Kevin Knutson
Kevin Knutson
Director of Strategic Projects

Kevin Knutson is a seasoned local government executive, consultant, and thought leader with more than three decades of experience helping organizations improve performance, strengthen financial resilience, and deliver exceptional results for their communities. Over more than 25 years in municipal leadership roles and nearly a decade in consulting and GovTech, he has guided transformational change, designed award-winning management systems, and advised hundreds of local governments across the United States and Canada.

He has served as Assistant County Administrator for Pinellas County, Florida; overseeing administrative services, budgeting, economic development, communications, airport and construction services, and Visit St. Pete/Clearwater; led the county’s decennial redistricting and charter review; advanced major capital planning, launched a countywide resident survey program; developed and implemented the County’s $189 million ARPA investment strategy; and initiated internal control and workers’ compensation reforms yielding significant cost savings.

In prior roles, he was Vice President of Planning & Performance Solutions for a GovTech firm supporting strategic planning, performance measurement, and dashboards for local governments across North America. He also served as Regional Vice President for a national management consulting firm overseeing the eastern U.S. practice and managing over 200 projects for 124 client organizations, ranging from operational assessments to executive recruitment.

His municipal management experience includes multiple leadership positions with the City of Reno, Nevada (Assistant City Manager; Interim City Manager; Interim Executive Director, Redevelopment Agency; Director of Management & Budget; Director of Community Relations) and nearly two decades with the City of Coral Springs, Florida (Budget & Strategic Planning Manager; Director of Communications & Marketing). During his tenure there, he helped build Coral Springs into one of the nation’s most recognized high-performing municipalities, contributing to its receipt of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, two Florida Governor’s Sterling Awards, and multiple national honors for communications and performance management.

A nationally recognized speaker and author, Kevin has delivered dozens of workshops and presentations for ICMA, GFOA, NACo, the Alliance for Innovation, 3CMA, and ELGL. His articles on budgeting, financial resilience, leadership, and performance management have appeared in PM Magazine and Government Finance Review.

As a credentialed manager through ICMA, and having completed senior leadership programs at the Harvard Kennedy School, Cornell University, the Center for Creative Leadership, and the University of Wisconsin’s Advanced Government Finance Institute (among others) he remains deeply committed to mentoring emerging local government leaders and strengthening public trust in government by helping organizations align strategy, resources, and culture to achieve meaningful community results.

In addition to his years of local government service, Kevin also served in the U.S. Army.

PROFESSNIOAL EDUCATION & TRAINING

  • Master of Fine Arts, Florida International University
  • Bachelor of Arts, Florida International University
  • Associate of Arts, Broward College
  • Senior Executives in State & Local Government — Harvard University
  • Leadership Development Program — Center for Creative Leadership
  • Advanced Government Finance Institute — University of Wisconsin
  • Strategic Management Certificate — Florida Institute of Government
  • Diversity & Inclusion Certification — Cornell University
  • ICMA Credentialed Manager

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • International City/County Management Association (ICMA): Digital Strategies Advisory Board; Performance Management Committee; ICMA CoachConnect; e-Government Task Force; conference presenter and author
  • Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA): Committee on Governmental Budgeting & Fiscal Policy; Resiliency Task Force; conference presenter and author
  • Florida City/County Management Association: At-Large Board Member; Winter Institute Chair; conference presenter
  • Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL): Haverford & Traeger Award honoree; conference presenter and mentor
  • City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA): 2011 Communicator of the Year; Conference Co-Chair; conference presenter and advisor
  • More than a dozen additional statewide and national advisory boards, task forces, and working groupsy

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Senior Vice President, Leadership Development & Executive Recruitment — Strategic Government Resources, Inc.
  • Assistant County Administrator — Pinellas County, FL
  • Interim Director of Economic Development — Pinellas County, FL
  • Vice President, Planning & Performance Solutions — Envisio Solutions, Inc.
  • Regional Vice President — Management Partners, Inc.
  • Assistant City Manager — City of Reno, NV
  • Interim City Manager — City of Reno, NV
  • Interim Executive Director, Reno Redevelopment Agency — City of Reno, NV
  • Director of Management & Budget — City of Reno, NV
  • Director of Community Relations — City of Reno, NV
  • Director of Communications & Marketing — City of Coral Springs, FL
  • Budget & Strategic Planning Manager — City of Coral Springs, FL