great because it allowed me to work with the chamber,” Brown said. “It was great to be able to meet some of those folks, just some of the best folks you’d want to meet.”

Brown also arranged for the Sarasota County “Pop Up” library and, recently, she has been an integral part of the Sarasota County Public Library project on the Town Center Green.

“I think that will be an awesome thing for the town and the people here,” Brown said about the library. “It’s been interesting and fun to get involved with that project.”

Within human resources, Brown enjoyed creating the quarterly employee newsletter, planning events for employee recognition and working on the town’s leadership development series for employees. 

One of the fondest memories for her, she said, will be the tree lighting events at the Town Center Green. She’s also enjoyed being a part of the citizen satisfaction survey process, which began around the time she started with the town. 

The town is fielding applications for Brown’s position and hopes there will be some overlap so that Brown can help train the new employee, according to Tipton. 

“It’s a big loss for the town. Carolyn is a stand-up person, capable of doing many things,” Tipton said.

Tipton said he wishes Brown the best in whatever her next chapter may bring. 

His advice to her replacement: wear extra socks, because there will be some large shoes to fill.