NFBPA Tallahassee Chapter

A Message from the President

Welcome to the August 2026 edition of NFBPA Chapter Connect – The Voice of Leadership in Action!

As summer winds down, our Tallahassee Chapter continues to lead, serve, connect, and celebrate.

This edition highlights the people and moments that reflect the strength of our chapter—from member accomplishments and professional milestones to community engagement and opportunities to get involved.

As we look ahead to an exciting fall, including preparations for our Marks of Excellence Founders & Scholars Gala, I encourage each of you to stay connected, lend your talents, and continue representing the very best of public service leadership.

Thank you for your continued commitment to NFBPA and to one another. Together, we are keeping leadership in action!

Leann D. Watts-Williams
President
NFBPA Tallahassee Chapter

The Tallahassee Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) joins our community in mourning the passing of Mr. James Barnes, a dedicated public servant and steadfast supporter of our chapter.

James’s encouragement, generosity, and commitment to public service made a lasting impact, and his support of our mission will always be remembered.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. Memorial service information is provided below for those who wish to pay their respects.

Members who would like to join the chapter in extending an expression of sympathy on behalf of NFBPA may contact us or contribute through the chapter’s Zelle account at [email protected].

Please keep the Barnes family in your thoughts and prayers as we celebrate a life well lived and a legacy of service.

It is with profound sadness that the Tallahassee Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) mourns the passing of our fellow member, James Barnes, Chief Customer Operations Officer for the City of Tallahassee.

James was a dedicated public servant whose leadership, professionalism, and commitment to serving our community left a lasting impact on the City of Tallahassee and all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him.

On behalf of our chapter, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and everyone whose lives he touched. We pray that you find comfort, strength, and peace during this difficult time.

May his legacy of service continue to inspire us all.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” – Matthew 25:23

Shared on behalf of City Manager Reese Goad:

I am deeply saddened to share that this morning, our friend and colleague James Barnes, General Manager of Customer Account Services and Director of Customer Operations for the City of Tallahassee, passed away following a brief illness. This profound loss will be greatly felt within our organization and the wider community.

James was a force. He brought exuberant energy, innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence to everything he did, along with style and a million-watt smile. He proudly led a remarkable team and was a profound believer in principle-centered, service leadership.

He cultivated talent that touches every part of our organization. Handling roughly 500,000 customer transactions each year, his team embodies the City’s mission to be the national leader in the delivery of public service, with a commitment to “Quality First - Every Time, Every Call, Every Contact." He exemplified that ethos.

James consistently sought ways to drive our organization forward. A proven problem solver, he spurred impactful changes to improve outcomes for customers while ensuring training and support were always in place to better his team. In the last few years alone, he led his team through the roll out of a new CIS system, a new Meter Data Management System, FlexPay utility service and the expansion of the City’s Customer Self-Service portal. The team’s attention to detail and customer-centered approach resulted in the self-service portal achieving one of the highest adoption rates of any self-service portal in the country among utilities.

As dedicated as he was to City customers, he was equally focused on internal programs for his team. From implementing online e-learning modules and wellness programs like Step-up and Walk to developing department leaders and celebrating milestones, he invested in his team and championed their growth - and they are indeed the very best!

His expertise in building and optimizing processes in Call Center Operations produced award-winning results again and again. His leadership helped garner the City numerous awards from the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA), including the Building Strong Communities Award, and contributed to the City being named the #1 Public Utility in America. He received the prestigious Customer Executive Icon Award in 2022, was named FMEA’s 2020 Member of the Year, initiated FMEA’s Executive Roundtable for Customer Operations, served on multiple industry committees and boards over the years and was a sought-after presenter who loved sharing his knowledge.

Thanks to his efforts, Tallahassee will host FMEA’s Regional Energy Auditors Roundtable in September and has been selected to host a national forum focused on Customer Information System strategy, implementations and innovation in 2027. In this and so many other ways, his legacy of leadership and excellence continues. His pride for his team and belief that no one could do it better was unmatched.

James began his tenure with the City of Tallahassee in January 2007 and guided the City’s utility customer experience ever since. Prior to coming to the City, James worked for USAgencies, Cox Communications & Comcast. He was also a veteran of the United States Army and member of the National Urban League, 100 Black Men and NAACP.

A beloved husband, father and grandfather, please keep his wife, Jan, and his entire family in your prayers.

A few highlights from our NFBPA Tallahassee Men’s Health Month Mixer! 💙

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of meaningful conversation, fellowship, and education focused on the importance of men’s health and wellness. Special thanks to our panelists, attendees, and volunteers for helping create a space where honest dialogue and community support could thrive.

Together, we’re encouraging our brothers to prioritize their health, schedule regular checkups, and support one another on the journey to living healthier lives.

📸 Enjoy a few moments from the evening, and feel free to tag yourself and share your favorite memories!

📅 Save the Date! The 2026 NFBPA Tallahassee Marks of Excellence Gala is coming this November. Join us as we honor legacy, celebrate excellence, and invest in tomorrow’s leaders. More details to come!✨

📣 This Month, We’re Doing Things a Little Differently!

Instead of our traditional chapter meeting, we’re opening the floor for a more personal and interactive experience through Chapter President Office Hours.

This virtual session is your opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, provide feedback, and learn more about the direction of our chapter. Whether you’re curious about upcoming programs, committee opportunities, professional development, or simply want to connect, I invite you to join the conversation.

🗓 Thursday, June 25
⏰ 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Pop in during this timeframe or stay on for the duration)
💻 Virtual Link To Be Provided

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As your Chapter President, I believe in transparency, engagement, and ensuring every member has a voice. This is your time to ask me anything and help shape the future of our chapter.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Join the NFBPA Tallahassee Chapter for an engaging evening of conversation, connection, and personal growth as we explore the intersection of mental wellness, physical health, financial success, and brotherhood.

We look forward to seeing you… 2 weeks from today!